Pte Michael Mordue, - 6th Bn Yorks Regt (1914-15)

[thegreypanther]

The g-grand-daughter of the above soldier has a postcard which indicates that he fought with the 2nd Battalion at Ypres in 1914, before rejoining the 6th Battalion where he was later killed at Gallipoli in August 1915.

Details are;-

The name of the soldier is Private Michael Mordue,16678. 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Husband of Margaret Mordue, of 17, Eden St., Horden Colliery, Co. Durham. Killed 22 August 1915. Aged 31.

Born Edmondsley, Enlisted Sunderland, Resided Horden Colliery.

(SDGW gives name as "Morden")

The g-grand-daughter thinks that he may have been involved in fighting in late 1914, as her g-grandmother has a postcard (dated 23 December 1914) on which is written;-

'Dear Meg, Just a line or two, to let you know that I arrived alright, we got to Grantham about 12.30 and we got to the Camp about 2 O'clock, and I can tell you we were very tired there was only 3 of us out of 34 came back, altogether there was only about 200 of us got back out of 1,000. So Meg excuse the short note this time. I remain your loving husband Mick Mordue'.

The ONLY Yorkshire Battalion in action in 1914 was the 2nd Battalion, who got severely mauled at the First Battle of Ypres. A small draft was sent out to reinforce the Battalion at the beginning of November, and another at the beginning of December. But I find it very difficult to reconcile a man being sent out for just a few weeks before returning to his Battalion who remained in training until July 1915.

Private Mordue was NOT on the nominal role of 2nd Battalion men who first went out to Begium in October 1914.

Is it at all reasonable to even think that he joined the 6th Battalion when it was formed in August / September 1914, had a few weeks experience with the 2nd Battalion at Ypres, before then returning for training with the 6th Battalion, - who left for Gallipoli in July 1915?

I would be grateful for any comments or insights.

[Ed Woods]

Perhaps he is talking about a cross country march during training?

[ss002d6252]

I would go with the theory that it was something which happened at the training camp that he's referring to.

[ss002d6252]

6th (Service) Battalion

Formed at Richmond on 25 August 1914 as part of K1 and attached to 32nd Brigade, 11th (Northern) Division. Moved to Belton Park near Grantham. In April 1915 moved to Witley Camp near Godalming in Surrey. Sailed from Liverpool on 3 July 1915, going via Mudros to Suvla bay, disembarking on 6 August 1915.

December 1915 : evacuated from Gallipoli and moved to Egypt via Imbros.

July 1916 : moved to France.

15 May 1918 : reduced to cadre strength. Cadre was attached to 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division for ten days (19 to 29 June).

30 June 1918 : landed at Folkestone and transferred to 75th Brigade, 25th Division. Moved on to Mytchett near Aldershot. In July 1918 moved on to Margate. Absorbed 19th Bn during August 1918.

9 September 1918 : Brigade redesignated the 236th Brigade, for service in North Russia. Sailed from Dundee 17 October 1918 and arrived at Murmansk 27 November 1918.

His medal card shows the 1915 star and not the 1914 star which ties in with the medal card also stating he entered his first war theatre on 14 July 1915.

[Tyneside Chinaman]

Hi

I think you will find that he is referring to the fact that only a few of them got back after their christmas leave.

The men were allowed home in company batches, for about a weeks leave.

The other battalions from the North East, in the 21st and 23rd divisions had similar problems with absentees. This meant that those waiting for their turn to go couldn't because the men from the first lot hadn't returned.

regards

John

[thegreypanther]

Thank you to all those who have helped reinforce my view that Private Mordue had not fought at Ypres in 1914. However, the matter still has a couple of question marks hanging over it.

There is a photo of a group of 6th Battalion soldiers that is said to have been taken in France, but no date given.

http://www.ww1-yorkshires.org.uk/html-files/photos-k.htm

Apart from the one Private who has been identified, the Officer looks very similar to Lieutenant Casley who was in the 6th Battalion and killed at Gallipoli.

However, there is no evidence that the photo was taken in France, and it may well have been taken at a camp in England.

Obviously taken in winter time, as there are no leaves on the trees.

[Tyneside Chinaman]

I think this was taken in January or February 1915 in England.

The man behind the officer is still wearing a Kitchener Blue side Cap, and to the left one man is wearing a General service belt buckle rather than the later snake buckle.

My Grand mothers cousin 11604 Private John Holland from Penshaw was killed with the 6th Green Howards on 22 August 1915 at Gallipoli.

regards

John

[thegreypanther]

Many thanks Tyenside Chinaman.

I'm glad to say that the Yorkshire Regiment Remembrance website carries a page for the Shiney Row War Memorial, on which John Holland is commemorated.

There is also a page for the Helles memorial.

[Guest]

Returning back off leave sounds plausible. Pte Micky Mordue was my great grandad.