Saturday, October 06, 2018

Chailey photo montage


It's been a while since I posted on this Chailey 1914-1918 blog; too many competing priorities and a busy work and home life never leave me with enough hours in the day. Nevertheless, I have just applied a couple of updates to the blog and also created the montage above which I'm using as a background. The individuals here are all connected with Chailey of course; most of them serving men and women who lived in the village or in nearby Newick.

Nurse Edith Oliver, who started this whole research project off for me, is the lady top left, whilst Margaret Cotesworth, third row down and second from right, was the indomitable commandant who ran Sussex 44 VAD. I shall be endeavouring to add all of these faces to another of my projects, British Army Ancestors, which I launched last year. There are close to 12m searchable records on that site, the aim being that people can upload and hopefully, in time, find a photo of their British Army Ancestor. But in the meantime there's till work to do on this Chailey site.

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Private Joseph R Fish, 86th Aero Squadron, USA

Joseph R Fish was an American serviceman who was nursed at Beechland House in 1918.  His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album reads:

June 20-6-18             

Pte Joseph R Fish
86th Aero Squadron
USA

He shares this page with entries from 235377 Private A Wearing of the 3rd Worcestershire Regiment, 205445 Private Joseph H Richards of the 11th East Yorkshire Regiment and 8451 Private Joseph Spruce of the 8th North Staffordshire Regiment.

The 86th Aero Squadron was formed on 17th August 1917 and served as part of the zone of advance in France during the latter part of the Great War.  The squadron has been redesignated several times since then and today operates as the 43rd Electronic Squadron Combat.


Nothing further is known of Joseph Fish and he appears to be the only US serviceman in Nurse Oliver’s album.

5363 Private W Ferguson, 3rd Border Regiment

Little is known about this man other than that he was an early arrival at Hickwells as a convalescent.  The first arrivals to the home came on 26th March 1915 and Private Ferguson’s entry in Nurse Oliver’s album is dated less than a month after that.  It reads:

April
22/4/1915

5363 Pte W Ferguson

3rd Border Regt                                     M
Shoeburyness                                       Ay
Essex                                                   Sc

He shares this page in the album with entries from 19740 Private Joseph Leigh of the 3rd Border Regiment, W Wallace of the 1st Border Regiment and 50082 Driver James Gilbert of the Royal Field Artillery.


Nothing further is known about this man and I have been unable to find a medal index card for him.

22782 L/Cpl Ernest Fairbrother, 10th Loyal North Lancs

Lance-Corporal Ernest Fairbrother was a patient at Beechland House, Newick.  His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album reads:

L. Cpl E Fairbrother 22782
10th Batt Loyal North Lancs Regt

Wounded on 15th Nov 1916 on the
Ancre.  Also at Givenchy May 1915.
“Make new friends & keep the old”

He shares this page with 1366 Lance-Corporal Ernest Ladd of the 5th East Kent Regiment and 25442 Private Norman Wigston of the 4th Worcestershire Regiment.

The 10th Loyal North Lancs Regiment was a Kitchener (K3) battalion which was formed at Preston in October 1914.  It was initially attached as Army Troops to the 22nd Division but in April 1915 joined the 112th Brigade in the 37th Division.  It is possible therefore that Ernest was wounded at Givnecy On the day on which Ernest was wounded, Chris McCarthy in his book, The Somme - The Day by Day Account has this to say:

Wednesday 15th November
V Corps - 37th Division


“The major concern of 37th Division, which had begun the relief of 63rd Division, was the linking up with 51st Division on their left.  The 13th Rifle Brigade (111 Brigade) bombed up Beaucourt Trench towards Munich Trench before 9am, but it was not until 10am that the link was established.  On the right, Beaucourt was shelled all day.  63 Brigade sent out a patrol and found Muck and Railway Trenches abandoned by the Germans.  Muck Trench was found to be full of mud.”

Thursday, June 01, 2017

914 Bombardier Francis E Ryan, Royal Field Artillery

914 Gunner Francis E Ryan was a patient at Hickwells in late 1915.  His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album reads:

May these be the
Worst of your days

Bombardier F E Ryan (419)
Head Quarter Staff
2nd West Lancs Bde.
R.F.A.
Blackpool
Lancs

Underneath this, Nurse Oliver has written, “Now somewhere overseas”.

Francis Ryan was a Territorial Force artilleryman.  He misquotes his number as 419 when it should have been 914.  When the Territorial Force was renumbered in early 1917 he was assigned the new number 840602.  The 2nd West Lancs Brigade Royal Field Artillery later became 276 Brigade, RFA and from January 1916 it was one of four RFA Brigades within The 55th (West Lancashire) Division.  The following information is taken form Chris Baker’s website, The Long, Long Trail:

The brigade remained in England when most of the rest of the division was broken up to reinforce the BEF on the Western Front. It was attached to the 2nd Canadian Division and moved to France in October 1915. It rejoined the original division in January 1916. Re-armed with modern equipment in England. Redesignated from I West Lancs in May 1915.

Francis Ryan’s medal index card gives his rank as gunner rather than bombardier and also notes that his medals were returned.  He was entitled to the British War and Victory Medals which suggests that he did not serve overseas until 1916. 

During his time at Hickwells he received a number of mentions in local newspapers which are reproduced below:

Sussex Daily News
Friday November 26th 1915
CONCERT AT CHAILEY
A successful concert was held in the Chailey Parish Room on Wednesday evening in aid of the building fund.  The programme was composed mostly of items by the soldier patients of Hickwells Relief Hospital and, judging by the vociferous encores, was much appreciated.  A popular contribution seemed to be ‘Hickwells Band’ which, though not very tuneful, was certainly responsible for plenty of fun.  Bombardier Ryan announced the items and gave an excellent comic song with tambourine dance.  Sergeant Sheppard gave some bugle calls of the British Army.  Driver Bradley kept the audience in roars of laughter with his comic songs.  Corporal Nash, Lance-Corporal Smith and Private Allen’s songs were much appreciated.  The only civilian who took part was Mr Stone, who sang a couple of songs.

Sussex Express
November 26th 1915
ENTERTAINMENT - A most enjoyable entertainment was given in the Parish Room on Wednesday evening by a number of the wounded soldiers in residence at Hickwells War Relief Hospital.  The programme was opened by Miss Sandford with a pianoforte solo, which was followed by a song, entitled “Ordered to the Fray” by Mr H R Stone.  Sergeant Nash next sang, “Somewhere in France” and “Till the boys come home” was rendered by Sergeants Nash and Shepherd.  Alexander’s Rag Time Band next gave a  spirited performance, the conductor of which, Bombardier Ryan, can be congratulated.  Driver Bradley was deservedly encored for his inimitable rendering of “My Beastly Eyeglass” and replied with a recitation, “The 11.69 Express”.  He later gave “Christmas Bells” and in response to an encore gave a humorous monologue, “The Single Hair”.  Other items were contributed by Private Jock Allan, who sang “For King and Country” and on being encored gave the song, “I Love a Lassie”.  Later he sang “Annie Laurie” and “Roamin in the Gloamin”.  Corporal Smith sang, “Somewhere a Voice Is Calling” and sergeant Shepherd gave a variety of bugle calls.  Bombardier Ryan with his coon song sang “Oh Dem Golden Slippers”.  Mr Stone followed with “To the Front”.  Bombardier Ryan acted as stage manager and his witticisms frequently caused great laughter.  The proceedings were brought to a close by a hearty vote of thanks being recorded to the performers, which was proposed by Mr West.


Sussex Daily News
Friday December 3rd 1915
WOUNDED SOLDIERS ENTERTAIN THEIR FRIENDS AT CHAILEY
The soldiers at Hickwells Relief Hospital at Chailey were ‘at home’ to their friends on Wednesday afternoon and by way of amusing them gave two excellent entertainments - one at 2:30 and the other at 4:30.  The bugle called the performers together and when the screens were withdrawn a nice little group of waxworks was disclosed, Bombardier Ryan shewing [sic] off their ‘beauties’ in his usual amusing way.  Corporal Nash (as St George) and Private Allen sang the ‘Tin Gee Gee’, Private Wise and Sergeant Calvert making two fascinating ‘Little Dolly Girls’.  Rifleman Collins, still on crutches, made a splendid broken doll.  Lance-Corporal Smith was a Japanese Lady, and, later on, although only having the use of one arm, cleverly ‘vamped’ some accompaniments.  While dresses were being changed, Private Hume and Private MacBride sang and danced, and then to the tune of ‘Here We Are Again’, Hickwells’ Pierrot troupe appeared and gave a spirited entertainment.  Driver Bradley and Private Allen made excellent ‘Corner Men’ and Bombardier Ryan was capital as the ‘Master of Ceremonies’.  The troupe included, besides those already mentioned, Sergeant Calvert, Sergeant Sheppard, Corporal Nash, Lance-Corporal Smith, Privates Wise and Holleran, Driver Cleary and Corporal Dicks, many of whom sang and recited.  Two of the nurses helped at the piano

Sussex Express
December 3rd 1915 - Page 12

CONCERT AT HICKWELLS WAR RELIEF HOSPITAL - On Wednesday afternoon an enjoyable entertainment was given by some of the wounded soldiers in residence at the above hospital.  It opened with a display of wax works exhibited by Mrs Jarley (otherwise Bombardier Ryan) whose antics and jokes caused great laughter.  The costumes of all were varied and humorous.  This was followed by a number of interesting items performed by Bombardier Ryan, Private McBride, Sergeant Nash, Private Allan, Driver Bradley, Corporal Dicks and Gunner Hume.  The parody on “The Village Blacksmith” by Driver Bradley and Private Allan and the song “Macnamara’s Band” by Bombardier Ryan, were specially worthy of notice.  Another performance was given later in the day.

2229 Tpr Alfred Rock, Royal Horse Guards

Alfred Rock was a convalescent patient at Hickwells in early 1915.  His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album reads:

Trooper A Rock (2229) 
R H Gds

He shares this page with entries from SR/1921 Private James W Salmon of the 4th Royal Fusiliers, 6271 Private Ernest Whitcomb of the 1st Middlesex Regiment, 22002 Private D Jones of the Army Service Corps and 6155 Private Frank Chivers Dixon of the 1st Wiltshire Regiment.

According to his surviving military papers, Alfred was born in Stafford – or Fenton, Staffordshire, around April 1884.  He attested with the Household Cavalry at Manchester on 24th November 1914 giving his address as 25 Mona Street, Douglas, Isle of Man and his trade as labourer.  He was 30 years and eight months old and single.

His attestation was approved in London the same day and on the 25th November he was posted to the Royal Horse Guards and given the rank of Trooper and the army number 2229.  All appears to have gone smoothly until 26th February 1915 when, off duty at the YMCA Headquarters in London, he fell down some stone steps, badly damaging his left elbow.

Between 3rd and 26th March he was at the 1st London General Hospital where he was operated on and had his elbow wired.  The following month, presumably still with his arm in a sling, he married his sweetheart in the registry office at Stafford (21st April 1915).

The injury to his arm was enough to permanently finish Alfred’s military career before it had even got off the ground.  A Medical Board convened at Chelsea on 14th April 1916 found him “permanently unfit” and reported on 10th May that year that:

 “Olecranon [elbow] has been wired, operation not very successful as no true long union; wire has now been removed.  Pain on movement, movements restricted.  Result of accidental fall.  Permanent.  No incapacity due to service.”

Alfred was discharged from Regents Park Barracks, NW on 23rd May 1916 after one year and 182 days’ service.  He was described on discharge as aged 32 years and one month; five feet, ten and one eighth of an inch tall with brown hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion.  He gave his address as 29 Mawson Street, Ardwick, Manchester and was discharged in consequence of “being found remarkably unfit by the Medical Board held at Duke of Yorks School, Chelsea on 14th April that year.  His military character was reported as very good with “no offence during the whole of his service”


On 9th January 1918 he was admitted to pension (although details of the award are not on his file).  He also appears to have moved house by this stage as the Mawson Street address is scored through.

J E Robinson

This man was a patient at Beechland House in late 1916 and early 1917.  His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album reads:

J E Robinson
Wounded on 15 Nov 16 on the Somme

He shares this page with 4082 Lance-Corporal Andrew McCrorie of the 2nd Royal Scots Regiments and 57941 Lance-Corporal Albert Edward Smith of the 20th (Central Ontario) Canadians.  Also on this page is a pasted newspaper cutting relating to the pantomime organised in 1917. 

The cutting lists the performers in the pantomime which took place on 7th February 1917.  A Private Robinson is noted as having played the part of Firefly I (while Lance Corporal McCrorie played the role of Fairy Godmother and Lance-Corporal Smith played the part of a merchant).


Nothing else is known about this man, the information in his album entry being too slight to assist with further research.

Walter Robertson, 2nd Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

Private Walter Robertson was a patient at Hickwells in early 1916.  His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album reads:

Little Bits off Shrapnel, Little Bits
Off Shell makes A Soldier Weary
And Wishes He was in _______

England

Pte Walter Robertson
Second A & S Highlanders

Wounded Cambrin

On 22nd January 1916

There is insufficient information included here to identify Private Robertson and the battalion war diary for the day that he was wounded does not go into great detail either.  The entry reads:

22nd January 1916
CAMBRIN

“Mining officers still unable to say whether Germans are under our lines… a relief seems to have taken place in the German line, trumpets being blown and much shouting across, this seems to indicate Saxons, a fine cold night.”

There is no mention of casualties on this date but there is also no summary included of casualties for the month either.


Various soldiers - Beechlands


One of the pages in Nurse Oliver's album contains five badly faded photographs of convalescent soldiers at Beechland House.  The photograph above is probably the most detailed of the five and certainly the one that has withstood the test of time the best.  Neither Edith Oliver or Frances Blencowe named the individuals who appear in photographs in their albums; with the exception of these five.

The photos were clearly taken at Beechland House and date to June or early July 1916.  Apart from the fact that lupins can be seen in full bloom in a couple of the photographs and the men appear to be blinking into the sunlight, Trooper Hicks appears elsewhere in Nurse Oliver's album and dated his entry May 1916.  He was obviously still a patient when Hickwells was vacated and Sussex 54 VAD moved into its new Beechland House premises in June 1916.  He left hospital on 5th July 1916 and so the photograph must date to between the move to Beechlands - about 6th June 1916 - and George Hicks's departure the follwing month.  

The individuals who appear in the photograph above are named as:
Back row: Sergeant Milne, Private Hilton, Sergeant Richey; middle row: Trooper Hicks, Private Foster, Rifleman Deers, Private Hart, Bombardier Garland; front row: Rifleman Hardcastle, Private Dorchester, Rifleman R Nicholson.


Three of these men also appear in another photograph in Nurse Oliver's album (above).  Identified soldiers in this photograph are Private Hart (holding the dog), Rifleman Nicholson (second from right) and Sergeant Milne (far right).  This photo almost certainly dates from around the same time in 1916.

A Rifleman Hughes is named as appearing in another one of the five faded photographs but the image has suffered badly and I have not reproduced it on this website.
The photogaph below appears elsewhere on this site and may have been taken at Hickwells rather than Beechlands; it is impossible to say which. George Hicks also appears in this photograph, recumbent front left. 

Private Hilton


One of the pages in Nurse Oliver's album contains five badly faded photographs of convalescent soldiers at Beechland House.  The photograph above is probably the most detailed of the five and certainly the one that has withstood the test of time the best.  Neither Edith Oliver or Frances Blencowe named the individuals who appear in photographs in their albums; with the exception of these five.

The photos were clearly taken at Beechland House and date to June or early July 1916.  Apart from the fact that lupins can be seen in full bloom in a couple of the photographs and the men appear to be blinking into the sunlight, Trooper Hicks appears elsewhere in Nurse Oliver's album and dated his entry May 1916.  He was obviously still a patient when Hickwells was vacated and Sussex 54 VAD moved into its new Beechland House premises in June 1916.  He left hospital on 5th July 1916 and so the photograph must date to between the move to Beechlands - about 6th June 1916 - and George Hicks's departure the follwing month. 

The individuals who appear in the photograph above are named as:

Back row: Sergeant Milne, Private Hilton, Sergeant Richey; middle row: Trooper Hicks, Private Foster, Rifleman Deers, Private Hart, Bombardier Garland; front row: Rifleman Hardcastle, Private Dorchester, Rifleman R Nicholson.


Three of these men also appear in another photograph in Nurse Oliver's album (above).  Identified soldiers in this photograph are Private Hart (holding the dog), Rifleman Nicholson (second from right) and Sergeant Milne (far right).  This photo almost certainly dates from around the same time in 1916.

A Rifleman Hughes is named as appearing in another one of the five faded photographs but the image has suffered badly and I have not reproduced it on this website.
The photogaph below appears elsewhere on this site and may have been taken at Hickwells rather than Beechlands; it is impossible to say which. George Hicks also appears in this photograph, recumbent front left. 

Sergeant Milne


One of the pages in Nurse Oliver's album contains five badly faded photographs of convalescent soldiers at Beechland House.  The photograph above is probably the most detailed of the five and certainly the one that has withstood the test of time the best.  Neither Edith Oliver or Frances Blencowe named the individuals who appear in photographs in their albums; with the exception of these five.

The photos were clearly taken at Beechland House and date to June or early July 1916.  Apart from the fact that lupins can be seen in full bloom in a couple of the photographs and the men appear to be blinking into the sunlight, Trooper Hicks appears elsewhere in Nurse Oliver's album and dated his entry May 1916.  He was obviously still a patient when Hickwells was vacated and Sussex 54 VAD moved into its new Beechland House premises in June 1916.  He left hospital on 5th July 1916 and so the photograph must date to between the move to Beechlands - about 6th June 1916 - and George Hicks's departure the follwing month.  

The individuals who appear in the photograph above are named as:

Back row: Sergeant Milne, Private Hilton, Sergeant Richey; middle row: Trooper Hicks, Private Foster, Rifleman Deers, Private Hart, Bombardier Garland; front row: Rifleman Hardcastle, Private Dorchester, Rifleman R Nicholson.


Three of these men also appear in another photograph in Nurse Oliver's album (above).  Identified soldiers in this photograph are Private Hart (holding the dog), Rifleman Nicholson (second from right) and Sergeant Milne (far right).  This photo almost certainly dates from around the same time in 1916.

A Rifleman Hughes is named as appearing in another one of the five faded photographs but the image has suffered badly and I have not reproduced it on this website.
The photogaph below appears elsewhere on this site and may have been taken at Hickwells rather than Beechlands; it is impossible to say which. George Hicks also appears in this photograph, recumbent front left. 

Sergeant Richey


One of the pages in Nurse Oliver's album contains five badly faded photographs of convalescent soldiers at Beechland House.  The photograph above is probably the most detailed of the five and certainly the one that has withstood the test of time the best.  Neither Edith Oliver or Frances Blencowe named the individuals who appear in photographs in their albums; with the exception of these five.
The photos were clearly taken at Beechland House and date to June or early July 1916.  Apart from the fact that lupins can be seen in full bloom in a couple of the photographs and the men appear to be blinking into the sunlight, Trooper Hicks appears elsewhere in Nurse Oliver's album and dated his entry May 1916.  He was obviously still a patient when Hickwells was vacated and Sussex 54 VAD moved into its new Beechland House premises in June 1916.  He left hospital on 5th July 1916 and so the photograph must date to between the move to Beechlands - about 6th June 1916 - and George Hicks's departure the follwing month.  The individuals who appear in the photograph above are named as:
Back row: Sergeant Milne, Private Hilton, Sergeant Richey; middle row: Trooper Hicks, Private Foster, Rifleman Deers, Private Hart, Bombardier Garland; front row: Rifleman Hardcastle, Private Dorchester, Rifleman R Nicholson.


Three of these men also appear in another photograph in Nurse Oliver's album (above).  Identified soldiers in this photograph are Private Hart (holding the dog), Rifleman Nicholson (second from right) and Sergeant Milne (far right).  This photo almost certainly dates from around the same time in 1916.
A Rifleman Hughes is named as appearing in another one of the five faded photographs but the image has suffered badly and I have not reproduced it on this website.
The photogaph below appears elsewhere on this site and may have been taken at Hickwells rather than Beechlands; it is impossible to say which. George Hicks also appears in this photograph, recumbent front left. 




8030 Private Henry Walter Richardson, 1st Dorset Regiment


8030 Private Henry Walter Richardson was a career soldier who was probably a convalescent patient at Hickwells in early 1915.  He has two entries in Nurse Oliver’s album, both along similar lines.  The first reads:

8030 Pte H. Richardson
1st Batt Dorset Regt

Was caught napping by
the famous General (one) O clocks
Artillery at Missy [this is crossed out and “Missines” written on top] stopping
three shrapnell bullets and his only
regret is that he couldn’t get his
own-back.

This page is shared with entries from L/6738 Private Charles Sabourin of the 1st East Surrey Regiment and Corporal Albert Brandon of the 7th Middlesex Regiment.  The second entry reads:

Wounded at Messines by shrapnel receiving
three Bullets, Hand Shoulder & Head

What ever I may do
Or wherever I may be
I shall remember all of you
For your kindnesses to me.

Oh if ever I get the Chance
To see some more of those Alamand
I will just make some of them Dance
For their injury to my Hand

Henry's entry is along very similar lines to that of Private Sabourin and one gets the feeling that they had much in common.  Both were regular soldiers, both served with the 5th Infantry Division and both received severe wounds in the early stages of the war which would finish their part in the action.  In their few lines the two men both express disappointment, regret and bitterness at being wounded and both mourn the opportunity of not being able to exact some revenge.  “General One O’Clock:”, mentioned in Richardson’s first entry is General Von Kluck who commanded the German First Army.  The “Alamand” in his second entry are “Allemands”, French for “Germans”.

Henry Richardson’s military history is sketchy but we can piece together some basic details.  His medal index card notes that he has a middle initial (W), while his entry on the silver war badge roll records the fact that he enlisted on 28th August 1906.  This almost certainly marks him as a reservist who was recalled to the colours immediately war was declared.  There are just too many men with the name Henry Walter Richardson to identify him with confidence on census returns but if he joined the army in 1906, assuming he joined as a man rather than a boy, he would have been born around 1888 or earlier.

The 1st Dorset Regiment arrived in France on 16th August 1914 and was soon in action at Mons and Le Cateau.  Henry Richardson could have been wounded in these early battles as his name appears in a casualty list published in The Times on the 23rd October 1914, this list in turn reported from the Base on the 20th September 1914.

Henry was discharged form the army as medically unfit on 17th February 1916.  He was entitled to the 1914 Star and bar, and the British War and Victory Medals.  He also received a silver war badge.

205445 Private Joseph Henry Richards, 11th East Yorkshire Regt

Private J H Richards was a patient at Beechland House in June 1918.  His name appears on a page shared with three other men: 235377 Private A Wearing of the 3rd Worcestershire Regiment, 8451 Private Joseph Spruce of the 8th North Staffordshire Regiment and Private Joseph R Fish, an American serviceman from the 86th Aero Squadron.  At the top of the page there is a date: 20th June 1918.

Private Richards’ entry reads:

Pte J H Richards
11 East Yorkshires’

Wounded Feb 21st 1918 Nr Lens

He is possibly Joseph Henry Richards who, at the time the 1901 census was taken, was living at number 2, St Andrews Square, Hull.  The household comprised: Thomas Richards (head, married, aged 45, a labourer on the docks), Elizabeth Richards (wife, aged 39) and their five children: Elizabeth (aged 15, working as a weaver), John Richards (aged 11), Joseph (aged eight), Henrietta Richards (aged six) and Charles E Richards (aged two).  The children and their parents had all been born in Hull.

Joseph was conscripted into the army on 1st March 1917 and his entry in Nurse Oliver’s album tells us that he was wounded near Lens on 21st February 1918.  He was discharged from the army on 24th July 1919.  His entry in the Silver War Badge Roll at The National Archives in London gives his age as 26 on 9th August 1919.


The number on his medal index card is 205445 which would appear to be one of the block of numbers issued in 1917 to the 4th East Yorkshire Regiment (Territorial Force).  If this is the same man it suggests that he initially enlisted with the 4th Battalion but was transferred later to the 11th Battalion.  This was formed in Hull on 2nd September 1914, by Lord Nunburnholme and the East Riding TF Association.  It was commonly known as the Hull Tradesmen's Battalion and from June 1915 was attached to the 92nd Brigade in the 31st Division.

Corporal W R D F Reynolds, 3rd Royal Fusiliers

Corporal Reynolds was a patient at Beechland House in 1917 but nothing is known about this man other than his entry in Nurse Oliver’s album which has been heavily over-written in blue biro.  It reads:

20/4/17

Cpl W R D F Reynolds
3rd Royal Fusiliers

Wounded at Ypres on 23rd May 1915

Corporal Reynolds shares this page with entries from Private Angus McKenzie of the 1/5th Seaforth Highlanders, 801298 Gunner John William Thurgood of the Royal Field Artillery, 21/1522 Private Charles Edward Harrald of the 24th Northumberland Fusiliers and 21370 Lance-Corporal John William Williams of the 24th and 27th Northumberland Fusiliers.

The National Archives holds a medal card for a Walter R Reynolds but as this man’s entitlement is only for the British War and Victory Medals, this cannot be the same person. Nurse Oliver’s patient would also have been entitled to a 1914 or 1914/15 Star (depending on when he arrived overseas).

I think it is unlikely that Reynolds would have been first at Hickwells and then transferred to Beechland House as a result of his May 1915 wound and still be there in April 1917.  It seems more probable that he was there as the result of either sickness or an operation which may or may not have been related to his 1915 wound.

The war diary for the 3rd RF in May 1915 reveals that the battalion is in trenches in front of Belewaarde Lake.  The entry for 23rd May 1915 reads: “Fairly quiet day.  Casualties 12 wounded.”  The following day, which was Whit Monday, the Germans attacked at 2:30am.  The war diarist reported “continuous rifle and machine-gun fire” and the gas which was released at the same time is described as “particularly thick and strong.”  Casualties for the 24th May are noted as four officers killed, three wounded and missing, one missing and eight wounded.  Other Rank casualties are recorded as 536 killed, wounded and missing.


Writing of the day’s events on 30th May, Major E Baker commanding the 3rd Battalion wrote, “Out of a total of 800 rank and file, some 70 men were collected in a gassed condition in rear of the line and 150 men remained ultimately with me.  The remainder were killed, wounded or missing.”

15429 Sergeant Arthur Samuel Reeve, 8th KOSB


15429 Sergeant Arthur Samuel Reeve of the 8th Kings Own Scottish Borderers was a patient at Hickwells in October 1915.  His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album is a watercolour of St Mary’s Church at nearby Newick which can be viewed here.  He signs it simply, Sgt A Reeve, 8th KOSB.

Arthur Reeve was born at Hull, in the East Riding of Yorkshire in July 1875.  His Medical History Sheet, retained in his surviving service records at The National Archives in Kew, gives the village of Upton as his place of birth, but every other document notes Hull.
He appears on the 1881 census living at 105 Peel Street, Spotland, Rochdale with his family.  The household comprised Robert Reeve (head, married, aged 30, working as a silk loom jobber), his wife Susannah Reeve (aged 36, her occupation noted as “house duties) and their two children: Arthur (aged five) and Mary K Reeve (aged three).  Robert Reeve was born in Norfolk, his wife in Wardle, Lancashire.  Arthur is noted as being born in Hull and his sister in Rochdale.  This suggests that the family had moved from Hull to Rochdale certainly by 1878.

On the 1891 census the family is still living in Spotland but has moved to 1 Joseph Street.  Arthur, now aged 15, is recorded as a silk finisher.  Mary is recorded as, what looks like, a “woollen mule piecer”.  There are also three other children – Robert Reeve (aged nine), Gertrude Reeve (aged seven) and Ethel Reeve (aged five). 

The majority of the Reeve family’s neighbours have occupations in the silk or cotton trade and it is possible that the accommodation they occupied was either tied to a local silk/cotton factory or situated close by to one.

Arthur does not appear on the 1901 census.  By that time he had been a soldier for close to seven years and was probably overseas.  He’d enlisted in The Royal Lancaster Regiment at Manchester on 4th July 1894.  No doubt in common with many young men of the time, he probably felt that the British Army offered an escape from the humdrum life of work in a cotton mill or factory.  When he enlisted however, he gave his occupation as labourer so it seems likely that he had already decided that life in a mill was not for him.  (His father however, is listed on the 1901 census as a silk weaver.  He was a widower by now and had moved to Reddish in Lancashire.  He was living at home with his three daughters: Mary (recorded as “:Minnie”), Gertrude and Ethel).

Arthur was given the army service number 4504 and commenced his army career. Where he did his soldiering is not clear now but we get some idea from his medical history sheet. He was vaccinated on 23rd July but was in hospital in Lancaster for nine days the following month with a severe cold and sore throat.  He was at Hilsea in October and then at Portsmouth that December.  Quinsy (a condition similar to tonsillitis) kept him in bed there for eight days and in January and February 1895 he spent nearly a month in hospital with severe “follicular tonsillitis”.  In November 1895 he appears to have been incarcerated in Gosport Military Prison (demeanour unknown) and in April 1896, apparently still in prison, he was fitted with a truss for a hernia.

His hernia appears to have plagued him throughout 1896 and into 1897.  He spent two more spells in hospital in 1896 because of it and was fitted with a second truss at Devonport in March 1897.

There is then a gap on his service record of nine years until July 1906 when he spent time in an unknown hospital due to a problem with his lymph glands – his papers are difficult to read at this point.  He was probably in India however as an entry for 26th December 1906 notes “malarial symptoms”  which caused him to be detained in hospital for 35 days. Bareilly is also mentioned in connection with what looks like convalescence.

It is not clear when Arthur Reeve left the army but by the time war was declared in 1914 he was off the Reserve but had joined the Special Reserve.  He enlisted as a Special Reserve Recruit at Ardwick on 1st September 1914 at the grand old age of 39 years and two months.  He joined the 8th Kings Own Scottish Borderers – which in due course would form part of the 15th (Scottish) Division - and was given the number 15429.  His papers show that he was five feet, four and a half inches tall and weighed 132 pounds.  Various moles are noted on his chest and arms together with a small mole between his shoulders.
Arthur was given a typhoid inoculation in October 1914 and transferred down to Bordon, Salisbury Plain in February 1915. 

The following extract is adapted from part 9 of The Hospital Way.

The 15th Division, with the exception of two battalions from the Leicestershire and Bedfordshire Regiments was entirely Scottish and was raised at Aldershot.  It was comprised of men surplus to establishment of the recently formed 9th (Scottish) Division and from drafts sent from various Scottish depots.  By 15th September it was complete.  The major problem facing this and the other K2 Divisions however, was a lack of officers and experienced NCOs.  Divisions comprised of the first 100,000 recruits had been able to call upon the services of regular officers and NCOs from the regimental depots; not so their successors.  Scarcely a battalion had more than four officers and the 7th Royal Scots Fusiliers could muster just one officer: a recently commissioned RGA Quartermaster-Sergeant, amongst the 900 men.  “At no time”, states the Divisional history, “were there more than five Regular officers in any one brigade.” There were some ex-regular NCOs and pensioners who had taken part in campaigns in Egypt and Afghanistan and they were given acting ranks but in many cases new officers were selected, so the Divisional history states, “solely on account of their smart appearance, and in nearly every instance the choice was justified.”

Arthur Reeve a former NCO in the Regular army, and with just the kind of soldiering experience that the 15th Scottish Division so desperately lacked, must have been welcomed with opened arms. He was appointed sergeant and posted to D Company.

A shortage of trained officers and NCOs was not the only problem that faced the division.  Rifles did not appear until October, and when they did arrive they were found to be obsolete and fit only for drill purposes.  Army uniform too was non-existent, the stores having been plundered by the First Hundred Thousand.  Ordinary civilian clothes not being suited to the rigours of army life, new recruits were encouraged to obtain good suits, boots and greatcoats from home and promised an allowance of ten shillings per man. This though, reports the divisional history, “… did not help matters greatly.  In these early days it was quite a common occurrence for men to be excused parade either because the state of their boots would not allow them to march or because their garments were not sufficiently decent to warrant their leaving camp or barracks.”  When clothing did arrive towards the end of September 1914, it took everybody by surprise.  “The garments consisted of English-pattern trousers and red serge jackets of every sort and description, some of which had been manufactured as far back as 1893.  There were a few pairs of tartan trews but these were nearly all snapped up by NCOs and the men had to content themselves with what was left.  One man was heard to remark that he had come down to be a Gordon Highlander and not a ****** postman.”

But slowly the men of the 44th, 45th and 46th Infantry Brigades, which comprised the 15th Division, settled into their new routine.  “By the end of March 1915”, the divisional history reports, “weaklings had been weeded out” or rather, those men unable to withstand the 72 hour weeks which were the rule on Salisbury Plain.  Although the men may have been ready, the division was still desperately short of the wherewithal to wage a war.  Lewis gunners learnt their drill with the help of wooden models whilst signallers used imaginary telephone and telegraphic equipment. The divisional artillery was no better placed.  Men improvised with a dummy gun made from a pine log mounted on a funeral gun-carriage and an old victoria carriage discovered in a stable was cut into two to represent a carriage and limber.  When working artillery pieces did arrive they were found to date back to the Boer War with a number of French cannon dating back to 1890.  Nevertheless, for the few months that they were in service, the 2000 men of the newly formed divisional artillery, read their manuals, practised their drill and waited for the day when they could fire real shells at a real enemy.

On July 4th the division received the order to mobilise and three days later the first advance parties left for France. By nightfall, on the 10th July 1915, the entire 15th Division was on French soil.

The war diary of the 8th KOSB lists all the NCOs who arrived in France with the original contingent and Arthur Reeve is there, recorded as a sergeant with D Company.  The strength of the batallion on departure for France was as follows:

30 Officers
6 Warrant Officers
43 Sergeants
40 Corporals
901 Other Ranks                             
+1 Interpreter           

Total 1021

The following information is taken from the battalion war diary:

10th July 1915
Headquarters Staff and C and D Companies land at Boulogne at 8:40pm (A and B landed at 9:20am) and march to large rest camp at OSTROHOVE.

14th July 1915
Smoke helmets issued.
[Over the following days, various minor promotions and demotions are announced including “Sergeant A R Fraser who had been struck off strength in England for employment with Divisional Head Quarters, was today returned to duty for misconduct and posted to B Company for duty.”  Also, “Sergeant Burns ‘B’ Company reverted to Corporal at his own request and was placed first in the list of his rank.”]

22nd July 1915
We received today the news of the regrettable death by shell fire of Major Forbes DSO of the 7th battalion who was at the front for instruction in trench warfare.  Our sympathy goes out to the 7th Battalion on the loss of an esteemed and valuable officer.

26th July 1915
Private J Golding D Coy was accidentally shot in a dug-out in Sector X2 about 10:30am by No 15445 Pte H Guest.

2nd August 1915
[Field General Court Martial assembled for trial of Private Guest] “Neglect to the prejudice of good order and military discipline”, Sergeant Pike, “Drunkenness when warned for duty”, Corporal McKinnon, “drunkenness on parade”.  Private Guest sentenced to one year’s imprisonment with Hard Labour and suspension of punishment applied for.  Sergeant Pike and Corporal McInnon sentenced to be reduced to the ranks.

4th August 1915
[Both men reduced to the ranks]

15th August 1915
LES BREBIS
Bathing of men and washing of clothes in mine condensers.

16th August 1915
MAROC
Relieved 10th SCOTTISH RIFLES in Sector W3, relief completed 4:30pm.  D on right, A on left, C in support trench, B in reserve billets NORTH MAROC with Head Quarters.

18th - 21st August 1915
[Minor promotions and incidents continue]:
Sergeant Ward of D Company accidentally wounded by bayonet in leg when returning over parapet from wire patrol.  To Hospital.

Private Saint ‘C’ Company.  Gun shot wound in great toe of right foot, self-inflicted through negligence and disobedience of orders.  To Hospital.

22nd August 1915
[Pte Ormerod is killed on a working party by a shell fragment striking him on the temple.  Diarist records his burial]: “Buried in ground around MAROC CHURCH by Father Gillen.  Exact position of grave.  Corner of church grounds.  WEST SIDE of ruined church.  4 feet from WEST WALL and 101/2 feet from NORTH WALL.  Next grave to that of No 1213 Lance Corporal A P BIRD 23rd Battn London Regmt.  Grave marked with Regimental Wooden Cross.”

The 8th KOSB was relieved by the 7th Battalion the same day. Five days later at Fouquereuil it was reported that Lieutenant [William Gray] Herbertson and Sergeant Reeve as instructors, and eight NCOs and men per company were to attend a bomb-throwing course at Noeux les Mines.  Meanwhile, Lieutenant Douglas and eight NCOs and men were to attend a machine gun course (Vickers Maxim) at the same village.  Lieutenant Herbertson would be the brigade instructor and Sergeant Reeve would be his assistant.
On 31st August the battalion war diarist reported:

The 6th Battalion KOSB marched through on their way to VERQUIN where they are to be billeted for the night.  Work was stopped in the Battalion and the 6th halted for a few minutes to allow of the men talking to each other.  The 6th looked very fit.

The diary continues:

1st September 1915
[Heavy rain - company inspections and Drill]

2nd September 1915
Battalion moved to MAZINGARBE marching by companies to NOEUX LES MINES and from there by Half platoon to Bivouac near SAULCHOY FARM.  Heavy rain all night.  Men most comfortable.

3rd September 1915
Rained continuously all day.  Working parties in X Sector and at QUALITY STREET improving communications, making advanced ammunition stores, cutting gun emplacements, improving water supply, and laying a trolly [?] line from RE store MAZINGARBE to QUALITY STREET.

4th September 1915
[Working parties continue]

5th September 1915
Usual church parades arranged for but no men available for church as all are required for day working parties except the 200 returned at 4:30am.

7th September 1915
[Battn continues providing working parties for 73rd and 91st Companies RE - 300 men per day and 300 per night.  Casualties occur from shell fire on billets - 1 killed, 16 wounded.]
8th September 1915

SECTOR X2
All the battalion in trenches with exception of Head Quarter Company which remained in QUALITY STREET.

9th - 15th September 1915
[Various duties and casualties reported]

16th September 1915
Lieut Herbertson rejoined from Brigade Bombing School and resumed duty as Bombing Instructor to Battalion, assisted by Sergeant Reeve

17th - 22nd September 1915
[In and around NOEUX LES MINES, MAZINGARBE area]

23rd September 1915                           
MAZINGARBE
Bombers paraded for inspection by The Brigade Bombing Officer and Battalion supply of bombs drawn.  It was now generally understood that an attack on the German Position was intended for Saturday morning 25th and the day was spent in General preparation.

24th September 1915
The MAIRIE was set aside for storing of kits and packs of Officers, NCOs and men, this storing was effected by 10am...

On 25th September, The British Army launched its attack against the German positions around Loos.  You can read more about the preparations for the battle and the role played in it by the 15th Scottish Division in parts 9 and 10 of The Hospital Way.

Arthur Reeve was a casualty on the opening day, shot through the right thigh.  Lieutenant Herbertson and five other 8th KOSB officers were killed.  Battalion losses for the day were close to 400.  In all probability, Arthur would have made his way back form the front via a Field Ambulance, Casualty Clearing Station and possibly hospital before being transferred by hospital ship to England.  His service record is remarkably undetailed about his time in the army after his wounding at Loos, presumably because there was not much detail to include.  His recovery appears to have been long and slow and there is nothing in his record to suggest that he returned to his battalion.  His pensioner’s record card notes that his invaliding disability was the wound to his right thigh received on 25th September 1915.
On 10th May 1918 he was supplied with a part support denture and on 4th January 1919 a medical examination noted, “GSW right thigh, attributable to war service – 20% disability
[unclear] [unclear] small scar of entry on outer side of right thigh about 2 ½ inches above [unclear] of fibula – a 1 ½ inch scar on front of thigh 2 ½ inches above patella [unclear].
Arthur was discharged from the army on 17th February 1919 and rated Grade III.  

A pension’s board held at Manchester on 2nd February 1920 notes his rank Acting Company Quarter Master Sergeant and he would attend further pensions’ boards over the coming months.  On 9th December 1920, a board held in Manchester noted that his condition was improving and that there was less than 20 per cent disability.  Six weeks later, another board found that the disability had reduced to between one and five per cent.  He was awarded nine shillings and six pence a week for the next 35 weeks and at this point, his service record yields no more.