On the 8th July 1918, 100 years ago today, James Othen, who had married Annie Cobbold (my great grand aunt in law), was taken sick again and admitted to hospital.
James had travelled to India with the 1/4th Battalion Royal West Surrey Regiment in October 1916 arriving in Bombay in late December that year. The 1/4th Queen’s had moved to Tank to join the Waziristan Field Force in early 1917. However, the battalion was so stricken by illness that soon after its arrival it was withdrawn and dispatched to Dagshai and Jutogh in the Simla Hills to recover.
James was stationed in Dagshai and then moved with the rest of the battalion to Lahore in the spring of 1918. James had been hospitalised with Malaria in March 1918
On July 8th 1918 James Othen, was admitted to hospital in Amritsar, in the Punjab region of North West India suffering with what was initially recorded as P.U.O. (Pyrexia of Unknown origin), which is generally associated with high fever and raised body temperature, this however is later crossed out and replaced with an M – which given James previous hospital admission probably means a final diagnosis of malaria. He remained in hospital in Amritsar until the 14th August 1918 as part of the Enteric group of patients (Enteric meaning intestinal problems) when he was then transferred to the Enteric convalescence hospital until the 21st September 1918
Enteric (typhoid) fever is a systemic disease characterised by fever and abdominal pain caused by dissemination of Salmonella
Typhoid fever, also known simply as typhoid, is a bacterial infection due to Salmonella typhi that causes symptoms which may vary from mild to severe and usually begin six to thirty days after exposure.Often there is a gradual onset of a high fever over several days.Weakness, abdominal pain, constipation, and headaches also commonly occur. Some people develop a skin rash with rose coloured spots and in severe cases there may be confusion.Without treatment, symptoms may last weeks or months.
The cause is the bacterium Salmonella Typhi, growing in the intestines and blood.Typhoid is spread by eating or drinking food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person. Risk factors include poor sanitation and poor hygiene.
James had originally enlisted with the 5th Reserve Battalion “The Queens” Royal West Surrey on the 5th October 1914 aged 34 years and 6 months and was 5 feet 5 3/4 inches. He was living at 71 Orchard Rise, Dorking, Surrey and was considered physically fit. James was employed as a bricklayer's labourer at that time.
The battle in India for the troops and for James Othen in particular seems to have been against the conditions and the diseases rather than enemy fire.
Sunday, 8 July 2018
Sunday, 1 July 2018
Back to Blightly with a case of the Spanish Flu?
Private John Vernon serving with the 7th Reserve West Yorkshire Battalion had been out in France since the 31st March 1918, however on the 1st July 1918 John return to England.
John Vernon was born in Brereton, Rugeley, Staffordshire in 1899, his Uncle Joseph Vernon was married to my Great Aunt Elizabeth Ann Renshaw.
Since the 8th June 1918 He had been suffering with a high fever and this was officially recorded as PUO which is the abbreviation for Pyrexia of unknown (or uncertain) origin, a term applied
to febrile illness before diagnosis has been established; also referred to as FUO (Fever of unknown origin). and was generally associated with fever and raised body temperature.
Although the fever eased to a mild fever throughout June, his condition was still poor enough that it meant he was transported back to England on the 30th June arriving on the 1st July.
During 1918 all nations were greatly effected by the Spanish Flu pandemic, which resulted in the deaths of millions worldwide. Sporadic record-keeping in wartime, and the failure to make influenza officially notifiable, meant that actual incidence was undoubtedly far higher than was officially reported. The disease was often confused with other conditions, and in the initial pandemic phase, when its nature was a complete mystery, cases were often recorded as 'PUO' (Pyrexia of unknown origin), 'three-day fever', or given some other generic label. It is suggested that mortality figures for the Spanish Flu should also be upwardly revised, as virulent flu often paved the way for fatal complications but was not certified as a cause of death.
It infected 500 million people around the world and resulted in the deaths of 50 to 100 million (3 - 5% of the world's population),
It is uncertain whether John was suffering from Spanish Flu and the terrible pandemic which was infecting and killing millions worldwide, but clearly he was unwell enough to be transferred back to England.
This first wave had resembled typical flu epidemics; those most at risk were the sick and elderly, while younger, healthier people recovered easily. The second wave of the 1918 pandemic which developed in August 1918 was much deadlier than the first. Academics have concluded that the fact that most of those who recovered from first-wave infections were now immune showed that it must have been the same strain of flu.
For the rest of the population it was far more deadly now; the most vulnerable people were those like the soldiers in the trenches – young previously healthy adults.
John Vernon was born in Brereton, Rugeley, Staffordshire in 1899, his Uncle Joseph Vernon was married to my Great Aunt Elizabeth Ann Renshaw.
Since the 8th June 1918 He had been suffering with a high fever and this was officially recorded as PUO which is the abbreviation for Pyrexia of unknown (or uncertain) origin, a term applied
to febrile illness before diagnosis has been established; also referred to as FUO (Fever of unknown origin). and was generally associated with fever and raised body temperature.
Although the fever eased to a mild fever throughout June, his condition was still poor enough that it meant he was transported back to England on the 30th June arriving on the 1st July.
During 1918 all nations were greatly effected by the Spanish Flu pandemic, which resulted in the deaths of millions worldwide. Sporadic record-keeping in wartime, and the failure to make influenza officially notifiable, meant that actual incidence was undoubtedly far higher than was officially reported. The disease was often confused with other conditions, and in the initial pandemic phase, when its nature was a complete mystery, cases were often recorded as 'PUO' (Pyrexia of unknown origin), 'three-day fever', or given some other generic label. It is suggested that mortality figures for the Spanish Flu should also be upwardly revised, as virulent flu often paved the way for fatal complications but was not certified as a cause of death.
It infected 500 million people around the world and resulted in the deaths of 50 to 100 million (3 - 5% of the world's population),
It is uncertain whether John was suffering from Spanish Flu and the terrible pandemic which was infecting and killing millions worldwide, but clearly he was unwell enough to be transferred back to England.
This first wave had resembled typical flu epidemics; those most at risk were the sick and elderly, while younger, healthier people recovered easily. The second wave of the 1918 pandemic which developed in August 1918 was much deadlier than the first. Academics have concluded that the fact that most of those who recovered from first-wave infections were now immune showed that it must have been the same strain of flu.
For the rest of the population it was far more deadly now; the most vulnerable people were those like the soldiers in the trenches – young previously healthy adults.
Tuesday, 26 June 2018
Repairing the Canadian trenches
On the 26th June 1918, my Great Grand Uncle, Albert Benjamin Uden was admitted to hospital. Albert Uden was serving as a Lance Corporal, with the 4th Field Company, 2nd Canadian Engineers, Canadian Expeditionary Force.
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 / greengrocer by trade. The family grew up on Seven Star Street in Dover, having moved there from Bridge, Canterbury in the early 1880’s shortly before Albert’s birth. Albert married Maude Torr, also from Dover, in 1905 in Paddington and along with their newly born son Albert they emigrated to Toronto, Canada in 1907 sailing on the Empress of Britain.
In 1915 Albert, Maude and their two sons Albert (born in Paddington in 1906) and George (born in Ontario, Canada in 1910) were living in Bellwoods Ave, Toronto.
A carpenter by trade Albert was aged 32 years and 2 months when on the 20th January 1915 he enlisted as a sapper in the 4th Field Company of the Canadian Engineers. He was 5ft 5in tall with brown eyes, dark brown hair and a dark complexion. Albert also had two vaccination scars on his right arm and a scar on his left shin.
The 4th Field Company, Canadian Engineers, had left Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 18th April 1915 bound for England on board the HMT Northland. The voyage took 11 days in total, the Company, under the command of Major G.A. Inksetter. arrived in England on the 29th April 1915.
After six months of training in England, the company embarked for France on the 16th September 1915.
Albert Uden had recently been appointed (7th May 1918) to the rank of Lance Corporal and on the 26th June 1918, 100 years ago today, the company were based at La Riviere and were engaged in various tasks working on two dugouts , fixing the wire in another part of their sector and working on theatre hut (source War Diary 4th Field Company, Canadian Engineers) . However on this day Albert Uden was admitted to the 5th Canadian Field Ambulance suffering from a varicose ulcer on the right leg. The problem had been an on-going one during recent months.
He had previously received treatment on the 1st January 1918 at the 6th Canadian Field Ambulance for an ICT (Inflammation of the Connective Tissue) of the right leg, he had been discharged back to duty on the 9th January.
The War Diary for the 6th Canadian Field Ambulance for the 1st January 1918 reads
Fine – Cold
Estree Gauchie S9 W1 SP7
De La Haie S10 W0 SP55
Games, gas and squad drills during the morning. Capt D W McKechnie has been promoted to the rank of Major from 17-12-17
Quiet Day
S = Sick, W = Wounded, G = Gassed, SP = Sick Parade
Albert would later be transferred on the 1st July on to the No. 6 General hospital in Rouen, for further treatment on his ulcer and he was finally discharged back to reinforcements in Etaples on the 23rd July 1918.
Inflammation of the Connective Tissue along with trench foot was one of the more common aliments that affected soldiers in World War One. For Albert constantly repairing trenches in all conditions it is not surprising he suffered with this condition.
Albert’s nephews Solomon Charles Wraight was serving with the 315th Infantry Division of the United States Army having emigrated from England in 1915 and William John Wraight was serving with the Royal Air Force
References
Canadian Library and Archives
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 / greengrocer by trade. The family grew up on Seven Star Street in Dover, having moved there from Bridge, Canterbury in the early 1880’s shortly before Albert’s birth. Albert married Maude Torr, also from Dover, in 1905 in Paddington and along with their newly born son Albert they emigrated to Toronto, Canada in 1907 sailing on the Empress of Britain.
In 1915 Albert, Maude and their two sons Albert (born in Paddington in 1906) and George (born in Ontario, Canada in 1910) were living in Bellwoods Ave, Toronto.
A carpenter by trade Albert was aged 32 years and 2 months when on the 20th January 1915 he enlisted as a sapper in the 4th Field Company of the Canadian Engineers. He was 5ft 5in tall with brown eyes, dark brown hair and a dark complexion. Albert also had two vaccination scars on his right arm and a scar on his left shin.
The 4th Field Company, Canadian Engineers, had left Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 18th April 1915 bound for England on board the HMT Northland. The voyage took 11 days in total, the Company, under the command of Major G.A. Inksetter. arrived in England on the 29th April 1915.
After six months of training in England, the company embarked for France on the 16th September 1915.
Albert Uden had recently been appointed (7th May 1918) to the rank of Lance Corporal and on the 26th June 1918, 100 years ago today, the company were based at La Riviere and were engaged in various tasks working on two dugouts , fixing the wire in another part of their sector and working on theatre hut (source War Diary 4th Field Company, Canadian Engineers) . However on this day Albert Uden was admitted to the 5th Canadian Field Ambulance suffering from a varicose ulcer on the right leg. The problem had been an on-going one during recent months.
He had previously received treatment on the 1st January 1918 at the 6th Canadian Field Ambulance for an ICT (Inflammation of the Connective Tissue) of the right leg, he had been discharged back to duty on the 9th January.
The War Diary for the 6th Canadian Field Ambulance for the 1st January 1918 reads
Fine – Cold
Estree Gauchie S9 W1 SP7
De La Haie S10 W0 SP55
Games, gas and squad drills during the morning. Capt D W McKechnie has been promoted to the rank of Major from 17-12-17
Quiet Day
S = Sick, W = Wounded, G = Gassed, SP = Sick Parade
Albert would later be transferred on the 1st July on to the No. 6 General hospital in Rouen, for further treatment on his ulcer and he was finally discharged back to reinforcements in Etaples on the 23rd July 1918.
Inflammation of the Connective Tissue along with trench foot was one of the more common aliments that affected soldiers in World War One. For Albert constantly repairing trenches in all conditions it is not surprising he suffered with this condition.
Albert’s nephews Solomon Charles Wraight was serving with the 315th Infantry Division of the United States Army having emigrated from England in 1915 and William John Wraight was serving with the Royal Air Force
References
Canadian Library and Archives
Friday, 4 May 2018
The Dragoons of Lapland
On the 3rd May 1918 Reginald James Elsey (who would become the husband of my great aunt in law) was serving on board HMS Cochrane as an Ordinary Signalman
Reginald James Elsey was born on the 8th May 1898 in Reigate, Surrey. He was the son of James and Charlotte Elsey (nee Buck). He had an older sister Winifred (born in 1896, also in Reigate). In 1901 the family were living in Burstow, Surrey.
Reginald had joined the Royal Navy as a boy on the 11th May 1915 and transferred to HMS Cochrane as a Signal Boy on the 17th January 1916 and then aged 18 became an Ordinary Signalman on board HMS Cochrane on the 8th May 1916 signing up for 12 years duty.
Prior to joining the Navy Reginald worked as a Garden Boy and Poultry Feeder. He was five foot 4 ½ inches tall with brown eyes and a dark complexion. He had a scar on his forehead and upper lip.
HMS Cochrane and the rest of the 2nd cruiser squadron, were assigned to the Grand Fleet for most of the First World War. She took part in the Battle of Jutland on 31 May–1 June 1916, along with the cruisers Minotaur, Shannon and Hampshire under the command of Rear-Admiral Heath. However, the ship remained unengaged throughout the battle, and did not fire her guns at all during the engagement.
In November 1917 HMS Cochrane was transferred to the North America and West Indies station, but in early 1918 re-joined the 2nd Cruiser Squadron. HMS Cochrane was then sent to Russia as part of the allied intervention in the Russian Civil War arriving in Murmansk on the 7th March 1918 and the following day at 12 noon she fired a 21 Gun salute to the Russian Flag.
On the 3rd May 1918 HMS Cochrane, with Reginald Elsey on board, transported Soviet troops to Pechenga (also known as Petsamo in Finnish), on the border of Russia and Finland, to forestall an attempt by White Finns to seize the town during the Finnish Civil War.
The Finnish Civil War was a conflict for the control and leadership of Finland during the country's transition from a Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire to an independent state. The civil war was fought between the Reds, led by a section of the Social Democratic Party, and the Whites, conducted by the conservative based Senate. The paramilitary Red Guards were composed of industrial and agrarian workers, controlled the cities and industrial centres of southern Finland, whilst the paramilitary white Guards, composed of farmers, along with middle-class and upper-class social strata, controlled rural central and northern Finland.
World War I led to the collapse of the Russian Empire, which in turn had caused a power vacuum in Finland, and a subsequent struggle for dominance leading to militarisation and escalating crisis between the left-leaning labour movement and the conservatives. The Reds carried out an unsuccessful general offensive in February 1918, supplied with weapons by Soviet Russia. A counteroffensive by the Whites began in March, reinforced by German troops in April.
In May two battalions of white Finnish civilian volunteers, about 200 armed men, led by two doctors, the so called “Dragoons of Lapland” arrived in Petsamo
The British considered these Finnish expeditions as a threat, since they were worried that the Germans might arrive in the area after them and take it over for their own purposes.
So, on the 3rd of May HMS Cochrane brought troops to Petsamo (100 men of naval infantry, 40 sailors and 40 Russian Reds lead by Captain Brown). The Finnish Expeditions fought against them for three days and on the 6th of May HMS Cochrane brought further reinforcements (35 soldiers and five Lewis-machine guns plus sailors also landed 12-pound gun as additional support).
On the 10th of May the British captured Petsamo and succeeded repelling Finnish counter-attacks. After this the British replaced their troops with 200 Serb soldiers. The Finnish expeditions headed back to Finland. Finland and Britain exchanged diplomatic notes and Britain informed Finland that it didn't have anything against Finnish demands concerning Petsamo.
Reginald Elsey’s service record notes – “For service in Land Operations”, but does not specify if he took part in this engagement.
Following victory in the decisive engagements by the Whites and German forces, the Finnish Civil War ended officially on the 15th of May. Around 12,500 Red POW’s died of malnutrition and disease in camps and about 39,000 people, of whom 36,000 were Finns, perished in the conflict.
In the aftermath, the Finns passed from Russian governance to the German sphere of influence with a plan to establish a German-led Finnish monarchy. In the end this did not materialise due to the defeat of Germany in the Great War. Finland instead emerged as an independent, democratic republic, however The Civil War continued to divide the nation for decades.
Reginald James Elsey was born on the 8th May 1898 in Reigate, Surrey. He was the son of James and Charlotte Elsey (nee Buck). He had an older sister Winifred (born in 1896, also in Reigate). In 1901 the family were living in Burstow, Surrey.
Reginald had joined the Royal Navy as a boy on the 11th May 1915 and transferred to HMS Cochrane as a Signal Boy on the 17th January 1916 and then aged 18 became an Ordinary Signalman on board HMS Cochrane on the 8th May 1916 signing up for 12 years duty.
 |
| HMS Cochrane |
Prior to joining the Navy Reginald worked as a Garden Boy and Poultry Feeder. He was five foot 4 ½ inches tall with brown eyes and a dark complexion. He had a scar on his forehead and upper lip.
HMS Cochrane and the rest of the 2nd cruiser squadron, were assigned to the Grand Fleet for most of the First World War. She took part in the Battle of Jutland on 31 May–1 June 1916, along with the cruisers Minotaur, Shannon and Hampshire under the command of Rear-Admiral Heath. However, the ship remained unengaged throughout the battle, and did not fire her guns at all during the engagement.
In November 1917 HMS Cochrane was transferred to the North America and West Indies station, but in early 1918 re-joined the 2nd Cruiser Squadron. HMS Cochrane was then sent to Russia as part of the allied intervention in the Russian Civil War arriving in Murmansk on the 7th March 1918 and the following day at 12 noon she fired a 21 Gun salute to the Russian Flag.
On the 3rd May 1918 HMS Cochrane, with Reginald Elsey on board, transported Soviet troops to Pechenga (also known as Petsamo in Finnish), on the border of Russia and Finland, to forestall an attempt by White Finns to seize the town during the Finnish Civil War.
The Finnish Civil War was a conflict for the control and leadership of Finland during the country's transition from a Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire to an independent state. The civil war was fought between the Reds, led by a section of the Social Democratic Party, and the Whites, conducted by the conservative based Senate. The paramilitary Red Guards were composed of industrial and agrarian workers, controlled the cities and industrial centres of southern Finland, whilst the paramilitary white Guards, composed of farmers, along with middle-class and upper-class social strata, controlled rural central and northern Finland.
World War I led to the collapse of the Russian Empire, which in turn had caused a power vacuum in Finland, and a subsequent struggle for dominance leading to militarisation and escalating crisis between the left-leaning labour movement and the conservatives. The Reds carried out an unsuccessful general offensive in February 1918, supplied with weapons by Soviet Russia. A counteroffensive by the Whites began in March, reinforced by German troops in April.
In May two battalions of white Finnish civilian volunteers, about 200 armed men, led by two doctors, the so called “Dragoons of Lapland” arrived in Petsamo
The British considered these Finnish expeditions as a threat, since they were worried that the Germans might arrive in the area after them and take it over for their own purposes.
So, on the 3rd of May HMS Cochrane brought troops to Petsamo (100 men of naval infantry, 40 sailors and 40 Russian Reds lead by Captain Brown). The Finnish Expeditions fought against them for three days and on the 6th of May HMS Cochrane brought further reinforcements (35 soldiers and five Lewis-machine guns plus sailors also landed 12-pound gun as additional support).
On the 10th of May the British captured Petsamo and succeeded repelling Finnish counter-attacks. After this the British replaced their troops with 200 Serb soldiers. The Finnish expeditions headed back to Finland. Finland and Britain exchanged diplomatic notes and Britain informed Finland that it didn't have anything against Finnish demands concerning Petsamo.
Reginald Elsey’s service record notes – “For service in Land Operations”, but does not specify if he took part in this engagement.
Following victory in the decisive engagements by the Whites and German forces, the Finnish Civil War ended officially on the 15th of May. Around 12,500 Red POW’s died of malnutrition and disease in camps and about 39,000 people, of whom 36,000 were Finns, perished in the conflict.
In the aftermath, the Finns passed from Russian governance to the German sphere of influence with a plan to establish a German-led Finnish monarchy. In the end this did not materialise due to the defeat of Germany in the Great War. Finland instead emerged as an independent, democratic republic, however The Civil War continued to divide the nation for decades.
Monday, 2 April 2018
New Posting and the birth of the RAF
For three ancestors in the Great War, the 1st April 1918 saw a day of change.
On the 1st April 1918 Frederick Charles Bush, my first cousin three times removed was serving in the Royal navy. He had enlisted in 1915 aged 18 and had been serving on a trawler HMT Wallington protecting the approaches to the Humber estuary until July 1917. After a period of training at the shore depot Pembroke II and a short month-long deployment back on board Waveney St. George, Frederick was posted to HMS Latona.
HMS Latona was an Apollo class second class Cruiser and was one of 21 cruisers of the class. Considered to be poor sea going ships and in poor sea conditions their fighting capability would be decreased severely with the waist guns not being able to cope with the conditions to be used successfully. sometime between 1907 HMS Latona along with her sister ships HMS Apollo, HMS Intrepid, HMS Iphigenia, HMS Andromache, HMS Naiad and HMS Thetis were converted to minelayers. During the initial years of the war Latona operated from Dover and Sheerness but in 1915 became a depot ship in the Mediterranean.
The 1st April 1918 also saw the birth of the Royal Air Force, with headquarters located in the former Hotel Cecil, by the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). As part of this new service, both William J Wraight (Grand Uncle) and Maurice Edwin Bush (1st Cousin 3 times removed) were transferred from the RNAS to the newly formed Royal Air Force.
William Wraight had been serving as an Aviation Carpenters Mate, and Maurice Bush as a Air Mechanic, both were transferred to the same roles the newly formed Royal Air Force.
William’s older brother Solomon had recently joined the United States Army
On the 1st April 1918 Frederick Charles Bush, my first cousin three times removed was serving in the Royal navy. He had enlisted in 1915 aged 18 and had been serving on a trawler HMT Wallington protecting the approaches to the Humber estuary until July 1917. After a period of training at the shore depot Pembroke II and a short month-long deployment back on board Waveney St. George, Frederick was posted to HMS Latona.
 |
| HMS Latona |
HMS Latona was an Apollo class second class Cruiser and was one of 21 cruisers of the class. Considered to be poor sea going ships and in poor sea conditions their fighting capability would be decreased severely with the waist guns not being able to cope with the conditions to be used successfully. sometime between 1907 HMS Latona along with her sister ships HMS Apollo, HMS Intrepid, HMS Iphigenia, HMS Andromache, HMS Naiad and HMS Thetis were converted to minelayers. During the initial years of the war Latona operated from Dover and Sheerness but in 1915 became a depot ship in the Mediterranean.
The 1st April 1918 also saw the birth of the Royal Air Force, with headquarters located in the former Hotel Cecil, by the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). As part of this new service, both William J Wraight (Grand Uncle) and Maurice Edwin Bush (1st Cousin 3 times removed) were transferred from the RNAS to the newly formed Royal Air Force.
William Wraight had been serving as an Aviation Carpenters Mate, and Maurice Bush as a Air Mechanic, both were transferred to the same roles the newly formed Royal Air Force.
William’s older brother Solomon had recently joined the United States Army
Saturday, 31 March 2018
From Brereton to the front
On the 31st March 1918 John Vernon was deployed to France serving as a Private with the 2/7th West Yorkshire Regiment.
John was born in 1899 in Brereton, Rugeley. One of eight children of John and Louisa Vernon (nee Harvey). John had two older brothers Horace (born 1895) and Harry (born 1897) and one older sister Ada (born 1892). He also had two younger brothers George (born 1904) and Percy (born 1907) and two younger sisters Clara (born 1901) and Mary (born 1903) all born in Brereton.
John’s Uncle Joseph Vernon was married to my Great Aunt Elizabeth Ann Renshaw.
In 1911 the family were living in Armitage Lane, Brereton. His father and two older brothers all working at the local colliery.
John had enlisted on the 27th April 1917 with the 5th training reserve battalion depot North Staffordshire Regiment. He was just 18 years of age, with his occupation listed as a farm labourer. He had been training in England since enlistment.
On the 31st March John was transferred 7th Reserve West Yorkshire Regiment and left for France on the 1st April 1918. Germany had launched Operation Michael ten days earlier, which had inflicted heavy losses on the British army in an attempt to win the war before the American troops could be deployed fully in Europe and the temporary numerical advantage enjoyed by Germany being able to release it's army from the Eastern front due to the collapse on the Russian army was gone.
One wonders how much John would have known about the "Kaisers Battle" currently waging as he sailed to France. Other members of his family had already lost their lives in the War, so he must surely have been under no illusions as to the dangers awaiting him.
John’s eldest brother Horace had been killed on the 8th May 1917, just a week after John had been called up. Horace was serving as a corporal with the 2/6th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment. The 2/6th Battalion had been in Ireland in 1916 during the Easter rising and fought in France from 1917.
On the night of the 8th May 1917 Horace’s battalion were ordered to attack the German positions, their objectives being
Trench running from L.6.a.5.5 to F.30.c.2.7.
(62.c.N.E).
The UNNAMED FARM and trench from it to L.5.b.8.4
The attack was carried out in one wave.
The Battalion War diary for 8th May reads as follows
21.50 In attack German trenches … attacking troops were met by very heavy M.G. fire, one platoon “B” Coy under Lieut P.G Coleman with 15 other ranks reached their objective and consolidated it, meeting several bombing attacks from both flanks.
24.00 A & B Coys less 1 platoon did not reach their objective. UN-named Farm reoccupied by C coy after very heavy shelling
Casualties :-
Missing believed killed Officers – 3, Other Ranks – 28
Killed Officers – Nil, Other Ranks 2
Died of wounds Officers – NIL, Other Ranks 1
Wounded Officers – 5 Capt. Charlton, Lieut P. G. Coleman, 2nd Lieut Burt, 2nd Lieut Fryer, 2nd Lieut Johnson, Other Ranks 42
9th May
10.00 UN-Named Farm heavily shelled
21.00 The platoon of B coy under Lieut. Coleman which had reached its objective was attacked several times during the day and previous night by German bombing of the trench, and after using up all their supply of ammunition and bombs, Lieut. Coleman used German bombs which he found, and repeatedly picked up German stick bombs which had been thrown at his party and threw them back at the Germans.
22.30 The platoon of B Coy under Lieut. Coleman withdrew from the German trench which they had held during the day after having expended all ammunition and bombs. They were charged by the Germans previous to withdrawing but used their bayonets with great effect. Lieut. Coleman was again wounded (in the mouth) with a fragment of a bomb just before he withdrew from the German trench.
Lieut. Coleman was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on the 29th May for his actions on the 8th & 9th
Corporal Horace Vernon has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial on Pier & Face 14B and 14C and also on the Armitage war memorial.
His uncle Herbert Vernon, serving as a Private with the Grenadier Guards, had been killed on the 12th September 1916 during the battle of the Somme. Like his nephew Herbert Vernon has no known grave and is also commemorated on the Thiepval memorial and on the Brereton War Memorial.
His other Uncle Joseph Vernon was serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps. Attached to 1/5th Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers (or had perhaps transferred to infantry KOSB) and was currently in Egypt.
John was born in 1899 in Brereton, Rugeley. One of eight children of John and Louisa Vernon (nee Harvey). John had two older brothers Horace (born 1895) and Harry (born 1897) and one older sister Ada (born 1892). He also had two younger brothers George (born 1904) and Percy (born 1907) and two younger sisters Clara (born 1901) and Mary (born 1903) all born in Brereton.
John’s Uncle Joseph Vernon was married to my Great Aunt Elizabeth Ann Renshaw.
In 1911 the family were living in Armitage Lane, Brereton. His father and two older brothers all working at the local colliery.
John had enlisted on the 27th April 1917 with the 5th training reserve battalion depot North Staffordshire Regiment. He was just 18 years of age, with his occupation listed as a farm labourer. He had been training in England since enlistment.
On the 31st March John was transferred 7th Reserve West Yorkshire Regiment and left for France on the 1st April 1918. Germany had launched Operation Michael ten days earlier, which had inflicted heavy losses on the British army in an attempt to win the war before the American troops could be deployed fully in Europe and the temporary numerical advantage enjoyed by Germany being able to release it's army from the Eastern front due to the collapse on the Russian army was gone.
One wonders how much John would have known about the "Kaisers Battle" currently waging as he sailed to France. Other members of his family had already lost their lives in the War, so he must surely have been under no illusions as to the dangers awaiting him.
John’s eldest brother Horace had been killed on the 8th May 1917, just a week after John had been called up. Horace was serving as a corporal with the 2/6th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment. The 2/6th Battalion had been in Ireland in 1916 during the Easter rising and fought in France from 1917.
On the night of the 8th May 1917 Horace’s battalion were ordered to attack the German positions, their objectives being
Trench running from L.6.a.5.5 to F.30.c.2.7.
(62.c.N.E).
The UNNAMED FARM and trench from it to L.5.b.8.4
The attack was carried out in one wave.
The Battalion War diary for 8th May reads as follows
21.50 In attack German trenches … attacking troops were met by very heavy M.G. fire, one platoon “B” Coy under Lieut P.G Coleman with 15 other ranks reached their objective and consolidated it, meeting several bombing attacks from both flanks.
24.00 A & B Coys less 1 platoon did not reach their objective. UN-named Farm reoccupied by C coy after very heavy shelling
Casualties :-
Missing believed killed Officers – 3, Other Ranks – 28
Killed Officers – Nil, Other Ranks 2
Died of wounds Officers – NIL, Other Ranks 1
Wounded Officers – 5 Capt. Charlton, Lieut P. G. Coleman, 2nd Lieut Burt, 2nd Lieut Fryer, 2nd Lieut Johnson, Other Ranks 42
9th May
10.00 UN-Named Farm heavily shelled
21.00 The platoon of B coy under Lieut. Coleman which had reached its objective was attacked several times during the day and previous night by German bombing of the trench, and after using up all their supply of ammunition and bombs, Lieut. Coleman used German bombs which he found, and repeatedly picked up German stick bombs which had been thrown at his party and threw them back at the Germans.
22.30 The platoon of B Coy under Lieut. Coleman withdrew from the German trench which they had held during the day after having expended all ammunition and bombs. They were charged by the Germans previous to withdrawing but used their bayonets with great effect. Lieut. Coleman was again wounded (in the mouth) with a fragment of a bomb just before he withdrew from the German trench.
Lieut. Coleman was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on the 29th May for his actions on the 8th & 9th
Corporal Horace Vernon has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial on Pier & Face 14B and 14C and also on the Armitage war memorial.
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| Horace Vernon - Armitage War Memorial |
His uncle Herbert Vernon, serving as a Private with the Grenadier Guards, had been killed on the 12th September 1916 during the battle of the Somme. Like his nephew Herbert Vernon has no known grave and is also commemorated on the Thiepval memorial and on the Brereton War Memorial.
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| Herbert Vernon - Brereton War memorial |
His other Uncle Joseph Vernon was serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps. Attached to 1/5th Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers (or had perhaps transferred to infantry KOSB) and was currently in Egypt.
Monday, 26 March 2018
Hospitalised with Malaria
On the 26th March 1918, 100 years ago today, James Othen, who had
married Annie Cobbold (my great grand aunt in law), was admitted to hospital in
Lahore suffering from Malaria. James had travelled to India with the 1/4th
Battalion Royal West Surrey Regiment in October 1916 arriving in Bombay in late December that year.
The 1/4th Queen’s
moved to Tank to join the Waziristan Field Force in early 1917. However, the
battalion was so stricken by illness that soon after its arrival it was
withdrawn and despatched to Dagshai
and Jutogh in the Simla Hills to recover.
James was stationed in Dagshai
and then moved with the rest of the battalion to Lahore in the spring of 1918.
James, aged 42, was admitted
to hospital suffering from Malaria on the 26th March 1918 and after blood tests was given in total 300
grams of quinine over the next few days to treat the effects until his release on the 6th
April. Research suggests that around
1.5 Million soldiers from all sides fell victim to Malaria (Malaria Journal
2014) with between 0.2 and 5% of cases proving fatal.
At home his wife Annie was
looking after their seven children. Rosey (aged 13), Mabel (11), Alfred (9), Florence (7), Charles (6), Sydney (3) and their youngest Daughter, Edith (1) who had been
born between Oct and December 1916, just as her father was embarking for India
Meanwhile over 5,000 miles
away in Reigate, Surrey James’ sister in law, May Rosetta Cobbold (nee Graffham) and her husband Alfred George Cobbold (My Great Grandfather in law) were going through both joyous and
harrowing times.
Between April and June 1918
their eighth child Lily was born in Reigate and during the same period their
youngest child James J Cobbold
passed away aged 3. May was also looking after her six other children, Doris (aged 14), Maud (13), Alfred (11), William (9), George (7) and Ethel (5). [Alfred George Cobbold was most likely serving with the 1st Divisional Signal Company, Army Service Corps, but research is on-going to confirm this]
May’s brother Corporal John Joseph Graffham had been killed in
July 1915 serving with the 2nd Battalion The Queens Royal West
Surrey Regiment.
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