WW1 Victory Medal - Pte. J.T. Morris, Manchester Regiment wounded Salonika, Battle of Doiran

WW1 Victory Medal - Pte. J.T. Morris, Manchester Regiment

In poor condition but the naming can be read. Named to 23557 Pte. J T Morris Manch R. 

John Thomas Morris of 24 Albert Street, Rusholme, Manchester was a labourer,

supposedly aged 19 years 2 months upon enlistment, on 2nd February 1915 (however the information on his postwar Army Form Z.11 (Soldier's Protection Certificate and Certificate of Identity) indicates that he was born in 1897 and therefore probably added a year onto his age when enlisting). He was recorded as 5' 6" tall with an expanded chest measurement of 35 1/2". He gave as his next of kin Mary Elizabeth Morris, his mother.

He enlisted for the duration of the war and, as 3/23557 Private J T Morris, was appointed to the Manchester Regiment, initially being sent to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion and then posted to the 11th on 23 August 1915.

Pte Morris entered the Balkan theatre with the 11th Battalion in the 11th (Northern) Division on 13 September 1915 and was therefore also entitled to the 1914-15 Star, which he received in November 1919. By this point the battalion, landing at Suvla Bay, had been in Gallipoli for just over a month. Conditions on Gallipoli were difficult as in addition to Turkish sniper and artillery fire and the constant threat of disease, weather conditions were poor, especially in the winter. On 7 December 1915 he was admitted to Sliema Hospital, Malta, with frost bite and, passing through St John's Hospital, was sent home via the Hospital Ship 'Soudan' on 28 December.

Having returned home on 5 January 1916 he was in the 4th Southern General Hospital in Plymouth for a time up to 12 April 1916, after which he was sent on nine days' furlough home. He went overseas again on 7 September 1916 to rejoin the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, travelling via Devonport to Salonika, disembarking on 22 September and joining his unit (most probably the 13th (Service) battalion in the 22nd Division) a few days later.

He was wounded on 24 April 1917 with a gun shot wound to the right shoulder whilst with the 22nd Division - presumably in connection with the 13th Manchesters' assault on Pip Ridge during the First Battle of Doiran, two miles south-west of Lake Doiran.

Pte Morris passed through no.29 General Hospital, 2 Convalescent Camp and 3 Convalescent Depot, arriving at 2 Base Depot in mid-July 1917. He rejoined his unit on 27 August 1917.

He is then shown as having been posted to France on 5 July 1918, travelling via Itea, Italy. This would most likely have been with the 13th Manchesters, who left the 22nd Division in Salonika to join the 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division in France. On 13 August 1918 the 13th was absorbed by the 9th battalion, with which Pte Morris also served, although he was shown as being posted to the latter on 2 August 1918. Between 13 and 27 August 1918 he had leave from overseas, returning to France on 28 August 1918. This would have put him in line to have taken part in the Allied hundred days offensive, including the battles of the Hindenburg Line, Cambrai 1918, and the Selle.

He returned home to the United Kingdom on 20-22 February 1919 via Dunkirk and after passing through the dispersal centre at Prees Heath, was discharged to the Army Class 'Z' Reserve on 21 March 1919 after four years and forty-eight days' service. 

He received his British War Medal and Victory Medal, to complete his medal entitlement, in early November 1920.

Miscellaneous research snippets

L-12945 Pte ANDREWS F.C. Middlesex 14 Star & BWM broken group - later transferred to Army Cyclist Corps as 1439 and died on 14 May 1915 of wounds incurred with 8th Divisional Cycle Company on 13 May 1915

2553 Dvr ROBINSON E RFA 15 Star broken group - died whilst German prisoner of war

11391 Reynolds 1914 Star trio Frostbite Dec 1914, GSW 16/17 June 1915 with 3rd Worcesters Battle of Bellewaarde, full service record on FMP

2900 and 200728 Chantry 1/4th Green Howards GSW 3 may 1915 during Battle of St Julien (British withdrawal 3 May 1915) To Class W at Catterick 1917 (as J G Chantrey)

19684 Bickley 9th West Yorkshire Regiment, entitled to trio, hospital record for Battle of Thiepval Ridge period 26-28 Sept 16.

39031 Williams 12th Gloucestershire Regiment (Bristol's Own). Wounded in Action 4/5 November 1917 (Mustard Gas poisoning) at Ypres probably one of four casualties when the battalion went into the line on 5 November, and again circa 15 April 1918, end of Battle of Hazebrouck period, defending the Forest of Nieppe, when the battalion repulsed a German attack.

20219 A O'Connell East Kent Regiment (Buffs) and G/38497 Queen's. WO Casualty list for 31 August 1917. Wounded, GSW chest circa 26 March with 6th Buffs via 51st Field Ambulance and on WO Casualty list for 27 April 1918.

7474 Charles Verge Wiltshire Regiment

7/1208 (later 38284) Scott trio & plaque 1/7th and 22nd Northumberland Fusiliers KIA Arras(?) 1917

31550 JS Moore 1/4th KSLI WIA March 1918.

SWB to 1569 John Ashcroft 3rd West Lancashire Field Ambulance RAMC. Discharged owing to burns.

23796 Corporal G.H. GOODWRIGHT, Lancashire Fusiliers wia 2/5th LF 9 April 1918

CRAIGS Edward. Pte 43693, Durham Lt Inf, KiA 05/10/1918 (13th DLI, Battle of Beaurevoir)

Kirkham, 25th Liverpool, awarded MM for river crossing under fire (Escaut?) Sept 1918

Livesey or Livesay, 2/5th Liverpool, awarded Military Medal for bravery in treating the wounded under fire, Passchendaele. Newspaper coverage. Date slightly off but around 1 Nov 1917?

JG Moule Wounded 2/6th W Riding 27 Nov 17. PoW 29th DLI 12(?) Oct 1918 (prob captured whilst with A platoon - ambush whilst on pattol).

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/717545:60779?_phsrc=BhG7467&_phstart=successSource&ml_rpos=8&queryId=cb0556127a978bf07584f7653ce2cf37

Richard Carwardine 

WW1 medals trio

1/4th Gloucesters 5 years penal servitude for sleeping on duty commuted for courage probably in action at Leipzig Redoubt on the Somme, Aug 1916

Service record:

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1114/images/miuk1914a_083791-01524?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=1bbb5548a6995150f41d5137ea2888ff&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=684173

W/d: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/60779/images/43112_2758_1-00141?ssrc=&backlabel=Return

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/?name=_Halls&count=50&keyword=3612&keyword_x=1&location=3257.3250&name_x=1_1&priority=united-kingdom

Mons Star group Chown Middlesex, wounded 1917, 1918

Mons Star group Vassie 2/Dgns Wounded list 14 Dec with 1 Life Guards?

119849 J Meehan of Dublin (see: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBM%2FWO363-4%2F007382473%2F00564&parentid=GBM%2FWO363-4%2F7382473%2F22%2F564) Chester Medals £145

WW1 1914 MONS STAR TRIO, WOUNDED OCTOBER 1914 & DISCHARGED

1914 Mons star trio

To- 7978.PTE.W.CORNISH.2nd.D.L.I

William Cornish enlisted in to the Durham Light Infantry 10-9-1902 & first landed in France with the 2nd battalion 8-9-1914. He received a gun shot wound to the right shoulder some time between the 15th & 18th of October 1914 £195 The Medal Centre

26143 Field RE Mons Star & VM - KiA German Spring Offensive

4623 Reddick 1st Rifle Brigade Mons Star & BWM - PoW Le Cateau

Robert Morris York & Lancs trio

(https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1219/images/30972_176822-00398?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=28bcb6476c604d368cac3318b569d93d&usePUB=true&_phsrc=BhG5172&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=1347259)

WW1 1914 Star trio to 2nd siege battery Royal Artillery 

Star named to 29655 GNR. A. R. GREIG. R.G.A.

Pair named 29655 GNR. A. R. GREIG. R.A.

Wounded Oct 1914, 1917, 2nd and 20th Siege Btys)

WW1 British 1914 star trio to the Royal Field Artillery 

Star named to 14007 GNR. D. HENDERSON. R.F.A.

Pair named to 14007 GNR. D. HENDERSON. R.A. 

- £129.99, wounded by gas March 1918

WW1 Territorial Efficiency group to the Army Service Corps

BWM and victory named to T4-056685 DVR. C. J. SATTERLEY. A.S.C.

TEM named T4/056685. DVR. C. J. SATTERLEY. R.A.S.C.

Served France from March 1916. TFEM awarded 1944? Possibly a late award because he was remustered as Regular ASC during the War?

Great War RAMC Territorial Efficiency Medal Group

1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal trio with the Territorial Efficiency Medal to 1355 PTE. W. HEYWOOD.  R.A.M.C. with the TFEM named to 354036 PTE. W. HEYWOOD.  R.A.M.C.

New Testament inscribed to Pte. W. Heywood, No 74,  1/3 East Lancashire Field Ambulance 12th November 1915, Malta

- wounded Gallipoli(?), served France 8th Stat Hosp Wimereux. TFEM awarded Aug 1919 

WW1 Victory Medal 7849 SPR. J.H. ANDREWS. R.E. Entitled to TFWM and SWB (West Lancs or 2nd West Lancs Divisional Signal Company 

E White 16417 R Fus served 2nd, 3rd, 2nd Btns, theatre dates available, wounded Salonika and Western Front, no service record 

2nd daily list entry: https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/194140976 (section 16) - incorrectly transcribed on FWR

1966 PTE.S.V.CLARK .  HAMPS.R. - [1/]9th Hampshire Cyclist Bn (India) then 14th & 15th Hampshire (1st & 2nd Portsmouth) wia, probably with former, Aug(?) 1917. 

Shackleton Rifle Brigade- wounded 3 times 

Hacking wounded carrying food with 1st E Lancs attd 20th Manchesters 14 July 1916, then again with 2nd Worcesters blown up on Passchendaele Ridge 2 Dec 1917

401246 Taylor 12th Manchester wia 22 April 1918, 26 August 1917(?)

 ?341332 W Wheat 22nd Northumberland Fusiliers captured Bullecourt 21 March 1918 

McTurk 1/8th West Yorkshire Rgt - wounded, probably first Mustard gas attack at Nieuport 22 July 1917

CE Thomson wia HLI, KOSB 1918

https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=1219&h=1959247&tid=&pid=&queryId=5988040390412dc08e058f9317649688&usePUB=true&_phsrc=BhG6270&_phstart=successSource&_gl=1*11uolop*_ga*MTE4NzgwNDk4NS4xNTc5MzUyMzA0*_ga_4PXYE4RLH1*MTY0MDYxMTU1NS4xMS4xLjE2NDA2MTE3MjMuMA..

46346 Stringer W Yorks wounded shrapnel 24 August Battle of Albert capture of Thiepval Ridge 

79001 GNR W White R.A. wounded Oct 1917, 8" howitzer battery (See: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Riding_Royal_Garrison_Artillery)

8429 Shaw 1st KORLR Mons Star trio - poss wounded Le Cateau?

628 A Gordon Black Watch trio, hospitalised sore feet dec 1914.

WW1 War and Victory Medals, Middlesex Regiment G-57747 [PoW] 

2979 McCoy R Suss R pow 

8650 White Devon Mons Star broken trio, wound records

G-93555 Hitner Middlesex Enemy Aliens Labour Btn

MacRo pair 240th Siege Bty 6" howitzer, wia 1918 

Newton 4th Heavy Battery & 294th Siege Bty (6" hows) 

5373/267007 Charles Fifield Northumberland Fusiliers pair [wia with 149th TMB March 1918]

4666/303037 Pte L Hughes KLR Ent SWB, wounded 1916 (with 1/5th KLR?) 

97888 DVR D J Collins RFA. Llanelli man. 1st DAC. WiA 8 May 1918. Entitled 1914-15 Star.

Group of 3 Medals To Sgt David M Stephens, 7th Battalion Liverpool Regiment - British War & Victory Medals (1699 Sjt D M Stephens L'Pool R ), Territorial Efficiency Medal

( 3760177 Cpl D M Stephens 7- Kings R ). Also served as 265251 (or 265250). Lived 231 Stanley Road Bootle Liverpool. Also entitled to 1914-15 Star - two wound records, attached 2nd KAR, no service record, missing Star. TFEM awarded 1924. Letter available from him online indicating saw action May 1915

VM & TFEM with 2 clasps Heath RFA awarded the TFEM with bar.Victory Medal named 639 SJT F J HEATH RA.Territorial Force Efficiency Medal with bar named 805308 SJT F HEATH RFA. Also 731732 Heath. 2 clasp verified. First TFEM awarded May 1919.

WW1 14 Star, BWM & Victory Medal 310 Pte J Culverhouse 1/Rifle Brigade several times wounded - once in 1915 twice(?) in 1917

Whitcroft Northumberland Fusiliers & 2/4th York & Lancaster entitled pair, wounded fighting at Marcoing 29 September 1918

ww1 Trio Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. T Halls, East Kent Regiment (Buffs) Halls 7th Buffs wounded 5 April 1918

Harman Royal Warwickshire Regiment (later 1/Queens) - wounded in action 21 September 1918, Battle of St Quentin Canal. Entitled pair

SMITH John Ingham L/Cpl 204056 1/5th Durham Lt Inf, died 12/10/18. Memorial plaque Lightly polished with 2 small holes (died as PoW)

Two Battle of the Tardenois MMs gazetted 10 December 1918 - 278681 Chalmers A&SH and 403533 Edwards RAMC

Two Battle of the Tardenois MMs gazetted 10 December 1918

7324. PTE. J.Y. CHALMERS. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders - Military Medal, 278681. PTE. J. CHALMERS. 1/7. A. & S. Highrs. (Highlanders).

Pte John Young Chalmers, 1/7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 51st Highland Division. The award was announced in the 51st Division Routine Order no.1071 of Wednesday 21 August 1918 (which can be seen in the Adjutant & Quartermaster-General's War Diary for August 1918 (piece number 2849) as one of a large number of awards made "for gallantry displayed between 20th and 30th July 1918", i.e. the Battle of the Tardenois. Gazetted in London Gazette Issue 31061, page 14664, dated 10th December 1918.

816 Pte N.E. Edwards R.A.M.C, also 403533 Pte N.E. Edwards 2/W. Rid: F.A. R.A.M.C.

Pte N E Edwards RAMC, 2nd (2/1st or 2/2nd) West Riding Field Ambulance, 62nd Division, presumably one of 333 awards mentioned but not particularised in annex F ('Rewards granted during August 1918') to the AA&QMG war diary for the division for August 1918 (piece number 3072/1-3). Norman Ellis Edwards’s MM was announced in the London Gazette issue 31061, page 14666 dated 11th December 1918 and listed him from Leeds. NB his award is gazetted for the 2nd (West Riding) Field Ambulance and is interpreted by Ancestry/Forces War Records as being for the 2/2nd FA (which would accord with his six-digit TF number bloc); however my reading of his MM Index Card is that it reads against Corps "R.A.M.C. 2/1st(W Rid) Fld. Amb T.F.", indicating if correct that he was with the 2/1st when the award was recommended. On 19 July the 2/1st WR FA arrived in the village of St Imoges and on 20 July set up an MDS [Main Dressing Station] at the north end of the village. I note that in the 2/1st West Riding FA War Diary for 21 July 1918 there is a mention of "1 tent subdivision of 2/2nd West Riding Field Ambulance attached to MDS [Main Dressing Station] for duty. [Ordered there at 1pm on the 21st, seemingly by the ADMS for the 62nd Division, having been in reserve at Champillon.] 807 cases during 24 hours after opening of attack. Camp shelled." The following day's entry, 22 July, also notes "401 cases during succeeding 24 hours (noon to noon). Camp shelled & moved 200 yards north." On the 24th, after a further 302 cases arrived in the intervening day, the village was bombed. A further 341 cases arrived on this day also. I speculate that Pte Edwards may have been recommended for the Military Medal during this period of attachment, very possibly for gallantry during these periods when the MDS was under enemy attack. The tent subdivision, per 2/2nd WR FA War Diary, returned from this attached duty on 31 July. (On 25 August a bearer subdivision of the 2/2nd reported to the ADS at Courcelles for temporary duty with the 2/1st but this seems late to be relevant to this award.)

77291 PTE.R.J. WADDINGTON 30th Field Ambulance R.A.M.C. & 7th Royal Welsh Fusiliers Victory Medal

77291 PTE.R.J. WADDINGTON 30th Field Ambulance R.A.M.C. & 7th Royal Welsh Fusiliers Victory Medal

Robert James Waddington enlisted in the army at some point probably prior to November 1915. As 77291 Pte R J Waddington he first served overseas with the Royal Army Medical Corps, going overseas some time from 1 January 1916 onwards. Based on the service record of 77299 Pte Thomas Moore, RAMC, he may have joined in early November 1915, passing through no.6 Company RAMC at Cosham and going overseas some time up to August 1917. (See also 77297 Pte Albert Edward Oldfield, who joined at the same time as Pte Moore and went overseas on 12 February 1916 to France to join 2nd Cavalry Field Ambulance.) Pte Waddington served with 30th Field Ambulance in 10th (Irish) Division, possibly going overseas in time to join them in Salonika, where they remained until transferred to Egypt, in September 1917. Engagements during this time included the capture of the Karajokois and the capture of Yenikoi in October 1916. The division then fought in Palestine, most notably in the Third Battle of Gaza, 1-2 November 1917, part of the Southern Palestine Offensive.

Pte Waddington was subsequently transferred to the infantry, probably being 'combed-out' of his RAMC role as the result of a relatively high medical grading. After passing through the infantry school of instruction, he transferred corps to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers under the regimental number 88299, serving in the 7th (Merionethshire & Montgomeryshire) Bn, Royal Welch Fusiliers, a Territorial Battalion which by this time was part of the 160th Brigade, of the 53rd (Welsh) Division. 

Based on the service record of 88280 Sidney Higgs, 1/7th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who was also formerly of the RAMC (regimental number 39622), Pte Waddington's compulsory transfer to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers probably took place after a transfer to base depot (possibly 'B' Depot at Kantara) at the end of May 1918, then to the Infantry School of Instruction at Zeitoun outside Cairo on or about 20 June 1918, joining the 7th Royal Welsh Fusiliers in the field on or about 6 July 1918.This would have put Pte Waddington in line to serve with the 7th Battalion at the battle of Megiddo, 18-19 September 1918. Per Wikipedia:

"At the climactic Battle of Megiddo 53rd Division was tasked with advancing across the Samieh Basin towards Nablus, to threaten the Turks' communication centre and block the exits to the Jordan Valley (the Battle of Nablus). It attacked in moonlight late on the first day (18 September), after a 20-minute bombardment, and 7th RWF (Royal Welsh Fusiliers) had captured all its objectives on the north side of the basin by 03.00 next day. The roads were very bad, and the Royal Engineers struggled to make a path for the guns, but the advance continued, and by the end of 22 September the Turkish army was shattered, its retreat was being harried by artillery and aircraft.

The advanced troops of the division were now south-east of Nablus, but 53rd (W) Division was ordered to stand fast and did not take part in the pursuit of the defeated Turkish army. For the next few days it was employed in clearing the battlefield and repairing the Nablus road. On 26 September it moved back to Tell 'Asur, and by 12 October it had moved to Ramle, where on 27 October it began entraining for Alexandria. The Armistice of Mudros ended the fighting in Palestine on 31 October. On 20 December demobilisation instructions were received and the first parties left for home on 22 December. The Indian battalions left in early 1919 as transport became available. The 7th RWF was one of the last British units to leave, being reduced to a cadre on 23 January 1920 and officially disembodied on 12 March."

For his service Pte Waddington was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal, which he would have received some time after August 1921.

He is probably the Robert James Waddington who was born on 24 December 1883 to Thomas and Elizabeth Martha Waddington, and baptised on 24 February at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, West Derby, Liverpool. By the time of the 1911 Census this Robert was living in Toxteth Park at 46 Garmoyle Road Sefton Park Liverpool and married to Minnie. Robert was employed as an assistant schoolmaster and the couple had a young child, Irene Mildred. By the 1921 census Robert and Minnie were living at 53 Portman Road, Wavertree, Liverpool. Robert, by that time a Schoolmaster in the employ of the Liverpool Corporation Education Committee, worked at St Cleopas Church of England School, Beresford Road, Liverpool.

The Great War for Civilisation 1914-1919 Medal, awarded to 15479 PTE. E. Parker of the 17th (Service) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers (1st South East Lancashire) - an original 'bantam'.

The Great War for Civilisation 1914-1919 Medal, awarded to 15479 PTE. E. Parker of the 17th (Service) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers (1st South East Lancashire) - an original 'bantam'.

Edgar Parker was born circa 1894. He may be the same Edgar S Parker, aged 18, and employed as a Twister, who was shown in the 1911 census as boarding with Richard A Parker and wife Ann at 3 Hartley Street, Nelson. As of early 1915 he lived at 46 Regent Street, Nelson and was a twister by trade. Edgar enlisted at Colne, Lancashire on 6 January 1915, aged 20 years 200 days and (under the regimental number 17/15479) was appointed to the Lancashire Fusiliers (17th Battalion) the same day. He gave as his next of kin Richard Arthur Parker, of the same address.

Standing 5' 0" tall, he was a classic 'Bantam' by stature, although at 34" fully expanded chest, slightly off the chest measurement requirement of 34 1/2". (The 'Bantam' drive was a recruitment initiative aimed at men of good physique but shorter than the standard 5' 3" height requirement, such as miners.) He weighed 103lbs and was medically graded 'A1' upon joining.

The 17th (Service) Battalion (1st South-East Lancashire), Lancashire Fusiliers had been formed as a bantam Battalion in Bury by Lieutenant-Colonel G E Wike and a committee on 3 December 1914. On 16 March 1915 the 17th moved to Chadderton near Oldham and then to Masham, Yorkshire to join the 104th Brigade of the 35th Division. On 27 August 1915 both the 17th and its sister 18th battalion were taken over by the War Office and moved to Cholderton on Salisbury Plain. Five months later the battalion was mobilised for war and, going overseas as a unit, landed at Le Havre in January 1916. In keeping with this, on his service record Pte Parker was shown as posted overseas to the 17th Battalion on 28 January 1916.

After a period of familiarisation with western Front conditions in the sector between La Bassée and Armentieres, the 17th, as part of 104th Brigade, 35th Division, then proceeded to fight on the Somme, arriving at Aveluy Wood on 10 July 1916, later acting as carrying parties for the 89th Brigade's attack on Guillemont, 29 and 30 July 1916. During this action the parties were attached to various battalions of the attacking force and moved up with the 4th wave, suffering 40 other rank casualties in the process, of which 31 were wounded. The battalion continued to take casualties as the offensive continued; 12 men were wounded by an accidental bomb (grenade) explosion in 'Happy Valley' on 14 July, 5 men were wounded at Maricourt on 19 July, and a further 153 men were wounded whilst the battalion occupied the front line between Trones Wood and Maltz Horn Farm from 21 to 23 July and then Talus Boise the following day. The battalion remained in this sector for some time and on 24 August they attacked, in conjunction with the French, the German lines south east of Falfemont Farm, advancing 300 yards and digging in on the Falfemont Spur. Pte Parker would have been with them at this point, and then travelled with the battalion to the Arras sector at the end of the month. By November 1916 the battalion was in the line at Arras and along with others experienced a severe trench raid on the 25th of the month, battalion casualties for November (including this episode) being 12 other ranks killed, 15 wounded and 25 missing.

Early in 1917 as part of a general reorganization of the 35th Division the 17th ceased to be a bantam Battalion, the war diary for December and January 1917 (the battalion was billetted at Arras during the latter month) showing evidence of men not considered fit enough for infantry duty being selected for transfer. On 25 January 1917 Pte Parker was transferred to an Infantry Labour Company (the 17th) at Dunkirk, probably as part of this transition, joining them in the field on 29 January. He was formally transferred to the Labour Corps upon its formation on 14 May 1917 and served with the Labour Corps under the regimental number 111727 in 187th Company. This means he was on the strength of the company when, during the night of 21 July 1917 it was shelled whilst in camp, seven men being killed, and he appears to have remained with it for most of the rest of the war, apart from a couple of episodes of sickness and one period of attachment with 103 Company between 29 March and 7 April 1918, which may have been associated with the impact of the German Spring Offensive 1918. With the 187th Company he had one offence of overstaying his leave in August 1918, for which he was confined to camp for seven days. On 20 December 1918 he was posted to 708th Company and, after passing through No.2 Dispersal Unit at Prees Heath, was transferred to the Army 'Z' Reserve on demobilization on 23 March 1919. His home address upon demobilization was 23 Derby Street, Nelson, Lancashire and he was medical category 'B2' upon discharge.

His full entitlement was the British War Medal and Victory Medal, issued off the Labour Corps roll and acknowledged in August 1921. This was the subject of an inquiry to the medals office in November 1945.

He may be the Edgar Saunders Parker, also a cotton twister, born in Nelson, who is shown on the 1921 census as living with wife Grace Mary at 23 Derby St, Nelson.

S4-040199 PTE. W. BROOKER. A.S.C. Field Butchery - lied about age to enlist

S4-040199 PTE. W. BROOKER. A.S.C.

Walter Brooker was born in [Old] Basing, Hampshire, in the second quarter of 1874, possibly circa 26 May, to William, a Carman, and Caroline, and was baptised in the parish church on 26 July 1874. By the time of the 1911 census Walter was living at 8 Church Square, Basingstoke with his by-now widowed mother, Caroline, and siblings, and working as a butcher. At the time of enlistment in January 1915 he was working for John Thorneycrofts of Basingstoke. He served with the Supply branch of the Army Service Corps, also as a butcher. His next of kin upon enlistment was given as his mother, Caroline.

Having been medically examined on 2 January 1915, Walter stated his age as 35 years and 222 days (implying that he was born circa 26 May 1879, thus taking five years off his actual age). Walter enlisted for the duration of the war and joined for duty at Basingstoke on 4 January 1915, at which time he was medically graded as Class A1. He entered the France and Flanders theatre with the 19th Division Field Butchery on 16 July 1915. The function of these unit was the the supply of fresh meat to the forces in the field. He spent time with 8 Field Butchery, No.4 Lines of Communication Supply Company, and 9 Field Butchery. In November 1916 he was 'combed-out' of his lines of communication rule for infantry service, due to his high medical grade, 'for transfer to a combatant unit' and sent home to Aldershot. There he spent time with the 100th and 90th Training Reserve Battalions. He subsequently reported heart trouble caused in France in March 1917, due to his infantry training. Certainly by April 1917 he had been reclassified as medical grade B.ii.  It is not clear that he saw infantry service, and he later returned to his ASC trade, taking up his old regimental number. He subsequently served with C (Supply) Company at Aldershot. As of May 1919 his age was recorded as 48 at his last birthday. His medical examination prior to discharge confirmed the heart problem (Hypertrophy of heart) and described him as disabled, the degree of disability being under 20%.

Passing through the Fovant Dispersal Station, Pte Brooker transferred to the Army Class 'Z' Reserve on demobilization, on 18 June 1919. For his impairment he was pensioned at 5 Shillings and Sixpence weekly for one year 

Walter's postwar address was 21 Victoria Street, Basingstoke. For his service he was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. By 1921 he was living with his family (five brothers, sister and niece) at 12 Victoria Street and working as a labourer at J J Thorneycrofts, presumably the same as his old workplace. Walter appears to have died in Basingstoke in the third quarter of 1936.

11526 Lance-Corporal Charles Henry Phillips, 2nd Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, killed in action 23 July 1916, near High Wood

11526 Lance-Corporal Charles Henry Phillips, 2^nd Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, killed in action 23 July 1916, near High Wood

Charles Henry Phillips was born and lived in Morley, in Yorkshire. An Old Contemptible, as 11526 Pte C H Phillips he disembarked in France on 15 August 1914 with the 2nd Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers and would have served with the BEF in 1914 at the crucial early battles of Le Cateau and on the Aisne. In 1915 the battalion fought at Hill 60 in the Ypres salient and was then transferred to the Somme sector. There in July 1916 the battalion fought in an area between Morval and High Wood, and was part of the attacks on High Wood between 20 and 25 July 1916.

Pte Phillips was wounded in action in 1914 whilst serving with ‘A’ Company*, being reported as wounded on the Casualty List issued by the War Office for 22 September 1914. He was aged 19 at the time, with one year of service. He had been admitted, under the admission number 115, to 4^th Stationary Hospital on 17 September, most probably having been injured a couple of days prior, possibly when the battalion was crossing the Aisne at Missy on 14 September. He was under treatment for just under a fortnight for a gun shot wound to the right ear, being returned to duty on 30 September.

Whilst on the Somme, the 2nd Battalion, as part of the 13th Brigade of the 5th Division in XV Corps (General Watts), was engaged in the following places:

17 July : Meaulte (battle billets).

19 July : In front line between Bazentin-le-Grand and Longueval (old German second line).

20 July : Attack and taking of road leading from southern corner of High Wood to Longueval by A & D companies: 124 other rank casualties. Relieved at 3.30am 21/07 by 14^th Royal Warwicks).

21 July : Bazentin-le-Grand area again (old German second line).

22-23 July : night attack on Wood Lane, part of German switch line, A & D companies leading the assault for the battalion, which was in turn supporting the 1^st Royal West Kents. The 1^st Royal West Kents reached part of their objective, as did one platoon of ‘D’ Company but both were forced to withdraw to the former British line on the road by heavy German fire. The battalion suffered 110 other rank casualties, including 29 missing. Relieved from positions at 9pm and withdrew to bivouac in Pommiers Redoubt.

24th July : Pommiers Redoubt.

L-Cpl Phillips’ death was presumed on or after Sunday 23rd July 1916. He appears likely to have been one of the 29 missing casualties in the attack on Wood Lane on the 22nd/23rd.  A Red Cross enquiry was later made by a Mrs Rebecca Phillips, receiving a negative response. Charles was listed as "Missing" on the Casualty List issued by the War Office for 27 August 1916. L-Cpl Phillips’ remains were found at 57.c.S.4.b.3.3., and he was later buried and is now commemorated at Serre Road Cemetery n°2. Plot XXXIX. Row A. 11. His financial effects of £15 14s and 2s 6d and War Gratuity of £11 were split between his mother, Mrs Rebecca Shackleton, and his brother William Phillips and sister, Mrs Edith Brook. A claim for a pension was later made by Charles’ stepfather, William Henry Shackleton of 28 Bond Street, Hunslet, Leeds.

*The entry for him in the admissions and discharge book of the 4^th Stationary Hospital seems to suggest that he was serving with the 1^st KOSB, however this must be a mistake as the 1^st battalion was not in theatre at this point