william mosse 130th battery RFA

[chrisainsley]

I have been researching this soldier

he won the medaille militaire on the retreat from mons sometime between 21st - 30th August - name given in army order 466 1914 (i have that coming from NA) "awarded for gallantry during operations between 21st & 30th Aug 1914"

I have the war diary for 30th Brigade RFA coming from the NA..I have the war diary for the 40th brigade coming from the NA as this was the brigade the 130th went to when the 30th was broken up in 1916

I have his medal card showing a 1914 star

what i cannot find is any of his service records...perhaps they were destroyed in WW2? but having researched other soldiers just because MY searches of NA havent revealed anything that doesnt mean there isnt anything there..the search results seem quite random sometimes,..for example to test i then put in an officers name, number, rank, unit and the results said there was nothing..BUT I actually had the records infront of me having recieved them from the NA last year!!??

i wondered whether anybody with a fail safe system might have a go..

his name was william mosse 95797 - driver with 130th RFA - he survived the war

he also appears to be promoted at some point from this wedding photo from just after wars end, i really know nothing about him after may 1916 when the 130th went to the 40th brigade

i really would like to see if i can find out about his record in the war...can anyone tell anything from his uniform in the photo was he still RFA etc etc

any help really appreciated

[chrisainsley]

I have been researching this soldier

he won the medaille militaire on the retreat from mons sometime between 21st - 30th August - name given in army order 466 1914 (i have that coming from NA) "awarded for gallantry during operations between 21st & 30th Aug 1914"

I have the war diary for 30th Brigade RFA coming from the NA..I have the war diary for the 40th brigade coming from the NA as this was the brigade the 130th went to when the 30th was broken up in 1916

I have his medal card showing a 1914 star

what i cannot find is any of his service records...perhaps they were destroyed in WW2? but having researched other soldiers just because MY searches of NA havent revealed anything that doesnt mean there isnt anything there..the search results seem quite random sometimes,..for example to test i then put in an officers name, number, rank, unit and the results said there was nothing..BUT I actually had the records infront of me having recieved them from the NA last year!!??

i wondered whether anybody with a fail safe system might have a go..

his name was william mosse 95797 - driver with 130th RFA - he survived the war

he also appears to be promoted at some point from this wedding photo from just after wars end, i really know nothing about him after may 1916 when the 130th went to the 40th brigade

i really would like to see if i can find out about his record in the war...can anyone tell anything from his uniform in the photo was he still RFA etc etc

any help really appreciated

heres the full photo showing clearly his four years service stripes

ironic thing is he is my great uncle on my mums side, he won his medaille millitare somewhere nr le cateau on the 1914 retreat...my great uncle on my dads side was killed just outside le cateau on 12 October 1918 when everyone was going the other way...

[sotonmate]

EG

Why does this name ring a bell - have you posted about him before ?

Is he the guy who served through the Boer War and received five clasps to the South African Medal,and then extended his service to take in part of WW1 with 3 Division HQ RFA,only to be presented with the Medaille Militaire by the President of the French Republic on 11.10.1914 ?

Did he marry Beatrice Emma Scarfe in Ipswich on 15.2.1919 ?

Did he serve a total of 26 years 204 days in the Army,beginning as a private 1218 in the Connaught Rangers on 7.7.1892 ?

Sotonmate

[sotonmate]

EG

One like this is really something !

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Queens_S...frica_Medal.png

His five clasps were:

(Battle) Talana 1899

(Battle) Defence of Ladysmith 1899-1900

(Battle) Laing's Nek 1901

(State) Orange Free State 1900-02

(State) Transvaal 1900-02

He also got the King's Medal Clasp 1901-02

Sotonmate

[chrisainsley]

EG

One like this is really something !

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Queens_S...frica_Medal.png

His five clasps were:

(Battle) Talana 1899

(Battle) Defence of Ladysmith 1899-1900

(Battle) Laing's Nek 1901

(State) Orange Free State 1900-02

(State) Transvaal 1900-02

He also got the King's Medal Clasp 1901-02

Sotonmate

oh my god...thats him, he did marry an ipswich girl

my great auntie beatie!!

how do you know all this???

you helped me before with my great uncle lt archie ainsley a hampshire man who served in the 91st seige battery RGA and was killed at reumont october 1918

[sotonmate]

EG

Archie Ainsley was from my birth village !

I visited his grave at Maurois in 2007.

Sotonmate

[chrisainsley]

EG

Archie Ainsley was from my birth village !

I visited his grave at Maurois in 2007.

Sotonmate

FROM WAR DIARY 91ST SEIGE BATTERY

This is the complete entry from Christian's Diary on Archie's and the other deaths (You may already have this)

18 1012 - KILLED IN ACTION - Reumont - The 12th Oct. was a very bad day for us. We had fired a few rounds at active batteries and a few 8" shells came back in return. Lieut. Ainsley; Sergt. Eales, Bombardier Newton, Gunner Graham and Gunner Mc W. McCullough took refuge in a cellar under a house, together with its inhabitants, nine French civilians. A shell hit the house and the cellar collapsed, the ruins of the house falling into it. Lieut. Nightingale was the first to discover the calamity and he, with Bombardier Bradshaw and Gunner Fletcher were conspicuous amongst many in the rescue work, which was started at great personal risk before the shelling had ceased. The moans and cries of suffocating children were heartrending and desperate efforts were made to reach them, but in spite of all that could be done it was 7 hours before the last bodies were reached. All the civilians were killed except a little girl of 15, Marie Louise Lariche, who had a miraculous escape. The heroism of this child will live in the memories of all who witnessed it so long as they live. The bodies of her mother, brothers, sisters and grandparents were all removed before her eyes. She was pinned down by the debris only her head being free. She remained conscious all the time and gave most useful help to the rescue party in describing the structure of the cellar, and telling them where the other bodies lay. It was a scene full of many? painful details, which I do not care to recall. Lieut. Ainsley, Sergt. Eales, Bombardier Newton and Gunner Graham were all killed; Gunner Mc W McCullough was taken out alive and apparently only badly shaken, but he died from concussion next day. Thus only one survived out of fourteen who were buried by the shell. The work of rescue was exceedingly difficult as there was always the danger of the collapse of the small portion of the cellar which remained, and where Marie Louise was. The services of Lieut. Nightingale, Bombardier Bradshaw and Gunner Fletcher were suitably rewarded. The greatest regret was felt at the loss of Lieut. Ainslie and of the five N.C.O's and men who were all members of the battery from its formation. The deepest possible sympathy was felt for Gunner R. McCullough, on the loss of his brother. The whole incident depressed us horribly

after recieving this i wrote to the maire in reumont..I recieved a wonderful reply, the incident is well known in the village and there is one remaining relative in the village...i am welcome for une tasse du tea any time at the grand daughter of marielouise..she has photos of her grandmother marie louise lariche (the only survivor) who went on to live a full life and died in the late eighties...

i have photos of the civillain memorial in the village with all the lariche's named..giving the fateful date 12th October 1918

best wishes

chris

here he is

[sotonmate]

EG

Yes I do have the story and the pic. I remember the story of the French lady too.

Sotonmate

[chrisainsley]

FROM WAR DIARY 91ST SEIGE BATTERY

This is the complete entry from Christian's Diary on Archie's and the other deaths (You may already have this)

18 1012 - KILLED IN ACTION - Reumont - The 12th Oct. was a very bad day for us. We had fired a few rounds at active batteries and a few 8" shells came back in return. Lieut. Ainsley; Sergt. Eales, Bombardier Newton, Gunner Graham and Gunner Mc W. McCullough took refuge in a cellar under a house, together with its inhabitants, nine French civilians. A shell hit the house and the cellar collapsed, the ruins of the house falling into it. Lieut. Nightingale was the first to discover the calamity and he, with Bombardier Bradshaw and Gunner Fletcher were conspicuous amongst many in the rescue work, which was started at great personal risk before the shelling had ceased. The moans and cries of suffocating children were heartrending and desperate efforts were made to reach them, but in spite of all that could be done it was 7 hours before the last bodies were reached. All the civilians were killed except a little girl of 15, Marie Louise Lariche, who had a miraculous escape. The heroism of this child will live in the memories of all who witnessed it so long as they live. The bodies of her mother, brothers, sisters and grandparents were all removed before her eyes. She was pinned down by the debris only her head being free. She remained conscious all the time and gave most useful help to the rescue party in describing the structure of the cellar, and telling them where the other bodies lay. It was a scene full of many? painful details, which I do not care to recall. Lieut. Ainsley, Sergt. Eales, Bombardier Newton and Gunner Graham were all killed; Gunner Mc W McCullough was taken out alive and apparently only badly shaken, but he died from concussion next day. Thus only one survived out of fourteen who were buried by the shell. The work of rescue was exceedingly difficult as there was always the danger of the collapse of the small portion of the cellar which remained, and where Marie Louise was. The services of Lieut. Nightingale, Bombardier Bradshaw and Gunner Fletcher were suitably rewarded. The greatest regret was felt at the loss of Lieut. Ainslie and of the five N.C.O's and men who were all members of the battery from its formation. The deepest possible sympathy was felt for Gunner R. McCullough, on the loss of his brother. The whole incident depressed us horribly

after recieving this i wrote to the maire in reumont..I recieved a wonderful reply, the incident is well known in the village and there is one remaining relative in the village...i am welcome for une tasse du tea any time at the grand daughter of marielouise..she has photos of her grandmother marie louise lariche (the only survivor) who went on to live a full life and died in the late eighties...

i have photos of the civillain memorial in the village with all the lariche's named..giving the fateful date 12th October 1918

best wishes

chris

here he is

this was gunner graham who died with him and a view of reumont the village

[chrisainsley]

HERE IS ARCHIES GRAVE AND MAUROIS CEMETRY 2KMS FROM REUMONT

[mhifle]

Hi,

4218 Private William Mosse served in the 1st Battalion The Connaught Rangers, from 7 July 1892 until 28 Nov 1892 when he was discharged as under age.

Regards Mark

[chrisainsley]

Hi,

4218 Private William Mosse served in the 1st Battalion The Connaught Rangers, from 7 July 1892 until 28 Nov 1892 when he was discharged as under age.

Regards Mark

thanks for that Mark

could i ask where you got the information on him being discharged because he was under age...? i'd love to see it

best regards

Chris

[mhifle]

thanks for that Mark

could i ask where you got the information on him being discharged because he was under age...? i'd love to see it

best regards

Chris

Hi Chris,

Send me your e mail and I will send you the details I have

Regards Mark

[reevemjr]

QUOTE (eternally grateful @ Feb 25 2010, 10:26 PM) FROM WAR DIARY 91ST SEIGE BATTERY

This is the complete entry from Christian's Diary on Archie's and the other deaths (You may already have this)

18 1012 - KILLED IN ACTION - Reumont - The 12th Oct. was a very bad day for us. We had fired a few rounds at active batteries and a few 8" shells came back in return. Lieut. Ainsley; Sergt. Eales, Bombardier Newton, Gunner Graham and Gunner Mc W. McCullough took refuge in a cellar under a house, together with its inhabitants, nine French civilians. A shell hit the house and the cellar collapsed, the ruins of the house falling into it. Lieut. Nightingale was the first to discover the calamity and he, with Bombardier Bradshaw and Gunner Fletcher were conspicuous amongst many in the rescue work, which was started at great personal risk before the shelling had ceased. The moans and cries of suffocating children were heartrending and desperate efforts were made to reach them, but in spite of all that could be done it was 7 hours before the last bodies were reached. All the civilians were killed except a little girl of 15, Marie Louise Lariche, who had a miraculous escape. The heroism of this child will live in the memories of all who witnessed it so long as they live. The bodies of her mother, brothers, sisters and grandparents were all removed before her eyes. She was pinned down by the debris only her head being free. She remained conscious all the time and gave most useful help to the rescue party in describing the structure of the cellar, and telling them where the other bodies lay. It was a scene full of many? painful details, which I do not care to recall. Lieut. Ainsley, Sergt. Eales, Bombardier Newton and Gunner Graham were all killed; Gunner Mc W McCullough was taken out alive and apparently only badly shaken, but he died from concussion next day. Thus only one survived out of fourteen who were buried by the shell. The work of rescue was exceedingly difficult as there was always the danger of the collapse of the small portion of the cellar which remained, and where Marie Louise was. The services of Lieut. Nightingale, Bombardier Bradshaw and Gunner Fletcher were suitably rewarded. The greatest regret was felt at the loss of Lieut. Ainslie and of the five N.C.O's and men who were all members of the battery from its formation. The deepest possible sympathy was felt for Gunner R. McCullough, on the loss of his brother. The whole incident depressed us horribly

after recieving this i wrote to the maire in reumont..I recieved a wonderful reply, the incident is well known in the village and there is one remaining relative in the village...i am welcome for une tasse du tea any time at the grand daughter of marielouise..she has photos of her grandmother marie louise lariche (the only survivor) who went on to live a full life and died in the late eighties...

i have photos of the civillain memorial in the village with all the lariche's named..giving the fateful date 12th October 1918

best wishes

chris

here he is

this was gunner graham who died with him and a view of reumont the village

Chris

Is there any chance that you could post a picture of the lariche memorial in the village of Ruemont.

Mike