Second Corporal Joseph Gartside of Newhey, RE Signals Salonika

60391 2nd Cpl J Gartside RE Signals - Telegraphist Linesman with GHQ British Salonika Force

Joseph Gartside was born in 1891, one of six children to John Gartside, farmer, and Sarah Ann Crompton of Higher White Slack, Newhey, near Rochdale. He was 23 years 8 months old on enlistment. He described his civil trade as bleacher (in 1911 he was a beetler in a bleaching works). He enlisted and was medically examined at Shaw, Lancashire on 9 January 1915, giving his next of kin as his father, John. He was assessed as medical category A1 and enlisted for the duration of the war. He first joined at the Training Depot Royal Engineers, Aldershot on 15 January 1915. By the end of January he was at Newark, receiving his first and second inoculations and vaccination. He was qualified as a Driver (horsed transport). He arrived in France on 19 November 1915 and was therefore entitled to the 1914-15 Star. On 20 November 1915 he joined the Army Horse Transport Depot from No.4 Base Depot. On 26 November 1915 he joined 4th Army HQ Signals from the Army Horse Transport Depot. At some point he served with the 67th Field Company, RE, 11th Division, being presumably posted to them on their return to the Westrn Front, after their service in Gallipoli and Egypt. At some point he was posted from the France and Flanders theatre to Salonika. It is not clear in what capacity he was posted, but certainly by March he was a Signaller. On 11 March 1916 the Officer Commanding Salonika Army Signal Company noted that Gartside's Engineer Pay - by then he was presumably a Sapper - was increased in recognition of him being a Telegraphist Linesman. On 30 March 1916 he was appointed Acting Lance-Corporal (paid), on the occasion of L-Cpl Hill being appointed Acting Second Corporal. On 13 May 1916 he arrived at *24th Company, Army Ordnance Corps from Base Signals, presumably on attachment as he appears to have remained on the books of GHQ Signals Company for discipline purposes. (Other detachments sent out from HQ Army Signals Salonika included a Signals Section at Mudros.) It is not clear how long this attachment lasted. *possibly a mistake for 124th Company AOC, which was part of the Salonika establishment, with elements being attached to the ammunition depot at Stavros. On 14 October 1916 Joseph was absent from camp between 9 pm and 9.20pm, when sent back to camp by Military Police. He was admonished and put under open arrest. This infraction does not appear to have made its way onto his Regimental Conduct Sheet. On 9 March 1917 he was appointed Acting Second Corporal, on the occasion of 19535 Acting Second Corporal Catling being transferred to the Military Foot Police, and then substantively promoted with effect from 9 September. In between these times the great Salonika fire took place, destroying Base Signals amongst many others, and it is possible that Cpl Gartside was involved or at least a witness. Between 10 and 11 November 1917 he was admitted first to 25 Casualty Clearing Station and then No.64 General Hospital with Not Yet Diagnosed/Malaria and temporarily struck off the strength of his Company, passing through No.8 Convalescent Depot and Signals Base Depot until fit to return to his unit on 14 December. He may at this time have been supporting GHQ proper, located in Salonika Town. He was medically examined prior to discharge on 1 March 1919 at Constantinople, where there was an RE Signals Section and where he had possibly been sent the previous December. He did not claim to be suffering from any disability. Following this, on 27 March 1919, he was sent home for demobilisation. He was processed for dispersal via No.1 Dispersal Unit, Heaton Park, 10 April 1919. His address on discharge was 13 Brook Terrace, Newhey, and he was discharged to the Army Reserve Class 'Z' on 7 May 1919. He acknowledged receipt of British War Medal and 1914-15 Star in November 1920 and of his Victory Medal on 7 September 1921.