In a message dated 11/22/2006 1:02:14 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, g.lngmte5@btopenworld.com writes: On 11 December 1917 HMS Partridge, accompanied by HMS Pellew and four trawlers, left Lerwick for Bergen with a six ship convoy. At 1145 hrs on the 12th the convoy was attacked by four German destroyers, G.101, G.103, G.104 and V.100. Partridge was hit almost immediatelyby a shell that severed her main steam pipeand left her lying dead in the water. She did fire a torpedo, which V.100, but unfortunately this failed to explode before she was struck by a torpedo herself. Ranson gave the order to abandon ship and Partridge was then hit by a further two torpedoes. The German destroyers nsank all six merchant ships and the trawler escorts and escaped under cover of bad weather, leaving the damaged Pellew as the only survivor. Dear G Longmate, By any chance was one of the six British Merchant Navy ships the GREENWICH? My grandfather's ship the GREENWICH was torpedoed in December 1917 but I don't know which convoy it was a part of. He was Henry (Harry) Thomas Sea MAYS (1875 Kensington- Sept 1941, aged 65). He survived the torpedoing of the EMPIRE MOAT -part of Convoy OG 74- but died the following day aboard the WALMER CASTLE. He was rated a Captain but was 2d Mate abord the Empire Moat. Anything anyone can tell me about the GREENICH would be greatly appreciated! Thanks very much! Joanne Joanne MAYS BECKER Sleepy Hollow, New York

Hi All, I have an interestin all things Navy. Alittle info on the action concerning the sinking of HMS Partridge. 12 December 1917 HMS Partridge C.O. Lt. Cdr. R. H .Ranson RN Location: Norwegian Sea, SW of Bjorne Fjord Cause: Gunfire and Torpedo Notes: On 11 December 1917 HMS Partridge, accompanied by HMS Pellew and four trawlers, left Lerwick for Bergen with a six ship convoy. At 1145 hrs on the 12th the convoy was attacked by four German destroyers, G.101, G.103, G.104 and V.100. Partridge was hit almost immediatelyby a shell that severed her main steam pipeand left her lying dead in the water. She did fire a torpedo, which V.100, but unfortunately this failed to explode before she was struck by a torpedo herself. Ranson gave the order to abandon ship and Partridge was then hit by a further two torpedoes. The German destroyers nsank all six merchant ships and the trawler escorts and escaped under cover of bad weather, leaving the damaged Pellew as the only survivor. Source: British Warship Losses of the 20th Century, Paul Kemp. The four trawlers lost in the same action were as follows. COMMANDER FULLERTON Displacement: 227 Gross Tons 89HP Engines: 60HP Admiralty No: 3063 Port Reg. H. 286 1915 Launched. Built at Goole by by Goole SB Co. Owned by Hellyer SFC of Hull. Requisitioned in September. LOST. Sunk by SMS Emden and Destroyers of the German Third Half-Flotilla on 12th December. ICW Destroyers Pellew and Partridge together with Trs. LIVINGSTONE, LORD ALVERSTONE and TOKIO she was escorting a Scandinavian convoy when attacked by the Germans. The Skipper, J W Whelan was killed and all the ships in the convoy were sunk as were all the escorts with the exception of PELLEW. LIVINGSTONE Displacement: 213TG 71TN Engines: 60 NHP = 10K Armament: 1 x 3pdr Admiralty No: 256 Port Reg: H. 496 1900: Launched. Built at Hull by CWG. Owned by Nation STC of Hull. 1914: Requisitioned in August and converted to a Minesweeper. 1917: Acquired East Riding SFC of Hull. Employed as for Scandinavian convoys. LORD ALVERSTONE Displacement: 247TG 98TN Engines: 69 NHP = 10K Dimensions: 117ft x 22ft x 12ft 6 ins Armament: 1 x 6pdrAA Admiralty No: 3047 Port Reg: GY. 1059 1917: Launched in June. Built at Beverley by CWG. Owned by North Westsern SFC of Grimsby. Requesitioned in June and converted to a Minesweeper. TOKIO Displacement: 295TG Armament: 1 x 3pdr Admiralty No: 313 1907: Launched. 1914: Requesitioned in August and converted to a Minesweeper. Source: Royal Navy Trawlers, Part Two:, Requisitioned Trawlers. Gerald Toghill. Regards G Longmate

Derrick Soldiers Died in the Great War lists him as a Grenadier Guardsman with the following details. Guardsman Ernest Finnamore 25386 Born St john's Cornwall Enlisted Truro Killed in action 25/09/1916 It would seem likely that he enlisted with the DCLI and was seconded to the Grenadier Guards. The other thing which I should have said is that the second entry in his details is not for a star medal but for a Territorial Force War Medal. Its fairly rare - only 34,000 were issued. It would seem that he was a member of one of the TF battalions of the DCLI. I will try and look him up on the medal rolls when next at Kew - this is a fairly peculiar case and I would be interested to find out a bit more. Regards Mike S -----Original Message----- From: Derrick Parsons <derrick.parsons@btinternet.com> Sent Subject: [GREATWAR] Soldier with a dual personality? > Dear List, > I have a mystery that some might be able to shed some light on. > The chap I'm interested in is E.Finnemore (as on our local War > Memorial) but probably it should be Finnamore as that's a local name. > Search on CWGC site gives a single Ernest Finnamore with the > details: 25386 1st Batallion Grenadier Guards who died on 25th > September 1916 and who is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. > However, on the WW1 Medal Rolls list, there are two Ernest > Finnamores. One entry is as above but this is annotated to the > other Ernest Finnamore who is listed as being in the DCLI as an > acting corporal and with the regimental number 940. There is a lot > of writing on this record card but I can't decipher any of it (Can > anyone help with this if I send them a .pdf file?) > Could it be that Ernest Finnamore joined the Grenadier Guards and > was seconded to the DCLI? Does this seem reasonable? A sort of battlefield promotion? > Derrick Parsons > > ------------------------------- > 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

Hi Derek, My grandfather enlisted in the South Staff's in 1914 and was wounded in 1916.He was hospitalised in the UK and after that he was transferred into the Nott's and Derby Training Batt. to see what he was fit for. As it turned out he was medically unfit for service and was discharged in December 1917. Could it be something similar with E. Finnemore? Talk to you soon, Bill ----- Original Message ----- From: "Derrick Parsons" <derrick.parsons@btinternet.com> To: <GREATWAR@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2006 5:56 PM Subject: [GREATWAR] Soldier with a dual personality? > Dear List, > > I have a mystery that some might be able to shed some light on. > > The chap I'm interested in is E.Finnemore (as on our local War Memorial) > but probably it should be Finnamore as that's a local name. > > Search on CWGC site gives a single Ernest Finnamore with the details: > 25386 1st Batallion Grenadier Guards who died on 25th September 1916 and > who is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. > > However, on the WW1 Medal Rolls list, there are two Ernest Finnamores. > One entry is as above but this is annotated to the other Ernest Finnamore > who is listed as being in the DCLI as an acting corporal and with the > regimental number 940. There is a lot of writing on this record card but > I can't decipher any of it (Can anyone help with this if I send them a > .pdf file?) > > Could it be that Ernest Finnamore joined the Grenadier Guards and was > seconded to the DCLI? Does this seem reasonable? A sort of battlefield > promotion? > > Derrick Parsons > > ------------------------------- > 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 > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.430 / Virus Database: 268.14.11/542 - Release Date: > 20/11/2006 16:23 > >

Dear List, I have a mystery that some might be able to shed some light on. The chap I'm interested in is E.Finnemore (as on our local War Memorial) but probably it should be Finnamore as that's a local name. Search on CWGC site gives a single Ernest Finnamore with the details: 25386 1st Batallion Grenadier Guards who died on 25th September 1916 and who is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. However, on the WW1 Medal Rolls list, there are two Ernest Finnamores. One entry is as above but this is annotated to the other Ernest Finnamore who is listed as being in the DCLI as an acting corporal and with the regimental number 940. There is a lot of writing on this record card but I can't decipher any of it (Can anyone help with this if I send them a .pdf file?) Could it be that Ernest Finnamore joined the Grenadier Guards and was seconded to the DCLI? Does this seem reasonable? A sort of battlefield promotion? Derrick Parsons

Raised for ' service ' during the war only, ie. only as long as hostilities. Aye Malcolm -----Original Message----- From: greatwar-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:greatwar-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of LShurtleff@aol.com Sent: 21 November 2006 01:23 To: greatwar@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [GREATWAR] Territorial Forces August 1914 What is the significance of the term "service" as in Service Battalion in the BEF of 1914-18? LGS ------------------------------- 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

Derrick, Have not been able to find anything about the action, here are a few notes. 12 December 1917 Partridge (escorting a Scandinavian convoy) sunk and Pellew damaged by German destroyers G.101, G.103, G.104 and V.100 in 590 48' N, 30 53' E. Off Norwegian coast. Battle Honour awarded. Source Book. The Royal Navy Day by Day. 12 December 1917 Partridge, British, M class Destroyer Sunk by German destroyers G101, G103, G104 and V100 in the North Sea whilst escorting a convoy. Source http://www.worldwar1.co.uk/sunk17.htm In Memory of Lieutenant LANCELOT JOHN BARRINGTON WALTERS RN H.M.S. "Partridge.", Royal Navy who died age 22 on 12 December 1917 Son of the Rev. Charles Barrington Walters and Selina H. P. Walters (nee Massy Beresford), of Sywell Rectory, Northampton. Born at Castle Bromwich, Warwickshire. Remembered with honour PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL Source http://www.cwgc.org/search/certificate.aspx?casualty=3041797 Martin Bird -----Original Message----- From: greatwar-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:greatwar-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Janice Duke Sent: 19 November 2006 21:04 To: greatwar@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [GREATWAR] HMS Partridge 1917 Hi Derrick/Listers, Here are pictures of the HMS Partridge: http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/moon_class.htm#HMS%20Partridge Janice USA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Derrick Parsons" <derrick.parsons@btinternet.com> To: <GREATWAR@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2006 2:47 PM Subject: [GREATWAR] HMS Partridge 1917 > Dear list, > > I have an interest in Lieutenant Launcelot John Barrington Walters who was > killed on HMS Partridge on 12th December 1917. On a memorial plaque in > our local church it says that he died "in spite of a gallant attempt to > save him by Sub Lieut Aubrey Egerton Grey". > > Can anyone shed any light on this incident? > > Derrick Parsons > > ------------------------------- > 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 ------------------------------- 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

They were part of Kitchener's New Armies of which there were six, each of about 100,000. They were volunteers until Jan 1916, after which date conscription was introduced. Members signed for a minimum of three years or the "duration. " All the so-called "Pals" regiments were Service Battalions. As a matter of interest, it has a different meaning in the Canadian Forces. David ----- Original Message ----- From: <LShurtleff@aol.com> To: <greatwar@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 8:23 PM Subject: Re: [GREATWAR] Territorial Forces August 1914 > What is the significance of the term "service" as in Service Battalion in > the BEF of 1914-18? > > LGS > > ------------------------------- > 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

David, HMS Blenheim: Ex cruiser converted to sea going depot Ship. It was the depot ship for Mediterranean Destroyers 1914-18. HMS Vernon: Auxiliary Patrol Depot Ship. But not for the whole of the war. HMS Drake: Armoured Cruiser. Torpedoed by U.79, and sunk 2.10.17. HMS Good Hope: Armoured Cruiser. Same class as Drake. Sunk 1.11.14 at Battle of Coronel. HMS Victory II: Training Depot for the Royal Naval Divisions, Crystal Palace/Sydenham. 1914 - 1919. HMS Pembroke II: Royal Naval Air station at Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey. 6.1913 to 31-3-1918. HMS Savage: G [Beagle] class destroyer. Last of the coal burners. Mediterranean based for most of the war. Went to the Dardanelles. Survived the war. My understanding of the expression Blenheim (Savage). Officers and Ratings were borne on the books of HMS Blenheim for administrative purposes. The Destroyers then, were not of the size of Destroyers of today. This Class were of 916 to 975 tons. Hope That helps Martin Bird -----Original Message----- From: greatwar-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:greatwar-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of David Parker Sent: 19 November 2006 22:47 To: greatwar@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [GREATWAR] Terminology request HMS Savage was a G Class destroyer. HMS Blenheim was a Destroyer Depot Ship, and HMS Pembroke was the Shore base at Chatham. David ----- Original Message ----- From: "Derrick Parsons" <derrick.parsons@btinternet.com> To: <GREATWAR@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2006 2:48 PM Subject: [GREATWAR] Terminology request > Dear list, > > I wonder if I could call upon your expertise? > > I have a CPO Alfred Bassett who died of a perforated gastric ulcer on > board a hospital ship at Mudros on 22nd October 1916. > > His service record raises a few questions with me. > > For the few years before his death he is listed as serving on: > > Blenheim > Vernon > Drake > Good Hope > Blenheim (Savage) > Victory II > Blenheim (Savage) > Pembroke II (Savage) > Blenheim (Savage) > > I think that some of these (Vernon, Drake) are shore-establishments. Is > this correct? I'm puzzled by the (Savage) appended to Blenheim and > Pembroke II. Can anyone explain this? > > Many thanks, > > Derrick Parsons > > ------------------------------- > 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 ------------------------------- 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

Hello Malcolm The Territorial Force carried on recruiting in parallel to the New Armies until 1916 when the Military Service Acts effectively removed the distinction between the TF and New Army. As part of the massive expansion of manpower required, TF units were authorised to start recruiting 'second line' units i.e. to duplicate themselves. This started as early as August for units where a high proportion of men had volunteered for Imperial Service. The Headquarters of the 19th London Regt received instructions to raise a second battalion late on Friday 28 August. A general order authorising all TF units to form duplicates was not issued until 21 September (Army Order 339/1914). Recruitment commenced with a public announcement on Tuesday 1 September and 'prominent placarding of the Borough from one end to the other with an attractive two-colour poster'. The call was initially for 800 'smart and active' men to add to a nucleus of at least 200 men already enrolled over the first battalion establishment. (St. Pancras Gazette 4 Sept 1914) Recruiting proceeded apace with "an instant response of over 100 new recruits" on Wednesday 2 September. A similar rate of enlistment was maintained on succeeding days. By the evening of Thursday 10 September "over 700" recruits had been enrolled. (SPG 11 Sept 1914) This had been achieved in just nine days and the success encouraged the Regiment to increase the target from 800 to 1,000 men. However, recruiting appears to have been much slower in the second week: by the evening of Thursday 17 September total enrolments had only reached 851, although by this time it was only accepting men for foreign service. (SPG 11 Sept 1914) The 1,000 mark was reached no later than 25 September - about three weeks in total - and it continued to recruit a number of men over establishment in the week after. >From my database of men who served with the 19th Londons I have the following shown as men who embarked on 17th August 1915: FLETCHER WV Pte 1887 William Victor ALLEN ER Sgt 3537 Ernest Reginald SMITH E Cpl 1691 Ernest SKINNER W Pte 2138 WOODROFFE AC Pte 2652 Arthur Charles BURGESS HJ Pte 3438 Henry J As you say that he was a sergeant I am guessing that he was 3537 Sgt Allen. If that is the case then I would say that he enlisted in the second half of Feb 1915 as No. 3530 enlisted on 18 Feb 1915 and No. 3538 enlisted on 23 Feb 1915. If this is him, he would initially have gone into the 'second line' battalion of the 19th Londons - known as 2/19th - before being transferred to the 1/19th when he was sent to France. Pre-war members of the battalion have numbers up to about 2000. Numbers higher than about 2000 are of men who enlisted on or after 4 August 1914. It would help if you could confirm name, number(s) and any other info that you have. I thought you might be interested to know that the OCA of the 19th Londons still survives. We have been on battlefield tours in both of the last 2 years and hold an annual lunch in London (9th December this year). Most of us are in fact relatives and descendents of those who served with the battalion. Please contact me if you would like to know more. Charles Fair (19th London Regiment Old Comrades Association) -----Original Message----- From: greatwar-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:greatwar-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Malcolm Hulme Sent: 19 November 2006 22:13 To: GREATWAR@rootsweb.com Subject: [GREATWAR] Territorial Forces August 1914 I'm trying to work out what my great grandfather did in the run-up to WW1. He was a sergeant in the 1/19th Battalion 47th (2nd London) Division. As I understand it, the Division moved into France on 8th/9th March 1915. It appears that my ggf didn't go with them at that time, he embarked for France on 17th August 1915. So - if he was in the TF, doesn't that mean that he was a member of the Battalion prior to the outbreak of war? And if so, why wouldn't he embark in March 1915 with the rest of his battalion? Could he have volunteered after Kitchener issued the 'call to arms' in August 1914? And if so, wouldn't he have been in the 'New Army' and not the Territorial Force? Could he have been placed in the 1/19th if he had volunteered in August 1915? I'm confused. Malcolm ------------------------------- 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

What is the significance of the term "service" as in Service Battalion in the BEF of 1914-18? LGS

Could anyone on the list give me any information on the £5 gratuity that was paid to soldiers or their relatives? Any help will be greatly appreciated Terry Evans

Thank you so much, Forrest, for your help regarding the Camp. By going to the site you suggested I now understand its purpose and have even confirmed the date when the particular soldier's regiment was there - I am most grateful . Margery ----- Original Message ----- From: "Forrest Anderson" <listmail@military-researcher.com> To: <GREATWAR-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 12:19 AM Subject: Re: [GREATWAR] Warminster Sutton Temp. Camp > On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 12:49:34 -0000, "Margery Whitham" > <margery@whitham.name> wrote: > >>I am hoping someone can tell me about the above camp in Wiltshire! >>Was it a camp for troops in transit to other locations and >>disbanded after the Great War? > > Sounds as though it was one of the camps set up at Sutton Veny, which > is about 3 miles SE of Warminster. Have a look at > http://www.suttonveny.co.uk/1st_World_War/1st_world_war.html which has > a large collection of photos of hutted and tented camps there and > group photos of men. > > Warminster is on the edge of Salisbury Plain. I don't have a copy, but > the following book might mention Sutton Veny's military history: > > "The Plain: Life On Salisbury Plain From The 1890s To The Present Day" > by Chris Corden, 1998, paperback, 98 pages, ISBN: 1874448981. > > Forrest > > > -- > Forrest Anderson, Edinburgh, Scotland. > E-mail: forrest@military-researcher.com > Website: www.military-researcher.com > Forrestdale Research - Military Genealogical Researcher > > > > > > ------------------------------- > 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 > ------------------------------------------------------------ > Mail was checked for spam by the Freeware Edition of No Spam Today! > The Freeware Edition is free for personal and non-commercial use. > You can remove this notice by purchasing a full license! To order > or to find out more please visit: http://www.nospamtoday.com

On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 18:26:27 EST, Glynnpeters@aol.com wrote: >Could someone kindly do a look up? >It is for a Frederick Jones , kia 30 March 1918. Royal Engineers , 5th Field >Survey Company. Army Number: 244755. Pioneer > >I need his place of enlistment & where born if possible. The entry reads: Regl No 244755 Name Jones, Frederick Rank Pioneer Date Died 30 Mar 1918 How Died Killed In Action Additional Remarks 5th Field Survey Coy, RE. Regt Corps of Royal Engineers Born St Asaph, Flintshire Enlisted Denbigh Where Died France & Flanders Given that he was born in Flintshire, have a look at Peter Metcalfe's recent posting of Sun, 19 Nov 2006 18:52:01 +0000 under the thread "The County of Flint War Memorial", which talks about a card index for "10,793 men of Flintshire who fought and died in the Great War". Forrest -- Forrest Anderson, Edinburgh, Scotland. E-mail: forrest@military-researcher.com Website: www.military-researcher.com Forrestdale Research - Military Genealogical Researcher

On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 12:49:34 -0000, "Margery Whitham" <margery@whitham.name> wrote: >I am hoping someone can tell me about the above camp in Wiltshire! >Was it a camp for troops in transit to other locations and >disbanded after the Great War? Sounds as though it was one of the camps set up at Sutton Veny, which is about 3 miles SE of Warminster. Have a look at http://www.suttonveny.co.uk/1st_World_War/1st_world_war.html which has a large collection of photos of hutted and tented camps there and group photos of men. Warminster is on the edge of Salisbury Plain. I don't have a copy, but the following book might mention Sutton Veny's military history: "The Plain: Life On Salisbury Plain From The 1890s To The Present Day" by Chris Corden, 1998, paperback, 98 pages, ISBN: 1874448981. Forrest -- Forrest Anderson, Edinburgh, Scotland. E-mail: forrest@military-researcher.com Website: www.military-researcher.com Forrestdale Research - Military Genealogical Researcher

I'm trying to work out what my great grandfather did in the run-up to WW1. He was a sergeant in the 1/19th Battalion 47th (2nd London) Division. As I understand it, the Division moved into France on 8th/9th March 1915. It appears that my ggf didn't go with them at that time, he embarked for France on 17th August 1915. So - if he was in the TF, doesn't that mean that he was a member of the Battalion prior to the outbreak of war? And if so, why wouldn't he embark in March 1915 with the rest of his battalion? Could he have volunteered after Kitchener issued the 'call to arms' in August 1914? And if so, wouldn't he have been in the 'New Army' and not the Territorial Force? Could he have been placed in the 1/19th if he had volunteered in August 1915? I'm confused. Malcolm

On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 19:47:15 -0000, "Derrick Parsons" <derrick.parsons@btinternet.com> wrote: >I have an interest in Lieutenant Launcelot John Barrington Walters who was killed on HMS Partridge on 12th December 1917. On a memorial plaque in our local church it says that he died "in spite of a gallant attempt to save him by Sub Lieut Aubrey Egerton Grey". >Can anyone shed any light on this incident? The "Dictionary of Disasters at Sea During the Age of Steam..." by Charles Hocking has the following to say, although your two officers aren't mentioned by name: ----------------------------------------------------------------- PARTRIDGE British Navy, destroyer; 1916; Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson; 1,016 tons; 271 x 26 x 8 7; 25,000 s.h.p.; 34 knots; turbine engines; Yarrow boilers; three 4 in. guns, 4 T.T. The destroyer Partridge was a unit of the force based on Lerwick, Shetland Islands, for the purpose of escorting convoys to and from Scandinavia. On December 11th, 1917, the destroyer left the port in company with the destroyer Pellew and the armed trawlers Livingstone, Commander Fullerton, Lord Alverstone and Tokio escorting a convoy of six ships. At 11.45 a.m. on the 12th the convoy was S.W. of Bjorne Fjord when enemy ships were sighted to northward. After signalling the merchant ships to scatter, Lt. Cdr. J. R. C. Cavendish of Pellew, commanding the convoy, went into action followed by Partridge and a wireless signal was sent to the commander-in-chief. The enemy raiders, consisting of four destroyers commanded by Capt. Hans Kolbe formed in one line of three ships with a fourth detached for the purpose of sinking the merchantmen. In a very few minutes Partridge was hit by a shell which severed her main steam-pipe and left her helpless. Her after gun was knocked out and she was struck forward by a torpedo. Under these conditions her captain, Lt. Cdr. R. H. Ransome, gave orders to abandon ship. She was hit by two more torpedoes and sank. The Pellew with only one torpedo tube working, and with her engine room badly damaged managed to keep off the enemy and to avoid further action in a thick rain squall. She was the sole survivor of the convoy and reached Selbjorn Fjord in a very battered condition. The losses were heavy, Partridge going down with five officers and 92 ratings, while three officers and 21 ratings became prisoners. Pellew lost three killed and several wounded. British destroyers rescued ten British and 88 Scandinavian seamen. The crew of the trawler Lord Alverstone (12 in all) managed to escape in one boat. The Germans claimed a total of 50 prisoners including those from Partridge. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Four of the officers who died were: Lt Cdr R H Ransome Lt L J B Walters Sub Lt R E Ferrier Mid A B Wyatt Forrest -- Forrest Anderson, Edinburgh, Scotland. E-mail: forrest@military-researcher.com Website: www.military-researcher.com Forrestdale Research - Military Genealogical Researcher

Dear list, I wonder if I could call upon your expertise? I have a CPO Alfred Bassett who died of a perforated gastric ulcer on board a hospital ship at Mudros on 22nd October 1916. His service record raises a few questions with me. For the few years before his death he is listed as serving on: Blenheim Vernon Drake Good Hope Blenheim (Savage) Victory II Blenheim (Savage) Pembroke II (Savage) Blenheim (Savage) I think that some of these (Vernon, Drake) are shore-establishments. Is this correct? I'm puzzled by the (Savage) appended to Blenheim and Pembroke II. Can anyone explain this? Many thanks, Derrick Parsons

Dear list, I have an interest in Lieutenant Launcelot John Barrington Walters who was killed on HMS Partridge on 12th December 1917. On a memorial plaque in our local church it says that he died "in spite of a gallant attempt to save him by Sub Lieut Aubrey Egerton Grey". Can anyone shed any light on this incident? Derrick Parsons

Forrest The County of Flint War Memorial is a card index of 10,793 men of Flintshire who fought and died in the Great War compiled in 1919 and 1920 of which 9,528 were living (L) and 1,265 fell (F). Of those that fell the cards were usually signed by a relative such as wife, parent, brother or sometimes even a town councillor. But not all of the Flintshire men are included for various reasons. Some of the families had left the area or perhaps they just couldn't be bothered. As for the Wheeler family the two brothers survived and their card details are as follows:- Number : L 701 DISTRICT or PARISH : FLINT Name (Surname first) : Wheeler, Percy Address : 38 Mount St. Flint Regimental No : 60169 Unit of HM. Forces : Ches Regt Period of Service : 5 years 3 months Rank on Demobilization : Pte Distinctions awarded (if any) : None Special Remarks re Service (if any) : Active Service Overseas If Deceased or Missing (give particulars) : ---- Date : 25/9/19 Signed : W. E. Wheeler Notes : My brother has left Flint and gone to London in search of work. His present address is Mr P. Wheeler, C/o Mrs Kennedy, 10 St Martin's Ave, Barking Road, East Ham, London E 6 Number : L 702 DISTRICT or PARISH : FLINT Name (Surname first) : Wheeler, William Edmund Address : 38 Mount St. Flint Regimental No : 240478 Unit of HM. Forces : 1/5th RWF Period of Service : 4 years 218 days Rank on Demobilization : Pte Distinctions awarded (if any) : Services Rendered Badge Special Remarks re Service (if any) : Active Service Overseas If Deceased or Missing (give particulars) : ---- Date : 25/9/19 Signed : W. E. Wheeler Notes : ---- And here is the father:- Number : F 102 DISTRICT or PARISH : FLINT Name (Surname first) : Wheeler, William Edmund (Senior) Address : 38 Mount St. Flint Regimental No : 241229 Unit of HM. Forces : 1/5th Batt RWF Period of Service : About 1 year 9 months Rank on Demobilization : Pte Distinctions awarded (if any) : ---- Special Remarks re Service (if any) : ---- If Deceased or Missing (give particulars) : Reported wounded and missing after Battle of Gaza 26/3/17 Date : 25/9/19 Signed : W. E. Wheeler (Junior) Notes : War Office presumed about 18 months after the Battle of Gaza that my father was killed March 26th 1917 or died after that date. W. E. Wheeler Augustus Wheeler probably left Flint before the war and that is why he is not in this index but as the family were Parish Church people they included his name on the church memorial. There are a fair number of names on this memorial that are not on the town cenotaph mainly because they were not living in Flint when war broke out. Some of them I know are remembered on memorials in other towns. Peter