Lieutenant Colonel C A S Page DSO MC 2nd Middlesex Regiment

[David_Blanchard]

I am trying to discover more information in regard to Colonel Page DSO MC. He was commanding officer of the 2nd Middlesex Regiment for part of 1918. I think his dates were 1880 to 1946. He later became Reverand C A S Page of West Wickham, Kent. Any other information would be appreciated.

David

[charlesmessenger]

David

Charles Alexander Shaw Page was born 2/3/80 and was commissioned 2Lt Middlesex Regt 26/6/01. Served S African War and earned Qween's Medal with three clasps and King's Medal with two clasps. Promoted Lt 6/3/03 and Capt 4/12/10. He was student at Staff College on the outbreak of war. Promoted Major 8/5/16. DSO was gazetted 26/7/18 and promoted brevet Lt Col 3/6/19 and was Mentioned in Despatches 1/1/16, 24/5/18, 18/12/18. He retired from the Army on 18/5/20.

Charles M

[David_Blanchard]

Charles,

Thanks very much for the information. Just managed to find a photograph of Page as a clergyman in the 1930s.

David

[David_Blanchard]

Sadly just discovered this information:

PAGE, HARRY CHARLES SHAW

Rank:

Flight Lieutenant

Trade:

Pilot

Service No:

41315

Date of Death:

31/01/1942

Age:

27

Regiment/Service:

Royal Air Force

61 Sqdn.

Awards:

D F C

Grave Reference

North square plot.

Cemetery

OLD CHURCH CEMETERY, ISLES OF SCILLY

Additional Information:

Son of Charles Alexander Shaw Page and Beatrice Ellen Page; husband of Nancy Mary Heather Page, of Retford, Nottinghamshire. Also served in The Middlesex Regt.

OLD CHURCH CEMETERY, ISLES OF SCILLY

[melliget]

His obit from The Times, 21 Aug 1953 (page 8).

Martin

[David_Blanchard]

Thanks for the obituary. Much appreciated.

[Steven Broomfield]

Out of interest the 1925 Debretts (he is listed in "Companionage" as he holds a DSO) gives him as living (no clerical pun intended) at Abinger Rectory, Dorking, Surrey)

[David_Blanchard]

My interest with regard to Colonel Page was his role in the Aisne battle. The War Diary for the 2nd Middlesex contains, for whatever reason, a very large extract of the Official History Vol III 1918- or rather a version of the official history from 1935, before the publication in 1939.

For £3 or so this can be downloaded from the NA- a real bargain.

Not only this but Page has issues with how Edmonds wishes to report the stand of the Devons in the Bois des Buttes.

[Philip Wilson]

The following is an extract from Part 2 of the Distinguished Service Order page 110 (for 26 July 1918): PAGE Charles Alexander Shaw, M.C; Major (Acting Lieut- Colonel), Middlesex Regt. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during many days of intense fighting, in which by his high standard of military leadership, he kept his battalion together under the most difficult circumstances. He held river crossings in face of furious attacks, and although on one occasion his flank was turned he offered a desperate resistance against great odds, and finally withdrew, under orders , as a forward body, in spite of heavy losses. Throughout the operations he exposed himself fearlessly, and his magnificent example maintained to the end the high morale and fine spirit of his batttalion. His entry on page 317 of Part 2 is the same as that in post 2.

[Philip Wilson]

His entry in Honour the Officers - Recipients of Awards for WW1 on page 574 reads:

PAGE Charles Alexander Shaw Captain MC Middlesex Regiment DSER L.Gaz 14.1.1916 page 580

PAGE Charles Alexander Shaw Major A/LtCol. DSO Middlesex Regiment DSER L.Gaz 26.7.1918 page 8748

Philip (OMRS 943)

[David_Blanchard]

Thanks for all the information.

[Philip Wilson]

His entry in War Services of Officers of the Army December 1920 page 1264 reads:

PAGE C.A.S. (Brev.Lt.Col. ret.pay)

S.African War 1900-02 - Operations in the Transvaal, West of Pretoria, July to 29 Nov.1900. Operations in the Cape Colony, north of Orange River.

Operations in the Transvaal July to Nov.1901. Operations in Orange River Colony Nov.1901 to 31 May 1902. Queen's Medal with 3 clasps. Kings Medal with 2 clasps.

The War 1914-9 - Despatches L.Gaz. 1 Jan.1916, 24 May 1918, and 28 Dec.1918. Brev. of Lt.-Col. D.S.O., M.C.

Philip (OMRS 943)

[David_Blanchard]

I am finding it difficult to look up officers service records at the NA could some kind soul please check to see if a service record for Col CAS Page is extant.

David

[RaySearching]

8748 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 26 JULY, 1918

Maj. (A./Lt.-Col.) Charles Alexander Shaw Page, M.C., Midd'x E.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to

duty during many days of intense fighting,

in which, by his high standard of military

leadership, he kept his battalion together

under the most difficult circumstances. He

held river crossings in face of furious attacks,

and although on one occasion his flank was

turned he offered a desperate resistance

against great odds, and finally withdrew,

under orders, as a forward body, in spite of

heavy losses. Throughout the operations he

exposed himself fearlessly, and his magnificent example maintained to the end the high

morale and fine spirit of his battalion.

regards Ray

[spof]

David

Senior officers (Lt Col and above) seem to be few and far between in the TNA records but the P number means Page's records are still held by MoD.

Glen

[David_Blanchard]

Thanks Ray and Glen.

Glen any idea why Page's record is still held by the MOD?

David

[spof]

David

I don't really know. There is a distinct shortage of papers for senior officers of Lt Col and above at Kew (the ones I've looked at were all killed duringhte war) so maybe the War Office held on to them in case they were needed again or maybe for privacy reasons for Generals.

Glen

[David_Blanchard]

Just thought I would bump this up again.

Trying to find out more about C A S Page Great War career. From his MIC he served in France from 6 April 1915. I assume this was the 1st Middlesex- I have looked at the 2 Middlesex WD and find no reference to him before he became CO in late 1917.

 

Does anyone have the 1st Middlesex WD to check, please.

[Guest]

My family were friends  of the Pages in East Dereham.Charles Page's widow Alice was my brother's godmother.I  don't remember him , being only  three when he died.However I remember his pescence   in Alice Page's house very clearly.He was constantly  referred to  in glowing terms.In a corner cupboard  were displayed  his medals  and a German bullet which had wounded  him during the 14-18 conflict.There was also a  pencil sketch of his  son  killed while flying with the RAF  in 1942.It was obvious from conversation  that his death affected the father  very greatly indeed.Alice  was Charles Page's second wife ,a late marriage with no children.Charles's daughter  Kitty -Alice's step daughter-was a very refined school teacher  who remained  very close  to her stepmother.Alice Page  was one of the  most genuine kindly people one could hope to meet  and must have been a great comfort to Charles  in his later years.There was a certain air of mystery to her .She had worked  as a governess  or something similar  in pre war Belgium  and had to leave rapidly  to avoid capture  in 1914.There was a hint-impossible to substantiate-  that she'd been involved in some sort of "confidential" work on behalf of the British government  in Belgium.She became a devout Roman Catholic convert   despite her husband being an ordained Cof E clergyman, My father ,an SOE M.B.E for his work behind enemy lines in  occupied Greece in WW2, was a great friend of "old Page" despite an age gap of  thirty years.They enjoyed  army yarns together.Alice gave me Charles Page's copy of the  history of the 8th Division  which I'm ashamed to say i have somehow mislaid.In it there was a l sketch  of Charles  Page.It  portrayed what he was:a deeply sensitive  man  with  more than a streak  of toughness.A kind of mscular christianity if you like.