2nd Battalion Drafts (Gheluvelt Roll in mind)

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Re: 2nd Battalion Drafts (Gheluvelt Roll in mind)

Postby Clive » Fri Sep 30, 2011 7:06 pm

Thanks very much, Peter -- no, not a relative. I'm researching a war memorial -- at Lydford in Devon -- and tracing the stories of all the men (and one woman) whose names appear on it. Berry was wounded at Gallipoli, went back to England, recuperated and trained as a machine gunner; the reserve batallion was then stationed at Plymouth. He then met a local woman, married her, but within a few weeks had been killed on the Somme. I visited the Leipsig Salient, which he was attacking when he died, last week -- it's near the Thiepval Arch.
I'd be very interested in any letters or diaries of people who served with Berry and would have been doing the same things as him. Having been a professional soldier before the War, he was with the BEF from the beginning and must have been in the thick of it.
I notice, though, that he was in a field ambulance on August 22nd with pneumonia, which may not have been as bad as it sounds, because they couldn't diagnose it by X-ray in those days -- I'd be interested to know when he was able to rejoin the regiment.
If he's on your list, he must have been a Gheluvelt man?
All best,
Clive
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Re: 2nd Battalion Drafts (Gheluvelt Roll in mind)

Postby peter » Thu Oct 06, 2011 6:15 pm

Hi Clive,

My apologies for late reply to your last post but just back from a short break.

The database I'm working on lists just over 1650 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment 1914 Star men (Old Contemptibles). I have tried to name as many of these men as possible who MAY have been present at Gheluvelt on 31st October 1914. With so many of the service records destroyed during the 1940 bombing this task is far from easy. Searching wounded lists in local newspapers etc. eliminates those wounded and recovering in hospital up to this date. With regards to L/Cpl. 9431 Berry I have him as being at Gheluvelt although his service papers show him to be suffering from Pnuemonia towards the end of August I believe he would have recovered and been back with the Battalion in time for Gheluvelt.

Regards

Peter
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Mis-Information, not our fault !

Postby Mike Jones » Sun Oct 30, 2011 11:09 am

Hi Peter,
We work on our Data-bases with the information we are given but sometimes that information just is not right. Take the case of Pte Claude Gill 8559 2nd Bn.. He is on your and my Data-bases. Down as killed in Action on 1.11.1914 but he Died of wounds as a prisoner in German hands on that date. I came across an article on him with a foto. It comes from his family. He was wounded at Gheluvelt on 31st Oct. and taken prisoner. But Which story is right? The official one or the one from his family. The facts support his family. He is buried at Courtrai. Which was 30 Kms behind German lines in Oct 1914. Courtai was in German hands right up until 1918. All the other 1914 men buried there Died of Wounds. Pte. Gill was originally buried in the German plot. His grave could not be located after the war and he now has a Special Memorial. His family were right and official records are wrong. We can only work with what we are given but sometimes it does not add up.
Regards Mike
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Re: 2nd Battalion Drafts (Gheluvelt Roll in mind)

Postby peter » Sun Oct 30, 2011 12:45 pm

Hi Mick,

Thanks for information on Pte 8559 C. Gill, have amended database accordingly. Checked his service papers and it notes he was wounded on 31st October 1914.

Regards

Peter
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Re: 2nd Battalion Drafts (Gheluvelt Roll in mind)

Postby grandsonchris » Mon Jan 30, 2012 3:32 pm

Peter, I am trying to find out what happened to the 2nd Battalion after Gheluvelt. Were they in any actions where gas was used? Any advice or information would be appreciated. Thanks again......Chris
Alfred T Howells
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Re: 2nd Battalion Drafts (Gheluvelt Roll in mind)

Postby allanp » Sun Feb 05, 2012 12:27 am

Hi Mick/Peter

I have an found entries in both the Worcester Herald & Bromsgrove & Droitwich Messenger that raises a few questions about Mr Gill

13th March 1915 edition
Wounded
8559 Pte C. Gill – Dated 17 February 1915

1st January 1916 edition
2nd Battalion
Killed or Died
Reported from France: The following man previously reported missing is now reported killed or died.
8559 Pte P. C. Gill

Also for Clive

9431 Pte C. H. Berry
20th February 1915 edition, Worcester Herald
Rejoined 5th Battalion

6th March 1915 Worcester Herald
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Great Portland St 15 Jan 1915
9431 Pte C. Berry 2nd Battalion

13th March 1915 edition Bromsgrove & Droitwich Messenger
Orthopaedic Hospital, Great Portland St 15 January 1915
9431 Pte C. Berry – 2nd Batt

10th July 1915 edition Worcester Herald
Previously reported killed, now reported wounded
9431 Pte C. Berry 4th Batt

17 July 1915 edition Worcester Herald
4th Battalion
Graylingwell War Hospital Chichester 1 July 1915
9431 Pte C. Berry Left arm Slight

30th September 1916
Killed
9431 Lanc Cpl C. H. Berry – Kent

Regards Allan
12631 Lance Sergt George William Hill. KIA Vimy Ridge, 28 April 1916 3rd Battalion
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Re: 2nd Battalion Drafts (Gheluvelt Roll in mind)

Postby chrisp » Sun Feb 05, 2012 10:44 pm

Hi, I belive my grandfather was at Gheluvelt, he was in the 2nd, and was in the original embarcation in Aug 1914.

His number was: 9523 pte John (Polly) Perkins, he was eventually discharged 1916, on medical grounds

regards

Chris Perkins
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Re: 2nd Battalion Drafts (Gheluvelt Roll in mind)

Postby ukphil » Mon Feb 06, 2012 12:34 am

Hi

Do you have GEORGE THOMAS STEVENS Private, 12897, 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, on your list of those that fought @ Gheluvet ?

UKphil
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Re: 2nd Battalion Drafts (Gheluvelt Roll in mind)

Postby peter » Sun Feb 19, 2012 8:28 pm

Hi UKphil
I have the following information on George.

Private Stevens was born in Upton Warren, Worcestershire and was living in Bromsgrove when he enlisted (in Worcester). He was killed in action aged 24 at the battle of Bazentin Ridge and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. Husband of Alice Stevens. Enlisted in 1912.

To date have not been able to confirm if he was at Gheluvelt.
Regards

Peter
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Re: 2nd Battalion Drafts (Gheluvelt Roll in mind)

Postby peter » Sun Feb 19, 2012 8:30 pm

Hi Chris,

I have your Grandfather on the list for those men at Gheluvlt.

Regards

Peter
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Re: 2nd Battalion Drafts (Gheluvelt Roll in mind)

Postby peter » Sun Feb 19, 2012 8:32 pm

Hi Allan

Thanks for the information on Berry and Gill.

Regards

Peter
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Re: 2nd Battalion Drafts (Gheluvelt Roll in mind)

Postby peter » Mon Feb 20, 2012 9:21 pm

Hi Chris,

Sorry for this late reply to your posting regarding gas attacks (one I missed). I can only suggest you check Stacke's book for any information regarding this (the year I'm researching is for Aug-Dec 1914 and no gas attacks during this period).

Regards

Peter
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Re: 2nd Battalion Drafts (Gheluvelt Roll in mind)

Postby grandsonchris » Tue Feb 21, 2012 11:59 am

Peter thanks for your advice......Chris
Alfred T Howells
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Re: 2nd Battalion Drafts (Gheluvelt Roll in mind)

Postby allanp » Tue Feb 21, 2012 9:21 pm

Hi Chris/UKPhil

I have found this reference to Pte Perkins in the 9th January 1915 edition of the Worcester Herald and also the Bromsgrove & Droitwich Messenger

Wounded
9523 Pte J. Perkins - Reported from Base 26th November 1914

****************************************************************
Stevens

Worcester Herald 2nd September 1916 edition
Missing
12897 Pte G. T. Stevens – Worcester

17th February 1917 edition
Killed
12897 Pte G. T. Stevens – Bromsgrove Previously reported missing now reported killed

Regards Allan
12631 Lance Sergt George William Hill. KIA Vimy Ridge, 28 April 1916 3rd Battalion
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Re: 2nd Battalion Drafts (Gheluvelt Roll in mind)

Postby chrisp » Tue Feb 28, 2012 7:15 pm

Thanks for that information, I knew he was injured in 1916 and discharged, didnt know he was injured in 1914
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