FIRST WORLD WAR PAIR AND MEMORIAL PLAQUE TO THE A.S.C./HEAVY ARTILLERY. A Great War pair comprising War Medal and Victory Medal named to M2/101899 A-Cpl W. Innes A.S.C. The plaque to William Innes, cast at the Woolwich Ordnance Factory by Worker 91 some time after December 1920.
Acting Corporal Innes was born circa 1888, the son of Joseph and Mary Innes of Colwall, Herefordshire and husband to Cicely/Cecily Mary Innes (later of 182 Norwood Road, West Norwood, London). A former coachman, he served in the Army Service Corps as a motor transport driver. Probably, like M2/101894 Pte Sydney John Heath from Folkestone, a motor driver, he enlisted on or about 31 May 1915, with his enlistment being approved at the MT Reserve Depot, Grove Park, between 3 and 5 June 1915. Unlike Pte Heath, however, there is no evidence to suggest that he went overseas in 1915; possibly he was retained at home for training purposes, or due to sickness. By October 1917 he was attached to X [possibly a mistake in CWGC records for IX] Corps Heavy Artillery (153rd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery). This battery went overseas to France via Avonmouth and Southampton on 29 August 1916 (the mechanical transport, of which Cpl Innes may have been a part, proceeding from Aldershot and joining the advance party and guns of the battery at Stockcross on 26 August) and was subsequently equipped with 6" howitzers. Possibly he was with 717 MT Company, ASC, formed 20 June 1916 and by September 1917 the Corps Siege Park for IX Corps, Second Army (the 153rd Siege Battery, as part of 9 Heavy Artillery Group [later 9 Brigade], was with IX Corps at this time). In late May 1917, the 153rd battery moved up to the Ypres sector* and by June/July was emplaced near Hollebeke. By late September it was engaged in supporting attacks, undertaking counter-battery fire (including concentration fires), and responding to S.O.S. calls, principally on the Zandvoorde and Tenbrielem areas. Meanwhile, 717 Company HQ was at Mont Rouge with lorries standing at various locations including Locre, near Mont Kemmel, south of Ypres (about ten miles distant from Hollebeke). The 717th Company's war diary for 30/9/1917 notes '[Night of 30th September] German plane drops bomb on [9th] Brigade Lorry Park, killing 12, injuring another 17, some of whom died of wounds later". Cpl Innes received a bomb wound to the face at Locre on or about 1 October, almost certainly, given the location and circumstances, in this incident.
As transcribed and shared by Great War Forum user 'Dai Bach y Sowldiwr', the IX Corps Senior Motor Transport Officer's War Diary provides further detail on this incident, as follows:
"Mont Noir 30/09/17,
A/Captain S.W.BURDITT ASC, was killed by a bomb dropped by hostile aircraft at Headquarters Heavy Artillery. Large number of enemy aeroplanes over IX Corps area from 8.0pm until about 2.0am. Siege park standings on the Bailleul-Locre road at M.28.b.6.3 bombed. One bomb dropped at 8.0pm parade, 12 killed, 5 wounded. 4 lorries set on fire and completely gutted, 1 car destroyed. Office and mess blown up. Owing to prompt evacuation of the standing, the fire did not spread.
E.H.Blamey Lt.Col
SMTO IX Corps"
Cpl Innes died of wounds at No.2 Casualty Clearing Station on 30 September or 1 October 1917 (records vary) and is buried at the Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension, Bailleul near the border with Belgium. Outtersteene is a village about 5 kilometres south-west of Bailleul, and about seven miles south west of Locre. In August 1917, during the Third Battle of Ypres, the 2nd, 53rd and 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Stations came to Outtersteene, and the first and last of these remained until March 1918. His headstone reads R.I.P., the inscription being chosen by his wife. He was 29 years old. His financial effects, in two instalments of £6 6d and £9 16s 11d, went to his widow, as did his War Gratuity of £11 10s.
*Ypres 036.9.7 sheet 28
M2/101893 Pte William Henry Shearing from Oxford, enlisted 28 May 1915. Overseas to Egypt March 1916.
M2/101894 Pte Sydney John Heath from Folkestone, a motor driver. Enlisted 31 May 1915, enlistment approved at the MT Reserve Depot, Grove Park, on 5 June 1915. Overseas circa July 1915.
M2/101896 Pte Arthur Frederick Ince, a motor driver, from Camberwell. Enlisted 31 May 1915. Overseas to France 20 July 1915.
M2/101897 John Russell Thomas, a chauffeur, from Worcester. Enlisted 29 May 1915, approved at Reserve MT Depot, Grove Park 3 June 1915
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