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

23058 Pte W G Jessup, 4th Worcester Regiment, enlisted 13 March 1915, disembarked Balkan theatre 16 July 1915, listed as wounded on War Office casualty list for 8 September 1915, issued Silver War Badge as Jessop circa 14 August 1916 (discharged due to sickness)

28272 Driver Frank Schofield of Oldham, a member of the original BEF from 19 August 1914, 28th Brigade RFA.entitled to the 1914 Star.

T-22711 Driver T E Raven, 1914 Star with rose and Victory Medal. Thomas Edward Raven. Entered theatre of war August 1914. Attached 2nd Manchesters. Issued clasp & roses. Probable Old Contemptibles Association member circa 1938, living in Ruislip. Hospitalised 1 January 1915 with indigestion and evacuated to UK. Appears to have spent rest of war on home service.

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.)