19051 Pte Isaac Smith 1st Suffolk Regiment, wounded in action, Salonika, awarded French Medaille d'Honneur avec Glaives en Bronze

19051 Pte Isaac Smith 1st Suffolk Regiment, wounded in action, Salonika, awarded French Medaille d'Honneur avec Glaives en Bronze

19051 Pte Isaac Smith, born in 1888, was from Hendon, Sunderland. He is believed to be the son of John Robinson Smith and Sarah Smith, a papermaker living at 4 Plantation Rd, Pallion, Sunderland in the 1911 census. He served with the 1st (Regular) Battalion, the Suffolk Regiment, in the 84th Infantry Brigade of the 28th Division. His medical (hospital admissions and discharge) record from late November 1917 indicates that he had three years and three months service at that point, which suggests that he enlisted circa August 1914, although his service number would suggest a date up to June 1915. (Possibly, like 19052 Edward Fieldgate, formerly H/12955, who enlisted on 28 August 1914, and 19059 John Frederick Millard, formerly 12601, both of the Hussars of the Line, he was transferred to the Suffolk Regiment post-enlistment, receiving his new service number at this point) He was entitled to the 1914-1915 Star, having entered the France and Flanders theatre of war on 3 August 1915, possibly joining the battalion in time to be inspected by Lord Kitchener and the French Minister of War at Ballieul on 18 August 1915. The 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment was part of the 84th Brigade in 28th Division and, having been stationed at Khartoum at the outbreak of war, had been in the France theatre since 18 January 1915, landing at Le Havre. Prior to his joining it the battalion had fought in the Second Battle of Ypres (22 April-25 May 1915). He would have probably been part of a replacement draft to the battalion, sent out to replace one of the 400 casualties incurred in the course of the Second Battle of Ypres. His date of entry probably put him in line to fight with the battalion at Loos in September and October 1915 (25 September-8 October 1915), including potentially the 3rd October attack on 'Little Willie' trench from the opposing fire trench in which seven officers and 150 other ranks were killed. After this Pte Smith would have proceeded with the division in October 1915 via Marseilles and Alexandria to Salonika, along with the 22nd and 27th Divisions, landing at some point up to 4 January 1916. During 1916 Pte Smith would have been involved developing and manning the 'birdcage line' of dug and wired defences around the port of Salonika before taking part in actions on the Struma river front including the occupation of Mazirko on 2 October 1916 and the capture of Barakli Jum’a on 31 October 1916.

During 1917, the 28th Division from April extended its line west to Lake Doiran and in May 1917 Pte Smith may have been involved in the capture of Ferdie and Essex Trenches near Barakli Jum'a, and the capture of Barakli and Kumli in October 1917.

At some point Pte Smith was attached to the 9th Border Regiment, the Pioneer Battalion for the 22nd Division, most probably whilst in this theatre. 

He was wounded circa November 1917 (being listed as such on War Office Daily List 5442 of 14 December 1917). A record from 28th General Hospital dating from the period 24 November to 9 December 1917 indicates that he was suffering a Gunshot wound (Army term for any penetrating wound) to the head, left shoulder and right arm. At this time he was with C Company of the 1st Battalion. From the description this was possibly a shrapnel wound. A later newspaper report indicates that he had over a dozen (19?) shrapnel wounds and a large amount left in his body "as the result of a bomb explosion in Salonika". Subsequently he appears to have passed through No. 5 Convalescent Depot and No. 21 Stationary Hospital, and may have subsequently returned to his battalion, or he may have been attached to the 9th Border Regiment at this time. 

In September 1918 the 1st Suffolks were engaged in the Battle of Doiran (18-19 September), and following the retreat of the Bulgarian Army, the pursuit to the Strumica valley (22-28 September), culminating in an armistice on 30 September 1918. Isaac Smith married Gertrude May Smith (née Pace, born in Sunderland to William and May Pace in 1891) in Sunderland in the third quarter of 1918; depending upon the date of the wedding and subsequent leave It is possible that Pte Smith was back with his battalion at this point, and also during their subsequent move to Gallipoli and occupation of the Dardanelles forts.

After the war Pte Smith was awarded the French Medaille d'Honneur avec Glaives en Bronze with unrestricted permission to wear; this award was gazetted on 21 July 1919. It has been estimated that 700-800 such awards were made to British and Commonwealth/Empire soldiers during the First World War, making it a scarce award. It may have been awarded for a personal act of gallantry connected with a French citizen (French personnel were present in the Salonika theatre) or it may have been an award made from within the theatre command structure for general good service from a quota of this and other decorations made available by the French Government for recognition of British troops. 

Pte Smith was discharged to the Army 'Z' Reserve on 6 April 1919 and subsequently pensioned for the effect of his multiple wounds, initially for 12 Shillings weekly and later for 8 Shillings (this was after his injuries were reassessed from 30% disabling down to 20%). His postwar address on his pensions record was 17 Ward Street, Hendon. He would have received his 1914-15 Star some time after March 1920 and his British War Medal and Victory Medal (completing his entitlement) probably some time after that.

At the time of the 1921 census Isaac and Gertrude were still living at 17 Ward St, Sunderland, and Isaac was employed as a Machineman Paper Maker at the Ford Paper Works Ltd Paper Manufacturers of South Hylton near Sunderland. 

Isaac and Gertrude later lived at 102 Fordham Road, Sunderland. By this time described as a paper-making machinist, he died on 15 March 1932 of perforation of a blood vessel, arterial degeneration and heart failure. The subsequent medical examination and evidence at the inquest indicated that he had been wounded in the shoulders, armpit, back, thighs and head. He lies buried at Bishopwearmouth Cemetery, Ward 35 Section CC Plot 394. Gertrude, who outlived him by 46 years, until 1978, died at Ryhope and is buried in the same plot.

BWM to 41506 Pte J W Nichols 10th, 2nd, 8th (Reserve) & 13th Manchester Regiment, Labour Corps and 9th South Lancashire Regiment

BWM to 41506 Pte J W Nichols 10th, 2nd, 8th (Reserve) & 13th Manchester Regiment, Labour Corps and 9th South Lancashire Regiment 

A British War Medal issued to 41506 Pte J W Nichols of the Manchester Regiment. He is believed to be the James William Nichols (or Nichol/Nicholls ) who was born in Oldham on 9th August 1894 to James Henry and Lavinia Nichol or Nichol[l]s. James Henry was a cardroom jobber and the family were living at 3 Back, St James’ Street in Oldham, having baby James baptised at the parish church of St James’, Oldham on 23rd September 1894. By 1901 the family was living in Frank Street. In 1911 the 16-year-old James William was living with his family at 25 New Earth Street, Oldham and employed, along with his sister, as a little piecer whilst their father was now a stripper and grinder in a cardroom. They also had a younger brother, Henry, still at school.

 By late 1915 James William was a stripper and grinder himself. He stood 5 feet 4 ½” tall, weighing 133 pounds, and had a 38 1/2” chest measurement. He attested his willingness to serve aged 21 years 103 days on or about 11 December 1915 at Oldham, making him one of the last of the Derby Scheme volunteers. He was mobilised circa May 1916 and medically examined at Ashton-under-Lyne on the 6th of that month. Being pronounced medically fit for General Service, he was posted to the 10th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment, an Oldham Territorial Battalion, under the regimental number 5294, appropriate for a Territorial unit. At some point he also passed through the Territorial 8th (Reserve) Battalion of the Regiment. Judging by the dates of his TAB inoculation, which took place when he was with the 3/10th Manchesters, he probably did not go overseas before July 1916 at the earliest. For his overseas service he was issued the new regimental number 41506, from the regular and service battalion sequence. Like fellow 2nd Battalion member 41507 Pte William O’Gara, also of Oldham and formerly of the 10th Battalion, this probably took place under authority of A.C.I.1499. Pte Nichols was posted to the (Regular) 2nd Battalion of the Regiment (14th Brigade, 32nd Division) on the Western Front most probably, like Ptes O’Gara and Ogden (mentioned below) on 28-29 September 1916. This would have put him in line, like 41500 Pte Robert Mallalieu, 41502 Pte George Harry Mather and 41508 Pte John Nield to have served on the Somme and taken part in the Battle of the Ancre, the 2nd Manchesters’ attack on Serre on 18 November 1916. This was the last major action of the Battle of the Somme and is described on themanchesters.org as follows: "The Manchesters gained their objective and were the only regiment to do so ...The company got into Munich and 28th Trench but were unable to advance or withdraw, bombs were scarce, the Germans were on both sides of them and advancing up a trench in front of them. when a dugout caught fire and the smoke was so dense that the men had to put on their gas masks. This party was all killed, wounded or taken prisoner." Ptes Mallalieu, Mather and Neild were captured on the Somme at Serre with the 2nd Manchesters on 18 November 1916 and 41508 Pte William Ogden, also an Oldham man, was killed in this action and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. (Image left: Field kitchen of the 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment near St Pierre Divion, November 1916.)

Possibly after a period at home with the 8th Reserve Battalion of the regiment (perhaps due to sickness for injury as there is no casualty list entry for him), Pte Nichols was later posted to the 13th Manchesters in the 66th Brigade of 22nd Division in Salonika. This was possibly in time to take part with the 13th Manchesters in their assault on Pip Ridge on 24 April 1917, during the Battle of Doiran 1917, or he may have been a post-battle replacement. 41505 Pte G Matthews was with the 13th Manchesters (‘A’ Company) when hospitalised with 66th Field Ambulance on 29 September 1917, it is possible that Pte Nichols’ transfer had taken effect by this time; certainly it was probably whilst in this theatre that Pte Nichols caught the region’s endemic Malaria, which his pensions records refer to as attributable [to service], caught circa July 1917.. (Similarly 41503 Pte H N Elliott of the 3/6th Manchesters, attached to the 14th Liverpool Regiment, was in the Salonika theatre by 17 March 1917, by which time he had completed 1 year 4 months’ service, of which 5 months was with the field force.)

At some point Pte Nichols was transferred to the Labour Corps with whom he served under the new regimental number 534021 – such transfers were due to a decrease in medical category due to the effects of injury, disease, etc, in James’ case possibly due to his Malaria. It seems likely that he remained in the Salonika theatre for this posting. 534022 Pte Nicholas William Gunn, late Welsh Regiment, made his transfer to the Labour Corps (Base Lines of Communication Company) on 17 April 1918 and Pte Nichols’ transfer most probably took effect on the same date. 534026 Pte Harry Albert Hicks made his transfer to “Labour Corps Employment Base” at the same time, subsequently being posted (like Pte Gunn) to the Salonika-based 968 Area Employment Company on 23 September 1918. Labour Corps Area Employment Companies were formed in 1917 for salvage work, absorbing the Divisional Salvage Companies, and a range of other duties in their dedicated area (in this respect they were possibly similar to those of Home Service Employment Companies, which consisted of medically downgraded personnel in recognised trades and provided batmen, clerks, sanitary men, cooks, laundrymen, storemen, tradesmen such as butchers and tailors, and other essential staff members for hospitals, barracks and command depots).

Pte Nichols was finally transferred to the South Lancashire Regiment and posted to their 9th Battalion, with whom he served under the regimental number 41567. This unit was also based in Salonika, as part of the 66th Brigade of the 22nd Division alongside the 13th Manchesters. This transfer probably took effect either on 21 September 1918 like 41560 Pte Patrick Campbell, also a sufferer from Malaria incurred in July 1917, or between the 31 October 1918 transfer date of 41561 Pte William John Sharp (Pte Sharp also reported Malaria from July 1917) and the 11 November 1918 transfer date of 41569 Pte Thomas Swift. Most probably this was to replace the casualties incurred during the 66th Brigade's assault on Pip Ridge during the Battle of Doiran on 18 September 1918, in which the brigade suffered 837 casualties, a casualty rate of 65% of those engaged.

Following Pte Nichols’ discharge his Malaria was judged as 20% disabling (later 30%) and he was pensioned for 12 Shillings weekly for one year in the first instance, with effect from 2 November 1919. He does not seem to have been assessed as fully recovered from Malaria until some time in 1922-23. Pte Nichols would most probably have received his British War Medal and Victory Medal some time after February 192[1?]. His postwar address was 5 Jackson Street, Lees Road, Oldham. He married Mabel Chapman in Oldham in the second quarter of 1921 and as of the census date was living with Mabel at 16 Overens St, Oldham and employed again as a Stripper & Grinder in the Cotton Trade for Royal Mills Co, Oldham, Cotton Spinners at the Royal Mills Feather Stall Rd, Oldham. As of the 1939 census register, James William Nichol[s] was still employed as a stripper and grinder in a cotton mill card room and was also involved in a voluntary ambulance service (possibly, like his son, James (also a cotton mill worker) the St John’s Ambulance). James William Nichol[s], husband of Mabel, of 18 Parkfield, Chadderton, Lancashire died on 7 April 1966. Probate was awarded to Mabel and Henry Nichol, retired cafe proprietor.

GS/21459 Pte F Taylor, Royal Fusiliers, Prisoner of War, Cambrai 13-15 December 1917

GS/21459 Pte F Taylor, Royal Fusiliers, Prisoner of War, Cambrai 13-15 December 1917

 

Frederick Isaac Taylor enlisted for General Service. He was given the regimental number GS/21459 and served in the Royal Fusiliers (London Regiment), initially going overseas to join the 4th Royal Fusiliers (in the 9th Brigade of 3rd Division) as a Corporal on 12 April 1916. He remained with the 4th Battalion until 29 July 1916, which would have put him in line to take part with them in the Battle of the Somme, in particular the 14-15 July attack on Bazentin-le-Grand. He then had a break in service shown on his medal roll entry, which may indicate that he was invalided to the UK due to sickness. At the time of his departure the battalion, having been in Delville Wood, was out of the line in the Meaulte area.

On 25 April 1917 he was posted overseas again, this time to the 2nd Royal Fusiliers, before being posted to the 22nd (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (Kensington) on the 14th of the following month. Possibly he was one of a draft of 5 other ranks received on 16 May when the battalion was out of the line at Ecurie. By this time the 22nd Battalion was very low in strength, having lost significant numbers of men in both the operations to follow-up the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, and then later in the Battle of Arras, one source suggesting a strength of only nine officers and 174 men at about this time. By 23 May the battalion was organised as two companies and holding the line in the Arleux Loop, opposite Fresnoy, and it is likely that he was in the trenches with the battalion at this time, prior to it being withdrawn to Bray for training, and later sent along with the rest of the division to the Bethune sector. After a few periods in the line in the Cambrin sector and intensive training whilst out of the line in Rambert near Bethune, and later Herzeele, in the Ypres sector, he would have been in line to serve with the 22nd in their last major action, 30 November to 5 December 1917, the Battle of Cambrai. The battalion was first committed to battle in relief of the 186th (2/2nd) West Riding) Bridge in Bourlon Wood at 4.30am on 28 November, forming a defensive flank to the 186th Brigade area, remaining there for the day under shellfire at a cost of 44 casualties, 7 fatal, before being sent to the Canal du Nord defences where it remained, assisting in fighting off a German attack on 2 December and another whilst withdrawing from its more exposed positions in Canal Trench on the night of 4th-5th December. During the period 30 November to 5 December the battalion suffered four officers and 70 other ranks wounded, six other ranks killed, and one other rank missing. Having withdrawn to Hermies, the battalion returned again to the canal defences in the right bank of the canal on 13 December and there was involved in beating-off a grenade attack on the battalion’s advanced sap on 15 December 1917.

Cpl Taylor is shown in his medal roll entry as serving with the 22nd Royal Fusiliers until 14 December 1917 and was recorded (as Lance-Sergeant Taylor) as having been captured at ‘Cambrai’ whilst serving with ‘C’ Company on 13 December (whilst the battalion was manning the Canal du Nord defences). It seems likely that both of these dates are slightly out, and that Cpl Taylor was captured in the course of the abovementioned attack (three missing other ranks are mentioned in the 99th Brigade War diary for this day).

War Office Daily List No.5476 of 26 Jan 1918 listed him as Missing, with his next of kin address being Willenhall. As of 16 February 1918 he was incarcerated at Dulmen, having been previously incarcerated at Le Quesnoy. This record confirmed that he was born on 21 January [18]?7 in Wolverhampton and gave his next of kin as Mrs Taylor, address 16 Birchfield Street, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire.

In War Office Daily List No. 5497 of 20 Feb 1918 he was Listed as Previously reported missing, now reported prisoner of war in German hands. The List also gave his Next Of Kin Address as Willenhall. War Office Daily List No.5750 of 17 Dec 1918 Listed him as Released Prisoner of War from Germany, arrived in England and gave a revised next of kin address as Wolverhampton.

34092 Gunner Herbert George Styles of the Royal Garrison Artillery

A pair of medals said to be named to H G STYLES RA. I have done a quick bit of research and the medal rolls contain one H G Styles of the Artillery. that is to say 34092 Gunner Herbert George Styles of the Royal Garrison Artillery. I can't guarantee without confirmation of the regimental number on the medals that this is the same man, however it seems likely. If so, he was also entitled to the 1914-15 Star, entering the France and Flanders theatre on 3 October 1915. At some point he served with 50th Siege Battery, RGA, a 6" gun battery. By early August 1918 he was a Bombardier. He was recorded as wounded in War Office Daily List no.5664 of 7 September 1918, suggesting that he was wounded in early August. This list confirmed his next of kin address as Worcester. He was discharged to the Army Section 'B' Reserve on 14 March 1919.

G/14255 Pte T Cleary 7th Queens Prisoner of War

G/14255 Pte Thomas Cleary, 7th Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment), German Spring Offensive 1918 Prisoner of War

 Thomas Cleary was born on or about 18 December 1877 in Kilrush, County Clare. Taking up a ‘duration of war’ enlistment in the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment (as indicated by the ‘G/’ prefix to his regimental number of G/14255), he would have gone overseas some time after 31 December 1915. Judging by the case of the closety-numbered G/14260 Pte Albert James Button, his date of enlistment/mobilisation is likely to have been around 28/29 April 1916 (Pte Button having been mobilised on the former date, and then posted to the 12th Queens’ on the latter). Although his date of posting overseas has not been recorded it is possible that Pte Cleary, like Pte Button, may have gone overseas as early as the end of September 1916. This would have put him in line to take part with the battalion in the latter stages of the Battles of the Somme and Ancre in 1916, and in 1917 the Operations on the Ancre, the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, the Battle of Arras (Third Battle of the Scarpe), and then various battles of the Third Battle of Ypres including the Battles of Pilkem Ridge, Langemarck and both battles of Passchendaele.

He was captured at Saint Quentin or Vendeuil Fort on or about 22 March 1918, during the German Spring Offensive, whilst serving with D (or C according to one source) Company, 7th Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). At this time the battalion was in the Vendeuil sector, having been relieved from the front line the previous week. Late on the night of 20 March the battalion ‘stood to’, manning battle positions when the German attack went in in the early morning of the 21st. After some action including the loss of a left front company patrol in the battle zone which was attempting to make contact with the enemy or reach the 7th Buffs headquarters , the battalion was forced to withdraw, initially to Frieres Wood on the 22nd, and took up defensive positions near the canal, prior to significant defensive action during the day of the 23rd – it is possibly at this time or in the context of the patrol on the 21st that Pte Cleary was captured. He was one of 19 officers and 323 men who were killed, wounded or missing during the German Spring Offensive. On 29 May 1918 he was shown as being in Prison Camp Hammelburg but on the Lazarettliste (Hospital list) . This may indicate loss of a hand and some kind of injury to his thigh (verl.Hand U Schkl).

War Office Daily List No. 5688 of 5 October 1918 confirms him as wounded and prisoner of war, based on a list received from the German Government. He was thereby entitled to wear a "Wound Stripe" as authorised under Army Order 204 of 6th July 1916, the terms of this award being met by being named in such a list. The list also confirmed his Next of Kin address as Willesden Green, London N.W. As of 7 Oct 1918 he was incarcerated in a Prison Camp at Darmstadt and then by 23 November in Güstrow . This latter record confirms his next of kin address as 31 Shootup Hill, Brondesbury, London NW. He would have been repatriated to the United Kingdom shortly thereafter, being discharged circa 20 April 1919. By this time his address was 110 [D]eacon Road, Willesden Green.

For his service he was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal, which he would have received some time after September 1920.

5102 B Barrett Indian Telegraph Department

5102 – B Barrett Indian Telegraph Department, East Africa or Mesopotamia

(Lt Col E.W.C. Sandes “The Indian Sappers and Miners”)

In January 1890 the Indian Telegraph Department assumed responsibility for military telegraphy in India, and it was decided that in future expeditions the Department should make all arrangements for Army telegraphs, using either civilian telegraphists or Indian Sapper and Miner personnel who had been attached for training.

As a means of training, two sub-divisions of the telegraph system were to be worked entirely by Madras Sappers under the orders of the Director General of Telegraphs.

Meanwhile the Indian Sapper and Miner Regiments trained in other aspects of military signals duties and formed Divisional Signal Companies.

When Indian Expeditionary Force “B” was sent to East Africa in 1914 the Force Headquarters included a Telegraph Section. The manning of this Section included military telegraph operators recalled from service with the Indian Telegraph Department.

 (Courtesy of Great War Forum member Bushfighter.)

When in India, civilian employees were employed in the "Posts and Telegraphs Department". It is suggested that during most of WW1 when outside India the Post and Telegraph Departments operated independently, the Telegraph Department operations being under the Signal Officer-in-Chief.

I am inclined to think that due to the absence of a quoted rank, and military formation within the naming of the medal, that this medal was awarded to a civilian member of the Indian Telegraph Department, for service in Mesopotamia or East Africa.

37055 / 06612- Pte R.F. Frith, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and Hampshire Regiment

37055 / 06612- Pte R.F.Frith Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry

Robert Francis Frith served as a Private with the 1/4th Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, probably going overseas some time after 31 December 1915. Depending upon his date of joining the battalion (and departure) he may have served in Aden, in the Suez Defence Force, and in Palestine. He was subsequently transferred to the Hampshire Regiment, given the new regimental number 06612, and posted to an unrecorded battalion. If this transfer took place in-theatre, it is possible that he transferred to a Territorial battalion of the Hampshires, of which the 1/8th, 2/4th and 2/5th served in Egypt and/or Palestine. His British War Medal and Victory Medal were issued off the Hampshire Regiment roll some time after 19 May 1920.