Награды 1МВ

[Алексей Дмитриевич]

Cудя по дате - погиб в первый день Battle of the Canal du Nord.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Canal_du_Nord

В этом же бою погиб один из двух, награждённых VC, военнослужащих батальона - Lt. Samuel Lewis Honey VC(посмертно), DCM, MM.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/78th_Battalion_(Winnipeg_Grenadiers),_CEF

[tanais]

Cудя по дате - погиб в первый день Battle of the Canal du Nord.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Canal_du_Nord

В этом же бою погиб один из двух, награждённых VC, военнослужащих батальона - Lt. Samuel Lewis Honey VC(посмертно), DCM, MM.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/78th_Battalion_(Winnipeg_Grenadiers),_CEF

Спасибо за ссылку на битву Алексей Дмитриевич, кроме описания в конце нашел шикарнейший скан аутентичной карты битвы в замечательном разрешении .... 

Если взять его да наложить сверху данные с google map относительно места расположения Anneux British Cemetary, где был похоронен солдат, то видимо погибший участвовал в событиях на южном фланге наступления....

 

В 5:20 утра 27 сентября все четыре дивизии атаковали в полной темноте, застигнув врасплох немецких защитников 1- й прусской гвардейской резервной дивизии и 3-й германской военно-морской дивизии. К середине утра все защитники отступили или были взяты в плен. Усиление сопротивления к востоку от канала доказало, что только внезапная атака может закончиться победой.

 

Перед канадским корпусом стояла важная цель захватить Бурлонский лес, немецкая армия использовала лесные возвышенности для своих орудий. Цели канадского корпуса были достигнуты к концу дня, включая красные, зеленые и синие линии.

 

Оригинальная карта: ссылка

Изменено 5 сентября, 2020 пользователем Алексей Дмитриевич

[Штирлиц:)]

QUOTE (bravo77777 @ Aug 1 2011, 08:55 PM) Доброго времени суток! Пришло несколько английских медалек и я был бы благодарен за помощь в идентификации кавалеров. За ПМВ.   64569 PTE. R. A. FRESTONE. DURH. L.I. Личный номер/Рядовой/ФИО/Durham Light Infantry.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durham_Light_InfantryВот тут можно купить карточку и проверить не было ли у Roberta A. Frestone Звезды 1914-15.http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...&resultcount=21

Прошу прощения, комменту уже скоро 10 лет, но он не теряет своей актуальности Прошёл по вашей ссылке: nationalarchives.gov.uk

 

Хотел пробить летчика, 111183, Walter Alfred Knight, RAF, сайт почему-то не даёт скачать никакой информации, переправляет на www.findmypast.co.uk/, где все услуги платные причём сумма снимается за 3 или 12 месяцев сразу, ради одной карточки оплачивать как- то много. Отсюда вопрос, Триалку не нашёл, но там есть pay as go платёж, дают 60 кредитов, но нигде не написано сколько кредитов пробить одну фамилию может 120;) , вы не в курсе случайно?

 

С уважением!

[Алексей Дмитриевич]

Да,к сожалению,военнослужащих RAF теперь можно пробить только через findmypast. Я с ними никогда не связывался,так что по кредитам не в курсах. Подождите,может откликнется кто нибудь с оплаченным абонементом. 

[Штирлиц:)]

Да,к сожалению,военнослужащих RAF теперь можно пробить только через findmypast. Я с ними никогда не связывался,так что по кредитам не в курсах. Подождите,может откликнется кто нибудь с оплаченным абонементом. 

Вас понял, спасибо за ответ.

 

Если у кого-то есть абонемент, готов финансово поучаствовать за помощь в пробивке!

[Адриан90]

два не особо примечательных ДУЭТА, но очень интересно на кого они, пожалуйста, помогите с расшифровкой

Комплект на боксёра:

T4-084594 DVR . W . H . MILLER . A. S. C.

второй:

M2--098270  PTE . C . J . HAWKINS . A. S. C.

Изменено 19 апреля, 2021 пользователем Терехов Эдуард

[Egorka1000]

Dvr = driver = водитель

Pte = private= Рядовой

A.S.C. = Army Service Corps

[Алексей Дмитриевич]

Вот их карточки:

 

T4-084594 DVR . W . H . MILLER . A. S. C.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_fn=&_ln=&_no=T4-084594&_crp=&_ttl=&discoveryCustomSearch=true&_cr1=WO+372&_dt=M&_col=200&_hb=tna

Кстати, спортивная медаль не его. В лучшем случае-сына служившего во 2-м батальоне Сассекского полка. В худшем-однофамильца.MILLER-одна из самых распространённых в Великобритании фамилий. Судя по номеру-ограниченно годный "дедушка" из 4-го призыва. "Подводник"-водитель кобылы. Какое же тут второе место в наилегчайшем весе?

 

M2-098270  PTE . C . J . HAWKINS . A. S. C.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D2772684

[Адриан90]

Вот их карточки:

 

T4-084594 DVR . W . H . MILLER . A. S. C.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_fn=&_ln=&_no=T4-084594&_crp=&_ttl=&discoveryCustomSearch=true&_cr1=WO+372&_dt=M&_col=200&_hb=tna

Кстати, спортивная медаль не его. В лучшем случае-сына служившего во 2-м батальоне Сассекского полка. В худшем-однофамильца.MILLER-одна из самых распространённых в Великобритании фамилий. Судя по номеру-ограниченно годный "дедушка" из 4-го призыва. "Подводник"-водитель кобылы. Какое же тут второе место в наилегчайшем весе?

 

M2-098270  PTE . C . J . HAWKINS . A. S. C.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D2772684

Да, спасибо) карточки я уже скачал. Вцелом я покупал только комплекты, причём даже для двойных комплектов за недорого, так что боксёрская медаль просто как бесплатный довесок шла. Но то что не его - то интересно! Спасибо!

[Алексей Дмитриевич]

6th Battalion Australian Imperial Force действительно участвовал в операции на Галлиполийском полуострове. Самым простым вариантом было поднять карточку-если отражено прибытие в Египет в декабре 1914-значит Дуглас был в составе батальона во время вышеуказанной операции. Но карточку вышеуказанного бойца я в британском архиве не нашёл, что не удивительно - австралийцы там не все отражены. Можно поискать австралийский сайт ,но ,лично я бы не напрягался - получение Звезды 1914-15 подтверждает участие.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6th_Battalion_(Australia)

[Алексей Дмитриевич]

Нашёл информацию на Australian War Memorial-577 Private John Stewart Douglas 6th Infantry Battalion AIF(принят на службу 18 августа 1914 года, демобилизован 07 января 1918 года) убыл, в составе батальона, из Мельбурна, 19 октября 1914 года, на борту войскового транспорта HMAT "HORORATA"(см.фото)(9,400 tons. 14 knots. New Zealand Shipping Co Ltd London).

Участие в Галлиполийской операции и сражениях на Западном фронте подтверждено. Остаётся открытым вопрос почему демобилизован в январе 1918 года? Не ранен, не убит, а именно демобилизован(discarged). Ведь батальон продолжал принимать участие в войне. Может опечатка- не январь 1918, а январь 1919?

https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?roll=First%20World%20War%20Embarkation%20Roll&people_preferred_name=%20Douglas&people_service_number=577&facet_related_conflict_sort=8%3AFirst%20World%20War%2C%201914-1918

 

Жалко, что кто-то "распатронил" группу! Хорошая группа была - "боевой" батальон- 1 VC; 1 CMG; 5 DSO, 1 bar; 31 MC, 2 bars; 34 DCM; 127 MM, 9 bars; 9 MSM; 48 MID; 13 foreign awards!

https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/130

[Алексей Дмитриевич]

Не за что! Я на пенсии-свободного времени полно! Из увлечений остались британские награды ,две ЛЮБИМЫЕ внучки и коньяк. Обращайтесь!

[vanjamizoch]

Подскажите по кавалеру 313572 BMBR G. Boslev R.A. Не могу его найти ни среди канадцев, ни тем более среди бритов. Фамилия вроде словянская интересно кто по национальности.

Изменено 19 июня, 2021 пользователем Алексей Дмитриевич

[Алексей Дмитриевич]

Фамилия не славянская-последняя литера не V , а Y - George Bosley. Судя по карточке, служил в 106th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Указанная батарея сформирована 13 января 1916 года(приказ 145/1916) в Weymouth, прибыла во Францию 17 мая 1916 года (поэтому G.Bosley за ПМВ имел только WM и VM, показанную вами). Воевала в составе 56-й бригады RGA, входившей в 3-ю Армию. Участвовала в сражениях при Сомме, Камбре, Аррасе, Пашшендейле, Амьене.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D1407187

На вооружении батареи стояли четыре (по другой информации шесть) 6-inch гаубиц.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BL_6-inch_26_cwt_howitzer

[vanjamizoch]

Спасибо за помощь. У меня есть две медали на украинцев думал ещё один эмигрант будет.

[Schwanensee]

Highland Light Infantry

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Light_Infantry

[Алексей Дмитриевич]

Для информации - у нас вот такая тема есть  :

http://www.sammler.ru/index.php?showtopic=23325

[vvall]

1914 Star, with copy clasp (L-14196 Pte. J. Parr. 4/Midd’x R.) nearly extremely fine

Estimate £1,800 - £2,200

SOLD £17,000

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Parr_(British_Army_soldier)

[tanais]

 Добрый вечер, пополнил коллекцию вот такой группой,  подскажите пожалуйста по подразделению, где служил награждённый.

Надпись на гуртах и звезде - 3999 PTE. F. SMITH. BEDF. R.
Может у кого-то получится найти о нем детальную информацию, заранее благодарен 

У меня также появился вот какой вопрос, звезда в не плохом состоянии, defence medal как самая "новая' в группе тоже, но victory medal и серебряная медаль за войну 1914-20 со стертым рельефом, с серебром, как более мягким металлом - понятно, а victory medal -  это износ штампа? Или износ самой медали? У каталожных медалей четко видно и лицо и складки одежды, тут же видна фигура с размытыми деталями, обратная сторона при этом выглядит нормально, венок четкий.

[Schwanensee]

Есть такой

Frank Smith, Bedfordshire Regiment No 3999

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D5219564

 

Что касается износа наград, не вижу большой разницы между звездой, BWM и VM. Награжденный их многократно чистил. (И звезду в том числе, 1914-15 на ленте весьма потерто.)

[Алексей Дмитриевич]

Странно- судя по карточке, у него Звезда и медали от MGC.

[tanais]

Спасибо большое за карточку, качал ее себе, Алексей Дмитриевич, подскажите пожалуйста что такое MGC?

[Алексей Дмитриевич]

Machine Gun Corps.

У него есть ещё одна карточка:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D5219561

И по ней он демобилизован из Bedfordshire Regiment.

[tanais]

Machine Gun Corps.

У него есть ещё одна карточка:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D5219561

И по ней он демобилизован из Bedfordshire Regiment.

Спасибо большое за информацию.

[cmf]

Hi tanais,

 

I've put together a pretty comprehensive service history of Smith for you, and have interspersed his biographical details with broader information about the formations and units with which he served, and the actions at which he was present. It was an extremely interesting project, not least because of the information I was able to access, but also by the fact he served solely at Gallipoli and in the campaigns in Egypt and Palestine, the latter always a theatre of war about which you learn something new!

 

Chris

 

 

22/06/1896: Frank Smith is born in the Municipal Borough of Eastbourne, county of Sussex, son of John Larry Smith (1860-1931) and Anna Farr (née Jarrett) (1859-1912).

 

31/03/1901: at 1901 Census, Frank Smith living with parents and older brother, in the Municipal Borough of Bedford, county of Bedfordshire. His father's occupation is given as 'Carpenter'.

 

Frank Smith attended Ampthill Road Boys' School, Municipal Borough of Bedford, from 29/08/1905 to 13/09/1909. Left Ampthill Road Boys' School to be a 'Furnisher's Errand Boy (Longhurst & Skinner)’.

 

02/04/1911: at 1911 Census, Frank Smith living with father John, mother Annie, and younger brother, in the Municipal Borough of Bedford, county of Bedfordshire. His occupation is given as ‘Errand boy for a chemist's shop’, his father’s as ‘Carpenter’.

 

05/09/1914: Frank Smith (giving his trade as ‘shop assistant’) enlists, at Bedford, into the ‘Territorial Force’ (T.F.), namely 5th Battalion (T.F.), ‘The Bedfordshire Regiment’ (‘5th Bedf. R.’); he is immediately ‘embodied’ (i.e. mobilized), signs the ‘Imperial Service Obligation’, and is posted to ‘A’ Company.

 

5th Bedf. R., was a battalion of the East Midland Infantry Brigade, East Anglian Division.

 

The ‘Territorial Force’ had been established in 1908 to create an effective and integrated force for home defence, with the old ‘Volunteer Force’ and Yeomanry units now restructured into a new organisation, administratively independent of the Regular Army, and with its own brigade and divisional structure. Although, from 1910, men could volunteer for overseas service in time of conflict (the ‘Imperial Service Obligation’), it soon became evident after the outbreak of war in 1914 that the T.F. would be required to serve overseas in numbers not hitherto envisaged; they would be needed both to fight on the front line, and to garrison the Empire in place of troops of the Regular Army.

 

By the time that Smith enlisted in September 1914, each infantry battalion of the T.F. had already divided into two, into a 'First Line' (i.e. ‘Foreign Service’) unit and a 'Second Line' (i.e. ‘Home Service’) mirror, with manpower in the 'First Line' unit being brought up to war strength with new recruits who had pledged to serve overseas. From November, 1914, many battalions also started forming 'Third Line' units, to train and provide replacements for the 'First Line' overseas, although in the case of 5th Bedf. R., this was not established till June 1915.

 

With the declaration of war in 1914, a large percentage of men in the 5th Bedf. R. had already signed, or were willing to sign, the 'Imperial Service Obligation' committing themselves to foreign service, but, nonetheless, a 'Second Line' unit, the ‘5th (Reserve) Battalion (T.F.)’, was formed in September, 1914, from those men unable or unwilling to serve overseas.

 

From September, 1914, 5th Bedf. R. was stationed at Bury St Edmunds, county of Suffolk, undertaking coastal defence and training duties. In November 1914, the Battalion, hitherto of 8 companies, adopted the 4-company structure of the Regular Army; Smith would now be in 'C' Coy. In January, 1915, designations of first, second and third line T.F. battalions were standardised using the prefix '1/', 2/' or '3/' before the battalion number. From March, 1915, 1/5th Bedf. R. was stationed in Norwich, county of Norfolk. In May 1915, the East Anglian Division received orders for overseas service, and its units, including the 1/5th Bedf. R., were concentrated at St Albans, county of Hertfordshire, for intensive training. In the same month, T.F. formations were numbered, the 1/5th Bedf. R. now being a battalion of the ‘162nd (East Midland) Infantry Brigade’, ‘54th (East Anglian) Division’.

 

In July 1915, it became clear that the ‘54th (East Anglian) Division’ would become a formation of IX Corps in the 'Mediterranean Expeditionary Force' (M.E.F.). The M.E.F. had been established in March 1915 to coordinate the forces earmarked for operations in the Dardanelles against the Ottoman Empire; IX Corps headquarters was raised in June 1915 in readiness for an amphibious landing planned for Suvla Bay, on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

 

26/07/1915: 3999 Private Frank Smith, 1/5th Battalion (T.F.), Bedf. R., 162nd (East Midland) Infantry Brigade, 54th (East Anglian) Division, IX Corps, M.E.F., embarks with his Battalion at Devenport, county of Devon, on board the troop transport ship H.M.T. Braemar Castle, bound for Mudros on the Greek island of Lemnos, via Malta and Egypt (Alexandria).

 

10/08/1915: H.M.T. Braemar Castle arrives Mudros, and is ordered to sail to the British-occupied island of Imbros, arriving the same day.

 

11/08/1915: H.M.T. Braemar Castle arrives Imbros, and is ordered to sail to Suvla Bay, Gallipoli peninsula, arriving the same day; 1/5th Bedf. R. disembarks.

 

The purpose of the landing by IX Corps at Suvla Bay was to contribute to the 'August Offensive', the final British attempt to break the deadlock of the Gallipoli Campaign. The landing, which commenced on the night of 06/08/1915, was intended to support a breakout from the A.N.Z.A.C. sector, five miles to the south. The ‘54th (East Anglian) Division’ came ashore 10-11/08/1915, and by nightfall on the 11/08/1915, ten battalions and divisional headquarters had been landed.

 

Following an unsuccessful offensive to the north and east of the bay along the 'Kiretch Tepe Sirt' ridge, made on 12/08/1915, the decision was made to mount an even stronger attack along the same ridge. Therefore, on 15/08/1915, the 'New Army' men of the 30th and 31st Brigades of the '10th (Irish) Division' attacked along the ridge, with the Territorials of the ‘162nd (East Midland) Brigade’ of the ‘54th (East Anglian) Division’ moving in protective support along the vulnerable right flank of the attack. The 1/5th Bedf. R. had the honour of leading the ‘162nd (East Midland) Brigade’, with 'B' Company on right, 'A' on left, with 'C' & 'D' in support.

 

The 1/5th's first objective was held in strength by Ottoman troops, and 'A', 'B' and 'C' Companies were ordered to storm the position. The position was soon cleared at the point of the bayonet. Once the first position was secured, the Battalion formed up to take their second objective, the so-called 'Kidney Hill'. However, they immediately came under heavy fire, and it continued as the Battalion crossed a mile of open ground. Following this advance to the top of the hill, under constant shrapnel, enfilading machine-gun, rifle and sniper fire, the Battalion was finally given the order to charge with the bayonet, and the position was won. That night, the Irish brigades, and the Englishmen of the 162nd, dug in to secure the ground taken, and to consolidate after the heavy losses suffered. However, in the early hours of 16/08/1915, the Ottomans launched a heavy counterattack; the Irish brigades were forced to retreat, leaving the Territorials isolated on 'Kidney Hill'; these men retreated that night to plug the gap in the front line, withdrawing back to their original starting line. Over four thousand British troops had been killed over the two days, with no gain in ground. The 1/5th Bedf. R. saw a total of three captains and four lieutenants killed in action, while of the 'Other Ranks', over 300 men were reported as casualties, with those killed in action numbering eight sergeants, three corporals, and 49 Privates.

 

16/08/1915: 3999 Private Frank Smith, 1/5th Bedf. R., is reported missing, believed killed, but rejoins his Battalion the same day.

 

On 20/08/1915, 1/5th Bedf. R. went into reserve. A few days later, the Battalion was rested, and then marched to camp at Lala Baba. From dusk to midnight on 28/08/1915, the Battalion marched to A.N.Z.A.C. Cove, and proceeded to the front-line trenches the next day.

 

28/08/1915: 3999 Private Frank Smith, 1/5th Bedf. R., is wounded at A.N.Z.A.C. Cove, with a gunshot wound to his right arm (shoulder).

 

01/09/1915: 3999 Private Frank Smith, 1/5th Bedf. R., is admitted to ‘No. 15 Stationary Hospital’ at Mudros, island of Lemnos.

 

11/09/1915: 3999 Private Frank Smith, 1/5th Bedf. R., is admitted to the 'Convalescent Depôt', Mudros (formed by 'No. 24 Casualty Clearing Station').

 

12/10/1915: 3999 Private Frank Smith, 1/5th Bedf. R., rejoins his Battalion at Gallipoli.

 

From 04/09/1915 to 03/12/1915, 1/5th Bedf. R. would vary between trench duty in the front-line, being in support just behind the front-line, being in reserve, or spending time at rest camp. The usual period in the front-line was 5 to 7 days, the Turks trenches often being as little as 15 yards away. In October 1915, with the opening of the Salonika Front in Greece, undertaken by formations of the 'Mediterranean Expeditionary Force', the three corps of the M.E.F. at Gallipoli were designated the 'Dardanelles Army'. By the end of October, 1915, the strength of 1/5^th Bedf. R. was only 21 Officers and 235 Other Ranks, and at the beginning of November, the Battalion was reorganised into two companies, Nos. 1 and 2. At the end of November 1915 the ‘54th (East Anglian) Division’ was instructed to evacuate the Gallipoli Peninsula, and on 03/12/1915, orders arrived for the Battalion to embark for Mudros, island of Lemnos, which they did that night. However, it would seem that Smith had already been evacuated from Gallipoli to Egypt, on medical grounds.

 

05/12/1915: 3999 Private Frank Smith, 1/5th Battalion (T.F.), Bedf. R., 162nd (East Midland) Infantry Brigade, 54th (East Anglian) Division, IX Corps, Dardanelles Army, M.E.F., is admitted to ‘No. 19 General Hospital’, Alexandria, Egypt, suffering from dysentery.

 

20/12/1915: 3999 Private Frank Smith, 1/5th Bedf. R., is admitted to the 'Convalescent Depôt', Luxor, Egypt.

 

05/02/1916: 3999 Private Frank Smith, 1/5th Bedf. R., is attached to ‘54 Infantry Base Depôt’, Sidi Bishr, Alexandria, Egypt.

 

Each infantry division had its own ‘Infantry Base Depôt’ (I.B.D.), where new recruits, and men returning from wounds or injury, were posted for final battle training and ‘toughening up’ before posting to individual battalions of the Division. ‘54 Infantry Base Depôt’ was thus the I.B.D. of the ‘54th (East Anglian) Division’.

 

10/02/1916: 3999 Private Frank Smith, 1/5th Bedf. R., rejoins his Battalion, at Mena Camp, near Cairo.

 

The ‘54th (East Anglian) Division’ had been in Egypt since 18/12/1915, having been transported direct from Lemnos. The higher formations of the M.E.F., which had been evacuated to Egypt, were now charged with the defence of the Suez Canal, leaving the existing 'Force in Egypt' (i.e. those British, Dominion, Indian and Egyptian units garrisoning Egypt proper) responsible for the protection of the Western Frontier and internal security, although some lower formations of the M.E.F. did find themselves transferred to the 'Force in Egypt'.

 

First stationed at Sidi Bishr Camp, Alexandria, the 1/5th Bedf. R. then moved to Damanhur Camp (99 miles north-west of Cairo), back to Sidi Bishr, and on to Mena Camp (10 miles west of Cairo) at the beginning of February, 1916. The ‘54th (East Anglian) Division’ had been detached from IX Corps and the M.E.F. in January 1916, when IX Corps was sent to hold ‘No. 1 Section (Southern)’ of the Suez Canal Defences: the Division was transferred to the 'Force in Egypt', and remained in the vicinity of Cairo as garrison troops.

 

In March, 1916, the M.E.F. and the 'Force in Egypt' were merged, and renamed the 'Egyptian Expeditionary Force' (E.E.F.). Early in April, 1916, the ‘54th (East Anglian) Division’ rejoined IX Corps on the Suez Canal Defences, and the Battalion entrained for Shalufa, in the ‘Canal Zone’; by the middle of the month the Battalion was at El Kubri, south of Shalufa. During this period, Smith passed the machine-gun (M.G.) course at the 'Imperial School of Instruction', Zeitoun, Cairo, and was subsequently posted to the M.G. section of 1/5th Bedf. R. (the 'Imperial School of Instruction' was a school of technical instruction for Officers and ‘Other Ranks’ of the E.E.F.; in March, 1916, it had incorporated the M.G. school previously established at Ismailia). On 22/04/1916, the headquarters of IX Corps was disbanded in Egypt, and the ‘54th (East Anglian) Division’ took over direct control of ‘No. 1 Section (Southern)’ of the Suez Canal Defences.

 

The advance into the Sinai began in April, 1916, prompting an Ottoman, German and Austro-Hungarian response, which culminated in British victory at the Battle of Romani in August, 1915. In October, 1916, the British, Dominion, and Imperial troops in the Sinai, plus those remaining at the Suez Canal Defences, were placed within a newly created formation of the E.E.E., to be known as the 'Eastern Frontier Force' (E.F.F.). However, it was not until January, 1917, after more victories in battle for the E.F.F. at the 'Affair of Magdhaba' (23/12/1916) and 'Action of Rafah', (09/01/1917) that the ‘54th (East Anglian) Division’ moved forward from the Suez Canal Defences into the Sinai, taking up position at Romani, by early February the Division was at Kantara, and by the 24/03/1917 was at Sheikh Zowaiid, in preparation for the coming campaign in Palestine.

 

25/04/1916: 3999 Private Frank Smith, 1/5th Battalion (T.F.), Bedf. R., 162nd (East Midland) Infantry Brigade, 54th (East Anglian) Division, E.E.F., is attached to 162nd Brigade M.G. Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), at El Kubri.

 

The ‘Machine Gun Corps’ (M.G.C.) had been established in late 1915, its infantry and cavalry branches being formed usually by simply re-badging the machine-gun sections of existing infantry battalions and cavalry regiments, and forming them into permanent ‘Brigade Machine Gun Companies’ or ‘Squadrons’. In the ‘54th (East Anglian) Division’, the Battalion M.G. sections of the 161st (Essex) Brigade and 162nd (East Midland) Brigade formed the 161st and 162nd Brigade M.G. Companies, M.G.C. (Infantry), respectively, in April 1916 (the 163rd (Norfolk & Suffolk) Brigade formed the 16rd Brigade M.G. Company in May 1916).

 

However, the problem with the establishment of ‘Brigade M.G. Companies’ and ‘Squadrons’ of the M.G.C., in the infantry and Yeomanry formations of the Territorial Force, was that the M.G.C. had been constituted as a Corps of the Regular Army. Thus, unlike machine gun-trained Officers and ‘Other Ranks’ of the Regular Army, who could be compulsorily transferred to the M.G.C., there was initial uncertainty as to the legal status of Officers and Other Ranks of the T.F. serving in these new M.G.C. units. The temporary solution was that T.F. Officers would only be 'seconded' and T.F. Other Ranks 'attached' to the M.G.C., while still belonging to their parent infantry battalions or Yeomanry regiments. This anomaly could not continue, and the administrative solution adopted was for those T.F. ‘Other Ranks’ serving with M.G.C. units, to be officially discharged from the T.F., for the express purpose of enlistment in the Machine Gun Corps, and immediate posting to their existing M.G. companies or squadrons.

 

03/07/1916: 3999 Private Frank Smith, 1/5th Bedf. R., attached 162nd Brigade M.G. Company, M.G.C.(Infantry), is discharged from the ‘Territorial Force’ for re-enlistment in the M.G.C. (Infantry).

 

04/07/1916: Frank Smith enlists into the ‘Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)’ of the Regular Army, under a 'Short Service' enlistment ('For the Duration of the War'), and is immediately posted to the 162nd Brigade M.G. Company, M.G.C.(Infantry), at El Kubri.

 

28/12/1916: 48342 Private Frank Smith, 162nd Brigade M.G. Company, M.G.C.(Infantry), 162nd (East Midland) Infantry Brigade, 54th (East Anglian) Division, E.F.F., E.E.F., is admitted to the Egyptian Government Hospital, Suez, suffering from enteritis.

 

27/02/1917: 48342 Private Frank Smith, 162nd Brigade M.G. Company, M.G.C.(Infantry), is attached to General Base Depôt, Mustapha, Alexandria.

 

A ‘General Base Depôt’ (G.B.D.) was similar to an I.B.D. in function, but dealt with troops of units other than infantry battalions.

 

During the campaign in Palestine, the ‘54th (East Anglian) Division’ participated in the First (26-27/03/1917), Second (17-19/04/1917) and victorious Third (27/10/1917 to 07/11/1917) Battles of Gaza, against the strongly entrenched Ottoman forces in that city. The Division (which in August, 1917, had become a formation of the newly-established XXI Corps within the E.E.F., the E.F.F. being abolished) then took part in the subsequent Jerusalem operations, including the victorious 'Battle of Jaffa' (21-22/12/1917); the 'Battle of Tell 'Asur' (9 miles north of Jerusalam) (8-12/03/1918), during which the 162nd (East Midland) Infantry Brigade saw action at the 'Fight at Ras el'Ain' (12/03/1918); and the 'Action at Berukin' (20 miles east of Jaffa) (9-11/04/1918). During the course of the advance into Palestine, the nature of the fighting changed from trench warfare to open warfare, and then to hill fighting.

 

17/05/1917: 48342 Private Frank Smith, 162nd Brigade M.G. Company, M.G.C.(Infantry), attached General Base Depôt, Mustapha, is posted to 160th Brigade M.G. Company, M.G.C.(Infantry), 160th (Welsh Border) Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division, E.F.F., E.E.F.

 

It appears Smith was briefly posted to 160th Brigade M.G. Company, which was the M.G. unit of 160th (Welsh Border) Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division. Like the 54^th, the 53rd Division was a T.F. formation, both having served alongside each other in IX Corps, ‘The Force in Egypt’, and now the E.F.F.

 

28/05/1917: 48342 Private Frank Smith, 160th Brigade M.G. Company, M.G.C. (Infantry), 160th (Welsh Border) Brigade , 53rd (Welsh) Division, E.F.F., E.E.F., is posted to 162nd Brigade M.G. Company, M.G.C. (Infantry), 162nd (East Midland) Infantry Brigade, 54th (East Anglian) Division, E.F.F., E.E.F.

 

07/01/1918: 48342 Private Frank Smith, 162nd Brigade M.G. Company, M.G.C. (Infantry), is admitted to 2/1st East Anglian Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (T.F.), (R.A.M.C. [T.F.]), suffering from 'Inflammation of the Connective Tissue' (I.C.T.), right arm.

 

12/01/1918: 48342 Private Frank Smith, 162nd Brigade M.G. Company, M.G.C. (Infantry), is discharged from 2/1st East Anglian Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C. (T.F.), and rejoins his Company.

 

In early 1918, the decision was taken amalgamate the Brigade M.G. Companies of infantry divisions into single M.G. battalions, which would be designated by the Divisional number. The three M.G. companies of ‘54th (East Anglian) Division’ became the Headquarters and ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies of the ‘54th Battalion, M.G.C. (Infantry)’, on 19/04/1918.

 

22/04/1918: 48342 Private Frank Smith, 54th Battalion, M.G.C. (Infantry), 54th (East Anglian) Division, XXI Corps, E.E.F., is appointed Acting Lance-Corporal.

 

05/05/1918: 48342 Acting Lance-Corporal Frank Smith, 54th Battalion, M.G.C. (Infantry), relinquishes his appointment as Acting Lance-Corporal, on his admittance to 2nd East Anglian Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C. (T.F.), suffering from scabies.

 

13/05/1918: 48342 Private Frank Smith, 54th Battalion, M.G.C., is discharged from 2nd East Anglian Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C. (T.F.), and rejoins his Battalion.

 

17/05/1918: 48342 Private Frank Smith, 54th Battalion, M.G.C. (Infantry), is admitted to 2/1st East Anglian Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C. (T.F.), suffering swelling of the left axilla.

 

09/06/1918: 48342 Private Frank Smith, 54th Battalion, M.G.C. (Infantry), is admitted to ‘No. 36 Stationary Hospital’, Gaza, Palestine, suffering from ‘I.C.T. Multiple’.

 

At some point after admittance to ‘No. 36 Stationary Hospital’ in Gaza, Smith was evacuated to ‘No. 27 General Hospital’ at Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt.

 

24/07/1918: 48342 Private Frank Smith, 54th Battalion, M.G.C. (Infantry), is discharged from ‘No. 27 General Hospital’, Abbassia, having suffered from ‘I.C.T. Legs & Hands’, and is admitted the same day to the ‘Command Depôt’ at Abbassia.

 

A ‘Command Depôt’ was a military convalescent camp for the rehabilitative training of wounded, injured or ill soldiers, who were too fit for a 'Convalescent Depôt', but not yet fit enough to be returned to unit.

 

25/09/1918: 48342 Private Frank Smith, 54th Battalion, M.G.C. (Infantry), is attached to the ‘Machine Gun Corps Base Depôt’, at Helmia, Cairo, with the medical category 'Class A' (able to march, see to shoot, hear well and stand active service conditions).

 

19/10/1918: 48342 Private Frank Smith, 54th Battalion, M.G.C. (Infantry), rejoins his Battalion in the field.

 

In September, 1918, the ‘54th (East Anglian) Division’ took part in the victorious Battle of Sharon (19-23/09/1918), one of the battles of the final Allied Offensive in Palestine that are known as the 'Battles of Megiddo'. After the end of the Battle, the Division concentrated in the Hableh area (24/09/1918), from which it began advancing, through Atlit, to Haifa (28/09/1918), where it fully concentrated on 04/10/1918. The Division was ordered to begin the advance to Beirut on 20/10/1918, which was conducted brigade by brigade, at daylong intervals, via Acre, Ras es Naqura, Tyre, and Sidon. The units of the ‘54th (East Anglian) Division’ concentrated at Beirut between 31/10/1918 and 05/11/1918, the leading elements of the Division marching through Beirut at noon on 31/10/1918 - the very hour that hostilities with the Ottoman Empire ceased as agreed by the Armistice of Mudros, signed the previous day.

 

Beginning on 28/11/1918, and in the process leaving XXI Corps, the ‘54th (East Anglian) Division’ was transported by sea to El Qantara, on the Suez Canal, from where all units were concentrated in camp at Helmia, Cairo, by 07/12/1918. The Division participated in a march past, in Cairo, in front of General Sir Edmund Allenby, Commander-in-Chief of the E.E.F, on 20/12/1918. The demobilization of the Division began on 06/01/1919, and by 22/05/1919 only six battalions remained, although troops of the Division were called out on active service during this time to quell civil unrest. The ‘Territorial Force’ units of the Division were eventually reduced to cadre strength, and the war-raised units were disbanded: this included the ‘54th Battalion, M.G.C. (Infantry)’, on 14/09/1919. The ‘54th (East Anglian) Division’ finally ceased to exist as a formation when its headquarters were disbanded, in Egypt, on 30/09/1919 (it would be reformed in the United Kingdom in April, 1920, as a formation of the reconstituted T.F., which would be renamed the ‘Territorial Army’ the following year). As the designation for British forces in Egypt, the ‘Egyptian Expeditionary Force’ was long-lived, only being retitled ‘British Troops in Egypt’ in August, 1922.

 

02/06/1919: 48342 Private Frank Smith, 54th Battalion, M.G.C. (Infantry), is admitted to ‘No. 27 General Hospital’, Abbassia, suffering from malaria.

 

15/06/1919: 48342 Private Frank Smith, 54th Battalion, M.G.C. (Infantry), is discharged from ‘No. 27 General Hospital’, Abbassia, and enters Demobilisation Camp.

 

20/06/1919: 48342 Private Frank Smith, 54th Battalion, M.G.C. (Infantry), 54th (East Anglian) Division, E.E.F., embarks at Port Said, bound for the United Kingdom. The character reference, signed by his Commanding Officer, states that Smith, employed as a machine-gunner, had good sobriety, was reliable, intelligent, and noted that "He has made a very capable range-finder".

 

07/07/1919: 48342 Private Frank Smith, 54th Battalion, M.G.C. (Infantry), attached ‘No. 1 Dispersal Unit, Purfleet’, is granted 28 days final furlough before demobilization.

 

The ‘Protection Certificate and Certificate of Identity’, issued to Smith before his final furlough, shows that at his most recent machine-gun training course he had qualified as a ‘1st Class Machine-Gunner’; and that his medical category was ‘A1’ (able to march, see to shoot, hear well and stand active service conditions: fit for despatching overseas, as regards physical and mental health, and training). His intended place of residence was the Municipal Borough of Bedford, county of Bedfordshire.

 

04/08/1919: 48342 Private Frank Smith, 54th Battalion, M.G.C. (Infantry), attached ‘No. 1 Dispersal Unit, Purfleet’ is ‘Disembodied’ on demobilization.

 

Although Smith had been discharged from the T.F. in 1916, and had enlisted in the Regular Army, when demobilized the T.F. term ‘disembodied’ (in place of ‘discharged’ as used by the Regular Army) was used on his service record by the M.G.C. Record Office. This is common for former T.F. men in the M.G.C. and it seems likely that the need for discharge from the T.F. in order to enlist in the ‘Regular’ M.G.C. was subsequently seen as having been an unnecessary action. A fortnight after Smith’s enlistment into the Regular Army, ‘Army Order 258’ recognised that the M.G.C. could include a T.F. element, meaning a soldier of the T.F. could simply, and legally, be transferred to the M.G.C. In 1917, ‘Army Council Instruction 1758’ made clear that a soldier, if he had first enlisted into the T.F., would be considered a ‘Territorial’, despite any subsequent transfers into ‘Regular’ units. This seems also to have been applied, at demobilization, to those who had been discharged from the T.F. with the sole purpose of enlisting into the M.G.C.

 

11/03/1921: Frank Smith acknowledges receipt of the ‘1914-15 Star’

 

29/06/1922: Frank Smith acknowledges receipt of the ‘British War Medal’ and ‘Victory Medal’.

 

Fourth Quarter, 1923: marriage of Frank Smith to Gladys Mary Winfield (1901-1992) registered in the St Neots Registration District, county of Huntingdonshire.

 

29/09/1939: on ‘National Registration Day’ of 1939, Frank Smith is living with his wife in the civil parish of Bromham, Hundred of Willey, county of Bedfordshire. His occupation is given as ‘Lamp Manufacturer's Electrician’, and other notes show that he was an ‘Assistant Senior Warden’ in the ‘Air Raid Precautions’ service (A.R.P.).

 

In 1941 the A.R.P. was retitled the ‘Civil Defence Service’ (C.D.). Those C.D. members who had been awarded three, or more, ‘War Service Chevrons’ (each red chevron denoting 12 months' service in the C.D. since hostilities began on 03/09/1939) became eligible for ‘The Defence Medal’ when instituted in 1945.

 

Second Quarter, 1977: death of Frank Smith registered in the Bedford Registration District.

 

March, 1992: death of Gladys Mary Smith registered in the Bedford Registration District.

 

[tanais]

Wow!!! Chris, many thanks for this is detailed information!!! 

Изменено 28 февраля, 2022 пользователем tanais

[cmf]

You're welcome, Alex!! 

[сергей66]

Здравствуйте.подскажите что можно о медали по этому фото.

[Петр Сергеевич]

Он есть в архиве. Карточку можно купить. Но там мало информации.

 

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D1604936

[сергей66]

Он есть в архиве. Карточку можно купить. Но там мало информации.

 

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D1604936

 

Пётр Сергеевич спасибо.

[cmf]

Здравствуйте, сергей66,

 

Несмотря на большое количество людей, служивших в "Корпусе армейской службы" (A.S.C.) к концу Великой войны (325 000 офицеров и мужчин), они являются одними из самых сложных для исследования. Учитывая уничтожение (в результате немецких бомбардировок Лондона) в 1940 году почти 70% послужных списков 1914-18 годов, часто единственным оставшимся указанием на службу человека являются "Медальные списки" и связанные с ними "Индексные карточки", которые для A.S.C. не содержат сведений о подразделениях. Это отсутствие усугубляется тем, что во время Великой войны в состав A.S.C. входило более тысячи рот и других подразделений, что отражает его огромную и разнообразную роль в обеспечении снабжения и транспортировки британских войск на всех театрах военных действий, не говоря уже о том, что многие бойцы A.S.C. были непосредственно прикреплены к подразделениям других родов войск.

 

К сожалению, послужной список M/379458, рядового Генри Бернса, не сохранился, и он остается неуловимым. У нас есть только его служебный номер, чтобы в самых общих чертах определить тип подразделения A.S.C., в котором он служил. Его "Картотека медалей" имеет дизайн "Тип 2" (в соответствии с типологией Уильямсона), а стиль надписи вокруг ободка его "Британской военной медали", опять же в соответствии с Уильямсоном, относится к типу "Стиль 2", т.е. 1,8 мм в высоту; равномерный оттиск в светлом или среднем стиле; постоянная глубина оттиска; детали различаются по упорам; "без засечек" буква "I" для офицеров, но с "засечками" для "других чинов".

 

До войны в A.S.C. были приняты буквенные префиксы для служебных номеров, чтобы обозначить секцию, в которую был зачислен человек: среди прочих префиксов, "T" обозначал секцию "конного транспорта" (H.T.), крупнейшую часть A.S.C., а "M" обозначал секцию "механического транспорта" (M.T.). В 1914 году британская армия была самой передовой в плане механизации, и сохранила свое лидерство в использовании автомобильного транспорта на протяжении всей войны. И если рядовые солдаты секции "конного транспорта"  носили звание "водитель", то солдаты всех остальных секций - "рядовой".

 

Итак, мы определили, что Генри Бернс на момент подготовки списков медалей служил в A.S.C. (M.T.). Список также сообщает нам, что на момент составления списка медалей Бернс имел звание "исполняющий обязанности капрала", т.е. он был назначен для заполнения вакансии капрала в штате своего подразделения, и пока он занимал эту должность, ему платили как капралу, он носил знаки различия капрала, но как только вакансия могла быть заполнена человеком, имеющим постоянное звание капрала, Бернс терял свое звание исполняющего обязанности. Тот факт, что в списке указано звание "рядовой" как высшее основное, действующее или временное звание, которое имел Бернс во время войны, указывает на то, что его назначение "исполняющим обязанности капрала" произошло только в период времени между окончанием войны и демобилизацией Бернса. Скорее всего, к концу войны Бернс был младшим капралом (напомним, что до 1961 года младший капрал не был отдельным званием N.C.O., а просто назначался рядовым).

 

О том, когда Генри Бернс начал свою военную службу, можно судить по сохранившимся документам рядового Уильяма И. Коуэна (M/379455), чей номер службы всего на несколько цифр ниже номера службы Бернса. Коуэн был мобилизован на службу в апреле 1918 года, и тогда же ему был присвоен его номер в учебном депо A.S.C. (M.T.), поэтому мы можем сделать вывод, что Бернс тоже был мобилизован в этот день. Законы о военной службе 1916 года автоматически призывали в армию всех мужчин в возрасте от 18 до 41 года, и в случае необходимости военные власти мобилизовывали мужчин на действительную службу.

 

Другие аспекты службы Коуэна также могут быть использованы как типичное представление вероятной последующей службы Генри Бернса - Коуэн служил во Франции и Германии с июля 1918 года по октябрь 1919 года, и, наконец, был демобилизован в резерв класса "Z" в ноябре 1919 года.

 

Без дополнительных документальных свидетельств невозможно определить подразделение A.S.C.(M.T.), в котором служил Бернс, или его тип - существовали сотни рот M.T., которые действовали на "линиях связи" (L.o.C.) под командованием вышестоящих формирований. Существовали "депо-роты A.S.C.(M.T.)", формировавшие "базовые депо" в портах въезда во Францию и "передовые депо" далее по Л.О.С., выполнявшие все виды административных, вербовочных, вводных, учебных и снабженческих функций для подразделений A.S.C.(M.T.) во Франции и Фландрии. Под командованием Генерального штаба (G.H.Q.), армий и корпусов существовало огромное количество "A.S.C.(M.T.) Омнибусные компании ", "A.S.C.(M.T.) Вспомогательные (бензиновые) компании ", A.S.C. (M.T.) вспомогательные (паровые) компании", "A.S.C.(M.T.) Автомобильная колонна скорой помощи Компании ", "A.S.C.(M.T.) Мастерские по ремонту тяжелой техники ", и "A.S.C.(M.T.) Мостовые и понтонные компании ". Роты A.S.C.(M.T.) также придавались дивизиям в качестве "дивизионных колонн снабжения", которые отвечали за поставку товаров, оборудования и боеприпасов с "дивизионного железнодорожного узла" на "дивизионный пункт пополнения" и, если позволяли условия, на свалки и склады передовых частей.

 

Кроме того, на дивизионном уровне были созданы "дивизионные парки боеприпасов", состоящие из рот A.S.C.(M.T.), которые контролировали свалки боеприпасов, содержащие все, от тяжелых артиллерийских снарядов до патронов для стрелкового оружия. Другие роты A.S.C.(M.T.) (некоторые оснащены гусеничными тракторами) были прикреплены непосредственно к бригадам Королевской гарнизонной артиллерии (R.G.A.), или даже к отдельным "осадным батареям" (стреляющим гаубицами самого тяжелого калибра), в качестве "колонн боеприпасов" (обеспечивающих тягу) или "парков боеприпасов".

 

Кроме того, всегда существует вероятность того, что Бернс не служил в роте A.S.C.(M.T.), а был откомандирован для службы в качестве водителя автотранспорта в подразделение другого рода войск, где использовались автотранспортные средства, например, в "полевую скорую помощь" Королевского армейского медицинского корпуса (R.A.M.C.) (к концу 1914 года каждая дивизионная "полевая скорая помощь" имела семь санитарных автомобилей в дополнение к конному транспорту).

 

Chris

 

[RomeVS]

Коллеги, стоит ли брать такую медаль? Офицер с интересной судьбой. Но пляшущие буквы и необычный шрифт смущают...