Gheluvelt memento lapel badge

[peter]

On Saturday 31st October 1964 all Gheluvelt survivors were presented with a memento lapel badge. Can any member supply further information regarding the presentation as to who organised it, where it took place etc.

Does a list of the men who were presented with the badge exist ?

Do any members know if a relative of theirs fought at Gheluvelt on the 31st October 1914?

Regards

Peter

[scully]

Peter,

Below are some details of the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Gheluvelt.

Saturday, 31st October 1964, was the occasion of the largest gathering of past and present members which The Regiment has assembled together since the presentation of new Colours to the 1st Battalion, at Norton Barracks, in 1960, The primary object of this event was that of honouring and paying tribute to the gallant Gheluvelt survivors of the fine old 2nd Battalion of The Worcestershire Regiment, and of those who gave their lives at Gheluvelt.

THE PROGRAMME OF EVENTS FOR THE DAY WERE AS FOLLOWS:
12.30 p.m.: The Assembly of the Gheluvelt survivors, and their wives, at The Star Hotel, Worcester, and there meeting the Colonel of The Regiment.
12.45 p.m.: The issue of the special Gheluvelt Memento lapel badge to each individual Gheluvelt survivor, and group photograph taken of all Gheluvelt survivors present.
1.0 p.m.: Private luncheon party, at The Star Hotel, for all Gheluvelt survivors and their wives, including those of the South Wales Borderers. Short address, after luncheon, by the Colonel of The Regiment and—at 2.0 p.m., 50 years to the minute after the launching of the Gheluvelt Counter Attack —by Brigadier B. C. S. Clarke, D.S.O., in honoured memory of those who gave their lives for their country.
2.30 p.m.: The assembly, outside The Shirehall, Worcester, of the 1st Battalion, the 7th Battalion (T.A.), the Old Contemptibles, and the Old Comrades of The Regiment, for the March Past.
3.0 p.m.: The March Past of The Regiment, including the Old Contemptibles and the Old Comrades. Salute taken, outside The Guildhall, by The Rt. Hon. The Viscount Cobham, K.G., G.C.M.G., T.D., Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire.
3.50 p.m.: The special commemorative service in Worcester Cathedral.
4.50 p.m.: Tea and refreshments for the Gheluvelt survivors and their wives, for the Old Contemptibles and the Old Comrades, and approximately 200 additional guests of The Regiment, in the new Gymnasium, Norton Baracks.
6.0 p.m. onwards: Return, by coach, of all present to the City of Worcester.
7.0 p.m.: Assembly, and official welcome by The Mayor of Worcester, to the Guildhall of the Gheluvelt survivors and invited Regimental Guests.
7.30 p.m.: Dinner in Guildhall, Worcester, for the Gheluvelt survivors and selected Regimental Guests. During dinner music was played by the Band of 1st Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment.
8.30 p.m. to midnight: Regimental All Ranks Dance, at The Shirehall, Worcester, to the accompaniment of music by the Worcester City Band and, from 9.0 p.m. onwards, by the Dance Band of 1st Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment.

Of the known 31 Gheluvelt survivors of The Regiment, all were present at the luncheon at The Star Hotel except for Mr. J. Furley, M.M., of Stow-on-the-Wold (not well enough to attend), Mr. O'Brien, of Sinton Green, Worcs. (taken ill on the previous day), and Mr. G. H. Chesterton, M.M., of Kidderminster.

KNOWN GHELUVELT SURVIVORS as of 31st OCTOBER 1964
Mr. W. Adkins, M.M., Mr. J. T. Bagley, Mr. R. Bennett, Mr. H. E. Bosley, Captain A. Bradish, D.C.M., Mr. G. H. Chesterton, M.M., Brigadier B. C. S. Clarke, D.S.O., Mr. J. Cole, Mr. H. Corbett, Mr. W. J. Denning, M.M., Mr. J. Downes, Mr. J. Furley, M.M., Mr. W. H. O. Hamilton, Captain E. A. Haskett-Smith, Mr. A. J. Hill, Major E. C. R. Hudson, Mr. H. Little, Mr. A. H. Martin, Mr. W. Matthews, M.M. and Bar, Mr. A. Nash, Mr. O’Brien, Mr. E. F. Oliver, Mr. A. E. Patton, Mr. F. Poole, Mr. W. H. Rollings, Mr. F. Ryan, M.M., Mr. C. Stansbie, Captain F. Sutton, D.C.M., Mr. F. F. Teague, Mr. H. Warder, Mr. W. J. Woodward.

Hope the above is of help,

Regards,

Louis

[peter]

Hi Louis

Thank you for detailed reply to my enquiry on Gheluvelt survivors.

My grandfather received a Gheluvelt lapel badge but is not on your list of the 31 known survivors on the 31st October 1964. He was still well and with us at this date, passing away in 1983. He was in the 2nd Bn. and embarked with the Bn. in August 1914 so I've always believed him to have been at Gheluvelt because he had the lapel badge, could I be wrong about this? He was wounded and discharged from the army in March 1915.

Regards

Peter