jdoyle Posted 13 January , 2013 Share Posted 13 January , 2013 I have just come across this post and see your interest in the 17th ACC in Ireland in 1919 onwards. I too have an interst in this battalion for this period. I have been researching 309328 Sgt. F. Nichols MM who was with the 17th at the same time as your Father. You mention that you have some photos and I wondered if you have any that may name my chap. All I have, apart from my research, is Nichols civilian driving licence issued to him in Ireland. It appears Nichols would have needed this civilian licence in order that he may legally drive his armoured cars about the Irish roads and byways! saw the Frank Nicholls driving licence on ebay and did a little research on him too (ie a look at his service record on Ancestry and MIC). Joined RFC and later had a compulsory transfer for the Tank Corps. He did a stint in Cork with Ox and Bucks (presumably driving an armoured car in support of this regiment - his demob disability statement mentions Cork and still has him as 17th Tank Battn on 16/3/1920) Another compulsory transfer from RFC to Tank Corps (and into 17th Battn) was 309300 Ivor Vernon Fournier. A search on Ancestry/CWGC for the unit brings up 301933 Cpl Frederick J Reeve (stationed in Limerick at some point in 1920) 309352 CSM A Bough DCM 2nd Lt John Ewart Clark Lt David Wighton Herd Lt Norman Clark Wood (Canadian) KIA 2/9/1918 309106 L/Cpl Arthur May 2nd Lt Frank Percival May 304376 Pte A Morris Capt Walter Ross Norman (South African?) 309088 Pte Frederick Arthur Balch KIA 2/9/1918 ex RFC 304916 Pte Frank Robinson KIA 11/6/1918 309335 Pte Herbert Taylor KIA 29/9/1918 ex RFC 309255 Cpl William McNicoll KIA 21/8/1918 ex RFC 5th Armoured Car Co Lt Frederick Aldridge Pte George Thomas Dixon This passage is a nice summary of the work of the 17th : http://www.archive.org/stream/cu31924027835168/cu31924027835168_djvu.txt It was formed, equipped, and landed in France in the short space of six days. In six months it fought in ten separate battles with English, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, South African, French, and American troops, and was three times mentioned in German dispatches. Every car was hit and some of them many times, and yet the total losses in killed in action throughout this period was only one officer and four other ranks. At the cost of these five men and seven cars totally destroyed, this battalion must have in- flicted scores if not hundreds of casualties on the enemy. That the British Army was not equipped with many more of these units will be a problem which will doubtless perplex the minds of future military historians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick Eggs Posted 17 January , 2013 Share Posted 17 January , 2013 Re last post to Tanks 3.Regarding the the men of the 17th Armoured car Bt.your details of the Tank corps records sounds very good, in particular regarding involvement with every country in the Great War this is also covered in the docuements at the IWM.regarding the War Experiences nd Tactical Notes of the 17th(Armoured CAR) Battalion in France from April to November 1918.I have my Fathers Autograph book from that period apart from lots of words and verse it has a few drawings and I post the following drawing that covers all the nations involved.His details Sjt. Percy Eggs Tank Corps 92812.Crimson Rambler? Sorry problems in sending drawing, will follow asap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick Eggs Posted 22 January , 2013 Share Posted 22 January , 2013 Hi Crimson Rambler Lovely photo. If I sent you a pm would you be kind enough to let me have a high resolution copy? Thanks Tanks3 Hi Crimson Rambler Lovely photo. If I sent you a pm would you be kind enough to let me have a high resolution copy? Thanks Tanks3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick Eggs Posted 22 January , 2013 Share Posted 22 January , 2013 Hello Tanks 3 at the end of last year I posted a photo of my Father in a line of Armoured cars in Ireland after the 17th AC battalion were posted to Ireland from Calogne. Sorry but I removed the photo by mistake. I do have a few other photo's I will post later. My Farther is the first man in the line and you may see the Austin AC is named the Crimson Rambler. Patrick / Crimson Rambler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjimm Posted 3 February , 2013 Share Posted 3 February , 2013 Hi Patrick / Crimson Rambler, delighted to see Dads drawing and photo. I have a copy of The History of The 17th (Armoured Car) Tank Battalion book issued to the men in 1919 and i would love to be able to add any photos and drawings to go with it. If i sent you an email address would there be any chance of some high res copies so that (with your permission) i could print and add them to my interest. Kindest regards, Jim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick Eggs Posted 11 February , 2013 Share Posted 11 February , 2013 Hello to all concerned More details of the 17th AC BT, A report in The London Gazette of the 9th april 1919, from Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig. this was his final Despatch in which is described the advance of theBritish Forces into Germany and the occupation of the bridgehead East of theRhine at Calogne. In par 7 of this report on the 6th Decemer .A detatchment of armoured cars of the 17th(AC)Battalion , Tank Corps,escorted the GOC 1st Cavalry Division into Calogne, and thereafter picketed the bridges, being the first British troops to cross the Rhine .I am sure alot of you know this ,but if gives me another chance to show you a reminder of this time for my Dad and his comrades .From his A/book Crimson Rambler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick Eggs Posted 15 February , 2013 Share Posted 15 February , 2013 Hello to all concerned. As most of you know ,after the arrival in Calogne within 5 to 6 weeks they were sent away to Ireland to help with Irish problems and the armoured cars of the 17th AC could be put to good work again. I have attached a photo of 3 serjeants and a well used armoured car , far right of the three is my Dad. this photo is signed and dated Calogne 19th January 1919 from Percy (my Dad) for my mother. Crimson Rambler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick Eggs Posted 26 March , 2013 Share Posted 26 March , 2013 ? Regarding support for the 17th Armoured Car Battalion. In the report from the Imperial war Museum, regarding the support and working together with the RAF/RFC, it states ,in an attack on the Drocout -Queant switch on the Arras-Cambrai road, the fighting squadrons of the RAF co-operated most affectively. Due to the fighting planes attacked the battery which knocked out the Armoured Cars that the crews of the armoured cars were able to get back to our lines. In the future ,the probable time of launching the attack and the route taken were arranged with the RAF ,and the aircraft squadrons were ready near the rendezvous, when the armoured cars moved off,aircraft planed down and machine gunned the roads in front of the cars and they would co-operate in this way in the future. My reason for this out line of events is to ask ,does any one know the type of aircraft, the first thought is Sopwith camel , but many others were about by 1918, any thoughts please. Crimson Rambler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjustice Posted 26 March , 2013 Author Share Posted 26 March , 2013 The most likely would be Camel and/or AWB (Armstrong-Whitworth FK8) in my opinion, though it could be others. The order of battle for Third Army and the Second Battles of Arras will reveal the answer. Dr. Jonathan Boff's 'Winning and Losing on the Western Front' which examines Third Army performance in the 'HUndred Days' mentions such attacks by the 'fighter-bombers' but, sadly, not which aircraft were inflicting the damage. Rawlinson's Fourth Army of October 1918, including 17th (AC) Battalion, was supported: for the infantry by single seater scouts (fighting, balloon destruction, low attack) comprising the Dolphin, SE5 and Camel; two-seater fighters (fighting, bombing, reconnaissance) the Bristol fighter, and army/utility two-seater (bombing, reconnaissance, photography) the DH9. Specifically for Tank Corps support were the AWBs (No.8 Squadron) and Camels (No.73 Squadron) of Lieutenant-Colonel J.A. Chamier's 15th Corps Wing. Keep the photos and stories coming though, you really should write the book. Cheers, Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick Eggs Posted 26 March , 2013 Share Posted 26 March , 2013 Thank you Simon My elder brother is an artist( AGAVA )and he is considering ,doing a painting I thought aircraft and armoured cars would make good subject , he has a good knowledge of aircraft , but he is one for detail I will pass your info on to him. Patrick/Crimson Rambler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanks3 Posted 1 April , 2013 Share Posted 1 April , 2013 Patrick I was wondering if by any chance, within your Fathers papers, there is any reference to a 309328 Sgt. Frank Nichols? This man was with the 17th AC Btln TC in both France and Ireland. I have a bit of detail on him but am always looking for more. What prompted me to ask this is the photo above of the 3 sargents. I was wondering if one othem could be him Tanks3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick Eggs Posted 2 April , 2013 Share Posted 2 April , 2013 Hello tanks3 The photo of the 3 Sjt.'s that is the only one that has any notes on , it seems like in the old days they assumed , as they were familiar faces to them they did not bother to name ,I am always looking for names If I find anything of interest I will keep you posted . Crimson Rambler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick Eggs Posted 16 April , 2013 Share Posted 16 April , 2013 Re last post to Tanks 3.Regarding the the men of the 17th Armoured car Bt.your details of the Tank corps records sounds very good, in particular regarding involvement with every country in the Great War this is also covered in the docuements at the IWM.regarding the War Experiences nd Tactical Notes of the 17th(Armoured CAR) Battalion in France from April to November 1918.I have my Fathers Autograph book from that period apart from lots of words and verse it has a few drawings and I post the following drawing that covers all the nations involved.His details Sjt. Percy Eggs Tank Corps 92812.Crimson Rambler? Sorry problems in sending drawing, will follow asap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick Eggs Posted 23 April , 2013 Share Posted 23 April , 2013 Regarding the men of the 17th AC Bt. also Tanks 3 and your interest in Frank Nichols ,as I have said all of our family photo's lack names of my Dad's comrades ,but if I post a few pictures may be some one will say I know that soldier,so this one the 17th are making use of local transport with the help of a good Irish lady . Crimson Rambler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick Eggs Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 Hello all This transport is a little better than the good old donkey cart , this is another shot of the 17th AC in Ireland, Crimson Rambler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick Eggs Posted 9 May , 2013 Share Posted 9 May , 2013 Hello all More men of the 17th AC battalion with a young local recruit. Crimson Rambler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjustice Posted 9 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 9 May , 2013 Great pictures, Patrick! Thank you for sharing, as always. Cheers, Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick Eggs Posted 15 May , 2013 Share Posted 15 May , 2013 Hello all Another reminder from the autograph book of a man of the 17th AC Battalion , of his time in the Heavy Branch. with B.E.F.from July 1917 to the end of the year. Crimson Rambler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fasteddy Posted 5 June , 2013 Share Posted 5 June , 2013 Hello ... I am new to this and I may be making mistakes...I have tried to contact jjimm.....I am trying to find a soldier in the same battalion .....309120...Driver. R Taylor.....A Coy 17th ACB.....any suggestions? thanks......fasteddy...Edwyn Brown.....Isle of Islay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjimm Posted 8 June , 2013 Share Posted 8 June , 2013 Hi fasteddy, I used to have a copy of the 17th ACB book that was issued to the men of the battalion in 1920, unfortunately there were very few references to individual soldiers. The book listed most or all of the Officers and references to those who were awarded medals, injured or perished. I cannot remember any reference for R Taylor in the book but you may be able to find more information by contacting Bovington Tank Museum's archive and reference library, if they don't have any info I am sure they will point you in the right direction as to who to contact for history relating to the men of 17th ACB. I hope this helps. Tel No for the library is 01929 405096. Regards, jjimm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjimm Posted 8 June , 2013 Share Posted 8 June , 2013 Hi again fasteddy, further to my last reply please find attached the direct email address for the library. Librarian@tankmuseum.org Good luck M8! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fasteddy Posted 8 June , 2013 Share Posted 8 June , 2013 Hi jjimm.....thanks for that, I'll let you know how I get on....Eddy In the mean time, can anyone identify the tank, and more interestingly, who or what nationality the men are in the picture? They don't look British. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick Eggs Posted 28 November , 2013 Share Posted 28 November , 2013 Hello all Another photo of the 17th AC. looking after the euipment. Crimson rambler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17tankman Posted 12 March , 2014 Share Posted 12 March , 2014 Hello Patrick I have just come across this post and see your interest in the 17th ACC in Ireland in 1919 onwards. I too have an interst in this battalion for this period. I have been researching 309328 Sgt. F. Nichols MM who was with the 17th at the same time as your Father. You mention that you have some photos and I wondered if you have any that may name my chap. All I have, apart from my research, is Nichols civilian driving licence issued to him in Ireland. It appears Nichols would have needed this civilian licence in order that he may legally drive his armoured cars about the Irish roads and byways! If you can PM me I have wriiten Nichols history and could send a copy to you if interested Thanks Tanks3 Hi if tanks3 can pm me as I picked up Nichols medals today so would be interested in a copy of the driving licence if poss? 17tankman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Davies Posted 12 March , 2014 Share Posted 12 March , 2014 Hi jjimm.....thanks for that, I'll let you know how I get on....Eddy In the mean time, can anyone identify the tank, and more interestingly, who or what nationality the men are in the picture? They don't look British. fasteddy, They are British, Scottish to be more precise, Springburn Fire Brigade. The tank is a model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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