Gunner Harold Pearman Kimpton served in the London Royal Garrison Artillery, enlisting on 17 January 1916. His initial regimental number was 1979, he was later issued with the six-digit number 319079. This is amongst the number bloc allocated to the London Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.
Gnr Kimpton was listed as wounded in War Office Daily List No.5437 of 8 December 1917, suggesting that he was wounded in late October or early November. As such he was 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 confirmed his next of kin address as New Barnet. He may have been with 1/1st London Heavy Battery at the time. The war diary of the battery mentions gas shelling of the battery whilst in the line on 31 October 1917 and it is possibly in this incident that Gnr Kimpton was wounded. Alternatively he may have been with the 1/2nd London Heavy Battery in 13th Heavy Artillery Group, which was heavily in action at Passchendaele at this time and incurred three casualties in the month of October.
He was put under treatment for Mustard Gas poisoning at Catterick Military hospital. He was discharged, aged 25, on 7 March 1919 under paragraph 392 (xvi a) of King’s Regulation as no longer physically fit (“Surplus to military requirements (having suffered impairment since entry into the service”). He was issued with the Silver War Badge number B346757 and pensioned at 5/6 weekly from 8 March 1919 to 9 September 1919. His postwar address was Woodcote Park Road, New Barnet, North London.
129084 Pioneer Courtenay S Foster, Royal Engineers (Special Brigade)
Courtenay Foster first enlisted into the 31st (Reserve) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, being given the regimental number 1819; this probably took place on 30 November 1915 (the date of enlistment given in his entry on the Silver War Badge roll). He appears to have been one of a large number of men transferred from their parent units to the Royal Engineers to join the forming Special Brigade – in his case circa 11 March 1916. The Special Brigade was formed in order to undertake gas warfare and at this time was undergoing a significant enlargement. At this time he would have been given his new regimental number 129084 (along with five other 31st battalion men who were given consecutive numbers after his) and his rank of Pioneer (there was no Trade Test for the specialisms of the gas troops in the Special Brigade, hence no appointments as ‘Sapper’). Within two months he was in France with the 1st Battalion, the Special Brigade (comprising ‘A’ to ‘D’ Companies, each consisting at this time of six sections). At this time these were ‘cylinder companies’ (that is, they were concerned with the delivery of gas through discharge from cylinders, as opposed to companies that operated stokes mortars). Each 225-man company consisted of 7 officers, 12 non-commissioned officers and 206 other ranks. Pnr Foster’s number is in a block associated with ‘A’ Special Company but he could have been serving with any of the four. At this time the 1st Battalion was serving in the Somme sector under the command of General Headquarters Fourth Army at Albert. He was admitted to hospital (no.3 Casualty Clearing Station, record reference MH106/318) with Bronchitis (possibly connected with his employment in a gas unit) on 12 July 1916. This record states his unit as “1st Battalion, Special Brigade, X Corps”. The following day he was transferred to no.6 Ambulance Train for medical evacuation. His unit continued to serve on the Somme. It was present in the Le Transloy area although not directly involved in the battle, and likewise under GHQ 5th Army at the Ancre Heights. Under the command of GHQ 4th Army the battalion was engaged in the fighting at Pozieres. Pnr Foster was eventually discharged from the Army under paragraph 392 (xvi) of King’s Regulations, due to sickness, on 4 May 1917.
After discharge from the Royal Engineers Depot, Special Brigade, he was issued the Silver War Badge, Badge Number 184060.
46522 Private (Rifleman) Arthur Evan Towse,3rd Rifle Brigade, killed in action 11 October 1918
Arthur Evan Towse was born on 23 March 1899 in Wimbledon, Surrey, to John (a clothier) and Jane Towse. He was baptised at St Mary's Church, Merton, Surrey, on 3 March 1912, at which time the family were living at 60 Adela Avenue, Merton (New Malden), John still being employed as a clothier. In April 1911 the family were living in New Malden, which was also Arthur’s place of residence when he enlisted at Kingston. Pte Towse appears to have been mobilised circa late April 1917, going overseas circa late March 1918, there to join the 3rd Rifle Brigade, part of the 6th Division. On 29 June 1918 Pte Towse was under the care of 4th Stationary Hospital (record reference MH 106/1485) with influenza, this record (from the hospital’s admissions and discharge book) crediting him with one year two months’ service, of which three months was with the field force. Although he possibly escaped the initial attacks of the German Spring Offensive 1918, this would have put him in line to take part in the Battle of Epehy in September 1918, and the Battle of Cambrai in October, during which the 6th Division captured Bohain.
Pte Towse was killed in action with the 3rd Rifle Brigade on 11 October 1918, during the Final Advance in Picardy. He was aged 19. This was in the context of the attack on St Aubert. The battalion war diary describes the circumstances as follows:
[10th October] “Commander was sent for to Brigade and received verbal instructions as to the attack for the next day which was to start from AVENES-LES-AUBERT in square.28 and was to take ST AUBERT and push on to line of the railway east of River SELLE in square V.4.b. The conference lasted a considerable time, and Coy Commanders were not got together until well after 22:00 hours. Verbal instructions were immediately issued to Coy. Commanders as to the objectives and method of attack. Written orders were issued later, but it was not possible to get these out until the actual hour for the start, i.e. 0330 hours had arrived, and no written orders were received from Brigade until Battn had actually formed-up at starting point.
[11th October] Battn paraded with head of column on road C.6.d. at 0300 hours. The night was very dark and there was considerable shelling to the North while battn was marching to its assembly position. Nevertheless the assembly was carried out and the attack was commenced according to plan, with the exception that the actual start was about 5 mins late. As, however, no concerted attack with troops on our right had been arranged, and as Battn on our left did not start until a great deal later, this did not make any difference. On emerging from AVESNES, the leading Coys came under heavy artillery and m.g. fire, but advancing, they reached the houses to the west of ST AUBERT, where hand to hand fighting took place. By this time they were suffering very severe casualties from machine guns on the flanks and they were forced to withdraw slightly and take up a line from the sunken road in U.23.b to railway U.24.c. Here they held on all day under most trying circumstances, with no-one on the flanks, and being shot at by observed m.g. and artillery fire. Battn HQ was established shortly after the advance in a house W.22.d.20.00 from where an excellent view of the battle could be obtained. Visual was quickly established with left front coy. At the start, no artillery assistance was available, and very little could be done to help the two leading Coys. At one time it was proposed to try and assist with an attack from the south, but as the Guards, who were on our right … were also held up, this was not considered practicable, and never took place. It is quite certain that had this attack been launched, heavy casualties would have resulted without any gain. As soon as dusk arrived, orders were issued to Coys to take up dispositions in accordance with Appendix “C”, which was successfully accomplished. Casualties for the day were Killed:- 2 offs. 48 ORs. Wounded:- 7 offs. 126 ORs. Missing:- 3 O.R.s. Believed prisoners:- 2 O.R.s.”
For his service, Pte Towse was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal, which would have been issued off the Rifle Brigade roll some time after May 1920. Pte Towse lies buried at plot IV. A. 10., Saint Aubert British Cemetery, Saint Aubert, France. His financial effects of £13/0/6 and War Gratuity of £6/10/0 went to his mother and sole legatee, Jane.
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