barnip Posted 5 November , 2008 Share Posted 5 November , 2008 Hi, Can anyone help with information regarding the following Officer please. HUSK, FREDERICK JOHN Initials: F J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Second Lieutenant Regiment/Service: Royal Garrison Artillery Unit Text: 301st Siege Bty. Age: 26 Date of Death: 21/03/1918 Awards: Mentioned in Despatches Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. F. Husk, of 83, St. Alban's Avenue, Bedford Park, Chiswick, London; husband of Florence Ivy Myall Husk, of Burgess Villa, Tollesbury, Essex. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 10. Memorial: POZIERES MEMORIAL I have attached his MIC to this posting. The CWGC listing states that Frederick J Husk was mentioned in Despatches, but we have no idea what for... can anyone please help? I have searched the London Gazette where I found an entry for 2nd Lt. Frederick John Husk, dated 4th July 1919. Issue No. 31437 Page No. 8542... but I have no idea why he is listed in the London Gazette - would this be regards reference to him being mentioned in Despatches, or was he awarded a medal for gallantry? Also, does anyone have access to the war diaries for the 301st Seige Battery - dates of particular interest are of course 2nd Lt. Frederick J Husk's date of death, and the days leading up to 21/3/1918. I am aware that being an officer, 2nd Lt. Husk will have been mentioned in the war diary, and I would welcome any information that may have been recorded regarding this young man. Any help or information, however small would be greatly appreciated. Barnip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ororkep Posted 5 November , 2008 Share Posted 5 November , 2008 Barnip, He is not mentioned in the official 301 SB diary as it ends in Feb 1918. the HAG they were with at the time which was 4 Brigade records (on the 27th March): 21-3-18, 301 SB, Lt Husk, 3 OR killed, 18 OR’s wounded. On the 21st it records “ 301SB & 261SB & 2/1 N Mid HB engaged column of infantry at V14C2.7 On a later page it makes a note that one gun (6 in how) was completely destroyed on the 21-3-18. He was comm when a Sgt serving with 184 Sge Bty, and joined 301 SB on the 12-10-1917. He had recently returned from England, having been granted leave on the 20-2-1918. The Bde itself was at rest from 1st March to the 5th. There appears to be a second NA MIC for a F J Husk 2/Lt (MM). Rgds Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rflory Posted 5 November , 2008 Share Posted 5 November , 2008 2nd Lieut. Frederick John Husk, RGA Born in October 1891, the son of Mr and Mrs J P K Husk of Chiswick, London Educated at St. Olave's from 1903 to 1907 Worked in the office of a solicitor from 1907 to 1911 Was secretary of the Rotherhithe Cricket Club and the Old Olavian Rugby Club In 1911 went into the antique business at High Wycombe Enlisted in the RGA (Regimental Number 71131) in early 1915 and rose to the rank of Serjeant Commissioned in 1917 and went to France and Flanders with the 301st Siege Battery, RGA On 21 March 1918 the Battery was at Croisilles, between Arras and Baraume He was wounded by a shell splinter while commanding his section; he continued in action but died of his wounds. He is shown as having received the MM but I can find no entry for it in the London Gazette. He was mention in despatches in the London Gazette of 4 July 1919. Source: Till all our fight be fought: The Olavian "Fallen" and the Great War 1914-1918. Regards, Dick Flory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 5 November , 2008 Share Posted 5 November , 2008 Barnip There is an officer's Service File at Kew for a HUSK F under WO339/98218. It is not accessible electronically,a visit to read it or a request for all the pages to be copied are the options,the latter being a risk just in case it isn't your man ! Sotonmate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barnip Posted 5 November , 2008 Author Share Posted 5 November , 2008 Hi, Paul, Dick & Sotomate, Many, many thanks for your quick response, and for all the great information you have provided between you. I am most grateful for your help. Up until now very little was known about 2nd Lt. Frederick Husk, nor did we know what he looked like. We will follow up our research by contacting Kew regards the file named Husk, F. I have also searched for the MIC regarding his MM, but have had no luck. I would imagine that Frederick J Husk was awarded the MM before being commissioned to 2nd Lt. I have also checked the London Gazette online, but again had no luck regards his award of the MM. Once again, many thanks for your kind help, it is very much appreciated, and if anyone can add more information, I would be most grateful. Sincerely, Barnip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOSTURM Posted 22 October , 2013 Share Posted 22 October , 2013 Barnip, my 1998 book 'Till all our fight be fought - the Olavian Fallen and the Great War 1914-18' will be republished in August 2014 and will probably be about 10 quid. I will be promoting it on the Forum if they allow me to.. Husk is included, and its me who digitally scanned all of the men from the schools honour roll books and had them put in a powerpoint on the school website. www.saintolaves.net - Chaplaincy section. Keep in touch on Husk..................are you a relative ? Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rflory Posted 23 October , 2013 Share Posted 23 October , 2013 Peter: I have the 1998 book and look forward to the August 2014 publication. Please let us all know when it is available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOSTURM Posted 23 October , 2013 Share Posted 23 October , 2013 Certainly will Dick. thanks for your interest. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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