9am on 11th Nov - The Attack begins

My Great Uncle Solomon Charles Wraight was serving with the Machine Gun Company of the 315 Infantry Regiment of the United States Army. The last couple of months had seen him involved in some of America's heaviest fighting of the First World War at Meuse - Argonne and at Grand Montagne. General Pershing - in command of the American Army was determined to keep on the offensive.

Solomon Wraight

The Official War History of the 315th Regiment picks up the story from the 8th November  

At 3am November 8^th, we were relived by the 311^th Machine Gun Battalion as we were to go forward with the attack planned for that day. The first platoon and one section of the Third platoon were to go forward in support of companies “E” and “F”, the balance of the Company remaining under the command of Sergeant Borresen. At 11am the infantry started forward, covered by a barrage delivered by the 312^th machine Gun Battalion, and advanced about 3 kilos to the Bois de Reville, where the First Platoon and the section of the Third above mentioned immediately mounted their guns, awaiting an expected counter attack, which did not materialize.

The next morning we moved through the village of Etraye, which had been captured by the 315^th Infantry. Just beyond Etraye, we met strong opposition from the enemy artillery and machine guns on Cote d’Orne, and there we were held up all day. All that night our guns maintained a harassing fire into the German advance positions, for the benefit of their machine gunners. At 6am November 10^th, we laid down an overhead barrage to aid the infantry, which again advanced slowly but surely all day.

On the night of the 10^th, the remainder of the Company, which been under Sergeant Borresen, was brought forward, and at 5am November 11^th, orders were received to move forward to the hill east of Wavrille.

We moved on ahead of the infantry, took up positions, and prepared to put over a barrage on the enemy positions on Cote de Morimont. Our movements were concealed by a heavy fog, and we got close to the enemy without being seen. At 9am we let go with all 12 guns. The Boche laid down a terrible barrage, attempting to blow us off the earth, but his aim was poor and we suffered no casualties. At 10.45am the guns were dismounted and taken to dugouts and at 11am the Captain informed us that the Armistice had been signed, announcement which made everybody sore (?).

The company spent the next two days in those dugouts and on the afternoon of the 13^th moved back to Etraye

Photo of machine gun company

List of roster

So after four year and four months of fighting the Armistice was signed and the gunfire ceased. For my Great Uncle Solomon Wraight, the fighting continued right up to the 11^th hour of the 11^th Day of the 11^th Month and then just stopped. One can only wonder at his feelings and thoughts at that moment.

For Solomon's uncle - Albert Benjamin Uden serving with the 4^th Field Company, Canadian Engineers, the official war diary has the following entry for the 11^th November

An Armistice was declared at 11.00 hrs this morning.

A Coy were on road repair work, filling in crater at Viic46 (sheet 45) laying corduroy road. Repairing road at p28a97 P34a56. Widening road bridge at P34c27 (sheet 45) clearing debris from road at P34a79 to P35d91 (sheet 45) and making reconnaissance of roads.

B Coy were removing road mines.

C Coy were repairing road and filling craters

D Coy were standing by.

Both were thousands of miles away from their new homes in Philadelphia and Toronto, but both had made it through the War.

On Leave but 4,000 Miles from home

On the 12th October 1918, My Great Grand Uncle, Albert Benjamin Uden, who was serving as a Lance Corporal with the 4th Field Company, 2nd Canadian Engineers was granted 14 days leave.

Obviously unable to return the 4,250 odd miles to Toronto to see his wife Maud and two young sons, Albert and George, one wonders how he spent his leave, did he just stay in France or was he able to visit his parents in Dover.

Albert Benjamin Uden was born on the 17th October 1882 in Dover, Kent. He was the youngest child of Albert and Eliza Uden (nee Sowman). An older brother Charles Edward Uden had died in infancy in 1880, his older sister Alice Uden (My Great Grandmother) was born on the 21st February 1873 in Bridge, Canterbury

His father was a Potato merchant and the family grew up on Seven Star Street in Dover. Albert married Maude Torr, also from Dover, in 1905 in Paddington. Along with their newly born son Albert they emigrated to Toronto, Canada in 1907 sailing on the Empress of Britain.

A second son, George was born in 1910 in Ontario and in 1915 when Albert enlisted the family were living in Bellwoods Ave, Toronto.

Albert’s parents Albert (born 1846, Bridge, Canterbury, Kent) and Eliza Sowman (born 1845, Boxford, Suffolk) had met around 1870, whilst working as servants for the Rev. John Hamilton, Vicar of Lynsted, Kent where Albert was employed as a coachman and Eliza as a cook. 1911 Albert’s parents were living a 3 Star Street, Dover, Kent with Albert Snr working as a greengrocer.

Albert Uden (Snr)

Albert’s wife Maud was also from Dover, both her parents, David & Charlotte Torr had passed away (David in 1903 & Charlotte in 1896). It is unlikely that Maud's childhood memories of Dover would be recalled with much pleasure.

Her father was the Landlord at the Barley Mow Inn and in 1890 he was charged with being in possession of 14 pounds of smuggled tobacco, for which he was found guilty and fined £5 10s.

Barley Mow Inn, Dover (photo from John Gilham Collection)

On the 7th Sept 1889 the Thanet Advertiser reported that

Charlotte Torr, wife of David Torr, Landlord of the Barley Mow Public House, Commerical Quay, was summoned for beating and ill treating her daughter, Maud Torr – Mr V Knocker prosecuted – From the evidence it appeared that the child’s eyes were blackened through being struck by the mother. The mother in defence denied striking the child on one occasion, but acknowledged striking her some days after, for disobeying her. The bench fined the defendant £5 and 24s or in default one months imprisonment and ordered her to be bound over to keep the peace. 

And on the 29th August 1890 the Dover Express reported that

Police said that on 18th July this year, he was in Snargate Street, when his attention was called to a child named Maud Torr, about eight years of age, she was very wet and cold, it being a wet day. He took her to her fathers house, the Barley Mow Inn, and found the mother was in bed drunk and the father not sober. He told the father to give the child food but he said he had no food in the house and was going to give her port wine. The superintendent then took the child to a coffee shop, and got her proper food. He could not get any guarantee that the child would be properly treated, he sent her to a relation, who took charge of her for the night. Torr and his wife were summoned for neglecting the child and the case was adjorned for two or three months, for him to put the child where it would be properly treated. Police-constable Knott was called, and corroborated Superintendent Sander's evidence. Witness said he had been called to the house on two or three occasions when there was disturbances between Mr. Torr and his wife. Neither of them were sober when witness had gone to the house.

Police-constable Fogg deposed: On July 10th, in consequence of something I was told, I went to Strond Street, and saw a large crowd of people outside the “Barley Mow” public-house. Mrs. Torr was the worse for drink, and was standing near the door with her face covered with blood. I went into the house, and saw the landlord, who was also drunk. I have seen Mr. Torr the worse for drink on more than one occasion, and also his wife.

Mr. Torr said he did not see why he should have to leave his house through his wife misbehaving herself. He had been nearly twelve years there.

Unsuprisingly David Torr had his licence refused and he eventually he was forced to vacant the premises.

Albert Uden, had been serving in France with the 4th Field Company, 2nd Canadian Engineers, Canadian Expeditionary Force since 1915 and On the 26th June 1918 he was admitted to hospital.

Perhaps he manged to visit his sister Alice, who was living in Battersea, with her husband Solomon Wraight and their family.

The Wraight Family Circa 1910

Alice's oldest son Solomon had emigrated to America in 1915 and was now serving in the American Army in France. Solomon's brother, William was a mechanic with RAF.

Perhaps this was his only opportunity to visit family relatives, whom he probably hadn't seen for over 10 years, would he ever get another? Albert returned to his unit after his leave on the 26th October 1918.

References
Canadian Library & Archives
Dover Kent Archives
British Newspaper Archives

Keeping the aircraft flying

On the 21^st March 1917 William “Bill” John Wraight, my Grand Uncle, joined the Royal Navy Air Service aged 18.

He was born on the 24^th February 1899 in Willesden, London one of seven children born to Solomon and Alice Wraight (nee Uden). William’s older brother Solomon Charles Wraight had emigrated from England in 1915 and was now living in Philadelphia USA. His older sister Alice (born 1897) had died in 1911 aged just 14. He had two younger sisters Elsie (born 1903) and Ivy - my Grandmother (born 1904) and two younger brothers Arthur (born 1907) and Frederick (born 1911).

Wraight Family circa 1910 - William is likely to be the taller boy in the photo

1911 the family were living at 14 Eland Road, Lavender Hill, London. Bill’s father Solomon was working as a builder’s joiner / shop foreman.

By 1917 as well as their father, both Bill and his brother Solomon (in America) also worked as a carpenter & joiners.

Bill was 5 foot 9 inches tall, with brown hair, brown eyes and a medium complexion and enlisted with the Royal Navy as an ACM2 rating – An Aviation Carpenter’s Mate 2nd Class Petty Officer and was based initially at Crystal Palace and Chingford until the 28th April when he was transferred to Eastbourne.

No doubt Bill's carpentry skills were put to good use, building, repairing and re-fitting aircraft, which was proving vital to the modern war effort in 1917.

Bill’s Uncle Albert Benjamin Uden who was serving with the 4^th Field Mounted Engineers of the Canadian Army was also a carpenter by trade.