2nd Bttn Honorable Artillery Company - MM Recipients at Bullecourt

[Paul D Kendall]

I am researching the Bullecourt battles which took place during April and May 1917. During the early hours of the 4th May 1917, soldiers from the 2nd Battalion Honorable Artillery Company fought their way into the ruins of the village of Bullecourt. A party of those men led by Corporal Reginald Starmer Billingham became isolated from the battalion and held onto their position in Bullecourt for three days and nights. They fought off numerous German counter attacks without food or water. They were relieved when the Gordon Highlanders entered Bullecourt on the 7th May 1917 and were amazed to encounter this small party of men who bravely held onto their position which they captured despite being surrounded by the enemy.

Brigadier General Steele commented that ‘these men had held on under most adverse conditions, without water, under heavy shelling, beaten off two attempts of the enemy to capture them. These men came out with their Lewis Gun and full equipment in good order’. (National Archives: 22nd Brigade War Diary: WO 95/1661).

Billingham and the 9 surviving men from his party were awarded the Military Medal for the courage which they showed at Bullecourt.

I am looking for photos of these men if they exist. I have made exhaustive efforts by trying to contact relatives through other means, but to no avail. If you are related to any of the listed men and have a photo, please contact me at paul.kendall193@btinternet.com

Corporal Reginald Starmer Billingham MM

Private Henry William Charles Bartlett MM

Private Alfred Earnest Williams MM

Private John Charles Humphrey MM

Private Arthur Platt MM

Private Albert John Leslie Ead MM

Private Harold George Payne MM

Private Henry Baron Trotter MM

Private Albert Victor Lindley MM

Private Arnold Watson MM

I look forward to hearing from anyone who can help.

Kind regards

Paul

[mhifle]

Hi,

I see you have an article in the Daily Telegraph today 18 Sept 2010

Regards Mark

Daily Telegraph

[Peter J]

Paul,

Have you tried contacting Armoury House, in City Road, EC1?

Regards,

[rflory]

There might well be a photo of H W C Bartlett, MM in the Journal of the Honourable Artillery Companyas he was still a member of the HAC in 1946. At the time he lived at 10 Audley Road, Ealing W5 and Finsbury Chambers, 76 Finsbury Pavement, EC2.

Regards, Dick Flory

[Paul D Kendall]

Paul,

Have you tried contacting Armoury House, in City Road, EC1?

Regards,

Hi Peter,

Many thanks for your message. I am in contact with the archivist at the HAC.

Kind regards

Paul