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At this point the British advised that the troops be withdrawn.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).

Paid three Shillings a day

On the 12^th January 1916 Corporal Charles Henry Bush, serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) was appointed Clerk. He was serving with 35th Company and was based at the New End Military Hospital in Hampsted.

New End Military Hospital

Charles had been born and grew up in Wimbledon, Surrey. He had served in South Africa and had been stationed at No. 9 General Hospital in Nantes during 1914, returning back to England at Christmas 1914. In July 1915 he had been promoted to Corporal and now with his new appointment he was being paid 3 Shillings a day.

As part of the application Charles was required to submit a letter to check hand writing and composition and in it he describes his experience as a clerk, a job he had done for over four years, including being a clerk in the office of the PMO Cape Colony and that he had been appointed as the chief clerk at the New End Military Hospital on the 25^th March 1915.

Hand writing test

His elder brother Alfred Charles Morris Bush, a Regimental Sergeant Major with the RAMC had been killed in Gallipoli in August 1915

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?

Life goes on

Whilst the war raged on across the globe, the natural cycle of life carried on in spite of the hardships at home.

Alfred George Cobbold (my Great grandfather in law) was celebrating the birth of another son between October and December 1915. 

James J Cobbold was born in Reigate, Surrey and was the seventh child of Alfred George and May Rosetta Cobbold (nee Graffham). Alfred was born in Burnham, Essex in 1884, he married his wife May Rosetta Graffham in 1902 in Reigate, Surrey. Their six other children were Doris May (Born 1904 Great Bookham), Maud Winifred (born 1905, Dorking), Alfred Peter (Born 1907 Great Bookham), William Fred (Born 1909, Reigate), George Edward (Born 1911, Reigate) and Ethel (Born 1913, Reigate).

In 1911 the family were living at 10 Irrigation Road, Earlswood, Reigate, with Alfred working as a Carter in the sewage works.

May’s brother JohnJoseph Graffham had been killed on the 28^th July 1915, whilst serving with the 2^nd Batallion, The Queens, Royal West Surrey Regiment.

Alfred’s brother, Frederick Cobbold had recently celebrated the birth of another son. On the 12^th October 1915 in Bromley, Herbert Leslie J Cobbold, the fifth child Frederick and Lily Cobbold (nee Penny) was born. 

Frederick was my Great Grand Uncle in law and was born in Braintree , Essex in 1874, he married his wife Lily Penny in 1900 in Epsom, Surrey. They had four other children Lily (born in 1903 in Leatherhead), Frederick (born in 1905 in Dorking), William Albert (born in 1907 in Little Bookham) and Elsie Edith (born in 1909 also in Little Bookham).

In 1911, Frederick Cobbold was working as a cowman on a farm.

As yet I’ve not been able to confirm if either Alfred or Frederick served in the military during the Great War.

From Factory to the Front Line

On the 30^th November 1915 William Herbert Hollins, aged 18, enlisted with the 7^th Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry.

William Herbert Hollins

He was the oldest child of William and Amy Hollins (nee Sanders). He was born in 1897 in Longford, Warwickshire.

He had 3 sisters Amy (born 1899), Elsie (born 1901) and Nellie (Born 1902) and four brothers Percy (born 1904), Sidney (born 1908), Reginald (Born 1910) and Kenneth (Born 1912).

In 1911, the family were living at 11 Francis St, Coventry. William eventually gained employment at Messrs. Matherson, Huxley and Watson Ltd. The company was an Iron, Brass and Aluminium Founders and suppliers of Castings for Motors. 

His father worked as an Iron Molder as did his uncle Horace Hollins who lived just a few doors away at No. 1 Francis Street.

His uncle’s Horace, George and Charles were all serving and his two aunt’s husbands - James Fisher, had just been killed at Hohenzollern Redoubt and Fred Williscroft had been discharged.

Acknowledgements

With thanks to Stanley Hollins for providing the photograph.

Grandad goes to War

On the 27^th November 1915 my Grandfather, Arthur Hollins, aged just 18, serving as a Driver in the Royal Field Artillery arrived in France.

Arthur Hollins RFA

Arthur Hollins was born on the 18^th February 1897 in Rugeley, Staffordshire the youngest child of Benjamin James and Ann Hollins (Nee Hodson). He had one sister, Mary Ann (born 1884 in Woodseaves) and three brothers Benjamin (Born 1887 in Rugeley), who had just died of wounds , just two weeks prior to Arthur arriving in France. Benjamin had also been badly gassed at the front, James (Jimmy Born 1891 in Rugeley), who had also been wounded in the attack on Hohenzollern Redoubt and Edward (Ted Born 16^th March 1895 in Rugeley) and was also serving in the army.

Arthur Hollins on Horseback WW1

In 1911, the family were living at 27 Bow Street, Rugeley. Arthur (aged 14) was still at school, his father, Benjamin, was a labourer above the ground at the colliery, James was a horse Driver in the local mine, Edward (aged 16 in 1911) also worked in the mines. His sister Mary-Ann was employed doing domestic duties and her daughter Ada Scott Hollins (aged 7) was also with the family..

Maurice Hammon arrives in France

On the 20th November 1915 Maurice Frederick Hammon arrived in France with the Royal Engineers.

Maurice, aged 36 in 1915, was my first cousin 3 times removed was born in Chlesea, London in 1879. The fifth son of six of John Frederick Hammon and Elizabeth Ann Hammon (Nee Bush).  His elder brothers were Ernest (born 1863), Frederick William (born 1866 but died the same year), Arthur (born 1871), all of whom were born in Wimbledon and Alfred (born 1873 in St.Pancras). His younger brother Frederick Sydney Hammon (born 1884 in Southwark).

In 1911 he was living at 55 Elliots Row, Southwark and he married Elizabeth Phypers in 1912 also in Southwark. Their daughter Elsie was born in Southwark in 1913 but had died towards the end of 1914. His father, John was a bricklayer by trade.