Herbert S S Amos Machine Gun Corps Cavalry, 52311

[JoB41]

I wonder if anyone can help with our research on Herbert Samuel Simister Amos (b. 1895). He was an elderly neighbour of my in-laws and used to tell war stories to my husband when he was a child. Before he died Mr Amos gave my husband his tin helmet and spurs and these feature in the school assemblies and sermons my [vicar] husband gives at this time of year.

We knew that Mr Amos was associated with machine guns and cavalry and I have identified him as Acting Corporal, 52311 in the Machine Gun Corps Cavalry but I cannot find him in any more ancestry records. On his medal card the MGC (Cav) is the only corps mentioned so does that suggest that that is the only corps he served in? My husband thought there may have been some association with the dragoons but we are not sure.

At the moment all my husband can remember is that Mr Amos was present on the second day of the Somme. He told of vast numbers of French dead, each marked with a wire stake topped by a paper flag - looking like a field of flowers. He fought regularly with the French, but said he preferred to fight with the Guards as they stood their ground.

With the 1914 centenary approaching I am co-ordinating memory projects in our local schools so we would love to see if it is possible to establish something more about Mr Amos' war service and would be grateful for any pointers from this forum.

Many thanks.

[hmsk212]

Hi,

Attached is Herbert's entry in the MGC Cav War & Victory Roll, this shows that he was disembodied on 29th January 1919. This means that he had served with the Territorial Force so may well have been with the Dragoons prior to joining the MGC Cavalry. He did not, however, serve overseas before his service with the MGC Cavalry, hence no mention on his Medal Index Card. Steve

[JoB41]

Thank you Steve, that helps fill in the gaps