2nd Lt Robert Furley Callaway

[Peterhastie]

The above was KIA 13 Sep 1916.

On his mic he is initially Rev., R.A.Ch.D. then 2nd Lt. Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)

CWGC and SDGW has him 2nd Lieut., Notts. and Derby., and makes no ref to R.A.Ch.D.

He has a NA file, WO 339/42787, which states Reverend Robert Furley CALLAWAY. The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment).

If anyone has the 2nd Battalion WD could they take a look and see if he is mentiond as the Chaplain, please.

[GraemeClarke]

Peter

From the web somewhere (cannot recall where )

Between the 13th and 17th September the 2nd Battalion was heavily engaged in attacks around the Quadrilateral Redoubt:-

At 3 a.m. on the 13th September, "B" and "C" Companies moved to trenches south of Ginchy for an attack at 6 a.m. "A" and "D" Companies were in support in the reserve trenches to the west of Guillemont.

"C" Company quickly became held up by enemy machine gun fire from the right, but "B" Company managed to reach its objective (over 500 yards) and dug in.

"The Bosche machine-gunners now kept up a slow and very deadly fire, and anyone who popped his head above his shell hole was hit. It was about this time that 2Lt Callaway lost his life, while trying to bring in his wounded sergeant; this was perhaps the bravest act on that day."

[Lieut. W. E. Brandt]

Found it from here

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mike.briggs76/#CALLAWAY

CALLAWAY, ROBERT FURLEY.

2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Btn., k. in a. 13/09/1916.

"Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Callaway, of Palmeira Avenue, Hove, England; husband of Millie Callaway, of Umtata, South Africa. A Missionary Priest in the Diocese of St. John'S, Kaffraria, in charge of Holy Cross, Pondoland, South Africa."

GUILLEMONT ROAD CEMETERY, GUILLEMONT, Somme - Sp. Mem. I.

Regards,

Graeme

[Colin W Taylor]

Peter

In the history of the 1st and 2nd Battalions he's down as 2Lt - no mention of being a chaplain. I haven't the war diary for that month though I have it for earlier in 1916.

I think the only way of knowing is to get a look at his file at Kew; otherwise it might be in the London Gazette. I'd presume as his 14-15 Star is to the ACD he went abroad in 1915 as a Chaplain and presumably either voluntarily changed his mind or was not considered suitable as a chaplain.

Kind regards

Colin

Edited - Too Slow!

[Peterhastie]

Thanks Colin.

Didn't think to look in the Gazette.

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29319/supplements/9871

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29302/supplements/9306

[GraemeClarke]

and me

[Peterhastie]

and Graham

[mikebriggs]

this is only mention in the Battalion History

[BRONNO]

^{Joined 2nd Battalion on the 14th April 1916 at Beau Maris Camp near Calais and Killed in Action 13th-17th September 1916 at Arrowhead Copse, Guillemont, information from the Battalion war diary. BRONNO.}

[Peterhastie]

Thanks Mike and Bronno

[GraemeClarke]

and me

[Peterhastie]

and Graham

[Colin W Taylor]

Peter

'... I have never for a single moment regretted becoming a combatant...'

I'm not sure if it's the reason for your research or if you didn't know but one of Callaway's last letters, dated 2/9/16, is published in 'War Letters of Fallen Englishmen' - if you are interested and haven't got a copy please send me a PM with an email address. If not - please ignore.

Kind regards

Colin

[StuartAB]

Callaway had been a chaplain, then enlisted as a combatant. Referenced in Lewis-Stempel, Six Weeks, quoting John Laffin, Letters from the Front, London, 1973, with that same quotation.

Stuart