1st battalion duke cornwall's LI

[jeromep]

above picture is my great grand dad ,the one smoking ,

the lookout was shot through head just after this picure was taken

private joseph edward danks

Birth 1893 in redditch worcestershire

on the back it says

1st battelion

duke of cornwall light infantry

trenches flanders

feb 1915

i know this picture is small i will take another and post it full size

how would i find more information what would be best way of researching ?

can i find more pictures and names who would have served with him ?

was photography banned or would it have been official picture ?

[Colin W Taylor]

jeromep

The CWGC records six men of that battalion killed during Feb 1915 and the war diary largely agrees - one man died on 11th Feb; presumably of wounds from either an accident to two men or one of three men wounded. During a stint in the trenches ending on 19th Feb another man was recorded killed in the diary but the cause wasn't mentioned. Four men died on 24th Feb and this agrees with the casualties from the next stint in the trenches (which ended on the 27th) where one man was recorded as killed, one died of wounds and six were wounded; presumably a further two of these six died.

If the statement regarding the man shot (and presumably killed?) by the sniper is correct this would date the photo to either around the 19th or 24th of Feb in trenches in sector 'A' or 'B' of trenches near Neuve Eglise.

Researching your man would be best conducted by initially searching service or pension records on Ancestry or looking up his Medal Index Card on that website - did he survive the war?

Kind regards

Colin

[sotonmate]

jp

Did you know that Lance Sergeant Joseph E Danks of 1 Battalion DCLI was awarded a Mention in Despatches,which was published in the London Gazette on 22 May 1917 ?

His service number was 13803 and later in the war he served with the Labour Corps under number 426954.

He first landed in France with his unit which was part of 14 Brigade of 5 Division,here the page from the Long Long Trail to show what they did:

http://www.1914-1918.net/5div.htm

In Jan 1916 his unit moved to 95 Brigade of 5 Division and in Nov 1917 they went to Italy to fight the Austrians andc ame backl to France in Apr 1918.

You can find out who first went to France with him as everyone will be listed on the 1914 Star Medal Rolls which are at Kew. The Rolls often show who has been killed or discharged or transferred etc. They are not digital though and need a look on site.

The War Diary of 1 DCLI is digital and you can download it here:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C7352264

This only covers from Aug 1914 to 31 Dec 1915. There are others which follow on,but each costs the fee again,the second one which covers the start of the Battles of the Somme from 1 Jul 1916 is:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C14053153

The link to the 1914-15 Diary is accurate and isn't opening,even after a triple check ! Diary ref is WO95/1564/1

[jeromep]

hi colin thanks for reply

yes he survived the war

i will find out more information from relatives

the man stood up was shot in head and killed

private joe danks was either shot or had shrapnel in his leg which got left there for rest of his life

[old sparky]

Your grandfathers military records are on Ancestry and give a wealth of information about him.

Described as a brass worker, Primitive Methodist, NOK Jane Danks (mother) of 94 Lodge Rd Redditch.

Enlisted Sep 14

GSC then 3 DCLI

Transferred to 1DCLI 20.1.15

Promoted L/Cpl 2.9.16

A/Cpl 8.9.16

A/U/Sgt 25.1.17

Wounded 23.4.17 GSW R Thigh.

Transferred to Labour Corps 11.9.17 85 Chinese Labour Coy.

Promoted Sgt 1.12.17

Demobilised to Army Reserve 6.2.19 Demob address 47 St Georges Street, Redditch.

[sotonmate]

jp

That shrapnel wound was probably the reason he had to move away from the front line into the Labour Corps.

[jeromep]

hi sotonmate thanks for reply

very interesting have got lots of reading to do

first link works fine but cant see other 2 links get error message

not sure if i have heard mentioned in despatches before will find out tommorow what my family remembers

didnt know he was a lance sergeant

what would he have got mentioned in dispatches for ?

is it worth paying a researcher to find out more ?

[jeromep]

thanks old sparky

thats alot of information

perhaps i will sign up to ancestry

[sotonmate]

jp

Two of the links are OK,it's just the 1914 Diary that isn't opening. If you go to the Discovery database and enter the WO95/1564/1 you will get the page where you can order it direct if you wish. I have checked this four times now and it isn't opening ! I had it opened when I searched for the WD number in the first place.

The MID award has a card in with the Medal Cards,in fact there arwe two saying the same thing,firstly I thought that he had got two MIDs ! But the refs and dates are the same !

He may have done something a little less thatn that deserving of a gallantry medal,or a series of good performances.

[old sparky]

The reference on the MIC appears to point to to his Labour Corps service.

[jeromep]

hi thanks everyone for help so far

regards

jeremy

[popshammett]

Hi, I am trying to find where the 1st Battalion DCLI were on the 13th April 1918, one of my grandmothers brothers was KIA on this day, I can only find they were involved in the battle of Hazebrouck .... any help would be of great help for me .... many thanks in advance ... Peter Hammett in UK .... person in question Edward Ernest Hibberd.

[Colin W Taylor]

Pete

There is plenty of information on the fighting in which he was killed in the war diary - this has recently been digitized and released for download for £3.36 - see below:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C14053157

There is a casualty list showing he was in B Company, regimental number 41320.

Kind regards

Colin

[popshammett]

Many thanks Colin ... great bit of Info ..... Rgds ... Peter Hammett

[Chris_Baker]

You might find my book, "The battle for Flanders - German defeat on the Lys, 1918" handy to explain the battle. The 1st DCLI were in action near Arrewage, supporting a very famous action carried out by 4th (Guards) Brigade on that day.

[popshammett]

Colin, Just bought and downloaded to July 1918 DCLI docs .... thank you so much for pointing me in the right direction ............ Best reagards ............ Peter hammett in UK