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Remembered Today:

MM - Sgt 7145 Walter Justice 1st Northants


sjustice

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'lo all,

Does anyone have decent access to the Gazette archives? The above Walter Justice (my first cousin) was awarded the Military Medal which, according to his service docs, was Gazetted on 2nd November 1917. I can't get anywhere with the search facility.

A couple of other interesting points are that his MiC shows BW&V Medals, 14 Star, Clasp & Roses but no MM.

He received a shell wound to his left shoulder in action on 13th September 1914, was promoted Sergeant on 25th September 1915, "For Gallantry in the Field", and received shell wound which invalided him on (looks like) 16th August 1917 (shrapnel/head).

He has a Chelsea number...does that mean he became a Chelsea Pensioner? He was still drawing a pension in 1952 (increased to 8/8 1/2 a week)

SMJ

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Simon, Is/was your cousin 7145 Justice W of the Northamptonshire Regt ? if so he has 5 pages on Ancestry.co pension site. I have got into the London Gazette site but it is extremely slow at the moment, will persevere for you. Ralph.

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The 2nd November 1917 is the "Gazette with measles". You can hardly find anything on it as the scan is so badly corrupted. Instead type in Military Medal in the search box and navigate to the issue (it will probably be dated 31-10-1917)

M.M.'s are not always noted on a campaign medals MIC.

He does have a MM Medal Card, however.

Medal card of Justice, W

Corps Regiment No Rank

Northamptonshire Regiment 7145 Serjeant

Date 1914-1920

Catalogue reference WO 372/23

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=7

Steve.

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LG 2-11-1917 (Published 30-10-1917)

7145 Sjt. W\ Justice, North'n R. (Victoriai Park). -

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType=

You can see from the Copy/Paste why it's difficult to locate.

That's not actually a bad page of that Gazette. Have a look at page 10!

Steve.

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Simon, Came up with the same results as Steve (slightly later) Ralph ( good win over the Saints by the way Steve)

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Thanks guys.

Ralph, yes that's the man. I got his service docs etc from the pension records on Ancestry but thanks for looking it up.

Steve, cheers. I totally missed the other card by searching his name without the number.

Any thoughts on this "Chelsea" number? Also I have no experience of MM is there a citation anywhere?

Kind Regards,

SMJ

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The only surviving "citations" are usually details published in the local papers of the time, or in regimental histories. (He's not mentioned in the Regimental History by the way).

Steve.

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A list of the other 2nd battalion men who were awarded the MM in the same issue of the Gazette:

17543 Pte. E. J. Elliott, North'n R. (Raunds).

20290 Pte. W. Howard, North'n R. (Brackley)

7145 Sjt. W. Justice, North'n R. (Victoria Park).

18171 Pte. J. T. Nicholls, North'n R. (Kettering).

25409 Pte. W. Sewell, North'n R. (Berkhampstead). (battalion not known)

6503 Pte. H. Stevens, North'n R. (Chelmsford).

19344 Pte. A. P. Walker, North'n R. (Caterham).

All except Sjt. Justice and Pte. Sewell were presented with their medals by General Heneker, the Divisional Commnader, on 2nd November 1917. Sjt. Justice was obviously back in England with his wounds by then.

My feeling is that these awards were from the attack on the 16th August 1917.

The timing of the M.M. (usually about 3 months delay to publication) and his wounding would suugest that they may have been at the same point. See next post....

The 2nd also took part in the beginning of the Ypres Offensive on 31-7-1917. Awards for the battle then seem to have been gazetted 28-9-1917.

Steve.

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Report from the 2nd Battalions War Diary:

2ndNR15to18-8-1917Pt1.jpg

2ndNR15to18-8-1917Pt2.jpg

2ndNR15to18-8-1917Pt3.jpg

Steve.

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This gets better and better. Thanks for looking that up and posting, Steve.

"Victoria Park" is Victoria Park, North London by the way. Our man is Militia 4th East Surreys --> Regular 1/Northants-->(India)-->Reserve-->France, originally from London though he attested in Northampton. He had 14 years service on discharge.

As you have the regt history and diaries *open* what do you think of this? The service history actually lists where he was wounded in action on 13th September 1914. He was still in 1/Northants at this point.

See below. I reckon that says "Courchamps". Were 1st Division/1st Northants still that far south on the day?

post-16790-1187119732.jpg

Kind Regards,

SMJ

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I was looking at Sergeant Justices file for my own records. I hope you don't mind me posting a summary of his army time.

Walter Justice

Born at Old Ford, London, Middlesex, c. May 1884.

Son of Henry George Justice (1859-1910) and Mrs Emma Mary Justice (1864-19??, nee Saggers, m.1881)

Married Annie Elizabeth Lederer, 15-3-1908. Two children, Annie Lena (1908) and Walter Henry (1911)

A labourer prior to enlistment.

Previously served with 4th Battalion East Surrey Regiment.

7145 Northamptonshire Regiment

Enlisted 22nd September 1903.

5' 3" tall, 120lbs, chest 32" + " expansion, eyes: Hazel, Hair: Dark brown, Complexion: Fresh, scar near left nipple.

Joined battalion at Northampton Depot on 26th September 1903.

Granted messing allowance, 22-3-1904.

Posted to 2nd Battalion, 2-6-1904.

Posted to 1st Battalion, 17-12-1904.

Embarked to India, 17-12-1904.

Granted 1st Good Conduct Badge, 22-9-1905 (Two years from enlistment, chevron on cuff of left sleeve)

Landed back in England, 12-1-1907

Transferred to Army Reserve on 14-1-1907.

Recalled from Reserve on 5-8-1914.

Posted to 1st Battalion as Private, 7-8-1914.

Embarked to France with 1st Battalion, 12-8-1914

BATTLE OF MONS, 23-8-1914 (Not engaged)

BATTLE OF THE AISNE, 13-9-1914

Wounded by shrapnel to left shoulder on 13-9-1914 at Bourg or Moulins.

From the War Diary, 1st battalion:

13-9-1914

Cross the R. Aisne [at Bourg] without opposition. Battn comes into action 3/4 mile N. of Moulin. 1st Day of the Battle of the Aisne.

Evacuated to England, 23-10-1914.

Posted to Depot, 28-10-1914

Posted to 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, 8-11-1914.

Returned to France, 15-4-1915

Posted to 2nd Battalion as Private, 15-4-1915. Replacement for 2nd battalion losses at NEUVE CHAPPELLE.

From the War Diary, 2nd battalion:

19-4-1915

Captain H W Jackson and 2 Lieut G R Friendship joined with a Draft of 113 NCOs and men.

Paid Lance-Corporal, 24-4-1915

AUBERS RIDGE, 9-5-1915

Acting Corporal, 12-5-1915

Corporal, 12-5-1915

BATTLE OF LOOS, 25-9-1915 (Subsidiary action at Bois Grenier)

Sergeant, 25-9-1915

Leave to England, 20-12-1915 to 6-1-1916

Elected to remain in Army until end of the war, 31-5-1916.

SOMME - CONTALMAISON, 7-7-1916.

Leave to England, 2-10-1916 to 1-11-1916

3rd YPRES - CHATEAU WOOD/BELLEWARDE LAKE (Jacob Trench), 31-7-1917

3rd YPRES - BELLEWARDE RIDGE (Jaffa Trench), 15-8-1917

Wounded (shrapnel wound to shoulder), 16-8-1917

Evacuated to England, 4-9-1917

Posted to Depot, 4-9-1917

Discharged due to wounds, 14-11-1917

Steve.

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The crossing of the Aisne was in the region of Bourg. Once across the battalion advanced towards Moulins, where it was shelled (I suspect he may have been wounded at the latter).

NR1914-18Pg36.jpg

NR1914-18Pg37.jpg

NR1914-18Pg38.jpg

Steve.

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Hoho Steve. That's just brilliant. Thank you.

When can we start on his four brothers (he actually had one older and four younger, but the youngest was too young to serve).

Good job.

Still looking for info on the signification of the "Chelsea No."

Kind Regards,

SMJ

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As long as they were Northamptons - any time!

Steve.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Found his brother, James (not Northants) who is a wonderful example of lead-swinging.

His service docs basically amount to this. All 1918; he was just old enough to make it briefly to France:

JJ : Doctor, I have broken my leg

Doc: No, it's sprained.

JJ : Broken

Doc : Sprained

JJ : !

Doc : !!

Armistice

Nice one, James.

Kind Regards,

SMJ

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  • 14 years later...
On 14/08/2007 at 19:07, Stebie9173 said:

25409 Pte. W. Sewell, North'n R. (Berkhampstead). (battalion not known)

25409 Cpl William Sewell MM & Bar - 6th Battalion:

image.png.43bf6365e395381e48cd1b41580577a6.png

image.png.ffae6ac5a9c977d01452a266deeeab98.png

Edited by Ivor Anderson
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