East Lancashire Division RFA (T)

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The WD of 211 Bde 22/12/1917 records the award of the DCM to 1411 BSM Lee E. He is also named in the WD of 42 Div A&QMG January 1918 under DCM Immediate. He is named in the LG 30399 for the award and LG 30512 for the citation. He led a party and extinguished a fire in an ammunition dump.

Eli Lee served with the Bolton Artillery in Egypt and Gallipoli, he is mentioned in the Bolton papers on 01/10/1915 as having taken over the role of BSM 20 Bty from BSM Ramsey, who had been Commissioned, and on 02/11/1916 which named the Officers and Senior NCOs of each Battery in Gallipoli. He was named again in the papers on 12/09/1916 as serving with the Unit in Egypt. He is named on a list of Permanent Staff of 3 East Lancs Brigade (in WO 363 Gordon Credland RFA Ancestry Cre 6261/30168) and he has papers in WO 364 (Ancestry Lee 3068/25435 and 23224/25435).

No photographs in the Bolton papers unfortunately.

Edited 9 May , 2022 by brianmorris547
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[brianmorris547]

Two Senior NCOs on the Permanent Staff of the Bolton Artillery:

21241 BSM James Percy Wright, 18 Battery (Gallipoli). The Bolton Journal 26/11/1915 pictured him (wrongly showing his initials as P W) and reported that he had been Commissioned into the Regular Army RFA. He described the Brigade (Bolton Artillery) as second to none on the peninsula.  The BJ 29/01/1916 reported that he and two Gunners (of his new Unit) had kept their gun firing during the evacuation until the axle broke. The Gunners were to receive the DCM. Lt Wright was awarded the MC. LG 29608 03/06/1916. The BJ 19/04/1918 reported that Captain J P Wright had been presented with his MC at Buckingham Palace. He had won the Award at Suvla Bay. Prior to the war he had served for many years in the RHA and had joined the Bolton Artillery as an Instructor.

3554 BSM (A/RSM) William Coombs. 19 Bty (Gallipoli). The BJ 12/06/1917 pictured him and reported that he had been awarded the DCM. He is named in the WD of 42 Div A&QMG in May 1917 and in the WD of 211 Bde 06/06/1917. The LG 30036 records that the Award was for Gallantry and Devotion to Duty. The BJ reported that he had seen service in India and China and that his father (still alive in 1917) was a veteran of the Crimean War. BSM Coombs was also Mentioned in Despatches for his services in Egypt. LG 30169 06/07/1917 - The Despatches of General Sir Archibald Murray dated 01/03/1917. William Coombs was Commissioned into the MGC in 1918.

EDIT Re James Percy Wright. I posted a group photograph on the Medical Services Forum in May 2022 asking Is this Egypt 1916. There is a man at the back who looks like 2/Lt Wright. The WD of 59 Brigade RFA, 11 Div, 21/10/1915 records that 2/Lt Wright joined the Brigade and that on 19/12/1915 B/59 took part in the last Action by the Brigade during the evacuation from Suvla. I looked at the RFA DCMs in LG 29608, the same LG as Lt Wright and found two men from B/59. 83314 Frederick Robinson and 21310 Arnold Shelley. Their DCM citations seem to fit the description above so they are good possibles.

Edited 22 May , 2022 by brianmorris547
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[brianmorris547]

The only other award for the Bolton Artillery in Gallipoli that I could find was that of 1811 Cpl Thomas Grime, 26 Victoria Grove, Bolton:

The Bolton Evening News 25/02/1916 pictured him and reported that he had been awarded the French Medaille Militaire. The report stated that a list of French Awards had been published that day and indeed the Times 25/02/1916 (p 4) publishes this list. Cpl T Grime (Service number shown as 2) Ammunition Column, 18 Lancashire Battery is named under Medaille Militaire. The LG 29486 22/02/1916 is dedicated to this list. 

The report in the papers describe him as a first class Signaller who had enlisted into the Bolton Artillery in 1910. He had also been complimented by his OC for an previous act of bravery.

Later reports in the papers record that he went out under shell fire to repair lines. 

On 15/09/1916 the Bolton Journal pictured him being presented with his Medal by the Mayor. He had come home Time Expired and immediately re enlisted into the Bolton Artillery Reserve Brigades. He was given the rank of Sergeant. (711501)

Edited 24 June , 2021 by brianmorris547
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Some original Bolton Artillery men who were decorated in 1917 serving with Units other than 211 Bde.

710190 Sgt William Williams, 82 a Cox Green Rd, Dunscar. The Bolton Chronicle 01/06/1917 reported that he had been up a tree repairing wires when he felt a thud in his chest. He climbed down and found that his wallet had stopped a piece of shell casing. He had served in the Bolton Artillery pre war and had been recalled to the Colours. He had gone to the Front in March 1917. (A/332 Brigade, the Bolton Artillery Reserve Brigade) became C/298 on 12/04/1917.

The Bolton Journal 13/07/1917 pictured him and reported that he had been awarded the MM. It did not show the circumstances however. His MM Card shows C/298 Bde. (LG 30243 21/08/1917). No further info in the WD of 298 Brigade.

 

 

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690430 Bdr Joseph Warburton. MM Card Y/58 TMB. LG 14/12/1917 (LG 30431)

The Bolton Evening News "Rally to the Flag" 30/04/1915 showed Joseph Warburton, 15 Bedford St, Egerton in a list of recruits to the Bolton Artillery at the Town Hall the previous day.

The Bolton Chronicle 02/10/1915 in a report from Forest Row, where the Reserve Brigades were in training, reported that Joseph Warburton of 15 Bedford St Egerton had had his legs crushed when he fell from a horse.

The BC 14/09/1917 in "Brave Egertonian" pictured him and reported that he had been recommended for the MM by his Officer for repairing barbed wire under heavy shellfire.

The WD of 58 Div TMBs (WO 95/2995/5) 19/10/1917 records that Bomb Warburton J, Y/58 T M Battery awarded the Military Medal. I could not find any Routine Orders in the WD of 58 A&QMG.

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24980 L/Cpl (later Sgt) Ernest Ashton, 1/4 Loyal North Lancs.

The Bolton Journal 14/09/1917 pictured Ernest of 17 Gleave St and reported that on 21/08/1917 he had received a certificate from the Major General of a West Lancashire Division intimating that his gallant conduct on 31/07/1917 had been reported. As a sequel he had been awarded the DCM. In 1914 he had gone to Egypt with the Bolton Artillery and had returned home in May 1916 Time Expired. He had re enlisted into the LNL and had gone to the Front in January 1917.

The BJ 15/02/1918 reported that he had been presented with the DCM. It had been awarded for rescuing a wounded Lewis Gunner on 31/07/1917. 

He has a hospital admission in April 1918 gsw r leg - severe (1/4 LNL).

LG 30346 and 30495 (Citation).

WD 1/4 LNL 25/08/1917 names nine MMs for 31/07/1917 and 27/08/1917 names Sgt Ashton. WD 55 Div A&QMG Routine Order 23/08/1917 names the nine MMs and RO 26/08/1917 Sgt Ashton.

His service with the Bolton Artillery can be seen in WO 364 (Ancestry Filmstrip Ash 13720). Interesting reading.

Edited 22 July , 2021 by brianmorris547
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[brianmorris547]

711738 Cpl Harry Naylor. MM C/242 Brigade LG 30364 02/11/1917.

Harry was a member of the Bolton Artillery at the outbreak of the war. In September 1914 he went to Egypt with the Brigade and later served in Gallipoli. He came home Time Expired and re enlisted in April 1916. 

He was pictured in the Bolton Journal 19/03/1915 with a group of others who had been in Action against the Turks in February 1915 at Serapeum. Cpl Naylor is the first name named so I presume that he is the man on the far left. A better version of the picture appeared in the Bolton Chronicle 12/05/1916 and reported that the men were members of 18 Bty.

The Bolton Journal 28/09/1917 pictured him and reported that he had been awarded the MM on 22/08/1917. An ammunition dump had been shelled and he subdued a fire at great personal risk. He later kept his gun going and by his prompt action saved 500 rounds of ammunition.

He is named in the WD of 242 Army Field Artillery Brigade (WO 95/205/2) September 1917 Awards. 

The BJ 07/02/1918 reported that his medal had been presented by the Mayor. He died in Bolton in 1921.

WO 364 (Ancestry Filmstrip Nay 1481)

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690398 Gnr Ernest Hopkins MM 290 Brigade RFA LG 30389 19/11/1917.

725872 Gnr William Mills MM D/158 Brigade RFA LG 30389 19/11/1917.

The Bolton Evening News "Rally to the Flag" 08/04/1915 shows Ernest Hopkins, 29 Uttley St enlisted into the Bolton Artillery and 05/10/1915 W Mills. 3 Mills St, Black Lane enlisted into the Bolton Artillery.

The Bolton Chronicle 26/10/1917 in Rewards for Bravery reported that Gnr Ernest Hopkins of 290 Brigade RFA 55 Div had been awarded the MM but was too modest to say what for. The BC 23/11/1917 in a list of MMs named 690398 Gnr E Hopkins (Bolton) and 725872 Gnr W MIlls (Radcliffe). No photograph or report for William Mills appears in the Bolton papers and since Black Lane is/was an area of Radcliffe I have assumed that it is the same man.

Ernest was presented with his medal by the Mayor in Bolton. The Bolton Journal 28/03/1918 reported that he had been awarded the MM on 13/09/1917 at the taking of St Julien for extinguishing a fire in an ammunition dump that had been caused by a German shell.

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Sgt James Bramwell RE 443914. DCM LG 30716 31/05/1918 mention and LG 30961 18/10/1918 Citation. 66 Div Sigs Co.

Sgt Bernard Fox RFA 710191. MM LG 30431 14/12/1917. 33 Div AC

There are no reports in the 1917 Bolton papers for either man.

The Bolton Journal 07/06/1918 named DCMs including 443914 Sgt J Bramwell. He has a Service Record in WO 363 (Ancestry Filmstrip Bra 98541). He enlisted on 06/01/1915 into the Bolton Artillery. On 18/05/1917 he was transferred to the RE, 66 Div Sigs Co. On 04/04/1919 the BJ pictured him and reported that he had been presented with his medal by the Mayor. It was awarded for reparing telephone communications at Nieuport in July 1917 under enemy shellfire.

The BJ 19/09/1919 pictured Bernard Fox and reported that he had been presented with the MM by the Mayor. It was awarded for taking ammunition to the guns at Ypres in September 1917. He is named in the WD of 33 Div AC on 17/10/1917. Cpl B Fox, No 2 Section, awarded for gallantry on 19/09/1917.

 

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710194 Sgt Walter Halliwell MM 211 Bde LG 30424 12/12/1917.

710336 Gnr Stanley Hardcastle MM 211 Bde LG 30424 12/12/1917.

Both are named in the WDs of 211 Bde and 42 Div A&QMG February 1918

There is no report on Walter Halliwell, in the Bolton papers until he is pictured in the Bolton Journal on 15/02/1919, having been presented with his MM by the Mayor. The MM was awarded on 24/09/1917 when the Brigade came under a heavy gas shell bombardment. Wounded and gassed he had brought his gun into action. He had enlisted into the Bolton Artillery in 1913 and had served in Egypt and Gallipoli. He lived at 216 Derby St, Bolton,

Stanley Hardcastle was pictured in the Bolton Journal on 22/02/1918. His MM was awarded for voluntarily obtaining water for a wounded comrade and putting out a fire in an Ammunition Dump.

The BJ 09/08/1918 in "Doubly Honoured" reported that he had been presented with the MM and the Belgian CDG by the Mayor. The CDG was for good work in Belgium. Stanley had also served in Egypt and Gallipoli with the Bolton Artillery. He lived at 287 Tonge Moor Rd, Bolton. The Belgian CDG in LG 30631 12/04/1918 - More Belgian CDGs in my next post.

Edited 24 August , 2021 by brianmorris547
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[brianmorris547]

The other Belgian CDG awards named in the February 1918 WD of 211 Brigade and 42 Div A&QMG are Lt H W Kearns, 31906 BSM J H Nicholls and 710302 Dvr S Cunliffe.

All are named in the LG 30631 12/04/1918 which is dedicated to Decorations conferred by the King of the Belgians.

Henry Ward Lionel Kearns had served with the Bolton Artillery in Egypt and Gallipoli. He was from Sale. Joseph Henry Nicholls joined the Brigade in 1917. He was from Plaistow, East London. He has two records in WO 363. (Ancestry Filmstrip Nic 61659 & 64566).

Stanley Cunliffe was mentioned in the Bolton Journal on 07/09/1918. He had been presented with the CDG by the Mayor. He was awarded the CDG for good work in Nieuport. He and five others were taking ammunition up to the gun line when a shell burst among them killing three and wounding the two others. Stanley helped take the wounded to the dressing station then went on to the gun line with the ammunition. He went out to Egypt in July 1915 as a reinforcement to the Bolton Artillery.

He is shown on MRICs and SMARs as Cuncliffe but there are no Cuncliffes on the 1911 census or in the birth indexes. There are two Stanley Cunliffes on the 1911 census. The DOB shown on LOFWW on FMP of 20/03/1896 is wrong, the only Stanley Cunliffe birth registered in Bolton was in the June quarter 1894.

No photographs in the papers unfortunately.

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710610 Bdr Joseph Daly (Sometimes Daley) - MM Card C/298 Bde - LG 30234 16/08/1917.

676321 Gnr Thomas Mitchell Halliwell - MM Card A/275 Bde - LG 30340 18/10/1917. WO 364 (Ancestry Filmstrip Hal 48610).

The Bolton Journal 17/04/1919 pictured Joseph of 24 Lee St, Bolton and reported that he had been presented with his MM at the Town Hall. It was awarded for rescuing wounded under very heavy shell fire, prior to 11/11/1918. He enlisted into the Bolton Artillery in January 1915.

The BJ 27/08/1915 records that Thomas of 60 Dijon St, Bolton enlisted into the Bolton Artillery at the Town Hall. His papers record that he was transferred to the West Lancs Div RFA in 1916. The BJ 21/09/1917 pictured him and reported that during the advance on 31 July he had stood by his horses and guns under heavy gunfire and was recommended for his gallant conduct by the Major General West Lancs Div. He is named in the WD of 55 Div A&QMG in a Routine Order dated 23/08/1917 and in the WD of 19 Corps A&QMG in a Routine Order dated 20/08/1917. The WD for July to October 1917 275 Bde is missing. 

Edited 4 August , 2021 by brianmorris547
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[brianmorris547]

Two more RE Signallers who were transferred from the Bolton Artillery. Named in the WDs of 42 Div Sigs Co RE and 42 Div A&QMG April 1918.

443933 Pnr Arthur S Gray (ex 1162/710371 RFA) - DCM - LG 30879 (Bolton). WO 363 as Grey (Ancestry Filmstrip Gre 133369 - signature in papers is Gray).

443929 Pnr Thomas Kirkman (ex 2386/711284 RFA - MM - LG 30743 (Radcliffe). WO 363 (Ancestry Filmstrip Kir 45548).

Arthur Gray enlisted into the Bolton Artillery on 04/03/1914. The Bolton Journal 07/02/1919 pictured him reported that he had been awarded the DCM at the end of March beginning of April 1918 at Bucquor for establishing visual stations and maintaining communications between the Artillery and Infantry. He had served in Egypt and Gallipoli with the Bolton Artillery and had been wounded at Gallipoli. He was transferred to the RE in May 1917. He lived at 15 Norton St, Bolton.

Thomas Kirkman of 74 Cross Lane, Radcliffe is named in the BJ 29/09/1915 Rally to the Flag. He had enlisted into the Bolton Artillery. He had served in Egypt with the Bolton Artillery. No picture or report of his award is in the Bolton papers.

 

 

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The last two from 211 Bde in the April 1918 WD of 42 Div A&QMG under Honours and Rewards.

710338 Gnr W R Howarth - MM - LG 30743 12/06/1918 (Bolton).

710013 Cpl C F Whitworth - MM - LG 30797 12/07/1917 (Bolton).

Wright Howarth went to Egypt in September 1914 with the Bolton Artillery and also served in Gallipoli. He was awarded the Serbian Silver Medal for his services in The Dardanelles. He is named in the LG 29945 15/02/1917 (under service number 1123). This Edition is for Russian and Serbian decorations. He was pictured in the Bolton Journal 26/04/1918 with a mention of the Silver Medal. The BJ 31/08/1918 reported that the Mayor had presented him with the MM and the Silver Star. The report stated that the MM was awarded on 11/06/1918 (This must be the date of the LG).

Charles F Whitworth had also served in Egypt with the Bolton Artillery. He was pictured in the BJ 28/03/1919 having been presented with his MM at the Town Hall. He had won the award for Bravery in the Field in March 1918.

 

Edited 10 May , 2022 by brianmorris547
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[brianmorris547]

Three more MMs, all of whom served with the Bolton Artillery in Egypt and Gallipoli. Named in the May 1918 WD 42 Div A&QMG.

1314 / 710503 Gnr William Pickering. LG 30873 (Bolton). B/211 Brigade

927 / 710188 / 443926 RE Pnr Frank Gregory LG 30873 (Bolton). 42 Sigs Co att 211 Bde. WO 363 - Ancestry Gre 101710.

931 / 705140 Gnr Sydney B Roberts LG 30940 (Stretford). X/42 TMB.

William Pickering was pictured in the Bolton Journal 14/03/1919 having been presented with his MM. He had been awarded the MM for exceptional gallantry at Bucquoy on 05/04/1918. He was on duty in a Forward Observation Post when an enemy barrage cut the O P wire. He ran to an exposed position to send a SOS signal. Owing to smoke, mist and gas the signal was not observed. He therefore ran through a gas filled valley in a heavy bombardment and got the message through to the Batteries. 

According to his papers Frank Gregory was presented with his MM by the Mayor Lord Leverhulme on 24/05/1919. He was pictured in the BJ 30/05/1919 with two others from the Loyal North Lancs. He was awarded the MM for conspicuous gallantry and Devotion to Duty at Bucquoy on 03/04/1918.

Sydney Roberts was from Manchester but he had served with the Bolton Artillery in Gallipoli. The BJ 08/11/1915 records his arrival in Gallipoli 931 Gnr Roberts S B was one of a number of men received from 1/18 Bty Details in Egypt. He was admitted on to the HMHS Assaye on 10/12/1915 and arrived at Alex on 23/12/1915 (MH 106/914). Unit shown as 3 East Lancs Brigade. No photographs in the papers. 

EDIT: According to the WDs of 42 Div CRA and 211 Brigade the action at Bucquoy was on 05/04/1918. Gnr Pickering's actions are mentioned without him being named.

Edited 18 August , 2021 by brianmorris547
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[brianmorris547]

2707 / 711684 / 172737 RFA Gnr Fred Greenhalgh, 9 Unsworth St, Bolton. MM Card 1 Bty, 45 Brigade. LG 30962 (card and LG under 172737) 10/11/1918 (Bolton).

The Bolton Journal 29/10/1915 recorded that F Greenhalgh of 9 Unsworth St had enlisted into the Bolton Artillery that week (26th).

SMARs show him as 2707 / 711684 MM. 

He was pictured in the Bolton Journal 15/08/1919 having been presented with the MM. The report said For Gallantry and Devotion to Duty between the Marne and the Aisne on 27/05/1918 and confirms his address of 9 Unsworth St and that he had enlisted in October 1915..

He is named on a Routine Order from 8 Div, not in the WD of the A&QMG but in the Service Record of Frank Crossley (Attached courtesy TNA WO 363 - Ancestry Cro 90470) which bears out the report. 

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The June 1918 WD of 42 Div A&QMG names two more Bolton Artillerymen under Honours and Rewards.

710334 Sgt W Duxbury 211 Bde MM -  LG 30940 04/10/1918 (Bolton).

1119 / 710334 William Duxbury was named in the Bolton Journal 06/12/1918 for being presented with his MM by Lord Leverhulme. No picture unfortunately. The report said that the Award was for extinguishing fires in ammunition dumps in June 1918 at Fonque Villers, He had served with the Bolton Artillery in Egypt and Gallipoli and had been wounded and gassed at Ypres in September 1917.

710559 Gnr A A Vickers RFA DCM - (DCM card A/211 Bde) LG 30716 31/05/1918 mention & LG 30961 18/10/1918 citation (Bolton).

1386 / 710559 Albert Arnold Vickers was named in the BJ in a list of DCMs and was pictured in the BJ 21/06/1918. The report said that as over a period of six months he had carried messages and despatches to the Batteries. He was at present in hospital in Stoke. He was mentioned in the BJ 05/07/1918 as being presented with his DCM by the Mayor. He had also served with the Bolton Artillery in Egypt and Gallipoli. The BJ of 24/09/1915 names A A Vickers and others of 18 Bty as reporting sick in Gallipoli.

Edited 30 August , 2021 by brianmorris547
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25909 Cpl Albert Hart 2 Bn Lancashire Fusiliers MM. LG 31061 11/12/1918 (Bolton).

He is pictured in the Bolton Journal 14/03/1919 having been presented with his MM.

709 Albert Hart went to Egypt in September 1914 with the Bolton Artillery. He came home in 1916 Time Expired. He re enlisted into the LFs and went to France in August 1917. The award was for Gallant Conduct and Devotion to Duty at La Bassee in August 1918.

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One I missed from Gallipoli. I was trying to keep these in order but Sgt Jones was not mentioned in the Bolton papers until he was presented with his DCM by the Deputy Mayor in December 1918.

1392 / 710565 Sgt John G Jones DCM LG 29608 02/06/1916 mention and 29631 20/06/1916 citation. His Unit is shown as 1/19 Bty 3 East Lancs Brigade RFA (TF).

The LG records that after being wounded he kept up a steady rate of fire with his gun and displayed great coolness and courage. 

The Bolton Journal 20/12/1918 pictured him and recorded that the DCM was awarded for action on 04/01/1916 at Gallipoli.

He will probably be mentioned in WO 95/4592 which is not digitised. I am due a trip to Kew.

 

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Sgt Alfred Johnson 1134 / 710347 -  MM - 211 Brigade - LG 30962 21/10/1918 (Bolton).

He is named in the July 1918 WD of 42 Div A&QMG under Honours and Rewards.

The Bolton Journal 31/01/1919 reported that he had been presented with his MM at the Town Hall. It was awarded on 05/07/1918 for putting out a fire in a gun pit and an ammunition dump. He had served in Egypt and Gallipoli with the Bolton Artillery.

No photograph unfortunately.

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Two more men who enlisted into the Bolton Artillery in 1915.

690375 Sgt Harry H Mather DCM - LG 30716 31/05/1918 mention and 30961 18/10/1918 citation (Eagley Bank) - D/291 Brigade.

720382 Dvr James McGreavy MM - LG 30873 26/08/1918 (Bolton) - 66 Div AC.

Harry was pictured in the Bolton Journal 19/07/1918. The report showed that he enlisted into 3 East Lancs Brigade in January 1915 and trained with the Reserve Brigades at Southport and Forest Row. He volunteered for (-) Brigade and went to France in 1917. His citation records that he delivered ammunition to the guns without losing any casualties and the next day directed the fire of the Battery when all the Officers became casualties. There is nothing in the WDs of 291 Bde or CRA 58 Div and no Routine Orders in the WD of 58 Div A&QMG.

James was pictured in the BJ 02/08/1918. The report showed that he had enlisted into the Bolton Artillery in April 1915 (no trace in Rally to the Flag) and only mentioned that he had been awarded the MM for Bravery in the Field. No further details. He died on 13/11/1918 at 12 CCS France and is buried in Busigny. He is named on the Bolton Artillery Memorial.

Edited 5 September , 2021 by brianmorris547
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[brianmorris547]

I can not be certain if this man originally enlisted into the Bolton Artillery, but it is highly probable.

690402 L/Bdr Peter Hodgkinson MM - LG 30897 13/09/1918 (Bolton) - D/290 Bde.

Peter was pictured in the Bolton Jornal 02/08/1918. The report showed that he had joined the Colours in January 1915 and had gone to France two years later. He had won the Award for Bravery and Devotion to Duty during April. He is mentioned with other awards in the WD of 290 Bde 23/05/1918.

Edited 7 September , 2021 by brianmorris547
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[brianmorris547]

This photograph of 2/20 Bty (Bolton Artillery Reserve Brigades) appeared in the Bolton Journal 16/06/1916 and I think Sgt Harry H Mather (see above post 05/09/2021) is shown as Cpl H Mather. In the row behind the Officers second from the right as we look. On the front row, next to the Officers, is Sgt E Shepherd, another DCM.

711010 Sgt Ernest Shepherd DCM. LG 30716 31/05/1918 mention and LG 30961 18/10/1918 citation (Bolton). D/330 Brigade.

Ernest of 24 Hibbert St, Bolton is named in Rally to the Flag 15/05/1915 as enlisting into 3rd East Lancs Brigade. The Bolton Journal 26/04/1918 reported that he had been taken prisoner. The BJ 07/06/1918 named him among DCM Winners and he was pictured in the BJ 20/12/1918. The report showed that he had been connected with the Territorial Artillery for 17 years and had re enlisted in May 1915. The BJ 03/01/1919 reported that he had been presented with his DCM by the Mayor. The report showed that he had won the award for Devotion to Duty. As acting Sgt - Major of the Battery he had exposed himself to the fire of the enemy in order to signal to the drivers not to bring ammunition up owing to intense machine gun fire. He had gone to France in March 1917 and had seen action at Nieuport and had been wounded at Ypres on 20/11/1917. He had gone to hospital in Boulogne and on returning to his Unit in March 1918 had been in action for nine days before being captured at Jeancourt. 

 

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In the WD of 42 Div A&QMG October 1918 under Honours and Rewards

710414 Gnr A Rostron (should be 710404) MM. 42 DAC att x/42 TMB. LG 31338 13/05/1919 (Bolton).

710239 Sgt J Heaton MM. 211 Bde. LG 31338 13/05/1919 (Bolton). Bar to MM in WD 42 Div A&QMG November 1918. B/211 Bde. LG 31469 23/07/1919 (Bolton).

The Bolton Journal 31/01/1919 pictured Albert Rostron and reported that he had been awarded the MM for putting out a fire. The Bolton Evening News 02/08/1919 in "Bolton's War Heroes" reported that he had been presented with his MM by the Mayor Lord Leverhulme. It had been awarded for action on 27/09/1918. The BJ 15/08/1919 pictured him and reported that he had been mobilized in August 1914 had had gone to Egypt with the Bolton Artillery. He had later served in Gallipoli. He had won the Award at Trescault on 27/09/1918 when the charges of the fused bombs became ignited owing to the bursting of an enemy shell near the gunpit. Gnr Rostron and another man, regardless of their personal safety, rushed to the bombs and succeeded in extinguishing the fire.

John Heaton had also gone out to Egypt with the Bolton Artillery in 1914. The BEN 02/08/1919 reported that he had been presented with his MM by Lord Leverhulme (no mention of the Bar). The BJ 15/08/1919 pictured him and reported that he had been awarded the MM at Couillet Valley on 06/10/1918. The Wagon Lines of the Battery were being heavily bombed by enemy aircraft. Two limbers and three wagons full of ammunition had been set on fire. Sgt Heaton and another NCO ran to the spot with bombs still dropping and put out the fire.

 

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745843 Gnr Robert Phair MM. LG 30540 23/02/1918 (Bolton). MM Card C/70 Bde.

Robert, then of 55 Hulme St, Bolton, enlisted into the Bolton Artillery on 21/09/1915. He was pictured in the Bolton Journal 11/01/1918 with a report that he had been awarded the MM on 23/12/1917 and that he had enlisted in September 1915. He was pictured again on 01/02/1918 in a feature called Heroes from the Schools, again mentioning 23/12/1917 but with no description of the action. 

The WD of 70 Brigade RFA (15 Div) does not mention any names or any action on this date so it will be the date the award was made. No mention in the WD of the A&QMG 15 Div.

Robert died of wounds on 25/05/1918 in 57 CCS. RSE shows his Unit as C/70 Bde.