Nick Thornicroft Posted 23 January , 2010 Share Posted 23 January , 2010 Does anyone know the whereabouts of the Nelson Battalion on the 24th March 1918? I have an individual taken prisoner on this date, but no precise location. Many thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 23 January , 2010 Share Posted 23 January , 2010 Nick The Nelson Battalion ceased to exist in February 1918, the survivors being transfered to other units Can you supply further details, name etc regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Thornicroft Posted 23 January , 2010 Author Share Posted 23 January , 2010 Michael Thanks for your reply. Possibly 1st RMLI, but not 100% sure. A/B A.G. Smith, R/5695, died as a POW in November 1918. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 23 January , 2010 Share Posted 23 January , 2010 He had been transferred to 7th Entrenching Bn. when Nelson was disbanded and then detached to 1/RMLI on 14 March. Captured during the German advance, he died of diarrhoea and sickness in Reserve Lazarette. CWGC is incorrect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 23 January , 2010 Share Posted 23 January , 2010 Name: SMITH Initials: A G Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Able Seaman Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: Nelson Bn. R.N. Div. Date of Death: 22/11/1918 Service No: R/5695 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: VIII. G. 26. Cemetery: COLOGNE SOUTHERN CEMETERY The following is from 'Nelson at War 1914-1918' by Capt. Roy Swales RN rtd, pub. 2004 by Pen & Sword, ISBN 1 84468 018 5 "Men formally of Nelson Battalion, killed, mortally wounded or died of disease after the February 1918 disbanding. Recorded as Nelson Battalion by CWGC. The following men had been detached from 7th Entrenching Battalion to 1/RMLI on 14 March 1918 and they were killed or captured in action while serving with that battalion. However, they were still recorded on Nelson Battalion Draft Orders as 7th Entrenching Battalion was only a holding unit for Nelsons pending their permanent posting" Smith is included in Capt. Swales' list and given as Died of Disease in captivity As you suggested in your first post he was captured on 24 March 1918 I'll have a look now to see what I can find on 1/RMLI for that day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 23 January , 2010 Share Posted 23 January , 2010 Sorry H2 - shortly you can put me down as your official echo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 23 January , 2010 Share Posted 23 January , 2010 Nick I forget which general said it first, but it is well known that "all battles are fought at the junction of four map sheets" Well, here we have only two Hope that these are of some help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 23 January , 2010 Share Posted 23 January , 2010 In case you don't already have copies of his service cards: Name Smith, Albert George Service Number(s): R/5695 Rank or Rating: Ordinary Seaman, Able Seaman Date of Birth: 3 November 1887 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Thornicroft Posted 24 January , 2010 Author Share Posted 24 January , 2010 Many thanks for all your replies. I also have someone formerly of the Howe Bn., killed in action on 5th April 1918. It is not clear which unit he joined after the disbandment. A/B R.J. (Rupert James) Gardiner, Z/811. Buried at the Englebelmer Communal Cemetery, near Albert. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 24 January , 2010 Share Posted 24 January , 2010 Gardiner was attached to 1/RMLI (since 11 Feb 1918), Howe Battalion having also been disbanded in February 1918. He was Bristol Division RNVR (BZ/811). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 24 January , 2010 Share Posted 24 January , 2010 From the Naval History Net "Friday, 5 April 1918 RND, 1st RM Battalion, attached Howe Battalion GARDINER, Rupert J, Able Seaman, RNVR, Bristol Z 811, France, killed" This is the action in Aveluy Wood and the 188th Infantry Brigade commenced the action being in support in Englebelmer The Division had taken over the line the previous day and it was noted that it was particularly weak in Aveluy wood – a few dug-out posts and no wire. The German bombardment commenced at 5 am and crept northwards till at 6 am it included the whole of the Divisional Front. At 0630 first reports were received that the enemy was advancing. At 1200 the 188th Brigade was ordered to place 1 battalion with the 190th Brigade and the 1st Battalion RM moved up (1/RM at this time was made up of only two companies) One company tried to fill the widening gap between the 7th Royal Fusilier and the 4th Bedfords near the railway bridge The HQ Company and the remaining company of 1/RM moved up at 1715 to support the 7th Royal Fusiliers and was posted in reserve along the western edge of Aveluy Wood. At 2245 the 1/RM took over the right half of the Royal Fusiliers sector and together with that battalion were ordered to re-establish the front line in the left of that battalions sector. At 2345 this counter attack was launched but failed to fully achieve its objectives even after much mixed fighting This is only half the story, but it covers the day when Gardiner was killed 1st Battalion Royal Marines commenced the action with 14 Officers and 267 Other Ranks In two days fighting their casualties were, 7 Officers and 90 Other Ranks The above is condensed from an article in Len Sellers' magazine 'RND' issue No.20, March 2002. Len based his writing on WO95/3096 regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Morcombe Posted 24 January , 2010 Share Posted 24 January , 2010 The following were all taken POW 22-24/3/18 with 1st RM Battalion (late Howe Battalion):- R/3738 AB Francis George Benson R/3512 AB Joshua Parkinson Berry R/173 AB Arthur Binsley R/6288 AB James Percy Booth TZ/6431 LS Sydney James Brayson R/5006 AB Joseph Bryan R/5441 AB Oliver Chambers R/5325 AB Reginald Henry Cheadle R/5837 AB Thomas Henry Colbeck R/1090 AB Percy Charles Cousins R/5840 AB John Craxton R/6086 AB Ernest Tom Deeming R/3650 AB Wilfred Fishwick R/6037 AB Clifford Fletcher R/3733 AB Edwin Charles Foot R/933 AB Reginald Sydney Giles R/5650 AB Harry Greenwood R/5233 AB Benjamin Haigh R/3541 AB Raymond Jarrold Hannant R/2462 AB Samuel James Harper R/5673 AB Herbert Harris R/889 AB William John Harris R/247 AB George Heath R/5430 AB Joseph Hilton TZ/4666 PO John Edward Hodgson R/2364 AB Frederick Thomas Holmes PZ/1240 AB William Herbert John Hurren R/5831 AB Herbert Jacobs R/4958 AB Edward James R/4960 AB William John Jarvis R/5639 AB Penrith Johnson R/3787 AB Walter Johnson R/2202 AB Samuel Johnstone R/3699 AB Joseph Jones R/5860 AB Sidney Arthur Kendall R/3675 AB Ernest Lees R/5440 AB Wilfred Lindley R/5630 AB Joe Lumb TZ/4997 AB William Lynam Clyde Z/587 AB James Mair Tyneside Z/5215 AB James Mallon R/6035 AB Arthur Frank Mangan R/3553 AB William Mooney TZ/4698 AB Albert Newbury R/1001 AB Antonio John Norman R/6281 AB William Horace Ormrod R/1047 AB Geoffrey Partridge TZ/7890 AB.HG Thomas Brogden Patterson R/6268 AB Fred Payne R/5660 AB Harry Perkins TZ/4622 AB William Winter Reay CZ/4692 AB James Reid R/6090 AB John Thomas Richardson R/5861 AB Thomas William Richardson R/1105 AB William Robson Ritson R/5825 AB Edward John Ross R/3776 AB William Smith R/1181 AB Harry Herbert Stebbings R/5448 AB Herbert Wright And these late Howe Battalion attached 2nd R.M. Battalion:- T/S/Lt. Robt. Garven Gray KP/164 AB Fred Harding R/5680 AB Richard Johnson R/3648 AB William Alfred Johnson R/3784 AB James Mason R/1056 AB Samuel James Mason TZ/6413 AB William Robert Meek TZ/4654 AB Fred Pearson CZ/799 AB John Pope R/6280 AB Edgar Roberts R/2167 AB Donald Rosie CZ/5277 PO William Sargent R/2166 AB John Russell Souter CZ/3045 Piper LS George Ferrier R/6078 AB John Thos. Williams Stratton R/1172 AB Samuel P. Swap CZ/2699 AB Archie Thomson CZ/2993 AB(HG) Geo. McCall Torrance R/5141 AB Thomas Wilson TZ/6539 AB Edwin Young And these late Nelson attd. 1RM:- R/4035 AB Wm. Samuel Abigail R/6360 AB Jacobus Dirk Alta TZ/3897 AB Thos. Armstrong R/1273 AB Ernest W. Ashmead R/6339 AB Herbert Aspinall R/287 AB William John Banks CZ/3360 AB Jas. Stewart TZ/1713 PO John Tait MM TZ/3088 AB Jos. Ward R/1318 AB John Henry White R/4264 AB Samuel Bramwell R/4863 AB John William Branfoot R/4056 AB William Jarvis Bridgewood CZ/7364 AB Patrick Joseph Canning R/3231 AB Alfred William Carter R/5920 AB Andrew Cassidy R/5032 AB Percy Clayton R/3281 AB Peter Edward Cocker R/3199 AB Arthur John Collett R/4839 AB George Edward Collins R/5513 AB John Cottle R/3234 AB John William Craghill CZ/1395 AB John Crothers R/4108 AB John Davies R/3272 AB Sackville Lawrence Deacon R/3406 AB George Desborough R/6123 AB Henry Edward Devey R/491 AB Ernest Duke R/3409 AB Evan John Evans R/1550 AB Ernest John Everett CZ/4174 AB Robert Fraser TZ/4291 AB Thomas Gardner R/5046 AB William Lacey London Z/4074 AB James Burt Nye R/3315 AB Meyer Oderberg R/4100 AB James Porter BZ/879 AB John Noel Quinlan LZ/1695 AB Henry William Randall BZ/4730 AB Thomas Edward Rose R/5894 AB John James Simpson R/1349 AB Ernest Cecil Slade R/5695 AB Albert George Smith R/3877 AB John Clare Snelson London Z/2118 LS Frank Derby Wild And lastly Nelson men attd. 2RM:- Zero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Thornicroft Posted 24 January , 2010 Author Share Posted 24 January , 2010 Excellent info - thank you. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 25 January , 2010 Share Posted 25 January , 2010 Interesting to look at your list there John and to see how things had changed by the spring of 1918 the early volunteers thinned out by death and disease Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Morcombe Posted 26 January , 2010 Share Posted 26 January , 2010 Aye Michael, either that or they were faster runners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 26 January , 2010 Share Posted 26 January , 2010 Well put John An old sea dog (even from the dry, RND, side of the litter) would soon pick up on which way the wind was blowing. Here's to the men of 1914 - the quick and the dead - God Bless them All! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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