Machine Gun Corps

[jojowit]

Hi

Could anyone give me a bit of advice over the following information :

I have the details of Corporal Henry Malley who was killed in action on 22nd March 1918 age 24 and has a memorial at Pozieres. It lists his details as service no: 12175, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), 50th Bn.

I know that he enlisted at Garstang, Lancashire and was part of Loyal North Lancashire Regiment at some stage before he joined the Machine Gun Corps but I don't know when he enlisted or transferred to the Corps.

I'm probably being really stupid but is the 50th Bn. the same as the 50th Division or am I barking up the wrong tree? I don't know how to take this further as I'm not sure that I'm researching the correct battalion/division etc.

Thank you

Joanne

[Andy Wade]

His medal index card shows:

Malley, Henry.

Machine Gun Corps: Rank Cpl, Service number 12175

Loyal North Lancs: Service number 21514.

Victory Medal and British War Medal, both with the MGC.

Someone with expertise in these things might be able to work out an approximate date of entry to the MGC and the Loyal North Lancs from his service number.

[kenf48]

A good place to start is the LLT website

http://www.1914-1918.net/grandad/grandad.htm

in the left hand side bar you will see a link to the machine gun corps

the 50th Bn MGC were divisional Troops for the 50th (Northumbrian) Division and according to the same source formed on 1st March 1918

http://www.1914-1918.net/50div.htm

you will see the Division was engaged in trying to stem the German Spring Offensive and suffered heavy losses. As he has no known grave the position was probably overrrun he was one of nearly 4000 casualties that day ,including Ptes Illing, Ridley and Wilkes who were probably on the same Vickers gun team. They too have no known grave and are recorded on the Pozieres Memorial.

12175 suggests Cpl Malley transferred relatively early to the MGC which was formed in October 1915, the numbering began at 3000 therefore 12175 suggests he transferred into the Corps early Spring 1916, among the first 10,000 recruits. He was probably with the same unit all the time but as the link above shows in their short and distinguished history the MGC went through a couple of reorganisations with Companies renamed as Battalions.

Ken

[kenf48]

P.S. As he has the two post 1916 medals it seems likely he first went overseas with the MGC

Ken

[jojowit]

P.S. As he has the two post 1916 medals it seems likely he first went overseas with the MGC

Ken

[jojowit]

Hi Ken

Can't thank you enough for that. I had read the pages on the Machine Gun Corps and thought that he was with the 50th Nothumberland Division but wasn't sure enough to continue without checking with experts like yourself!

Joanne

[kenf48]

The German Offensive known as 'Operation Michael' was launched the previous day the 21st March.

There is an account on the LLT

http://www.1914-1918.net/bat22.htm where it is described as the Battle of St Quentin, which was the British name.and a link to a free download of the '5th Army in 1918' of which the 50th Division was part. You may not have seen the Pozieres Memorial (dedicated to the officers and men of the Fifth and Fourth Armies who have no known grave) on the CWGC site just in case here is the link http://www.cwgc.org/...ry=87600&mode=1 There is a link to a photo of the memorial at the bottom of the entry. Pozieres is at the heart of the Somme battlefield should you be considering a trip.

There are a number of books on the 1918 battle, Martin Middlebrook's 'The Kaiser's Battle' dates from 1978 and is still well worth reading.

One innovative feature of the German tactics was the targeting of machine gun posts and other strong points by artillery fire before the infantry advanced. Although there was good intelligence the offensive was coming the British were fairly 'relaxed' and unprepared when it did happen. Middlebrook describes the battle as 'the end of trench warfare' and whether or not that is true, they were momentous days.

Forum Pal Peter Hart's book '1918 - A very British victory' describes how the British eventually recovered and fought on to victory, too late unfortunately for Cpl Malley, but another good read and easier to get hold of.

Good luck with your research, only problem is it can take over everything

Ken

Edit I did a bit of research on MGC numbers earlier this year I'll have a look later see if it helps if no-one comes up with a closer date in the meantime

[jojowit]

Thanks Ken

The German Offensive known as 'Operation Michael' was launched the previous day the 21st March.

There is an account on the LLT

http://www.1914-1918.net/bat22.htm where it is described as the Battle of St Quentin, which was the British name.and a link to a free download of the '5th Army in 1918' of which the 50th Division was part. You may not have seen the Pozieres Memorial (dedicated to the officers and men of the Fifth and Fourth Armies who have no known grave) on the CWGC site just in case here is the link http://www.cwgc.org/...ry=87600&mode=1 There is a link to a photo of the memorial at the bottom of the entry. Pozieres is at the heart of the Somme battlefield should you be considering a trip.

There are a number of books on the 1918 battle, Martin Middlebrook's 'The Kaiser's Battle' dates from 1978 and is still well worth reading.

One innovative feature of the German tactics was the targeting of machine gun posts and other strong points by artillery fire before the infantry advanced. Although there was good intelligence the offensive was coming the British were fairly 'relaxed' and unprepared when it did happen. Middlebrook describes the battle as 'the end of trench warfare' and whether or not that is true, they were momentous days.

Forum Pal Peter Hart's book '1918 - A very British victory' describes how the British eventually recovered and fought on to victory, too late unfortunately for Cpl Malley, but another good read and easier to get hold of.

Good luck with your research, only problem is it can take over everything

Ken

Edit I did a bit of research on MGC numbers earlier this year I'll have a look later see if it helps if no-one comes up with a closer date in the meantime