August 1914 - August 1918 Four Years and Five Days in France

On the 12th August 1918 my Great Grand Uncle William Alfred Bush was killed in action.
Sergeant William Bush was serving with the 363 Motorised Transport Company of the Army Service Corps

William had been in France with the British Expeditionary Force since war broke out in August 1914 and had previously served in the Army Service Corps from 1905-08. Before joining the army in 1905 he had been employed as a boiler maker and in 1911 was a house painter as were a number of his cousins

William was born in Wimbledon in 1879, the second youngest child of the late William and Jane Bush (nee Napp). He had two older sisters Elizabeth Clara (born 1863, Wimbledon) and Jane (born 1871, Wimbledon), One older brother Albert Henry (born 1873, Wimbledon) and one younger brother James Charles (Born 1881, Wimbledon). He had 3 other siblings who all died in childhood (William John aged 2, Alice Cave aged 2 and Susan Mary aged 5).

William and the family, his wife Elizabeth and their four children, Lillie, William, Ivy and Dorothy were living at 6 Leyton Road, Wimbledon, having previously lived in Goodenough Street, Wimbledon. He had married Elizabeth Jane Pope at Wandsworth Register Office on the 24th July 1905. William and Elizabeth had four children Lillie (born 28th June 1908), William (born 17th March 1911), Ivy (born 24th September 1912) and Dorothy (born 6th April 1914). Their first child also called William died in infancy, Dorothy was only four months old when William was mobilised on the 6th August 1914.


William was 35 when he set of for World War One, 5 feet 4 1/4 inches tall, fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He had a small tattoo mark on the back of his right forearm and a 1/2 inch long linear scar above his right eyebrow.


The ASC MT Companies performed a number of functions and some like the 363 company were attached to the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) as Ammunition Columns / Parks. 363 Company, which was formed May 1915 was the Ammunition Column for 18th Brigade RGA. The 18th Brigade later came under V Corps Heavy Artillery.

The heavy guns and howitzers of the RGA, with attendant equipment and ammunition, needed motorised transport to haul them. The MT Companies called Ammunition Parks operated dumps, or stores, of ammunition, with the larger calibres of artillery shells required special mechanical handling equipment.

There is no doubt these ammunition parks would have been a prized target during any attack.

The Battle of Amiens was the opening phase of the Allied offensive which began on 8 August 1918, later known as the Hundred Days Offensive, that ultimately led to the end of the First World War. Allied forces advanced over 11 kilometres (7 mi) on the first day, one of the greatest advances of the war, with Henry Rawlinson's British Fourth Army playing the decisive role. The battle is also notable for its effects on both sides' morale and the large number of surrendering German forces. This led Erich Ludendorff to describe the first day of the battle as "the black day of the German Army". Amiens was one of the first major battles involving armoured warfare and marked the end of trench warfare on the Western Front; fighting becoming mobile once again until the armistice was signed on 11 November 1918.

On 21 March 1918, the German Army had launched Operation Michael, the first in a series of attacks planned to drive the Allies back along the length of the Western Front. With the collapse of  revolutionary-controlled Russia, the Germans were able to transfer hundreds of thousands of men to the Western Front, giving them a significant, if temporary, advantage in manpower and materiel.


By the end of the Marne-Rheims offensive (15-17 July), the German manpower advantage had been spent and their supplies and troops were exhausted. The Allied general, General Ferdinand Foch, ordered a counteroffensive which led to the Second Battle of the Marne, after which victory he was promoted to Marshal of France. The Germans, recognising their untenable position, withdrew from the Marne to the north. Foch now tried to move the Allies back onto the offensive.

The battle began in dense fog at 4:20 am on 8 August 1918

Total German losses were estimated to be 30,000 on 8 August. The Fourth Army's casualties, British, Australian and Canadian infantry, were approximately 8,800, exclusive of tank and air losses and those of their French allies.

The German General Erich Ludendorff described the first day of Amiens as the "Schwarzer Tag des deutschen Heeres" ("the black day of the German Army"), not because of the ground lost to the advancing Allies, but because the morale of the German troops had sunk to the point where large numbers of troops began to capitulate.

Whilst the Battle of Amiens was drawing to a successful close for the Allies, fighting continued along the Western Front and during the night of the 11th August and the early morning of the 12th the Base depot of the 353rd Company Army Service Corps was subjected to an enemy air raid. Sergeant William Alfred Bush who had served for 4 years and 5 days since the war began died of wounds to his skull from the bombing raid.

In his official war records it states - Died of bomb wounds skull received in action (enemy air raid) In the field, France

He is buried at the Les Baraques Military Cemetery, Sangatte in the Pas de Calais region of Northern France.

Les Baraques Military Cemetary Sangatte

Buried alongside him are six of his comrades from the 364 Mechanical Transport Company, Base Depot (N) who also died on the same day

Private          A Heath                   M39672         Age 35 Chepstow
Lance Corporal William Haddock Robinson   M2/082708         Age 39 Bristol
Corporal                  E Hamshar           M2/050271
Lance Corporal William George Edwin Woodward M2/079669 Age 55 Brixton
Private         George Fairbrother           DM2/224389 Age 27 Blackburn
Private         William Purves Miller   M2/266650         Age 25 Newcastle

Sergeant                William Alfred Bush   M/22781         Age 39 Wimbledon

He is also remembered on the War memorial in the All Saints Church in South Wimbledon

All Saints Church Wimbledon

The inscription reads “Remember before God the men of this parish who gave their lives in the Great wars”

One can only imagine the catastrophic tradegy and sense of loss for his wife Elizabeth, too have their 13 year marriage cut short and for William’s children Lillie aged 10, William aged 7, Ivy aged 5 and Dorothy aged 4


Sources
Commonwealth War Graves

All Saints Church, Wimbledon

Promoted to Sergeant

After being promoted to acting corporal in April 1917, My Great Uncle William Alfred Bush was promoted to acting sergeant on the 1^st September 1917. He had received the promotion the week before on the 26^th August 1917 and had been acting unpaid until 1^st September.

William had been at the front since August 1914 and was serving in the 363 Motorised Transport Company of the Army Service Corps.

The family were living at 6, Leyton Road, Wimbledon at the outbreak of war, having previously lived at 5, Goodenough Street, Wimbledon where in 1911 William listed his occupation as a house painter. William was 35 when he set of for World War One, 5 feet 4 1/4 inches tall, fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He had a small tattoo mark on the back of his right forearm and a 1/2 inch long linear scar above his right eyebrow.

William was born in 1879 in Wimbledon, the 2^nd youngest child of the late William James and Jane Bush (nee Napp). In 1917 he was 38 years old. His older sisters Elizabeth Clara Bush (born 1863, Wimbledon) was married to William Giles (also a house painter). Of their nine children one of their five sons Victor Cyril Giles was also serving with the Army Service Corps, both Alfred and James (both born in 1902) were still too young to enlist. It is likely that Albert James and William Giles were serving but research has not yet identified with who.

His sister, Jane Bush had lost her first husband James Spice in 1903 and both her children Dorothy (in 1913) and Edith (in 1905) she had re-married to Edward Charles Gear on Christmas Day in 1911 and had moved from Wimbledon to Railton Road in Lambeth.

His older brother, my Great Grandad, Albert Henry Bush, was a plumber on Southern Railways and had married Emily Elizabeth Lemon in 1898 and had four children Albert (my Grandad), Emily (Elsie), Sidney and Olive. Emily’s younger brother Frederick Lemon was serving with the East Surrey Regiment in the Labour Corps.

William's younger brother James Charles Bush (born Wimbledon 1881) was working as a harness cleaner in 1911 and living at 48 St. James St. Leeds with Emma Wilson and their daughter May Wilson Bush (born in 1910). They also had two other children William H Bush (born 1911, Leeds) and James C Bush, who was born on Boxing Day 1915. James and Emma had married in 1912 in Leeds.

Research suggests that James was serving in the Corps of Hussars as a Private in the 10^th and later 20^th Battalion.

Promoted to Corporal

On the 22^nd April 1917 William Alfred Bush, my Great Grand Uncle was promoted to acting Corporal in the 363 Motorised transport Company of the Army Service Corps.

William had been out with the British Expeditionary Force since war broke out in August 1914 and had previously served in the Army Service Corps from 1905-08. Before joining the army in 1905 he had been employed as a boiler maker and in 1911 was a house painter as were a number of his cousins

William was born in Wimbledon in 1879 and the family, his wife Elizabeth and their four children, Lillie, William, Ivy and Dorothy were living at 6 Leyton Road, Wimbledon., having previously lived in Goodenough Street, Wimbledon.

The ASC MT Companies performed a number of functions and some like the 363 company were attached to the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) as Ammunition Columns / Parks. 363 Company, which was formed May 1915 was the Ammunition Column for 18th Brigade RGA. The 18th Brigade later came under V Corps Heavy Artillery.

The heavy guns and howitzers of the RGA, with attendant equipment and ammunition, needed motorised transport to haul them. The MT Companies called Ammunition Parks operated dumps, or stores, of ammunition, with the larger calibres of artillery shells required special mechanical handling equipment.

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Discharged on Medical Grounds

On the 16^th May 1916, Alfred Walter Reed Lewis, my Great Grandfather in Law, was discharged from the army on medical grounds as being no longer physically fit for War service.

Alfred had enlisted with the Army Service Corps (ASC) on the 1^st May 1915 at Holloway, North London and served in A Company of the 41^st Field Butchery. He had been posted as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force to Salonika, Greece in Oct 1915, but had returned home in January 1916 suffering from heart problems and shortage of breath following heavy exertion.

He had been hospitalised since his return to England and on the 16^th March 1916 the medical board reported that he was suffering from Valvurian Disease of the Heart (Mitral), which had originated 12 years ago in London, in civilian life. It was not caused by or aggravated by active service however it recommended that he be discharged with permanent disability capacity as on enlistment as per Kings Regulations.

Alfred was aged 29 years 177 days old and was 5ft 6 inches tall, with dark hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was discharged from the ASC discharge depot, Catterick, Yorkshire. His discharge papers indicated a good military character and that he was a good butcher. He had served for 1 year and 17 days and had spent the last three months in hospital.

Alfred returned home to Kelvin Road, Highbury Park, North London and his wife Alice May, his daughter Doris (Dolly) aged 4 ½ years and son Alfred aged 3 ½.

Al Barnes Tango Band

Alfred Walter Reed Lewis pictured with the Al Barnes tango band in 1931. 

Back from Salonkia

Alfred Walter Reed Lewis (my Great Grandfather in Law,) serving with A company of the 41^st Field Butchery in the Army Service Corps, had been stationed in Salonkia, Greece since October 1915.

In December 1915 the British element fought a battle at Kosturino, north of Lake Doiran,

However, the intervention came too late to save Serbia and after a brief winter campaign in severe weather conditions on the Serbian frontier, the Anglo-French forces found themselves back at Salonika.

At this point the British advised that the troops be withdrawn. However, the French - with Russian, Italian and Serbian backing - still believed something of strategic importance could be gained in the Balkans and started preparing the port of Salonika for defence.

Alfred had suffered with heart trouble since he was 16, often becoming short of breath during periods of physical exertion and whilst doing heavy work at Salonkia in November his heart began to trouble him again.

He was posted back to England arriving on home shores on the 30^th January 1915, 100 years ago today. He was hospitalised and diagnosed with Valvular Heart Disease (Mitral).

From Painting to Fighting

As always new research uncover new facts and milestones which don't fit with the chronological order of this blog, but are nonetheless very valuable.

Victor Cyril Giles, who was my first cousin twice removed (the son of my Great Grand Aunt) arrived in France with the Army Service Corps on the 10^th April 1915.

Victor was born in 1896 in Wimbledon, Surrey to William and Elizabeth Clara Giles (Nee Bush), he was the 5^th of 9 children. He had 4 sisters; Caroline Elizabeth (born 1886), Lillie Jane (born 1888), Violet Emily (born 1899) and Ivy Elsie (born 1903) and 4 brothers; William (born 1886), Albert James (born 1893), Alfred Maurice (born 1902) and James Frederick (born 1902), all born in Wimbledon.

In 1911 the family were living in 77 Graham Road, Wimbledon. The father, William, was working as a house painter, both Victor (aged 14) and Albert (aged 17) were in domestic service. Elizabeth’s sister Jane Spice (nee Bush) was living at 57 Graham Road and her brother Albert Henry Bush (my Great Grandfather) was living at 120 Graham Road and his father in law, Joseph Lemon was living next door at 118 Graham Road.

Victor's uncle, William Alfred Bush had been out in France with the Army Service Corps since the start of the war. It is interesting to note William's occupation was the same as Victor's father - House Painter as was his 1st Cousin once removed William James Timothy Bush who was the brother of Charles Henry Bush and Alfred Charles Morris Bush who were both serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps.

One wonders if William Giles, William Alfred Bush and William J T Bush all worked together as house painters?

Landing in Salonika

In October 1915 a combined Franco-British force of some two large brigades was landed at Salonika (today called Thessalonika) at the request of the Greek Prime Minister. The objective was to help the Serbs in their fight against Bulgarian aggression.

Arriving with them was Pte. Alfred Walter Read Lewis, a butcher from Hackney, serving with A Company of the Army Service Corps. He had been assigned to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force since 22nd July 1915

His youngest daughter Jessie Lily Lewis who had been born in April 1915 and was just one month old when Alfred enlisted with the Army Service Corps on the 1st May, had passed away between May and June 1915.

The expedition however arrived too late, the Serbs having been beaten before they landed. It was decided to keep the force in place for future operations.

Joining up from Hackney

On the 1^st May 1915 Alfred Walter Read Lewis (my Great Grandfather in law) enlisted with the Army Service Corps at Holloway, North London.

He was 28 years old, 5 foot 6 inches tall, with blue eyes and dark hair and a tattoo on his left forearm. He lived at 3 Kelvin Road, Highbury Park, North London with his wife May (nee Alice May Adams) and their 3 children Doris Mary (aged 4), Alfred Weymouth (aged 3) and Jessie Lily who was only 1 month old.

Alfred was born on the 21^st November 1889 in Spitalfields, Whitechapel. One of ten children, he had six sisters and three brothers. His parents were Harry Bertram and Emily Rebecca Lewis (nee Read) and Alfred like his father was a butcher by trade. The family had moved from Spitalfields to Hackney in 1901, but Alfred was away at the Ardwick Green Industrial School, Ardwick, South Manchester.

By 1911, the Lewis family were living at 91, Windus Road, Stamford Hill. Hackney but on the night of the census Alfred was listed as a visitor with Weymouth & Elizabeth Adams and family, including his future wife Alice May Adams at 129, Packington St, Islington. Alfred married Alice, a dress maker on the 10^th October 1911 at Islington Register Office.

Alfred was tested by the Army Service Corps Butchery section and proved himself to be a fair butcher, but was not tested at slaughtering, he was assigned as a butcher to A company of the Army Service Corps Depot.

Pack up your troubles

On the 8th August 1914, William Alfred Bush (my Great Grand Uncle) set sail from Liverpool for France as part of the British Expeditionary Force. Born in 1879 in Wimbledon, Surrey. The son of the late William and Jane Bush.

William had initially joined the Army, enlisting in the Army Service Corps in January 1905 as a boiler maker and riveter, having previously been an apprentice for six years at the L & SW Railway works in Wimbledon. he married Elizabeth Jane Pope at Wandsworth Register Office on the 24th July 1905.

Army Service Corps Cap Badge and shoulder title

He completed his three years service in 1908 being based in Aldershot and was put onto the reserve list. William and Elizabeth had four children Lillie, William, Ivy and Dorothy. Their first child also called William died in infancy, Dorothy was only four months old when William was mobilised on the 6th August 1914.

The family were living at 6, Leyton Road, Wimbledon at the outbreak of war, having previously lived at 5, Goodenough Street, Wimbledon where in 1911 William listed his occupation as a house painter. William was 35 when he set of for World War One, 5 feet 4 1/4 inches tall, fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He had a small tattoo mark on the back of his right forearm and a 1/2 inch long linear scar above his right eyebrow.

He set sail from Liverpool on the 8th August 1914 and disembarked at Rouen on the 18th August. In the Mechanical Transport Depot of the Army Service Corps.

Tony