Hello list, Maybe someone here can help me. My Great Gand Aunt's (Elizabeth Weber 1872-1967) alumnae newsletter from nursing school says that she served overseas with the occupation army at "BASE 19" from 1916 to 1918. I have tried all kinds of searches to find what and where was BASE 19. Any suggestions?

You are most likely to get a plausible response from a World War One website such as _www.westernfrontassociation.com_ (http://www.westernfrontassociation.com) . Meanwhile understand that several countries as the war advanced released service men for work in strategic industries. In Great Britain, these included coal mining. Skilled workers were often exempted from military service altogether if they continued to work in their specialties. LGS

On Sun, 7 Jan 2007 20:44:18 -0000, "Mavis Talbot" <mavisandjim@btconnect.com> wrote: > I am trying to find details of my Grandfather, Edwin James Allen b. c1882. >He served 22 years in the Royal Garrison Artillery, rising to the rank of >WO!. Regimental No 239008. > I am particularly keen to find details of his citation for the MC. Any >information would be very much appreciated. Since he was a Warrant Officer when he received the Military Cross, he is listed in "Recipients of Bars to the Military Cross 1916-1920, to which is added MCs to Warrant Officers 1915-1919" by J V Webb, 1988. The entry shows his Regimental Number as 23908, rather than 239008, and states that his MC was announced in the London Gazette of 1 Jan 1918 without a citation. It also states that no separate citation appeared later. An award on 1 January normally indicates a periodic award, and the lack of a citation would be quite normal. The author says the following: -------------- The "periodic awards" mentioned earlier were those for continuing gallantry over a period, usually about six months, where no specific act could be cited... The "periodic awards" were published in the New Year's Honours List, the London Gazette of 1st January, and in the Birthday Honours, celebrating the King's birthday on 4th June. If this date fell on a Sunday, the List appeared on the 3rd June. --------------- The relevant page from the London Gazette can be seen at <http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveViewFrameSetup.asp?IssueNumber=30450&pageNumber=30&SearchFor=&PageDuplicate=n&selMedalType=&selHonourType=> Forrest -- Forrest Anderson, Edinburgh, Scotland. E-mail: forrest@military-researcher.com Website: www.military-researcher.com Forrestdale Research - Military Genealogical Researcher

Dear Listers, I saw the following for sale on ebay when I searched for the history of "Mary boxes" and thought perhaps a relative of J SUTCLIFFE might be a member of this list. I have no interest in this item but what I would give to be able to find medals that belonged to my Gran's brothers! hoping this helps someone, Joanne PS If anyone is familiar with the history of "Mary Boxes", if they'd post to the list I'd appreciate it! _http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Princess-Mary-Gift-Tin-WWI-Medal-WWI-Button-N-R_W0QQite mZ150076686021QQihZ005QQcategoryZ64824QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem_ (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Princess-Mary-Gift-Tin-WWI-Medal-WWI-Button-N-R_W0QQitemZ150076686021QQih Z005QQcategoryZ64824QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) Very nice little set for the WWI collector A Princess Mary Gift Tin- Uncleaned, with much of the original gilt still present, there is some minor sign of wear to the tin base of the tin otherwise in excellent condition. Also a WWI medal and ribon presented to : 4560 Drvr J Sutcliffe R.A. Also a WWI uniform button Joanne MAYS BECKER Sleepy Hollow, New York

I am trying to find details of my Grandfather, Edwin James Allen b. c1882. He served 22 years in the Royal Garrison Artillery, rising to the rank of WO!. Regimental No 239008. He joined the army before his 16th birthday and was serving in South Africa by the time he was 16. He then went on to serve in the Great War. During his service he was awarded the MC, Mons Star, Transvaal Medal ( 3 bars) 3 further medals and the LS&GC Medal. I am particularly keen to find details of his citation for the MC. Any information would be very much appreciated. Regards, Jim Talbot.

On a 2007 calendar I purchased off the Sgt Grit newsletter/web site, there is a WW1 photo -"Photo postcard of rifle range DI's with a flag circa WW1" delilah

Peter, As an oversimpification, RSM stands for Regimental Sargeant Major. The RSM is the senior non commissioned officer in a battalion in the case of an infantry battalion. Without an RSM the battalion would not function. There were more infantry battalions in action than battalions carrying out training. RSMs who did not see action would be in the minority. Maybe the RSM in WW2 was an RSM prior to the war starting. The odds are that your nanna's hubby was in the front in WW1 - also probably lucky to have survived long enough to have died of pneumonia. Regards, Dave Peter Metcalfe wrote: > My grandmother's first husband served throughout the war from beginning to end then died of pneumonia in Oswestry Army Hospital on December 1st 1918. > His obituary stated he was an RSM. > > I was friendly with an elderly gentleman who was an RSM in WW2 but only trained men to fight. He never actually saw action. > > Would this apply to all RSMs or could my nanna's hubby have been to the Front? > > Regards > > Peter > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to GREATWAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > >

Thank you Nelson and Dave He was in fact a schoolmaster so he would have had the right qualifications for the job. It's a strange thought that if he hadn't died, sad thought it was, my grandmother wouldn't have married my taid and I wouldn't be here today. But I suppose many thousands of people could say the same. Regards Peter

A Regimental Sergent Major was effectively the third man in command of a regiment even though he was officially a non-commissioned officer. His responsibilities were to look after training, discpline and good order amongst the men and many other supervisory duties. RSM's often found themselves in battle leading the troops single handedly after the young "Gentlemen experts" the officers had fallen while trying to inspire the men by leading from the front. The RSM usually had more years and battle training /combat experiance and more plain old common sense than anyone else in the regiment. A highly respected man whom you NEVER made fun of. "Kiss Me Goodnight Sergent Major" was something you could only sing in a music hall. Nelson

My grandmother's first husband served throughout the war from beginning to end then died of pneumonia in Oswestry Army Hospital on December 1st 1918. His obituary stated he was an RSM. I was friendly with an elderly gentleman who was an RSM in WW2 but only trained men to fight. He never actually saw action. Would this apply to all RSMs or could my nanna's hubby have been to the Front? Regards Peter

Hi John, Happy new year. Thank you for your reply, it is fascinating. The training at Himley Hall sounds about right as he was born and raised in Brockmoor, Kingswinford. He went to France in October 1915. There was no Battalion movement at that time so I think he was sent with a draft of replacements to bring a company up to strength again. I will go through this Midlands Historical website, and see what I can get. I live in Co Antrim in Northern Ireland and my dad came from Kingswinford and I hope to get a trip there soon. Thank you again John, your info has given me a lot to do, Best regards Talk to you soon, Bill

Hi Nancy, Happy new year. Thank you for the reply, It will be very helpful Talk to you soon, Bill

Hi Linda, thank you very much, happy new year. Talk to you soon, Bill

Hi Debbie and All: Soldiers did not have to produce a birth certificate when they enlisted in WWI in most countries. Hence both those who enlisted under an assumed name, and numbers of both under-age and over-age soldiers. The youngest Australian "Boy Soldier" to die, Jim Martin, was 14 when he enlisted but he said he was 18. He died at Gallipoli, see: http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/martin.htm Horace Moore-Jones the artist painted Gallipoli scenes including "The Man with a Donkey" carring the wounded. He put his age down from 46 to join the New Zealand Expeditionary Force as a Sapper, go down to Moore-Jones on: http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-heroes/simpson.htm#untold Some men put their age up for one war and then down for the next (eg Boer War/WWI or WWI/WWII). Edward Broughton served in the South African (Boer) War of 1899-1902 and WWI in New Zealand forces, and then in WWII in the Australian home forces: http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A130305b.htm Richard Charles Travis won the Victoria Cross in WWI. His real name was Dickson Cornelius Savage: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Charles_Travis Yours, John Wilson > > I have a letter from my grandfather from the Military Detention Barracks > Derby dated 1919. I have been trying to get some information on why he was > there. He is proving difficult to trace as he was born Edward Cockin but > was known as Alf Turner - he only changed his name formally in 1950 to Alf > Alf Turner. I decided to try the burnt records for both names. I have > found him under "alf Turner". I know it is him as the regiment number > matches his. It is > very intriguiging and mentions forfeiture of his medals. Unfortunately > it is very hard to decipher the writing! it seems to say Forfieture under > AA? sentenced to 2 years .....?(indecipherable word). > this throws up a few questions. > how could he have registered in the royal field artillery under an assumed > name? i have his birth certificate and his statutory declaration of 1950, > when he says he was born Edward Cockin but was "always known" as > Alf Turner. > surely he would have to have produced a birth cert? could he have managed > to get in by using someone else's cert? why would he do this? > perhaps his sentence is something to do with using the wrong name? > what sort of misdemenour would result in a 2 year sentence? > surely if it had > been committed during 1918 he would not have been sent home to a prison? > > I have a copy of the PDF burnt record file if anyone wanted me to send it > to them for help in deciphering the information on it! > > it's all very interesting but frustrating! > > any ideas or information would be really appreciated. > > many thanks. > > Debbie Cameron > debbie.cameron@alandeb.org.uk > > http://www.alandeb.org.uk >

There is a Staffs regiment museum at Whittington Barracks (Lichfield) which will probably be of help... try this for starters http://www.staffspasttrack.org.uk/exhibit/regiment/ there is sure to be a contact where you could ask questions. Hope this helps.... happy New Year. Regards, Nancy. William longmore <w.longmore@onetel.net> wrote: Hi Listers, A very happy new year to all. Where or how would I get to read the War Diaries of the south Staffordshire regiment. My grandfather Joseph Longmore 14794 enlisted 1914 and was sent to France 3-9-1915. As there were no Battalion movement at that time he must have been sent as part of a draft of replacements. As a result I don't know which Battalion he was in. He was wounded (I think at the Somme) and shipped back to the UK and after recuperation was sent to the 6th Training Reserve Batt. of the Notts & Derby Regt. with the number TR6/13091 and discharged as medically unfit 13-12-1917. Any help would be appreciated Talk to you soon, Bill ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to GREATWAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message Best Regards, Nancy. Goons member *4288 (Guild of One-Name Studies) - Howmans, Howman etc.

Alice, For a tour of the Menin Gate see http://www.freefoto.com/browse.jsp?id=03-07-0 also you may find http://www.1914-1918.net/ and http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?act=idx useful A Happy New Year to you and Forrest ( hope you are well). Aye Malcolm

At the Staffordshire Regimental Museum in Whittington. They have the diaries there. You need to book in advance in order for them to have someone there to help you who knows what they are looking for (it's all staffed by volunteers) but once you are there, they are incredibly helpful and informative. http://www.armymuseums.org.uk/amot-search/default.asp?Category=AMOT&Service=Museum-Display&reference=0000000138 Regards Linda Staffs UK Researching: Cook(e) Plant Mason Keys Pearsall and variants Broster Rastall Turner Smith Miller Morgan Simmons Baker ----- Original Message ----- From: "William longmore" <w.longmore@onetel.net> To: <greatwar@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 12:39 PM Subject: [GREATWAR] South Staffs. > Hi Listers, A very happy new year to all. > Where or how would I get to read the War Diaries of the south > Staffordshire > regiment. > My grandfather Joseph Longmore 14794 enlisted 1914 and was sent to France > 3-9-1915. As there were no Battalion movement at that time he must have > been > sent as part of a draft of replacements. As a result I don't know which > Battalion he was in. He was wounded (I think at the Somme) and shipped > back > to the UK and after recuperation was sent to the 6th Training Reserve > Batt. > of the Notts & Derby Regt. with the number TR6/13091 and discharged as > medically unfit 13-12-1917. > Any help would be appreciated > Talk to you soon, > Bill

Hi Listers, A very happy new year to all. Where or how would I get to read the War Diaries of the south Staffordshire regiment. My grandfather Joseph Longmore 14794 enlisted 1914 and was sent to France 3-9-1915. As there were no Battalion movement at that time he must have been sent as part of a draft of replacements. As a result I don't know which Battalion he was in. He was wounded (I think at the Somme) and shipped back to the UK and after recuperation was sent to the 6th Training Reserve Batt. of the Notts & Derby Regt. with the number TR6/13091 and discharged as medically unfit 13-12-1917. Any help would be appreciated Talk to you soon, Bill

Hi Bill, My mother's brother enlisted in the South Staffs in October 1914 ( he was 16 years of age) where he met my father's brother. They began their training at Himley Hall near Kingswinsford and eventually were both trained as signalmen and became members of the 2/6th South Staffs regiment. This regiment was where recruits were sent to be trained and then to provide replacements for the 1/6th South Staffs. Came Easter of 1916 when the 2/6th were sent to Dublin to help quell the Sein Fein riots, after which they remained in the Dublin area until they were sent to France in March of 1917 where they took part in the fighting in and around the Cambrai area in France. In November of 1917 my mother's brother was gassed in Bourlon Wood during the battle where tanks were first used en-masse and is known as The Battle of Cambrai. He was evacuated to England to a hospital near Blackburn where he met a nurse who he married in 1921 and emigrated to the US. My father's brother had become engaged to my mother in 1917 but was killed in March of 1918 during the last German offensive. His name appears on the wall of the memorial at Arras together with the names of most of his colleagues who died with him at the same time. Three of the four companies of the 2/6th South Staffs Regiment were totally annihilated and their bodies were never found. I tell you this because last April my two sons and I followed the steps of the 2/6th South Staffs guided by a professional who had researched the 2/6th and their daily activities and was able, from the trench maps, the regimental diaries and the present day maps on which the trench maps were superimposed, locate the exact position of the trench in which my mother's fiancé, my father's brother was killed. It is now a ploughed field. My mother and father married in February of 1923. After all this I would suggest that your grandfather was a member of the 1/6th South Staffordshire's. I say this because I subsequently purchased , after my return from our pilgrimage, a CD "The War history of the 6th Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment" that is a Facsimile Reproduction of the original book that is to be found in the Dudley Public Library. The CD is published by the Midlands Historical Data to be found at www.midlandshistoricaldata.org I have read part of the history of the 1/6th and have found that they gathered together when war was declared and as they were a territorial regiment they had to be trained for warfare before they were sent to France. They received orders to go to France in February 1915, which falls in with the date you have for your grandfather was first sent to France. I have no idea where you live but certainly a visit to the South Staffordshire museum would held ( I can vouch for the staff there as I visited there last September to give them a copy of my mother's brother's memoirs.) or to the Dudley Library of to purchase a copy of the CD from MHD. This of course is assuming that he was in fact in the 1/6th Battalion. Take care, and let me leave you by telling you of an inscription we found during our visit, on an a headstone for a 19 year old who was killed in 1915. IS IT WELL WITH THEE? IT IS WELL. John Favill, Brookfield, Wisconsin, USA ----- Original Message ----- From: "William longmore" <w.longmore@onetel.net> To: <greatwar@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 6:39 AM Subject: [GREATWAR] South Staffs. > Hi Listers, A very happy new year to all. > Where or how would I get to read the War Diaries of the south > Staffordshire > regiment. > My grandfather Joseph Longmore 14794 enlisted 1914 and was sent to France > 3-9-1915. As there were no Battalion movement at that time he must have > been > sent as part of a draft of replacements. As a result I don't know which > Battalion he was in. He was wounded (I think at the Somme) and shipped > back > to the UK and after recuperation was sent to the 6th Training Reserve > Batt. > of the Notts & Derby Regt. with the number TR6/13091 and discharged as > medically unfit 13-12-1917. > Any help would be appreciated > Talk to you soon, > Bill > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > GREATWAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

On Wed, 3 Jan 2007 21:49:49 -0500, "Alice L McVearry" <alcnwondr@earthlink.net> wrote: >One or two more searing questions, if I might. Is it possible that his >wife was not notified positively of his death until 1923? 1923 is the year >his wife Annie remarried. Unless she had been uncontactable for some reason, eg moved abroad, I'm sure the War Office would have informed her much sooner than that. The latest I could imagine them notifying her of his presumed death would be 1919, once all hope of him being taken a prisoner had vanished. The earliest might be December 1914, if he had been buried at the time. >Furthermore on James' record under the heading >Action Taken the following characters appear: >B W & V M Rel?[or ReP] (992 KR 1923) 8362 / Adl K in A, This will refer to paragraph 992 of King's Regulations, 1923 edition. Could you send me a copy of the Medal Index Card by direct e-mail? >and a Qualifying >Date of 24-10-14, which I interpret to mean 14 Oct 1924. The date is the other way round - 24th October 1914, and is the date he first arrived overseas and qualified for his medals. Since the 2nd Battalion arrived in France in mid-August 1914, this means that he was part of a subsequent reinforcement draft of men. >Would his medals been delivered to his wife? They would normally have been sent to his declared next of kin, and for a married man, the wife was normally the declared next of kin. >The CWGC does not seem to know he was married, or even how old he was. After a soldier died, the CWGC (although at that time it was called the Imperial War Graves Commission) wrote to the declared next of kin to ask for additional information to enter in their Register, and/or put on the gravestone (in cases where a body had been found). That is where the "Husband of..." and "Son of..." and the soldier's age comes from in the Debt of Honour Register. By the time they wrote, quite a lot of next of kin had moved away, and the letters were returned to the CWGC marked "gone away" by the Post Office, or the next of kin just didn't reply. In these cases, the CWGC just used the information that it had already, eg name, regiment, battalion, date of death. Forrest -- Forrest Anderson, Edinburgh, Scotland. E-mail: forrest@military-researcher.com Website: www.military-researcher.com Forrestdale Research - Military Genealogical Researcher