AndrewFrench Posted 8 August , 2014 Author Share Posted 8 August , 2014 Between 5-10th August regiment mobilised at the various Squadron Headquarter Here we see a grainy photo taken during that time of the A (Windsor) Squadron parading on Bachelors Acre in the centre of Windsor. For those that know Windsor the Acre is on the other side of a side road to Wellington Barracks. The squadron had been reinforced by two troops of the C Newbury Sqn which, under mobilisation orders, was broken in order to reinforce the other three service squadrons. Watch this posting for further upated Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewFrench Posted 9 August , 2014 Author Share Posted 9 August , 2014 7-10th August Mobilisation and equipment proceeding. The band was discharged on instructions from Brigade HQ. Regtl War Diary. Several of them immediately re-enlisted as ordinary troopers. READING Billeting B (Reading) Squadron Berkshire Yeomanry, the Berkshire Royal Horse Artillery and the local A.S.C. continued to occupy the Swansea Road and Wokingham Road Schools, and the Queens Hotel, Reading. The Reading Standard in its edition for Saturday 8th August reported that "Numerous public and private building in Reading are being utilised for military purposes. The Berks Yeomanry are billeted at the Old Queens Hotel, which is accommodating a record number of guests ! The beds are of straw and kit bags serve as pillows. A week later it was reporting that "The Queen's Own is the new but unauthorised title of the Yeomanry who have been lodging at the Queens Hotel" The chap standing bottom left is Trooper Fred Potts 1300 future Victoria Cross winner at Gallipoli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravrick Posted 11 August , 2014 Share Posted 11 August , 2014 Hi Andrew, I am researching 2075 Pte Frank Martin, Berks Yeomanry, who died of wounds at sea on the 25th August 1915, commemorated on the Helles memorial. Apart for the fact I believe he was wounded during the attack on the 21st I have very little information and would be grateful if you could add anything. many thanks, Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewFrench Posted 14 August , 2014 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2014 Hi Rick Martin seems a very common name in west Berkshire - I think we have more Martins than any other name This is what I have His number 2075 indicates he enlisted in early September 1914. He was posted to D (Wantage) Squadron I have not downloaded his medal card but unless he sailed on the horse boat the majority of the regiment sailed for Alex on 7th April 1915 on the SS Menominnee and arrived at Alex on 21-8-1914 After a few week in Aexandri the brigade move to Cairo and was then sent overseas to Gallipoli on the 13th August 1915. He will have been injured on 21st August but we do not have any further details Martin Frank, youngest son of the late Joseph and Frances S Martin, Wickham Heath, near Newbury. Died of Wounds on 25th August aged 32. Reading Standard Sept 11th 1915 (fm Blyde Cutting album pp8) 2075 Martin F Pte DoW 25/08/1915 Died of wounds & buried at sea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewFrench Posted 6 November , 2014 Author Share Posted 6 November , 2014 Trooper Fred Potts VC - Awarded the first Yeomanry VC of WW1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewFrench Posted 7 November , 2014 Author Share Posted 7 November , 2014 The story starts in this case on Scimitar Hill. This has been taken from Potts own account as he refers to his officer shouting "COME ON LADS ! - GIVE'EM BEANS!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewFrench Posted 8 November , 2014 Author Share Posted 8 November , 2014 The men advance through the burning scrub on Scimitar Hill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CathyG Posted 8 November , 2014 Share Posted 8 November , 2014 Trooper Fred Potts was my great granddads cousin. Went to IWM to see his medals last week. What a hero, famous in Reading. soon to have a statue. Named my son after him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Wood Posted 8 November , 2014 Share Posted 8 November , 2014 Up to the 1980s my wife's school in Reading hosted an annual lunch for WW1 veterans. Fred Potts was a regular attendee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewFrench Posted 10 November , 2014 Author Share Posted 10 November , 2014 Hi Cathy, Thanks for response - very interesting. I've been heavily involved in the project myself and we have now raised all the money needed. We are aiming to unveil his statue on Sunday 4th October 2015. Hi Phil, Through another source I think we are getting some scans of the of the book they all signed. Can you let me know which school so I can double check ? Regards to both Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewFrench Posted 10 November , 2014 Author Share Posted 10 November , 2014 As he charges forward Fred Potts is injured. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wardog Posted 10 November , 2014 Share Posted 10 November , 2014 Hello Phil-I have not been able to make it to the Newbury Remembers display at Newbury Town Hall- was there anything Berkshire Yeomanry related that might be of interest to Andrew? Regards, Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wardog Posted 10 November , 2014 Share Posted 10 November , 2014 Radio Berkshire item -on the radio yesterday morning. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02b37yy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewFrench Posted 10 November , 2014 Author Share Posted 10 November , 2014 HI Paul hoped you enjoyed the WARHORSE segment on Radio Berkshire and didn't spot too many faux pas. On an unrelated subject will try Mr Peter Penfold again tonight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wardog Posted 11 November , 2014 Share Posted 11 November , 2014 Training in the use of the lance was something I did not know. My car radio not usually tuned to Radio Berkshire- but while driving to work to take a disabled young man to the service in Newbury Sunday morning, I heard the Yeomanry Item by chance. Regards, Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewFrench Posted 12 November , 2014 Author Share Posted 12 November , 2014 Hi Wardog - ref lance neither did I (that was my colleague who said that) I expect some did lance training when training with the 3/1st Berkshire Yeomanry at Tidworth) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewFrench Posted 12 November , 2014 Author Share Posted 12 November , 2014 The Yeomanry charge goes in . . . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewFrench Posted 13 November , 2014 Author Share Posted 13 November , 2014 The men in the Turkish trenches are enfiladed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewFrench Posted 15 November , 2014 Author Share Posted 15 November , 2014 British troops withdraw back down Scimitar Hill..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Wood Posted 15 November , 2014 Share Posted 15 November , 2014 Hi Paul - no Berks Yeomanry in the Newbury exhibition this year - the yeomanry content was 2nd South Midland Brigade - who were in Newbury. My bit was 1914 based, even then space and time limited what could be shown. I will try to get some Berks Yeomanry in the 1915 exhibition but I doubt there will be much that would be new to Andrew! Hi Andrew - the school is The Abbey, Jane promised a scan or two to the chap at Newbury with the Potts display, she's usually far better than me at following up things like this (she may already have done so). It should include Andrews' signature - saver and savee both attended the lunches. Phil PS Andrew - do you still give talks about the Yeomanry? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wardog Posted 16 November , 2014 Share Posted 16 November , 2014 Hello Phil. If you should need some general Great War items for display next year I might be able to help on the understanding things will be well looked after. I expect though you have good contacts for such things. I lent some things to Lambourn church for a display this year. Andrew- just been looking at the Potts VC fund raising via a WFA link to facebook- very impressive. Disappointed I failed to locate the team at Highclere- I spent time looking and asked staff with no joy- I hope others managed to find them. Regards, Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Wood Posted 17 November , 2014 Share Posted 17 November , 2014 Hi Wardog, thank you for your kind offer - we had a very few real WW1 items procured from I know not where by the local British Legion; more artefacts would be very welcome. The exhibition is manned at all times and any items will be well cared for. PM me your contact details and I will, if okay by you, pass them on to the exhibition organiser (the overall event is managed by the Town Council). Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewFrench Posted 18 November , 2014 Author Share Posted 18 November , 2014 Hi both. Phil - yes we can still do a talk with slides tailored for an organisation or area. We have done ones for Gallipoli Association, MERL, Hungerford HHA and numerous schools. I look fwd to seeing the signatures some day. Paul - Any chance you could send me some pics of your Lancashire Fusilier pith helmet with some dimensions. We have now given the sculptor the go-ahead and he needs the info (our pith is still on loan to Reading Museum) The unveiling date in first Sunday in October 2015 Cheers for now Andrew And now for the latest pic. Fred Potts gets a gun shot wound .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wardog Posted 19 November , 2014 Share Posted 19 November , 2014 Andrew, I'll try and help-my example is poor condition though. Might be worth giving the author of this book an email to check sizes, http://www.militarysunhelmets.com/the-wolseley-helmet-in-pictures - or perhaps the Wardrobe? Regards, Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewFrench Posted 20 November , 2014 Author Share Posted 20 November , 2014 Thanks for the link Paul. I will try it tomorrow evening Meanwhile Troopers Fred Potts and Arthur Andrew meet up on the battlefield. . . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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