What does this mean?

[sandymae]

Please could someone tell me what the letter TWFM means on this card.

CWGC gives that Pte John Venner died in Basra. SDGW (via Ancestry) says theatre of war - Copenhagen.

Needless to say I find this confusing!

Sandra

[Guest]

Hi Sandra, Theatre of War famous ****** by Ancestry, disregard Aldershot, Copenhagen etc etc.

Cheers Mike

[herbie4798]

TFWM- Territorial Force War medal

James

[themonsstar]

From the BWM & VM roll

Pte John Venner 1/6th Battalion, remarks died 1/10/1918.

From TFWM Roll

Pte John Venner 6th Battalion.

This medal was issue after 1/5/1921.

[ralphjd]

Sandra. The entry for John on the Soldiers Died cd is "died at sea" commemorated on the Basra memorial. Ralph.

[sandymae]

Thank you one and all.

I shall never know whether he died at sea, but I am sure he died in Mesopotamia, rather than Copenhagen!

Regards

Sandra

[ralphjd]

Sandra. My interpretation of the term "died at sea" is that the man was being transported via a hospital ship whilst wounded and died en route to a safe haven subsequently being buried at sea. Ralph.

[ralphjd]

Sandra. I have checked all the deaths for the 1st October 1918 and Pte Venner is the only one to have died at sea, so looks like he was on a hospital ship when he passed away. Ralph.

[Northern Soul]

Died at sea can also mean that he was on a ship which was sunk and he was one of the victims, although as Ralph has said it is unlikely given that he is the only one that day. Out in Mesopotami they didn't have big hospital ships - they used shallow draft barges and paddlers which plied up and down the main rivers. I have a photo of one somewhere which I'll post if I can find it.

The award of the TFWM had very strict criteria - making it quite a rare medal in relation to the other WW1 medals. In simple terms, to receive it a man had to:

-: be a serving Territorial on the outbreak of war (4.8.14)

-: have volunteered for overseas service if required (signed the Imperial Service Agreement)

-: have subsequently not been posted overseas until after 1915 (cut-off for the award of the 1914-15 Star).

Some of his comrades in the 1/6th Devons (maybe a lot??) got attached to the 2nd Dorsets out in Mesopotamia and ended up becoming prisoners of war when Kut al Amara was captured. I have come across a local man whose Service Number was 1757, not far away from John Venner's.

Best wishes.

Andy.

[Northern Soul]

Hospital paddler.

[ralphjd]

Andy. A most interesting photo. Ralph.

[sandymae]

Thank you one and all, how fascinating to have yet another slant on stories of men who died in WWI.

I did wonder if John was on a ship coming home, I 'Googled' map and looked for the nearest sea to Basra.

Please would you allow me a copy of the boat photograph, and also use the information you have all given about John.

My clergyman husband is conducting the Remembrance Service where John and his comrades are commemorated, I have put together a small booklet on the names (John being the one I had most difficulty with), and am going to give it to the village church so that they know who they are remembering.

I will of course give due recognition to you all!

Regards

Sandra