derekb Posted 14 July , 2012 Share Posted 14 July , 2012 Hello Everyone, A friend has asked me to help him find information about Gunner Arthur Wakelin 67255 Royal Field Artillery. He tells me has seen a Trio and a DCM to Arthur Wakelin belonging to his neighbour, but as usual I have not had any success with the London Gazette, I sometimes think it's just me. I have attached a copy of his MIC, I hope that it is OK to do so. Does it say P/W Turkey 30/04/16 (Prisoner of War Turkey) as this could tie in with the fall of KUT. Any help or advice would be really appreciated. Best regards, Derek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 14 July , 2012 Share Posted 14 July , 2012 This Gunner was in 82nd Bty, RFA and died on 11/10/1918, buried at Baghdad North Gate War Cemetery. (see CWGC DATA) The same source shows another Gunner Wakelin, initials EG, 53798,same battery, died 30/11/1918, same cemetery. This one is shown with a DCM. Medal Cards for DCMs are usually found on the National Archives site and not on Anc... I think you are right about the pw entry. Interesting! D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 14 July , 2012 Share Posted 14 July , 2012 There is a DCM citation for EG Wakelin in the LG issue no 29447, 21 Jan 1916, for his gallantry at Kut al Amara on 28/9/15. No sign of anything for 67255, nor have I seen another MIC for him. The plot thickens! D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 14 July , 2012 Share Posted 14 July , 2012 These two may be brothers. Both are on the memorial plaques at St Chad's and St Michael's Lichfield. Soldiers Died in the Great War shows that EG died, which implies illness, not dow or kia. A medal card shows he had a Meritorious Service Medal, another card shows his DCM and the LG reference. His first names were Edward George. In 1911 he was in India or Ceylon with the same battery. D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss002d6252 Posted 14 July , 2012 Share Posted 14 July , 2012 Name: Arthur Wakelin Birth Place: Lichfield, Staffs Death Date: 11 Oct 1918 Death Location: Mesopotamia Enlistment Location: Cobridge, Staffs Rank: Gunner Regiment: Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery Number: 67255 Type of Casualty: Died Theatre of War: Asiatic Theatres Name: Edward George Wakelin Birth Place: Lichfield Death Date: 30 Nov 1918 Death Location: Turkey Enlistment Location: Lichfield, Staffs Rank: Gunner Regiment: Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery Number: 53798 Type of Casualty: Died Theatre of War: Balkan Theatre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralphjd Posted 14 July , 2012 Share Posted 14 July , 2012 Cannot see a MIC on the NA site for him apart from the one posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss002d6252 Posted 14 July , 2012 Share Posted 14 July , 2012 From what I can see on the census they aren't brothers but may be cousins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 14 July , 2012 Share Posted 14 July , 2012 There are others of the surname on the church memorials: Alfred, J. and W. D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roughdiamond Posted 15 July , 2012 Share Posted 15 July , 2012 There are others of the surname on the church memorials: Alfred, J. and W. D This is almost certainly Alfred http://www.cwgc.org/...WAKELIN, ALFRED no J or W with A Lichfield address for NOK, but there is a John Wakelin North Staffs http://www.cwgc.org/...8/WAKELIN, JOHN A John Henry Wakelin South Staffs http://www.cwgc.org/...LIN, JOHN HENRY and W. Wakelin (William from his MIC) South Staffs http://www.cwgc.org/...0664/WAKELIN, W but none has a NOK, maybe SDGW will give a place of birth or enlistment location. E.G. Wakelin's LG entry for the DCM http://www.london-ga...supplements/965 And one for a Mentioned in Dispatches http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29536/supplements/3666 Did your friend see the service number on the Medals, the reason I ask is that there are 4 MIC's for 51789 Bombardier - Serjeant - Battery Serjeant Major - Warrant Officer Class 2 Arthur - A.E. - A Wakelin RFA http://www.nationala...pe=1=* This is his LG notification of the DCM as BSM http://www.london-ga.../supplements/46 The detail of the award of the DCM as BSM http://www.london-ga...pplements/11166 The award of the Medaille Militaire as BSM http://www.london-ga...pplements/11948 Mention in Dispatches as Serjeant http://www.london-ga...upplements/4874 Another Mentioned in Dispatches as BSM http://www.london-ga...pplements/13072 His DCM entries list that he's from Carrgerlane which I can't find on a map, his Medaille Militaire entry states Carrigrohane which is on the outskirts of Cork so seems correct, could this be the medals your friend saw, can he check the service number? Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekb Posted 15 July , 2012 Author Share Posted 15 July , 2012 daggers, ss002d652, rjaydee and roughdiamond, Thank you all for your help, I have asked my friend Neil, to confirm that the details and also that they are the same on the Trio and DCM, Best regards, Derek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roughdiamond Posted 15 July , 2012 Share Posted 15 July , 2012 daggers, ss002d652, rjaydee and roughdiamond, Thank you all for your help, I have asked my friend Neil, to confirm that the details and also that they are the same on the Trio and DCM, Best regards, Derek. Remember and tell us how you get on Derek, there's nothing worse than an unsolved mystery. Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekb Posted 15 July , 2012 Author Share Posted 15 July , 2012 Sam, I definitley will let you know, I have given all the details to my friend Neil, who is double checking the information, as soon as he gets them hopefully all will be revealed. The subject only came up when Neil was in Cyprus and was looking for anything to do with the Macedonian Mule Corps, when his friend happened to mention the medals. Thanks and regards, Derek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekb Posted 18 July , 2012 Author Share Posted 18 July , 2012 daggers, ss002d6252, rjaydee and Sam, Just to update you all, Arthur and Edward George were indeed brothers and the DCM is Edwards. I will see what else I can find, and thank you all again for your help. Regards, Derek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 18 July , 2012 Share Posted 18 July , 2012 Derek Glad to hear some of my input was correct! Daggers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraemeClarke Posted 6 June , 2013 Share Posted 6 June , 2013 Hi Further to this story Edward, John, Alfred and Arthur were all brothers who died during the war, Edward and Arthur being buried in Baghdad War Cemetery. Edward D.C.M. is commemorated on the Walsall RoH. All are commemorated on various rolls in Lichfield. Regards, Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hasskona Posted 20 April Share Posted 20 April Hi guys, Arthur Wakelin and his brothers would have been my great great uncles. Our family does have quite a bit of information on how he earned his DCM and letters from him, but have learnt a few new things reading your comments, my question to anyone kind enough to know would be how did he end up buried in Baghdad ? Regards Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 20 April Admin Share Posted 20 April Welcome to the forum. He was serving in Mesopotamia hence he is buried in Baghdad. The war was not just fought on the Western Front. Edit, see my post below. A prisoner of war in a camp as per his MIC? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hasskona Posted 20 April Share Posted 20 April Thanks Michelle, of course but why were the bodies transferred to Baghdad ? That the nearest British cemetery at the time for those fighting in the region ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 20 April Admin Share Posted 20 April His remains were exhumed and moved to Baghdad according to the CWGC. This website might shed some light, he could have been one of the flu victims. http://www.gutenberg-e.org/steuer/steuer/archive/AppendixA/Turkish Prison Camps/prison_shell.html?Yozgad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hasskona Posted 20 April Share Posted 20 April Thanks ever so much Michelle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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