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

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

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.

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.

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.

Hospitalised with Malaria

On the 26^th 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 1/4^th Battalion Royal West Surrey Regiment in October 1916 arriving in Bombay in late December that year.

The 1/4^th 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 26^th 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 6^th 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 2^nd Battalion The Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment.

In France with the Royal Fusiliers

Alfred Sidney Searle was the brother in law of my Great Great Grand Uncle Edwin Ernest Bush who had married Alfred’s sister Ada Searle on the 10th September 1893 at Holy Trinity Church, Wimbledon.

Alfred was born in 1880 in Wimbledon, Surrey, one of eight children of John Joseph and Emma Jane Searle (nee Miles). He had two older brothers John (born 1868) & Charles (born 1873), two younger brothers Edward (born 1882) & Thomas (born 1885) and three older sisters Emma (born 1869), Ada (born 1872) & Alice (born 1879).

His mother, Emma had passed away in 1895 and his father, John in 1897.

In 1901 Alfred aged 21 and his two younger brothers Edward and Thomas were living with their Aunt and Uncle, Edwin Ernest and Ada Bush at 8 Leyton Road, Wimbledon along with his younger nephews Edwin Maurice (aged 7), Alfred Ernest (aged 6), Frederick Charles (aged 4) and Arthur William (aged 0). At the time Alfred was working as a labourer in a silk factory (Possibly Streatham Silk Mill)

Alfred married Harriet Rachel Harman in 1907 in Wandsworth, Surrey with their daughter Minnie being born a year later in 1908. The 1911 census shows the family living at 6 Abbey Terrace, Abbey Road, Merton, Surrey – a three room flat. Alfred was working as a House painter, the same profession as William Giles, William Alfred Bush and William J T Bush who were all cousins and from Wimbledon. His younger brother Thomas was also employed as a painter.

Alfred’s sister Ada had died in 1910.

Alfred had enlisted on the 6th March 1917 with the Middlesex regiment and was then transferred, serving as a Private with the 20th Battalion Royal Fusiliers from the 23rd March 1917. However, 100 years ago today and just a week before the 20th Battalion was disbanded (16th Feb 1918), Alfred Sidney Searle was transferred to the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers.

The 2nd Battalion had served in Gallipoli and arrived in France in March 1916. The Battalion had taken part in the Battle of the Somme and in the spring of 1917 in the Battle of Arras. The 20th Battalion had served in France.

His younger brother Thomas was serving with the Royal Engineers and had been in France since July 1915. He had married Florence Ann Dean in 1907 in Wimbledon and had two sons Ernest Leonard (born July 1907) and Richard William Douglas (born 1910).

Put that light out

On the 2nd December 1917 my Great Grand Aunt in law’s husband James Othen was severely reprimanded for not complying with an order from an NCO. He had failed to comply with was “turning the light low after being warned” for which he was confined to barracks for three days.

James had enlisted with the 5th Reserve Battalion “The Queens” Royal West Surrey on the 5thOctober 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.

He had been stationed in England since enlisting but in October 1916 James embarked with the 1 / 4th Battalion Royal West Surreys from Devonport arriving in Bombay, India in 21st December 1916.

The Battalion were stationed at Mian Meer in 1916 when heavy garrison duties were compounded by the need to provide instructors for the training of India Defence Units raised at Lahore. In early 1917 a large force of Mahsuds began to raid convoys in South Waziristan and 1/4th Queen’s moved to Tank to join the Waziristan Field Force and take the field against them. Sadly, 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 at Dagshai

Dagshai Hill Barracks

Dagshai is one of the oldest cantonment towns in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is situated on top of a 5689 feet (1734 mtr) high hillock that stands sphinx-like astride the Kalka-Shimla Highway at a point about 11 km from Solan. And was well known for the harsh conditions of it’s military jail.

Counter Attack at the Battle of Cambrai

James Wilson (my second cousin twice removed) was born in 1894 in Rugeley, Staffordshire. He was the third son of Shem Edward and Elizabeth Wilson (nee Harding). James had two older brothers Shem Edward (born 1888) and Albert (born 1889). He also had two younger brothers Horace (born 1897) and Frank (born 1899) and three younger sisters Lizzie (born 1901), Lavinia (born 1903) and Irene (born 1907).

James’ father Shem was the adopted son of William and Harriet Hollins (nee Deakin). In 1911 the Wilson family was living at 60 Queen Street, Rugeley, with James aged 16 employed as a grocery sugar wrapper. His father was employed in the local Stokes and Negus Phoenix Tannery as was his father’s step brother William Hollins who was living at 64 Queen Street, Rugeley. William’s sons George was living at 24 Queen Street and Charles at 45 Queen Street.

William Hollins had two other sons, William who was working on muntions and Horace who had been killed in April 1916, his wife moved back to 73 Queen Street after his death. His son in law James Fisher in the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt at Loos in Oct 1915.

James Wilson had enlisted in Birmingham and was serving as a Lance Corporal in the 3^rd Battalion Coldstream Guards.

The Battle of Cambrai had launched on November 20^th and for the first time had used a coordinated approach of tactics, infantry and more importantly massed tanks. Compared with the recent slog at the Battle of Passchendaele, the initial phase was regarded as a huge success, with considerable territorial gains made for, in First World War terms, relatively small losses. However, the attack stalled attempting to capture Bourlon Wood and on November 30^th the Germans launched their counter attack.

Units hurriedly ordered to shore up the clearly splintering defence were shocked at what they saw. Not least of them was the Guards Division, still recuperating from a mauling in Fontaine Notre Dame and now heading into what would become a bitter fight to hold the enemy at Gouzeaucourt: 

“First we had to struggle through the flood of terrified men … nothing seemed to stem the torrent of frightened men with eyes of hunted deer, without rifles or equipment, among them half-dressed officers presumably surprised in their sleep, and gunners who had had the sense and calmness to remove the breech blocks from their guns and were carrying them in their hands. Many were shouting alarming rumours, others yelling “Which is the nearest way to the coast?” 

Ref - Norman D. Cliff, To hell and back with the Guards (Braunton, Devon: Merlin Books Limited, 1988) p.85

The War Diary for the 3^rd Battalion reads as follows

Nov 30^th The Battn, in conjunction with the 2^nd Bn Coldstream guards and the 1^st bat Irish guards counter attacked the enemy and retook GOUZEAUCOURT. A line was consolidated on the far side of the village.

Dec 1^st. Orders were received at 3am for the bttn. To attack the QUENTIN RIDGE in conjunction with the 2^nd Bat Grenadier guards on the right and the 3^rd Grenadier batt. On the left. The attack was successful, largely through the gallant behaviour of the tanks – 4 of which were attached to the battn. They put into position a few minutes before zero and little could be given them in the way of information as to the objective, Officers who took part in the attack say that it is doubtful if the battn. Would have reached its objective with enough men to consolidate had it not been for the tanks.

The Battn. Was relieved during the night of Dec 1^st and 2^nd by the 1^st Bat Grenadier guards.

Casualties 30^th Nov

Officers 9 wounded

Other ranks 6 killed 83 wounded 3 missing

Casualties Dec 1^st

Officers 3 killed 2 wounded

Other ranks 9 killed 100 wounded 8 missing

James Wilson aged 23 was killed on the 1^st December 1917. He is buried at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais.

Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery

Originally buried as an unknown British solider, he was identified by Khaki, boots, badges, numerals

Among his effects which were forwarded to base was a Gold ring with initials J.W. inscribed on the outside and on the inside of ring the initials V.S.

James’ parents Shem & Elizabeth have the grave inscribed “Gone but not forgotten”

One can only imagine the sense of loss felt by his parents Shem and Elizabeth, it was not their first experience.

James’ younger brother Horace had been killed on the first day of the Somme on the 1^st July 1916. Horace had originally enlisted with the Grenadier Guards on the 7^th December 1914 in Hednesford stating he was 19 years 3 months. Horace was born in 1897 making him 17 in 1914. Previous to enlisting he was employed as a miner. Horace was 5ft 10 with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He was discharged 6 days later on 12^th December due to likely to become an efficient solider on the grounds of amblyopia vision in both eyes.

Amblyopia is more commonly known as lazy eye. A “lazy eye” is not lazy at all.  Recent research has shown that amblyopia is a disorder of the brain’s ability to use both eyes together as a team. Amblyopia is an active process due to suppression, or the brain actively ignoring the information coming from one eye.  In addition to poor visual acuity, people with amblyopia are more prone to have difficulties with depth perception, eye movements related to reading, and visual decision making.

Despite his poor eyesight, at some point Horace re-enlisted with the North Staffordshire Regiment and was a member of D coy 1/6^th Battalion. And on the 1^st July Horace was in the trenches preparing for the attack on Gommecourt Wood.

1/6^th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment War Diary – 1^st July 1916

Battalion in trenches at Fonquevillers preparatory to an attack on Gommecourt Wood and Village. Battalion on right, 6^th South Staffs Regt, Battalion on left, 7^th Notts & Derby Regt. The attack was preceded by an intense bombardment lasting 65 minutes and the infantry assault took place at 7.30am under cover of a smoke barrage. The attack was carried out by means of four waves, each wave consisting of one platoon per company. The 1^st wave occupied the assault trench, the 2^nd & 3^rd waves the fire trench and the fourth wave the Retrenchment. These were followed by consolidating and carrying parties, found by the 5^th North Staffs. Immediately the smoke appeared the enemy opened heavy machine gun fire and barraged our front line. Whilst the assault was in progress this fire caused heavy casualties which occurred chiefly in the first four waves. The casualties so depleted the strength of the waves that very few men succeeded in reaching the enemy wire, which was found to be very strong in parts. Owing to the smoke many men lost direction and were unable to see the gaps in the wire. Previous heavy rain had made the trenches in a very bad condition, especially the assault trench, which was from 2 to 3 feet deep in mud. This caused delay in the waves leaving the trenches. The enemy front line trench was found to be very strongly held and with so few men left it was impossible to advance. After this, those who had not become casualties retired to the assault trench. Nothing of note occurred between this and 5pm when the battalion was relieved by the 5^th North Staffs and proceeded to Siamand and billeted.

Casualty Return

Officers – Killed 8, Missing 4, Wounded 6

Other ranks – Killed 34, Missing 122, Wounded 170

Horace Wilson was reported as missing in action in September 1916 but it wasn’t until the following year that the Lichfield Mercury reported his death.

Lichfield Mercury Friday 15^th June 1917 – Local Casualties

Mr & Mrs S Wilson of Queen Street, Rugeley, have now received official notification that their son Pte. Horace Wilson, who was reported missing July 1^st 1916, must now be presumed to have been killed in action on that date. Pte. Wilson was a member of the local territorials and joined the North Staffs Regiment at the outbreak of the war, went out to France in the early part of 1915 and took part in several engagements, his last being the battle of the Somme, since when he has not been heard of. Another brother Pte. Wilson, died in hospital in the early part of last year, a few months after joining the army.

Horace’s body was never recovered and he is commemorated on Thiepval memorial on pier and face 14B and 14C

The other brother was most likely to have been Pte. Harry Wilson who died on the 8^th February 1915 and was serving with the Army Service Corps. Harry is buried at Rugeley Cemetery.

All three Wilson brothers are commemorated on Rugeley War memorial.

Rugeley War Memorial Panel 

Horace Wilson is also commemorated on the Ancient Order of Foresters memorial in Rugeley

Ancient Order of Foresters Memorial - Rugeley

My Great Uncle Edward Hollins sounded the Last Post when this Memorial was first dedicated. Horace Hollins is also commemorated on both memorials

Sources

Commonwealth War Graves Commission website

Staffordshire Roll of Honour website

British Newspaper Archive website

Put on a Charge

On the 6th November 1917 Charles Henry Bush (my first cousin three times removed), serving as a corporal with the Royal Army Medical Corps at New End Military Hospital, Hampstead was severely reprimanded by Lt. Colonel Reid for not complying with an order given by a warrant officer and for referring to his commanding officer in disrespectful language. The incident was reported by acting sergeant Major Briggs and by acting sergeant Brown.

Charles was born in Wimbledon in 1878, the son of Charles Henry Bush and Caroline Wigman, he was one of 5 children, he had an elder sister and brother Louisa and Alfred and younger siblings Nellie and William. His father Charles had died young at only 34 and his mother had re-married to William Clack, a scavenger with Wimbledon Borough Council, having a further 7 children. All living at 11 Ashbourne Terrace, Wimbledon, which had been the Bush family home before his father's death.

He married Edith Pearson on 12th June 1905 and had their first child, Charles Alfred exactly 1 year later. By 1911 Charles, Edith & Charles along with their 2nd son Herbert were living at 69 Pelham Road, Wimbledon, with Charles' occupation listed as a bill poster for a theatre. Herbert died a few months later just as their daughter Edith was born.

Charles was 5 feet 7 inches tall, with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair and was 36 when the Great War started.

After serving in France during 1914, initially at No. 9 General Hospital in Nantes and then at Rouen, he was posted to New End Military Hospital in December 1914. Charles’ older brother Alfred had also served in the Royal Army Medical Corps and was attached to the 4th London Mounted Brigade but had been killed in Gallipoli in August 1915.

New End Military Hospital, Hampstead

Charles was Chief Clerk at the Hospital and he was regarded by his superior officers as a highly proficient. It was not however the first time he had been in trouble with his superior officers.

Charles Bush had served with the Royal Army Medical Corps alongside his older brother Alfred Charles Morris Bush during the Boer War in South Africa from 1901 – 1904 and during his service in South Africa was employed as the clerk to the office of the PMO Cape Colony,

Whilst stationed in Kimberley, Cape Colony in August 1902, he disobeyed company orders, leaving the camp improperly dressed. In February 1903, he again left the camp improperly dressed and also overstaying his pass – both time he was confined to barracks for seven days and on the second occasion he also lost one day’s pay.

However, his most serious offence occurred in December 1903, when he was charged with neglect of duty by leaving the door of the lunatic ward unlocked for which he was confined to barracks for ten days.

I would expect that ward would have been for soldiers suffering from what is now known as PTSD and in the First World War became known as shell shock.

One wonders if not complying with an order and disrespectful language went something like "well that's a stupid order and whoever gave it is a fool as well" which somehow sounds quite familiar.