GrahamC Posted 11 February , 2009 Share Posted 11 February , 2009 Thomas Mason was killed at Audregnies on 24 August 1914 during the Cheshire's stand in the Retreat from Mons. He is buried in Elouges Communal Cemetery, Sp. Mem. A.7. His headstone carries a citation for the DCM, but I can find no reference to this award in Crookenden or in Field Marshall French's despatch of 15 January 1915. I suppose he could have won the Medal during the Boer War - can anyone help with information about this brave soldier. I am currently working on a website to commemorate all of the 1st Battalion fallen who would have qualified for the "Mons Star" so any contributions from all of you experts out that would be great. Many thanks Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 11 February , 2009 Share Posted 11 February , 2009 Graham Can't help with your specific query but, as possible general help for your project, I have a number of 1/Cheshire men on my website as follows (link to site in my signature). Feel free to blag whatever you need - when you have your website running a credit as to where you found the info would be good - but by no means essential if it doesnt suit(I'm not precious about my information). William Bartlett Luke Bradley John Burkill Joseph McGarry George Allman Walter Lally John Mott Harry Poole Joseph owen John Firth John Flanagan Robert McDonald William McVeety Ernest Richardson John Feeney William Jones William McCann Same Whiteley John Thompson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerrymurland Posted 25 July , 2009 Share Posted 25 July , 2009 Have you by any chance got a list of all those 1st Cheshire men from Stockport who were killed at Audregnies? jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATNOMIS Posted 26 July , 2009 Share Posted 26 July , 2009 Few more names from the same date Cheshires. Hope this helps. Can get MICs if you require. Atnomis. Pvt J Glynn Birth: unknown Death: Aug. 24, 1914 10278 Cheshire Regiment Age Unknown A. 3. Pvt E L Lucas Birth: unknown Death: Aug. 24, 1914 8649 Cheshire Regiment Age Unknown B. 18 Pvt T Mountford Birth: see below Death: Aug. 24, 1914 7317 Cheshire Regiment Age Unknown A. 9. Birth: Nov. 24, 1881 Cheshire, England Death: Aug. 24, 1914 Mons, Belgium Enlisted into Cheshire Regiment 1st Battalion 10/12/1903 - short service at Chester, transferred to Section B Army Reserve 28/1/1907, Killed in Action 24/8/1914. Served with the Colours, 10/12/1903 - 24/8/1914 Overseas Service, India - 20/9/1904 - 25/1/1907. British Expeditionary Force, France 14/8/1914 - 24/8/1914. Medals issued 1914. Star British War Medal. Victory Medal Buried in a communal cemetery in Belgium AUDREGNIES, Row A Grave 9 On enlistment he declared Age 25 years 2 months Trade Fustian Cutter Height 5ft 7inchs. Complexion Fresh. Eyes Grey. Hair Brown. Address 74 John St, Biddulph, Staffs Family links: Children: Thomas Mountford (1911 - 1912) Gladys Mountford Jackson (1913 - 2004) Pvt R Williams Birth: unknown Death: Aug. 24, 1914 7510 Cheshire Regiment Age Unknown A. 4. Pvt J York Birth: unknown Death: Aug. 24, 1914 7249 Cheshire Regiment Age Unknown A. 13. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATNOMIS Posted 26 July , 2009 Share Posted 26 July , 2009 Mic for T Mason Name: Thomas Mason Birth Place: Ashton-Under-Lyne, Lancs Residence: Chester Death Date: 24 Aug 1914 Rank: Private Regiment: Cheshire Regiment Battalion: 1st Battalion. Number: 5696 Type of Casualty: Killed in action Theater of War: Aldershot Comments: D.C.M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATNOMIS Posted 26 July , 2009 Share Posted 26 July , 2009 24th August At 3 a.m. 'C' & 'D' Coys rejoined 'A' & 'B' Coys At 8 a.m. The Manchester Regt. relieved us. At 10 a.m. The Battalion marched to Dour Station arriving there at 11.45 a.m. 11.45 a.m. The G.O.C. 5th Division gave Col Ballard, Norfolk Regt, orders to take the Cheshire Regt, Norfolk Regt and 119th Battery and take up a position N. West along the Elouges - Audregnies road and act as a flank guard to the Manchesters and the troops entrenched round Wasmes in their retirement. 1.00 p.m. In position Norfolk right on the Railway Embankment. Cheshire right on the 4th Kilo stone. 'D' Coy Cheshire left, 'D' Coy holding the village of Audregnies - Order of Coys 'B', 'A', 'C' 'D'. Masses of the enemy were seen moving out of Quievrain and their artillery and machine guns opened a very hot fire on the Infantry and Cavalry and R.H.A. who were operating against the German Cavalry in the valley 1¼ miles to the S.E. of Quievrain. 2.30 p.m. I am informed Col Ballard gave orders for all troops to retire in an Easterly direction - these orders never reached the 2 front platoons of 'D' Coy under command of Capt W S Rich, who held on to the position he had reached in front of the line till 4 p.m. by which hour all troops had retired. Lieut W G R Elliot behaved with great gallantry in returning during the retirement and carrying away a wounded man under intensely hot fire, he being shot through ankles when within 3 yards of the sunken road to which he eventually took this man - Lt Elliot was left on the field (witness Corporal Oford, 1/Cheshire Regt) 4.45 p.m. About 100 men were collect in Athis 1.00 p.m. At roll call in Bivouac at Les Bavay there were 6 Officers, a Warrant Officer and 199 men - The strength marching out at 7.30 a.m. on the morning of 24th inst was 27 Officers, 1 Warrant Officer and 933 men - A loss of 78% most of which was caused in the withdrawal. Attached is Field Return A B 213 giving names of Officers Reported Killed, Wounded or Missing in the actions of Aug 24th & 26th. 25th August 2.0 a.m. Left Les Bavay and marched to Le Cateau thence to bivouac at La Sotiere at 3 p.m. (24 miles). ‘A’ Coy in the trenches till 3.30 a.m. 26th inst. 26th August 3. 0 a.m. Stood to arms at 3.0 a.m. – reserve Battalion to the15th Brigade in position ½ mile East of Troisville 6.0 a.m. Action commenced – Battalion used in reserve and covered the retirement of the remainder of the Brigade and the K.O.S.B.s – Heavily shelled in the withdrawal in the direction of Marets – shooting of the German Artillery magnificent though few casualties. 5.0 p.m. Retirement ordered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATNOMIS Posted 26 July , 2009 Share Posted 26 July , 2009 Might give some more names cheers Atnomis http://grandadswar.mrallsophistory.com/aug_died.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted 26 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 26 July , 2009 Might give some more names cheers Atnomis http://grandadswar.mrallsophistory.com/aug_died.html Thanks Atnomis This is a page from my (as yet UNFINISHED) website which looks at the deaths and burials and the lives of the all the original 1st Bn Cheshires. Hopefully site will be updated soon Graham HOWEVER .... ..... still don't know why he got his DCM!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATNOMIS Posted 26 July , 2009 Share Posted 26 July , 2009 been looking all day. Im off all week so I pop into Chester and ask at the museum. Im puzzeled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATNOMIS Posted 27 July , 2009 Share Posted 27 July , 2009 Graham Phoned Chester Castle today. No one could help, so sending out a information request for the researcher to have a look. Might take some time. Hope this helps. Cheers Atnomis/Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted 27 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 27 July , 2009 Hi Simon That's very good of you to take so much trouble, I really do appreciate it. I am (as you may guess) trying to build a website to commemorate all my grandad's mate's from the BEF 1st Bn. who fell in the War. Any extra snippets all add to the overall picture of the man - more than just a name. Cheers Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted 27 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 27 July , 2009 Have you by any chance got a list of all those 1st Cheshire men from Stockport who were killed at Audregnies? jerry Hi Jerry Sorry mate, missed your post - you can find all the names on my website (unfinished) - here Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nthornton1979 Posted 27 July , 2009 Share Posted 27 July , 2009 Here is 7451 Pte Josph Jones' name on the Cenotpah here in Runcorn.... You have him on your site More Runcorn Cenotaph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted 27 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 27 July , 2009 been looking all day. Im off all week so I pop into Chester and ask at the museum. Im puzzeled. Have had a better look and he was mentioned in Earl Roberts' despatch (Boer War) on 10 Sept 1901 - here His DCM was confirmed in the Gazette dated 27 Sept 1901 - here But would still like to know what he did to get it. Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATNOMIS Posted 27 July , 2009 Share Posted 27 July , 2009 Lets hope the story unfolds. Great work. Boer War ...I have a book some were I will try and dig it out. Great work on the web site. It will be great names and faces of the 1st that gave for our tomorrow. Cheers Atnomis/Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pmcd404 Posted 31 July , 2009 Share Posted 31 July , 2009 I'm Peter McDonald of Palm Harbor, Florida. I believe the Robert McDonald mentioned below is my grandfather. He was killed on October 22nd 1914. His son (my father) James was born January 31st 1914. Any information you can give me, or direct me to, would be greatly appreciated. Graham Can't help with your specific query but, as possible general help for your project, I have a number of 1/Cheshire men on my website as follows (link to site in my signature). Feel free to blag whatever you need - when you have your website running a credit as to where you found the info would be good - but by no means essential if it doesnt suit(I'm not precious about my information). William Bartlett Luke Bradley John Burkill Joseph McGarry George Allman Walter Lally John Mott Harry Poole Joseph owen John Firth John Flanagan Robert McDonald William McVeety Ernest Richardson John Feeney William Jones William McCann Same Whiteley John Thompson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATNOMIS Posted 31 July , 2009 Share Posted 31 July , 2009 Peter I believe this to be your Man. Name: Robert McDonald Birth Place: St. James, Stockport, Cheshire Residence: Stockport Death Date: 22 Oct 1914 Rank: Private Regiment: Cheshire Regiment Battalion: 1st Battalion. Number: 5771 Type of Casualty: Killed in action Theater of War: Aldershot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATNOMIS Posted 31 July , 2009 Share Posted 31 July , 2009 5.10 a.m. Enemy made heavy attack, and took the trenches at the point of the bayonet. Battalion retired to RUE DU MARAIS under very heavy fire. Manchesters came up in support. 8.0 p.m. Battalion withdrawn and went in bivouac at last E of RUE DE BETHUNE. Casualties: Captains Shore, Rich, Hartford, 2/Lieuts Atkinson, Leicester, Greenhalgh missing, Captain Forster, 18 N.C.O.s & men wounded, 200 N.C.O.s & men missing including Sergeant Major. http://grandadswar.mrallsophistory.com/oct_died.html#22_oct Name: McDONALD, ROBERT Initials: R Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Cheshire Regiment Unit Text: 1st Bn. Date of Death: 22/10/1914 Service No: 5771 Additional information: Husband of Catherine McDonald (nee Fallon). Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 13. Memorial: LE TOURET MEMORIAL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 31 July , 2009 Share Posted 31 July , 2009 Any information you can give me, or direct me to, would be greatly appreciated. With pleasure Link to my website page In one of those "small world" things, four other Stockport men were killed that day serving with the Battalion and I know a descendent of one of them (William McVeety) John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATNOMIS Posted 31 July , 2009 Share Posted 31 July , 2009 Here is his MIC Cheers Atnomis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarylW Posted 31 July , 2009 Share Posted 31 July , 2009 Graham One of the soldiers on your website William Massey is in the book "Moreton and Districts Patriots by Stephen McGreal There is a photo of him on the page "William Massey Private 7049 1/Cheshire Regiment William Massey was a native of Moreton, the eldest son of Mr and Mrs John Massey, who had two other sons, Louis and Sydney. The family resided in Smithy Lane. (now Netherton rd. When William married Martha Elizabeth they also resided in Smithy Lane. They later had a couple of children Private Massey was posted as missing at Mons in October 1914. His family preferred to think of him as a German prisoner of war......the following year on the 29th May Mrs Massey was devastated by the arrival of War Pensions forms from the War office. The distress was prolonged until October 1915 when her husband was officially confirmed as killed in action. Private Massey had in fact been killed on 24th October the previous year, Private Massey has no known grave..........at Christ Church a headstone records the death of thirty year old William Massey and his brother in law Private Joe Evans. the headstone inscription states Private Massey was killed 23rd August This date is incorrect and should read the 24th August. This has been confirmed in several archives Caryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pmcd404 Posted 3 August , 2009 Share Posted 3 August , 2009 Here is his MIC Cheers Atnomis Thanks everyone for a wonderful response. There was some comment about him having previously served in the Army (due to his early enlistment date) and many years ago there was talk amongst the family elders of letters Robert McDonald sent from South Africa. The letters were supposed to contain a gem of local gossip to the effect the Victor Maglaglen', (a supposed relative, or the actual Hollywood movie star), was not in South Africa, contrary to what was reported back in Stockport. Is there any way to find out if Robert McDonald did serve previously in The Boer War? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted 4 December , 2009 Author Share Posted 4 December , 2009 Just bringing this out for a fresh airing .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem49 Posted 4 December , 2009 Share Posted 4 December , 2009 http://www.ypressalient.co.uk/Great%20War%...information.htm http://www.ypressalient.co.uk/Great%20War%...0Fought%202.htm http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...casualty=930161 Ernest Frost 1st Bn Cheshire Not sure how I missed your thread before! Steve M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted 4 December , 2009 Author Share Posted 4 December , 2009 Thanks Steve - all contributions gratefully received. I haven't got round to completing Ypres yet - but it will happen, one day!! See - here Cheers Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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