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Remembered Today:

CSM Thomas Charles Wilkinson (HAC 2nd Battalion)


Wilkinson1

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My Grandfather served in the Honorable Artillery Company 2nd Battalion from 1915 to 1920 and was awarded the DCM as a CSM at the battle of Rhiems in 1917. Can anyone assist in helping me gain information on this regiment including any regimental photographs for this period.

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A summary of their service is shown here

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

2/1st Battalion

Formed at Finsbury on 2 September 1914. Moved to Belhus Park, going on in November to Blackheath, February 1915 to the Tower of London, August to Richmond Park, November to Wimbledon, January 1916 to Orpington, July to Tadworth (Surrey), and returned to Tower in September 1916.

3 October 1916 : landed at Le Havre and placed under command of 22nd Brigade in 7th Division.

November 1917 : moved with Division to Italy.

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Thank you for such a speedy response.....I have tremendous respect for my Grandfather and am interested in gaining as much information about him as I can....

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He was posted abroad sometime after 1 Jan 1916, so I'd guess this was with the 2nd bn on 3 oct 1916.

He was later commissioned on 16 March 1919 as a 2nd Lt.

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Are you aware if any of the military records of the 2nd battalion still exist as I understand a good number were destroyed during the 2nd World War.....Gather going through Ancestry.com would be the best course for me to find out if his records still existed. Thanks again....

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London Gazette 1 Mar 1918 - DCM citation

3144 Sjt. T. C. Wilkinson, H.A.C.

(Beckenham).

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to

duty when he took charge of the remnants of

his company after all the officers had become

casualties and leading them through heavy

fire to their final objective, which he consolidated,

sending out patrols to either flank

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Resigned his commission Jul 25, 1921; He was still a 2nd Lt

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Officer records are kept in hard copy at the National Arhives at Kew in London.

The WO338 index suggests that his records are in WO374 series which makes this record the most likely:

WO 374/74527 WILKINSON, 2/Lieut T C 1915-1921

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=958411&CATLN=6&Highlight=%2CWILKINSON%2CT%2CC&accessmethod=0

While they can be ordered online, this gets very expensive very quickly.

Steve.

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  • 7 years later...
On 17/11/2011 at 19:44, Wilkinson1 said:

Does anyone know of any other soldiers that served in this regiment during 1915->1921

Don't know if you're still here but my wife has a cousin who served in 2/1 HAC (No 4 Coy) in 1916/17.

 

Frank Thomas Potton -

B: 19 April 1887 in Mile End New Town, London, England 
D: Mar 1971 in Southend on Sea, Essex, England 

Corporal 
SWB No 361639
9 Nov 1915 - Enlisted
7 Sep 1916 - Tx 2nd Bn
1 Oct 1916 - Embarked Southampton
3 Oct 1916 - Disembarked Le Havre
4 Oct 1916 - Proceeded to front
10 Nov - 22 Field Ambulance - Bronchitis
26 Dec - Rejoined Unit
30 Jan 1917 - 21 Field Ambulance - Myalgia (Muscle infection)
31 Jan 1917 - 29 Casualty Clearing Station
1 Feb 1917 - 22 General Hospital (Camiers)
5 Feb 1917 - 6 Convalescent Depot (Etaples)
8 Mar 1917 - 81 Base Depot (Le Havre)
3 Apr 1917 - Rejoined Unit (2/4 HAC)
27 Apr 1917 - Promoted Unpaid LCpl

11 May 1917 - Wounded in Action(Bomb Wound)
23 Field Ambulance
45 Casualty Clearing Station
3 Stationary Hospital (Rouen)
2 Conv Depot (Rouen)
1 Jun 1917 - Rejoined Unit (2/4 HAC)
31 Aug 1917 - 10 days leave
7 Sep 1917 - Promoted Cpl
9 Oct 1917 - WIA GSW (2 HAC)
10 Oct 1917- 64 Field Ambulance
37 Casualty Clearing Station
14 Stationary Hospital (Bolougne)
16 Oct 1917 - Evacuated to England
27 Apr 1918 - Discharge KR 392 XVI wounds 

 

Sadly the 2/1 War Diary for the period they were in France doesn't seem to be available on Ancestry but can be purchased at:

 

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7352431

 

best wishes

 

George

 

Frank Thomas Potton.jpg

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