MILITARY MEDAL ( Unknown Abbreviation ) 'F' C.S. Coy R.E.

[WW1ACE]

Hello .

I wonder if any of you keen Royal Engineers buffs know what a currently unknown abbreviation on a Military Medal means. The MM is quite normal and was gazetted on 16th July 1918, but the abbreviations after the soldiers' name of, 'F' C.S. Coy R.E. has got me beaten ! The Questions are (1): is this a Special R.E. Unit and what type ? and (2) is the medal to a Gas Supply / Gas Shell or 'other' Gas unit of some type ?

Thanks for your hoped for contact and answers. Alan

[Stebie9173]

I believe that it is "F" Corps Signal Company.

Steve.

[WW1ACE]

Thanks Steve. Good of you to reply.

Someone else thinks it's 'F' Close Support Company ! ...someone else '"Chemical Specialist Company".....so still not sure .

Any more suggestions ? Alan

[Terry_Reeves]

Alan

Steve is right. There was no such thing as a close support unit in WW1 nor was there a unit entitled Chemist Specialist Company.

Can you publish the name and number of the recipient?

TR

[mcassell]

According to the RE Museum website, 'F' Corps Signal Company was attached to VI Corps from 8 March 1915.

[Ron Clifton]

Hello all

Several units of Corps troops were given a letter rather than carrying the Corps number, presumably as a form of security. However, in most cases it is a simple equation: A = I, B = II etc. So F = VI Corps.

Ron

[WW1ACE]

Thank you all for your excellent input ...Alan

[WW1ACE]

TERRY .....The Military Medal is named to:

250056. Cpl. W.H. CLARKE. 'F' C.S. Coy. R.E..

( does anybody have any idea what he did to win it ?? )

[stevenbecker]

Mate,

Sorry don't know any details only confirming the idea that it is F Corps Sig Co.

I have a number of Aussie Signal man attach to a British Sig unit called W Corps Sig Co is Palestine.

Check this bloke;

MacINTOSH John Ord 2/Lt/Hon LH Sig Svc Special Reinf tos M Sig Co 10-17 to W Corps Sig Co 11-17 to Hon/Lt QM LH Sig Trg unit 7-18 (Lt A&I staff Sig Co CMF 9 years)

MUNRO Ewart Alexander 19265 Spr LH Sig Svc Special Reinf att Aust Pack Wls (APW) sect 21 Corps Sig Co 2-18 to W Corps Sig Co 7-18 to 4 LH Sig Troop 2 LH Sig Sqn 7-18

To name a few.

S.B

[WW1ACE]

Thanks Steve. Details much appreciated. I've managed to tie down 'where' he won his medal.

His award was London gazetted on 16th July 1918, and as his unit ('F' Corps Signal Coy, R.E.) were on the River Ancre in April 1918, during the start of the German Spring Offensive, it's pretty clear that his gallant deed occurred here. ( Awards appeared in the LG about three months after the event) . He was from Melbourn, (no E) near Cambridge, here in the UK , so all we need now is to 'hopefully' find a mention for him in the local papers of the 1918 period or such.....

Or has anyone got the war diary ??

Thanks to you all for the superb feedback on my enquiry. Alan

" ADVANCE AUSTRALIA" ( Land of my Father )