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.