5th Division Signal Company RE

[mutley]

Other than the generic information on the 5th Division which is available on "The Long, Long Trail" does anybody have any specific information regarding the 5th Div Sig Coy RE. I am researching an individual who served for the duration of the war with them and was awarded a MM and an MID for gallantry. Any help appreciated.

Thanks

Mutley

[Ron Clifton]

Hello Mutley

If you can get to Kew, the company's War Diary is in file WO95/1536 and 1537, except for the period when it was in Italy (Dec 1016 to March 1918) for which the diary is in WO95/4215. War Diaries rarely mention men by name other than officers but gallantry awards are sometimes mentioned and the locatioon of the unit, with a brief description of ts activities, is given on each day.

You may be able to order copies through the Kew website.

Ron

[mutley]

Thanks Ron, I was hoping for something other than Kew as I dont know when I'll be able to get down there next. The chap I'm concerned with is a Spr when he gets his MID (gazetted 01/01/1916) and A/Cpl when he gets his MM (gazetted Nov 1916), finishes up as a A/Sgt. I think he was a pre war regular as he deploys to France in Aug 1914.

thanks again

Mutley

[Pat Atkins]

Mutley, I've just come across this thread - did you find out anything about 5th Div Signals Coy in early 1914 (or before) in the course of your enquiries? My grandfather was a pre-war regular in this unit, POW at Le Cateau, and I'm always on the scrounge for any information about his service I can find, however generic or trivial it might be.

Cheers,

Pat

[vintagesunbeam]

Pat, if you are looking for any scraps of information about 5th Division Signal Company, you might want to look at this thread: WHL WATSON DSO DCM - BACKGROUND INFO

You can read Watson's book Adventures of a Despatch Rider published in 1915 - it's online at http://www.archive.o...rider00watsuoft

The book tells the story of a group of amateur soldiers who were recruited in haste in August 1914. They had no training to speak of but to their embarrassment were immediately awarded Corporals' stripes. They went through the Retreat and First Ypres together. It's a very good read, and although it's entirely written from the motorcyclists' perspective, Watson was very sympathetic to the Regulars he served with.

It would be interested to know something about how and where your grandfather was taken prisoner - do you know whether he was with HQ section or one of the Brigades?

Cheers

Nick

[Pat Atkins]

Thanks very much, Nick, I'll read through these with interest - I'm particularly keen to get a feel for him as a Regular soldier at that extraordinary time. I wish I did know more about his experiences of the Retreat and the battle of Le Cateau, and his subsequent time as a POW; however in common it seems with most old soldiers, he never made reference to his war service (except apparently to mention that he was constantly hungry in captivity, stealing potatoes and eating them raw - presumably on a work party).

Unfortunately, his records were destroyed in the Blitz although we have a typed letter from the MoD giving his service record in outline (PoW's South Lancs 1906-1913; 5 Div Signals Coy 1914-1919; Royal Signals thereafter) but alas no details. If he talked about it to his elder sons (all of whom fought in the Second World War, and one of whom was in fact a pre-war Regular in the Royal Signals) it's years too late to ask them, too, I'm afraid to say - time really does march on. So your help is very welcome, thanks again.

Pat