This is Joe Bissett's forwarded mail - see link below Hi Marj, On 10/5/2015 4:10 AM, Marj Bennett via wrote: > I would like to open the list up a little bit by asking interested members to send in stories of their WW1 ancestors. I think we've done it before with some success and rather than let the list die on its feet, perhaps we can do it again? Glad to contribute. http://bit.ly/1GQOagQ Joe Bissett Admin Rootsweb Piggott/Kerslake/Cummiskey surname lists ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to WW1-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.6140 / Virus Database: 4435/10761 - Release Date: 10/05/15

I have just authorised two postings to this list from non-members, because I can see that the content of the mails will be most interesting to members. However, I will not be able to do this again, so I ask that you join the list as soon as possible so that you will be able to reply to any responses that your items generate. Thank you Marj ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.6140 / Virus Database: 4435/10761 - Release Date: 10/05/15

Hi Ian One of the standard works on WW1 gas warfare was actually written by one such advisor who served as GOC Special Brigade and Director of Gas Services: "Gas! The Story of the Special Brigade" by Maj Gen Charles H Foulkes CB CMG DSO, 1934 The Naval & Military Press reprinted this work in 2001 under ISBN 9781843420880, and in their description of the book at http://www.naval-military-press.com/gas-the-story-of-the-special-brigade.html they say: "Gas was first used by the British at Loos 1915. This book describes gas operations on the Western front, the planning, organising and training of what came to be known as The Special Brigade (RE), written by the man responsible for it and who was the adviser at GHQ on gas warfare." Another book on the subject *might* mention Chemical Advisors: "Chemical Soldiers - British Gas Warfare in World War I" by Donald Richter, 1992. I had a look at this book whilst I was at the National Archives 10 years ago, and it was very interesting. As well as mentioning the companies that specialised in gas warfare (as the title suggests), it also gives a lot of information about the activities of the flamethrower and Livens Projector sections and companies. Hope that helps Forrest On Mon, 5 Oct 2015 00:03:32 +0100, Ian Sage wrote: >While everyone is switched on by this flurry of activity, is there >anyone on list who can add to my knowledge of WW1 chemical advisors? So >far as I understand these were appointed at different levels - advisors >to a corps, battalion or whatever. -- Forrest Anderson forrestanderson@forrestdale.co.uk Gatehouse of Fleet Scotland

Thanks Nivard, I'll see if I've put them into my tree. If not it will have to wait until December. Mary -----Original Message----- From: Nivard Ovington via Sent: Monday, October 5, 2015 1:58 PM To: ww1-uk@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [WW1-UK] Gas Hi again First on the different numbers, it does not mean he was transferred, there was one or more renumbering exercises over time If you can post his name and service numbers we can take a look for you and see if we can add to your knowledge Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) On 05/10/2015 11:50, Mary Newbery via wrote: > Dear Nivard, > I’m going from memory here as my documentation is at home, and I’m not. I > know there are discharge/pension papers which I think were mid 1920 so > maybe MOD is a line to presume. Also he had more than one number so must > have been transferred between units, and I do have those. Medals are a bit > of a mystery. I remember medals, but my brother who died last year and > was a WW1 buff, had these and they never turned up when his > house/possessions were cleared. I remembered, too late that he had created > a sort of cache inside a book, and I wondered if maybe they had been > placed there, but it now seems unlikely that I will ever know. I enquired > of the recipient of his books but never got a response. I know my brother > was strongly motivated to find out about his father but similarly had > little luck. > I seem to do my research in fits and starts nowadays so need to maintain a > bit of a focus. > Thanks for your suggestions though, which I will try to follow. > Are there any books regarding the Army of Occupation and it’s tasks, or > were they specific to the regiment? > Best wishes, > Mary ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to WW1-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

Dear Nivard, I’m going from memory here as my documentation is at home, and I’m not. I know there are discharge/pension papers which I think were mid 1920 so maybe MOD is a line to presume. Also he had more than one number so must have been transferred between units, and I do have those. Medals are a bit of a mystery. I remember medals, but my brother who died last year and was a WW1 buff, had these and they never turned up when his house/possessions were cleared. I remembered, too late that he had created a sort of cache inside a book, and I wondered if maybe they had been placed there, but it now seems unlikely that I will ever know. I enquired of the recipient of his books but never got a response. I know my brother was strongly motivated to find out about his father but similarly had little luck. I seem to do my research in fits and starts nowadays so need to maintain a bit of a focus. Thanks for your suggestions though, which I will try to follow. Are there any books regarding the Army of Occupation and it’s tasks, or were they specific to the regiment? Best wishes, Mary --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

Dear Nivard, I've looked and looked for records but they seem to have been destroyed. Unit's War diaries may be useful. I believe that the Archives at Alnwick castle have them for the Northumberland Fusiliers , but when I asked years ago they didn't seem available for your own research, and the archivist didn't find mention of my father, not surprisingly. I will have another go though as the more general interest angle might evoke a response. Best wishes, Mary -----Original Message----- From: Nivard Ovington via Sent: Monday, October 5, 2015 12:11 PM To: ww1-uk@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [WW1-UK] gas Hi Mary Have you his service records? Its likely to be the only record of what he did and where he was But its unlikely to be that detailed unfortunately Next port of call would be the units war diaries if available Many units have had books written on their involvement, have you tried that angle? Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) On 05/10/2015 09:27, Mary Newbery via wrote: > Hello, > The mention of chemical weapons reignited dormant questions. > My father served in France and then in the Army of Occupation in Cologne > until 1920. My mother always attributed his stomach problems, and later > respiratory problems to “cleaning up mustard gas”. > I’ve absolutely no idea what that entailed or how possible it was. Did > they collect unused canisters??? > Also what sort of life would young soldiers have in the Army of > Occupation? I know he was billeted with a lovely German lady Frau > Breitschied who had lost a son in the war and who treated him like her > own. > Best wishes, > Mary ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to WW1-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

Sorry I failed to add where They are on Ancestry Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) On 05/10/2015 12:52, Nivard Ovington wrote: > One of those coincidences you find in research > > I was looking at the list of War Diaries a few minutes ago and in the > list I spied "Divisional Anti Gas School" > > 5th Division > > Under WO95/1539/3 (14 pages) and WO95/1539/4 (46 pages) > > Perhaps worth a look at ? > > Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > > >> On 05/10/2015 00:03, Ian Sage via wrote: >>> While everyone is switched on by this flurry of activity, is there >>> anyone on list who can add to my knowledge of WW1 chemical advisors? So >>> far as I understand these were appointed at different levels - advisors >>> to a corps, battalion or whatever. They seem to have had >>> responsibilities which were wide ranging - training troops and officers >>> in gas defences, ensuring equipment, warning systems etc were in place >>> and maintained, and taking samples of gas munitions for analysis. >>> >>> Can anyone tell me how they were organised? Did they retain a regular >>> regimental position and rank, or have a separate command structure? How >>> many levels or ranks of such advisors were there? At >>> http://www.army.gov.au/~/media/Files/Our%20history/AAHU/Primary%20Materials/World%20War%20One%201914-1918/Training%20Materials/Duties_of_Anti-Gas_Personnel_and_Instructions_for_Protection_of_Dug-Outs_Against_Gas.pdf >>> >>> >>> <http://www.army.gov.au/%7E/media/Files/Our%20history/AAHU/Primary%20Materials/World%20War%20One%201914-1918/Training%20Materials/Duties_of_Anti-Gas_Personnel_and_Instructions_for_Protection_of_Dug-Outs_Against_Gas.pdf> >>> >>> >>> there is reference to a Gas Directorate - this is the Australian army, >>> but was the British army arrangement similar? >>> >>> Thanks for any enlightenment, >>> >>> Ian >> >

One of those coincidences you find in research I was looking at the list of War Diaries a few minutes ago and in the list I spied "Divisional Anti Gas School" 5th Division Under WO95/1539/3 (14 pages) and WO95/1539/4 (46 pages) Perhaps worth a look at ? Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > On 05/10/2015 00:03, Ian Sage via wrote: >> While everyone is switched on by this flurry of activity, is there >> anyone on list who can add to my knowledge of WW1 chemical advisors? So >> far as I understand these were appointed at different levels - advisors >> to a corps, battalion or whatever. They seem to have had >> responsibilities which were wide ranging - training troops and officers >> in gas defences, ensuring equipment, warning systems etc were in place >> and maintained, and taking samples of gas munitions for analysis. >> >> Can anyone tell me how they were organised? Did they retain a regular >> regimental position and rank, or have a separate command structure? How >> many levels or ranks of such advisors were there? At >> http://www.army.gov.au/~/media/Files/Our%20history/AAHU/Primary%20Materials/World%20War%20One%201914-1918/Training%20Materials/Duties_of_Anti-Gas_Personnel_and_Instructions_for_Protection_of_Dug-Outs_Against_Gas.pdf >> >> <http://www.army.gov.au/%7E/media/Files/Our%20history/AAHU/Primary%20Materials/World%20War%20One%201914-1918/Training%20Materials/Duties_of_Anti-Gas_Personnel_and_Instructions_for_Protection_of_Dug-Outs_Against_Gas.pdf> >> >> there is reference to a Gas Directorate - this is the Australian army, >> but was the British army arrangement similar? >> >> Thanks for any enlightenment, >> >> Ian >

Hi again First on the different numbers, it does not mean he was transferred, there was one or more renumbering exercises over time If you can post his name and service numbers we can take a look for you and see if we can add to your knowledge Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) On 05/10/2015 11:50, Mary Newbery via wrote: > Dear Nivard, > I’m going from memory here as my documentation is at home, and I’m not. I know there are discharge/pension papers which I think were mid 1920 so maybe MOD is a line to presume. Also he had more than one number so must have been transferred between units, and I do have those. Medals are a bit of a mystery. I remember medals, but my brother who died last year and was a WW1 buff, had these and they never turned up when his house/possessions were cleared. I remembered, too late that he had created a sort of cache inside a book, and I wondered if maybe they had been placed there, but it now seems unlikely that I will ever know. I enquired of the recipient of his books but never got a response. I know my brother was strongly motivated to find out about his father but similarly had little luck. > I seem to do my research in fits and starts nowadays so need to maintain a bit of a focus. > Thanks for your suggestions though, which I will try to follow. > Are there any books regarding the Army of Occupation and it’s tasks, or were they specific to the regiment? > Best wishes, > Mary

Hello, The mention of chemical weapons reignited dormant questions. My father served in France and then in the Army of Occupation in Cologne until 1920. My mother always attributed his stomach problems, and later respiratory problems to “cleaning up mustard gas”. I’ve absolutely no idea what that entailed or how possible it was. Did they collect unused canisters??? Also what sort of life would young soldiers have in the Army of Occupation? I know he was billeted with a lovely German lady Frau Breitschied who had lost a son in the war and who treated him like her own. Best wishes, Mary --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

Hi Mary Now you say your man served to 1920? Or did he serve past that point? As service records for anyone who served past that point would still be with the MOD and are not as yet available to the general public They can be applied for but unless its the serviceman themselves there would be a non returnable £30 search and copy fee (even if no result) War diaries rarely name individual soldiers, only if involved in particular acts, sometimes officers were mentioned but rank and file rarely Do you know the specific unit he served with? As there would be several diaries not just one, and as many men were transferred or came under a different organising authority it may take a little work to fathom out where to look Ancestry have a huge number of war diaries but you do need to know the unit and what umbrella organisation that came under Do you have his medals or medal card Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) On 05/10/2015 11:05, Mary Newbery wrote: > Dear Nivard, > I've looked and looked for records but they seem to have been destroyed. > Unit's War diaries may be useful. I believe that the Archives at Alnwick > castle have them for the Northumberland Fusiliers , but when I asked > years ago they didn't seem available for your own research, and the > archivist didn't find mention of my father, not surprisingly. I will > have another go though as the more general interest angle might evoke a > response. > Best wishes, > Mary

Hi Mary Have you his service records? Its likely to be the only record of what he did and where he was But its unlikely to be that detailed unfortunately Next port of call would be the units war diaries if available Many units have had books written on their involvement, have you tried that angle? Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) On 05/10/2015 09:27, Mary Newbery via wrote: > Hello, > The mention of chemical weapons reignited dormant questions. > My father served in France and then in the Army of Occupation in Cologne until 1920. My mother always attributed his stomach problems, and later respiratory problems to “cleaning up mustard gas”. > I’ve absolutely no idea what that entailed or how possible it was. Did they collect unused canisters??? > Also what sort of life would young soldiers have in the Army of Occupation? I know he was billeted with a lovely German lady Frau Breitschied who had lost a son in the war and who treated him like her own. > Best wishes, > Mary

Things are slow on ALL the lists these days, mostly - I believe - owing to Facebook and it's many facets. For many years all the Rootsweb lists were very busy, but all the lists I am on are now slowed down almost to a halt. Recently I have joined a group on Facebook called "Liverpool Genealogy" and the people writing to it don't seem to be aware of the Rootsweb heritage, which seems a pity (but you can't write to someone's group directing their members to another site). In some ways I wonder if we have just come to the end of the road with most of the research we can do on line, without making visits to cemeteries and records offices. Perhaps we have to wait for the next generation to start wondering about their ancestry. While we're waiting, I would like to open the list up a little bit by asking interested members to send in stories of their WW1 ancestors. I think we've done it before with some success and rather than let the list die on its feet, perhaps we can do it again? I would start it off myself but I have written ad nauseam about my own two grandfathers, both lost at sea - the one torpedoed on the "Laurentic", the other presumably shot whilst rowing Australian troops ashore at Gallipoli from the "Cornwallis"; both life serving seamen from Liverpool. Marj Bennett Admin (Southport, Merseyside) ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.6140 / Virus Database: 4435/10761 - Release Date: 10/05/15

Not sure if this is the right way to post a message, but yes, another one still here! Sheila, if you can give an idea of the areas your family lived, I'd be happy to get pictures if I can. Jacky Sent from my iPad > On 5 Oct 2015, at 08:01, ww1-uk-request@rootsweb.com wrote: > > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Anyone still around ? (Nivard Ovington) > 2. Re: Anyone still around ? (Ian Sage) > 3. Re: Anyone still around ? (Nivard Ovington) > 4. Re: Anyone still around ? (Sheila Morgan) > 5. Re: Anyone still around ? (Marj Bennett) > 6. Re: Anyone still around ? (Marj Bennett) > 7. Chemical advisors (Ian Sage) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2015 16:58:33 +0100 > From: Nivard Ovington <ovington.one@gmail.com> > Subject: [WW1-UK] Anyone still around ? > To: ww1-uk@rootsweb.com > Message-ID: <56114CA9.30807@gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed > > Hi all > > Or am I talking to myself? > > Boy its quiet on the lists isn't it ? > > I wondered if the following may be of interest to some > > A concise chronicle of events of the great war > by Rowe, Reginald Percy Pfeiffer, 1868- > > Published 1920 > Topics World War, 1914-1918 > > Available for free download at archive.org (texts) > > There are various download options, I find the PDF version the best, > (7th option as there are two pdfs) > > -- > Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2015 17:59:56 +0100 > From: Ian Sage <ian.sage@tiscali.co.uk> > Subject: Re: [WW1-UK] Anyone still around ? > To: Nivard Ovington <ovington.one@gmail.com>, ww1-uk@rootsweb.com > Message-ID: <56115B0C.6050405@tiscali.co.uk> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed > > There's at least one more person still here! Thanks for that reference, > Nivard - though it is very concise and seems to leave out most of the > events of significance to my rellies! I'm not too surprised that it > omits the battle of Boar's Head (30th June 1916) as it was overshadowed > by the Somme offensive, but I thought it might mention the sinking of SS > Shirala, 2nd July 1918 where my uncle Joseph Thomas Elrington Preston > was a passenger. But I guess submarine attacks were too commonplace at > that time. > > Ian > >> On 04/10/15 16:58, Nivard Ovington via wrote: >> Hi all >> >> Or am I talking to myself? >> >> Boy its quiet on the lists isn't it ? >> >> I wondered if the following may be of interest to some >> >> A concise chronicle of events of the great war >> by Rowe, Reginald Percy Pfeiffer, 1868- >> >> Published 1920 >> Topics World War, 1914-1918 >> >> Available for free download at archive.org (texts) >> >> There are various download options, I find the PDF version the best, >> (7th option as there are two pdfs) > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2015 18:57:04 +0100 > From: Nivard Ovington <ovington.one@gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [WW1-UK] Anyone still around ? > To: Ian Sage <ian.sage@tiscali.co.uk>, ww1-uk@rootsweb.com > Message-ID: <56116870.8000706@gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed > > Good to hear someones still around :-) > > As its titled it is a Concise Chronicle > > But useful all the same, and the price is right ;-) > > Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > >> On 04/10/2015 17:59, Ian Sage wrote: >> There's at least one more person still here! Thanks for that reference, >> Nivard - though it is very concise and seems to leave out most of the >> events of significance to my rellies! I'm not too surprised that it >> omits the battle of Boar's Head (30th June 1916) as it was overshadowed >> by the Somme offensive, but I thought it might mention the sinking of SS >> Shirala, 2nd July 1918 where my uncle Joseph Thomas Elrington Preston >> was a passenger. But I guess submarine attacks were too commonplace at >> that time. >> >> Ian > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2015 15:33:32 -0700 > From: "Sheila Morgan" <rosaliem@telus.net> > Subject: Re: [WW1-UK] Anyone still around ? > To: "Nivard Ovington" <ovington.one@gmail.com>, <ww1-uk@rootsweb.com> > Message-ID: <8860DC5DD0984B82BA16A6BD39D68259@Crackpot> > Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; > reply-type=original > > Yep, I'm still here, reading when someone posts. But I'm a shy > person. I had always hoped that one day I'd be able to go to England and > Scotland to see where my parents were born and the areas they had lived in, > but....... I think the time for me to wish on that has gone. > > Sheila > > -----Original Message----- > From: Nivard Ovington via > Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2015 8:58 AM > To: ww1-uk@rootsweb.com > Subject: [WW1-UK] Anyone still around ? > > Hi all > > Or am I talking to myself? > > Boy its quiet on the lists isn't it ? > > I wondered if the following may be of interest to some > > A concise chronicle of events of the great war > by Rowe, Reginald Percy Pfeiffer, 1868- > > Published 1920 > Topics World War, 1914-1918 > > Available for free download at archive.org (texts) > > There are various download options, I find the PDF version the best, > (7th option as there are two pdfs) > > -- > Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > WW1-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2015 23:47:32 +0100 > From: "Marj Bennett" <marged36@btopenworld.com> > Subject: Re: [WW1-UK] Anyone still around ? > To: "Ian Sage" <ian.sage@tiscali.co.uk>, <ww1-uk@rootsweb.com> > Message-ID: <160A78C479274DBC9D30231D8F6A9AAD@MarjPC> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > I'm still here! > > And submarine attacks were certainly not rare - my own grandfather, Robert Edward Mackay Campbell Ingham, died when the "Laurentic" was sunk off the coast of Northern Ireland in January 1917. > > Marj Bennett > > > > > > There's at least one more person still here! Thanks for that reference, > Nivard - though it is very concise and seems to leave out most of the > events of significance to my rellies! I'm not too surprised that it > omits the battle of Boar's Head (30th June 1916) as it was overshadowed > by the Somme offensive, but I thought it might mention the sinking of SS > Shirala, 2nd July 1918 where my uncle Joseph Thomas Elrington Preston > was a passenger. But I guess submarine attacks were too commonplace at > that time. > > Ian > >> On 04/10/15 16:58, Nivard Ovington via wrote: >> Hi all >> >> Or am I talking to myself? >> >> Boy its quiet on the lists isn't it ? >> >> I wondered if the following may be of interest to some >> >> A concise chronicle of events of the great war >> by Rowe, Reginald Percy Pfeiffer, 1868- >> >> Published 1920 >> Topics World War, 1914-1918 >> >> Available for free download at archive.org (texts) >> >> There are various download options, I find the PDF version the best, >> (7th option as there are two pdfs) > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to WW1-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2015.0.6140 / Virus Database: 4435/10757 - Release Date: 10/04/15 > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2015 23:49:58 +0100 > From: "Marj Bennett" <marged36@btopenworld.com> > Subject: Re: [WW1-UK] Anyone still around ? > To: "Sheila Morgan" <rosaliem@telus.net>, <ww1-uk@rootsweb.com> > Message-ID: <CD600F4D10544BAC88595A07E0C8C9B5@MarjPC> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > I know it's not the same as a visit, but you could always tell us the places you were hoping to see - you never know, someone might send pictures or information for you. > > I go to Scotland myself a few times each year, as my daughter lives in Edinburgh, and I live in the North West of England near Liverpool, close to the Irish Sea. > > Marj Bennett > > > Yep, I'm still here, reading when someone posts. But I'm a shy > person. I had always hoped that one day I'd be able to go to England and > Scotland to see where my parents were born and the areas they had lived in, > but....... I think the time for me to wish on that has gone. > > Sheila > > -----Original Message----- > From: Nivard Ovington via > Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2015 8:58 AM > To: ww1-uk@rootsweb.com > Subject: [WW1-UK] Anyone still around ? > > Hi all > > Or am I talking to myself? > > Boy its quiet on the lists isn't it ? > > I wondered if the following may be of interest to some > > A concise chronicle of events of the great war > by Rowe, Reginald Percy Pfeiffer, 1868- > > Published 1920 > Topics World War, 1914-1918 > > Available for free download at archive.org (texts) > > There are various download options, I find the PDF version the best, > (7th option as there are two pdfs) > > -- > Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > WW1-UK-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 WW1-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2015.0.6140 / Virus Database: 4435/10757 - Release Date: 10/04/15 > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 7 > Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2015 00:03:32 +0100 > From: Ian Sage <ian.sage@tiscali.co.uk> > Subject: [WW1-UK] Chemical advisors > To: ww1-uk@rootsweb.com > Message-ID: <5611B044.1040800@tiscali.co.uk> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed > > While everyone is switched on by this flurry of activity, is there > anyone on list who can add to my knowledge of WW1 chemical advisors? So > far as I understand these were appointed at different levels - advisors > to a corps, battalion or whatever. They seem to have had > responsibilities which were wide ranging - training troops and officers > in gas defences, ensuring equipment, warning systems etc were in place > and maintained, and taking samples of gas munitions for analysis. > > Can anyone tell me how they were organised? Did they retain a regular > regimental position and rank, or have a separate command structure? How > many levels or ranks of such advisors were there? At > http://www.army.gov.au/~/media/Files/Our%20history/AAHU/Primary%20Materials/World%20War%20One%201914-1918/Training%20Materials/Duties_of_Anti-Gas_Personnel_and_Instructions_for_Protection_of_Dug-Outs_Against_Gas.pdf > <http://www.army.gov.au/%7E/media/Files/Our%20history/AAHU/Primary%20Materials/World%20War%20One%201914-1918/Training%20Materials/Duties_of_Anti-Gas_Personnel_and_Instructions_for_Protection_of_Dug-Outs_Against_Gas.pdf> > there is reference to a Gas Directorate - this is the Australian army, > but was the British army arrangement similar? > > Thanks for any enlightenment, > > Ian > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > End of WW1-UK Digest, Vol 9, Issue 24 > *************************************

Morning Ian Not an area I have looked at specifically I expected to find chemical weapons under the Royal Engineers and that seems to be the case The following may give some leads <http://www.1914-1918.net/specialcoyre.htm> Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) On 05/10/2015 00:03, Ian Sage via wrote: > While everyone is switched on by this flurry of activity, is there > anyone on list who can add to my knowledge of WW1 chemical advisors? So > far as I understand these were appointed at different levels - advisors > to a corps, battalion or whatever. They seem to have had > responsibilities which were wide ranging - training troops and officers > in gas defences, ensuring equipment, warning systems etc were in place > and maintained, and taking samples of gas munitions for analysis. > > Can anyone tell me how they were organised? Did they retain a regular > regimental position and rank, or have a separate command structure? How > many levels or ranks of such advisors were there? At > http://www.army.gov.au/~/media/Files/Our%20history/AAHU/Primary%20Materials/World%20War%20One%201914-1918/Training%20Materials/Duties_of_Anti-Gas_Personnel_and_Instructions_for_Protection_of_Dug-Outs_Against_Gas.pdf > <http://www.army.gov.au/%7E/media/Files/Our%20history/AAHU/Primary%20Materials/World%20War%20One%201914-1918/Training%20Materials/Duties_of_Anti-Gas_Personnel_and_Instructions_for_Protection_of_Dug-Outs_Against_Gas.pdf> > there is reference to a Gas Directorate - this is the Australian army, > but was the British army arrangement similar? > > Thanks for any enlightenment, > > Ian

Oh don't be shy Sheila you are among friends :-) There are lots of places I want to visit also, many I doubt I will ever get to but through the internet I can at least do a virtual wander around the streets and lanes they did and at least get a flavour of those places I have screen captures of many of the residences and places important in their lives And there may be people who can take a picture or two for you, so well worth asking, if not here then on one of the many lists available for almost every place there is but if unsure post here and we can probably help Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) On 04/10/2015 23:33, Sheila Morgan wrote: > Yep, I'm still here, reading when someone posts. But I'm a shy > person. I had always hoped that one day I'd be able to go to England > and Scotland to see where my parents were born and the areas they had > lived in, but....... I think the time for me to wish on that has gone. > > Sheila

Hi Marj, On 10/5/2015 4:10 AM, Marj Bennett via wrote: > I would like to open the list up a little bit by asking interested members to send in stories of their WW1 ancestors. I think we've done it before with some success and rather than let the list die on its feet, perhaps we can do it again? Glad to contribute. http://bit.ly/1GQOagQ Joe Bissett Admin Rootsweb Piggott/Kerslake/Cummiskey surname lists

While everyone is switched on by this flurry of activity, is there anyone on list who can add to my knowledge of WW1 chemical advisors? So far as I understand these were appointed at different levels - advisors to a corps, battalion or whatever. They seem to have had responsibilities which were wide ranging - training troops and officers in gas defences, ensuring equipment, warning systems etc were in place and maintained, and taking samples of gas munitions for analysis. Can anyone tell me how they were organised? Did they retain a regular regimental position and rank, or have a separate command structure? How many levels or ranks of such advisors were there? At http://www.army.gov.au/~/media/Files/Our%20history/AAHU/Primary%20Materials/World%20War%20One%201914-1918/Training%20Materials/Duties_of_Anti-Gas_Personnel_and_Instructions_for_Protection_of_Dug-Outs_Against_Gas.pdf <http://www.army.gov.au/%7E/media/Files/Our%20history/AAHU/Primary%20Materials/World%20War%20One%201914-1918/Training%20Materials/Duties_of_Anti-Gas_Personnel_and_Instructions_for_Protection_of_Dug-Outs_Against_Gas.pdf> there is reference to a Gas Directorate - this is the Australian army, but was the British army arrangement similar? Thanks for any enlightenment, Ian

I know it's not the same as a visit, but you could always tell us the places you were hoping to see - you never know, someone might send pictures or information for you. I go to Scotland myself a few times each year, as my daughter lives in Edinburgh, and I live in the North West of England near Liverpool, close to the Irish Sea. Marj Bennett Yep, I'm still here, reading when someone posts. But I'm a shy person. I had always hoped that one day I'd be able to go to England and Scotland to see where my parents were born and the areas they had lived in, but....... I think the time for me to wish on that has gone. Sheila -----Original Message----- From: Nivard Ovington via Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2015 8:58 AM To: ww1-uk@rootsweb.com Subject: [WW1-UK] Anyone still around ? Hi all Or am I talking to myself? Boy its quiet on the lists isn't it ? I wondered if the following may be of interest to some A concise chronicle of events of the great war by Rowe, Reginald Percy Pfeiffer, 1868- Published 1920 Topics World War, 1914-1918 Available for free download at archive.org (texts) There are various download options, I find the PDF version the best, (7th option as there are two pdfs) -- Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to WW1-UK-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 WW1-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.6140 / Virus Database: 4435/10757 - Release Date: 10/04/15

I'm still here! And submarine attacks were certainly not rare - my own grandfather, Robert Edward Mackay Campbell Ingham, died when the "Laurentic" was sunk off the coast of Northern Ireland in January 1917. Marj Bennett There's at least one more person still here! Thanks for that reference, Nivard - though it is very concise and seems to leave out most of the events of significance to my rellies! I'm not too surprised that it omits the battle of Boar's Head (30th June 1916) as it was overshadowed by the Somme offensive, but I thought it might mention the sinking of SS Shirala, 2nd July 1918 where my uncle Joseph Thomas Elrington Preston was a passenger. But I guess submarine attacks were too commonplace at that time. Ian On 04/10/15 16:58, Nivard Ovington via wrote: > Hi all > > Or am I talking to myself? > > Boy its quiet on the lists isn't it ? > > I wondered if the following may be of interest to some > > A concise chronicle of events of the great war > by Rowe, Reginald Percy Pfeiffer, 1868- > > Published 1920 > Topics World War, 1914-1918 > > Available for free download at archive.org (texts) > > There are various download options, I find the PDF version the best, > (7th option as there are two pdfs) > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to WW1-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.6140 / Virus Database: 4435/10757 - Release Date: 10/04/15