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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

7th Btn The Rifle Brigade


zeptrader

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Hi all again,

I have numorous threads here asking for help regarding my great grandad, many thanks for that help. Now I ask again for some help in reading the writing on some war diaries from the 7th Battalion The Rifle Brigade.

Ive started from September 1916, this is the first one -

A major commanding the battalion???

majornameunknown.jpg

The ??? (it looks like dots between the letters which may indicate an abreviation)

15sep19163.jpg

'He relied soley on his ? guns'

15sep19162.jpg

Thanks for any help

Colin

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  • 2 weeks later...

Colin,

I think the second one is "... he relied solely on his m/c guns" - i.e. machine guns.

The signature may be that of the Adjutant rather than the OC the battalion. If we're lucky Andy :ph34r: may spot this and will probably be able to tell us who was OC 7/RB and who was Adjt 7/RB in September 1916.

Could be V.A.M. de Caley, Coley, Caley? Might help to see more examples of the handwriting.

Cheers,

Mark

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Thanks for that mark, ive changed it to machine guns, well done:)

I have finished the diaries and are in PDF format, from September 1916 to May 1917, if anyone wants a copy please PM with your email addy. There are a few illegible words.

I have found the signiture and its - V.A.M.C de Calry Major Commd

LIEUT.-COLONEL V. A. M. C. de CALRY D.S.O.

6th Dragoons (Inniskilling)Aged 33, died May 10th, 1917

Eldest son of Valeric Magawly Cerati de Calry, 6th Count de Calry,

and of his wife, Ellen Falkenburg, daughter of Redman Abbott, of Phila-

delphia. R.M.C., Sandhurst.

Married, in 1912, Sheila, daughter of Donald Cameron, of Clunes, and

leaves a daughter. Lieut.-Colonel de Calry was originally gazetted to the 3rd Northumberland Fusiliers and was with them as Acting Adjutant in South Africa. He then transferred to the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons and accompanied them to India, being for several years Adjutant of the Regiment.

He went to France in November, 1914, and served with the Cavalry till

1916, when he was given command of the 7th Battalion the Rifle Brigade. He fought in the Battles of the Somme and Arras, was twice mentioned in Despatches, and received the D.S.O. and the Croix de Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. He was killed by a shell on May l0th, 1917, near Wancourt, Arras.

A brother-officer, an Old Etonian, wrote : —

“ No more beloved or gallant Officer ever commanded a Battalion of the

Rifle Brigade. He gave himself body and soul to the welfare of the men,

spent large sums of money on the Battalion, and the result was — they were a fine Battalion, devoted to the Colonel. . . . He had led the Battalion so finely on the Somme, and so well earned his D.S.O., the whole Regiment were proud of him.”

Another, an Old Harrovian, wrote : —

“ On the Somme, though he took over the command suddenly and with

no long experience of an Infantry Battalion’s ways in the trenches, he was absolutely splendid, utterly fearless, and never for a moment forgetting to give the men every comfort possible. He led and looked after them too.”

Another, an Old Wykehamist, wrote : —

“ I cannot tell you how deeply his loss will be felt by the Brigade. . . .

He was always so splendidly cheery, so fond of his men, so proud of his

Battalion ; and he had every right to be. . . . Whenever I wanted cheering

up I always went to him, and I know many people who felt the same. . . .

You may be very sure that with us nothing will dim the memory of a very gallant soldier and a wonderful friend.”

Thankjs

Colin

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  • 2 weeks later...

Just adding a few more picture of words (underlined) that I cant read, maybe you could have a bash for me

15th September 1916 #1

15th-september-1916-2.jpg

3rd october 1916

3rd-october-1916.jpg

8th October 1916 #1

8th-october-1916-1.jpg

thanks....more to come

Colin

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Just adding a few more picture of words (underlined) that I cant read, maybe you could have a bash for me

15th September 1916 #1

15th-september-1916-2.jpg

3rd october 1916

3rd-october-1916.jpg

:)

8th October 1916 #1

8th-october-1916-1.jpg thanks....more to come

Colin

15th Sept ....x wounded and this number will no doubt be greatly modified..

3rd October.....Acting Staff Captain....

8th October....enemy....

I hope.... :)

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I agree with the above! :D

Steve.

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