David_Bluestein Posted 10 March , 2003 Share Posted 10 March , 2003 I have DCM Citation books for most British line Regts. Will be happy to do look-ups. Please e-mail me off forum, at davidbluestein@rogers.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kimbrocklehurst Posted 19 March , 2003 Share Posted 19 March , 2003 David I would be most grateful if you could provide me with the DCM citation details of: Serjeant 68653 CHARLES WILLIAM COOKE, 15th.Battery, Royal Field Artillery He died on 1 March 1919, and is buried in Prestatyn, Flintshire. Many thanks Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Bluestein Posted 19 March , 2003 Author Share Posted 19 March , 2003 Hello Kim, Sadly my collection does not include the RA books. I have only line regiments. Here is what is recorded in "Recipients Of The DCM" By Walker, 68653 Gnr. Cooke, C. 36th Bde. RFA LG: 30.6.15 My apologies, and best wishes in finding Gnr. Cookes citation. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWills Posted 19 March , 2003 Share Posted 19 March , 2003 I think other threads have also tackled finding citations in the London Gazette, but I will try and explain how to find this one. Go to the London Gazette Archive at http://www.gazette-online.co.uk/ You have the date for the copy of the London Gazette (LG: 30.6.15) which David kindly provides: Here is what is recorded in "Recipients Of The DCM" By Walker, 68653 Gnr. Cooke, C. 36th Bde. RFA LG: 30.6.15 The search provisions are not always accurate when looking for a name but a seach on Gunner between 29.6.15 and 5.7.15 (say) will find the relevant issue. Don't forget to look at the 1st page and (where this is not the first page) the start of the section In fact this is a supplement to the London Gazette of 29 June 1915 which actually bears the date 30 June 1915 (this slight date discrepancy occurs as the supplement was not necessarily dated as per the Gazette to which it was a supplement). Herein is a long list of DCM citations. Gnr Cooke's citation is on page 13 (13 of 54) and the London Gazette Issue number for the (second) supplement is 29212. Then PRINT! 68653 Gunner Cooke, C 36th Brigade Royal Field Artillery For conspicuous gallantry as a telephonist in September, 1914 at Soupir, when under heavy shell fire and during all the operations on the Aisne. At St. Julien he was continually at work repairing and laying out lines under fire, and afterwards at Givenchy and Festubert, he gave an excellent example of good work and devotion to duty. The supplement also refers to the Gazette of 23rd June as listing the names of the recipients (without citation) and this is the supplement to the gazette of 22nd June Issue 29202 wherein the award of the DCM to 68653 Gunner C. Cooke, 36th Brigade Royal Field Artillery is recorded on page 21. Again, once you have found it, PRINT! I would caution anyone not to rely on the search facility for the gazette, it does not always find the name or word, even if it is there (try searching on medal for a short date range and see how few it finds). This may possibly be because optical character recognition has been used on scans of the original and is not always accurate. In this instance we have the nominal date of the Gazette in which the citation appears which is a huge help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kimbrocklehurst Posted 21 March , 2003 Share Posted 21 March , 2003 David Many thanks for checking "Recipients of the DCM", and providing the all-important LG date. Martin I appreciate your efforts in tracking down Serjeant Cooke's LG citation. I have printed off the relevant pages, so I have what in common parlance is known as a "result"! I agree about the inadequacy of the LG search facility. I'm trying to track down a couple of MC awardees and an MSM awardee, but without success so far. I have full names, rank, regiment and date of death, but no citation details. I don't have time to trawl through the dozens of possible LG issues that are thrown up, so I may have to look in the index to the set of hard copies held by my nearest major library (Manchester). From speaking to someone at the LG, it appears the problem is a search engine that is not robust enough for the job. I think they are looking to upgrade this in the next year or two. To be fair to the LG, setting up the internet facility has been an expensive exercise, for which they receive no financial return. The ultimate intention is to have every issue of the LG on-line. As it commenced in 1665, this is clearly a mammoth and costly task! Mind you, what a phenomenal source of information! Once again, thanks for your endeavours. Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWills Posted 21 March , 2003 Share Posted 21 March , 2003 Kim, Whilst I am sure we all have our frustrations with the LG search, a little lateral thinking (eg. combination of search by unit; rank etc etc) can help narrow it down. I also remind myself that when we had nothing at all we didn't have anything to complain about. I think it's wonderful that it is available at all, so I hope no one thinks I was in any sense trashing it. It's just the occasional frustration of being handed this excellent facility, working up your expectations to "too high" a level and then finding that it is not so simple. I might add that when I have used it on perhaps a dozen occasions I have always managed to get there in the end. We should also be grateful that it has generally been kept quiet. If it had the same sort of publicity the 2001 census had at the outset (or the CWGC) for that matter we would hardly even be able to access it! As for your other men, I wonder if you might post their details? With a bit of luck someone on the forum may be able to turn up a unit history, or roll, or other record that may narrow the field. I never cease to be amazed at the speed with which some folk answer the seemingly impossible question. On a final note I think I tended to regard finding the citation simply as a challenge, and I probably took as much delight in finding it as you have in seeing it. For it to refer to Soupir in 1914 was even more interesting. The Aisne is relatively little visited and researched but in itself absolutely fascinating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Hesketh Posted 21 March , 2003 Share Posted 21 March , 2003 David, Thanks for the offer. I'll take full and ruthless advantage of your kindness! Would you mind looking up the following, which I cannot trace on the London Gazette: Herbert Wilkinson, Corporal, 2057, 1/4th York & Lancaster, event relating to 6th September 1916. Lee, T.W - I'm afraid I have no details at all here, except a DCM award was referred to in a local newspaper in September 1918. I don't expect you to spend time trying to root this one out!! Arthur Ewin, DCM awarded in 1901 in South Africa whilst serving as Colour Sergeant, G Coy, 1st Derbyshire (I'm interested because he died at Suvla Bay). Joseph Burton, Sergeant, DCM & Bar. Bar awarded whilst in 6th Lincolnshire's for events in either late 1916 or early 1917. Original DCM awarded whilst in a different regiment - possibly 1st EastYorkshire 1915. Any responses very much appreciated, Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Bluestein Posted 23 March , 2003 Author Share Posted 23 March , 2003 Andrew, Here’s what I have come up with: Lee, T.W: Sorry not to have come up with anything here. I need a Regt. to go on. Arthur Ewin, DCM 1901: Don’t have anything on this soldier as my books are only for 1914-20. 9694 L/Cpl. J.D Burton 1st Bn. The East Yorkshire Regt. For coolness and resource near Vieux Berquin on 14th October 1914. When carrying orders he succeeded in avoiding a German cavalry patrol. On the 19th October, he was brought to the notice for gallantry in carrying messages on several occasions under fire (LG: 1.4.15) 3/5381 Cpl. (A/Sjt) J. Burton Lincolnshire Regt. For conspicuous gallantry in action. He displayed great courage and initiative when in charge of a post, and was instrumental in capturing six prisoners. He has previously done fine work (LG: 3.3.17) (You will need to do further research to determine above are the same man?) 2057 Cpl. H. Wilkinson York & Lancaster Regt. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in charge of two Lewis Gun teams. During a heavy bombardment the trench was knocked in and a gun team buried. Corporal Wilkinson moved between his guns, in full view of the enemy and under heavy fire, selecting new positions, and only withdrew when ordered to do so. (LG: 25.11.16) Hope that helps, please be in touch if I can help further Best wishes David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Hesketh Posted 23 March , 2003 Share Posted 23 March , 2003 David, That's tremendous. Thankyou very much indeed. All the best, Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kimbrocklehurst Posted 24 March , 2003 Share Posted 24 March , 2003 Martin I agree entirely with your comments. It is easy to be seduced into criticising a resource because it is not perfect and, at the same time, forgetting the current situation is a vast improvement on that which existed before the resource was available. I had not heard of Soupir before as I'm not as knowledgable about the Battle of the Aisne as I would like. However, my education has today been improved by Maurice Johnson's highly informative article on the subject that can be found on the WFA website. I will, in due course, take up your suggestion about posting details of the other awardees I have not tracked down on the LG site. I will place them in the "Soldiers" section. Best wishes Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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