Portrait of an Unknown Officer of the Royal Fusiliers, MC and Bar

[Guest]

S J M Hole appears in the 17th Bn war diary as 2IC on 1oth Sep 1917....he signs the 17th Bn War Diary at the end of January 1918 as Major, commanding the Battalion. The diary stops abruptly on this date. The diary (in a different file) starts again in Jan 1919 however the CO by then is Lt Col W C Smith

There is still a possibility between these date that S J M Hole was 2IC under Montgomery and may feature in the photo.

Edit. He was still there writing Op Orders in Feb 1918. Returns from a months leave in Uk on 6th April....struck off strength on 2nd July 1918 to England...leaves for UK on demobilization on 23rd April 1919.

Interestingly he enlisted in the ranks after having served as a commissioned officer in the Guards...and transferring to 3rd Hussars when he resigned only a month into the war...enlisted as a Pte but within days promoted to prob 2 Lt in the 10th Bn (Stockbrokers) - worth exploring for a photo? I believe there is a recent published history?

http://www.dcmmedals.com/product_info.php?products_id=1291

Edit. 10th Bn Royal Fusiliers was replicated and recruited linguists, special branch policemen etc. (note he also has a Police Medal) and specialists into an Intelligence battalion 10th Bn 1b if memory serves which is probably why he resigned and re-enlisted into this particular unit. It looks as if he didn't stay long as I think he embarked with 17th Bn (dates match).

[Simon_Fielding]

Great tip sJ - NAM RA queries sent!

[charlesmessenger]

I maybe being stupid, but I am not clear as to why IPT ruled out Persse and three others in his post #4.

Also, I think it most unlikely that a CO would have commissioned his own portrait for presenting to his battalion while the war was still raging. It is much more likely that the portrait was commissioned by the sitter's own family, more than possibly after his death. So perhaps we should be looking for an MC & Bar killed in 1917.

Charles M

[seaJane]

In the case of a picture I have been researching, the portrait was indeed a family commission but marked the subject's promotion to Commander.

Any significant promotions/awards for 1917 in the list of possibles?

[IPT]

I maybe being stupid, but I am not clear as to why IPT ruled out Persse and three others in his post #4.

Well, it's not Persse for me. Perhaps I was hasty in ruling them out (these are not necessarily the photos I found first time around).

Usher

Flack

Tower

[Neale1961]

I think Flack should be considered - from photo in last post, and his date of death September 1917. His MC gazetted in June 1917.

[charlie962]

unknown Flack

Same long kneck! Search of 1st Bn history on Archive .org didn't throw up any 'Bombing' reference. Officers file on NA here ?

[Guest]

Flack was the only Royal Fusilier Officer with MC and Bar who died in 1917 which would fit Charles' theory. The others who were killed, died in 1918 and 1919. If it is a memorial portrait Flack would be the only contender as his time-line is the only one that fits: Both MCs gazetted in 1917 and died in 1917.

He was an ex-Sgt Scots Guards, commissioned 10 Jul 1915 (Gazetted 30th Aug 1915). His father was a farm labourer in Norfolk which raises questions over where the funds for the portrait might have come from. MG

[charlesmessenger]

Martin

Interesting. Being an ex-Guardsman would explain Flack's moustache, which is unlike our unkown officer's in style. Also, the sitter does not have the ambience of an ex-Guards Sgt. I fear that my theory of an in memoriam portrait does not stand up, although I still think that it was commissioned by the family rather than the sitter.

Charles M

[Guest]

It would be useful to get the list of 55, then start eliminating them one by one to get a short list. Sadly the history of the RF does not give names. Given the narrow window of opportunity between first award of a bar and the end of 1917 I suspect less than half of the recipients would be in the frame, possibly fewer. The short list on the CWGC database can be pared down easily and the excellent photos appear to eliminate a few more. Taking a more methodical approach will guarantee that all areas have been covered. MG

[charlie962]

re Flack:

As an aside there is a graphic description of his serious wounding in Aug 1917 in "War Diary of the Master of Belhaven" which I am just reading . He is described as a Company Commander and was endeavouring to help Hamilton (the author) to an OP.

[HarryBrook]

Some more names of Officers of the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) and of The London Regiment 1st to 4th (City of London) Battalions (Royal Fusiliers) T.F. who had been awarded the M.C. and bar before the end of 1917. The first two of 26th Bn. Royal Fusiliers I missed on the first read through the pre-publication Gazettes.

2nd. Lt. Harry GAUTHERN, 26th Bn. R. Fus., M.C. 14.11.1916, bar 21.12.1916

Temp. Lt. Ralph Copeland BARKWORTH, 26th Bn. R. Fus., M.C. 14.1.1916, bar 25.8.1917

Capt. John Durnford CROSTHWAITE, 1st Bn. London Regt., Bde Maj. 53rd Inf. Bde., M.C. 3.6.1916, bar 26.9.1916

2nd Lt. William Arthur FRANCIS, 2nd Bn. London Regt., M.C. 18.7.1917, bar 26.9.1917

2nd Lt. Percival Robert HENRI, 3rd Bn. London Regt., Attd. Hdqrs. 167 Inf. Bde., M.C. 27.7.1916, bar 26.9.1916

2nd Lt. Cecil Richard PALMER, London Regt., Attd. R. Fus., M.C. 16.8.1917, bar 18.10.1917

[Simon_Fielding]

Sounds promising:

[johnboy]

http://janetandrichardsgenealogy.co.uk/Capt%20J%20D%20Crosthwaite.html

[HertsHistorian]

All,

Thank you for your continued suggestions and support.

Martin, as advised, I will be e-mailing the National Portrait Gallery (despite being somewhat perplexed by their initial response!) to follow the line of enquiry into surviving artist's records.

I feel the most effective approach, as several have suggested, is I will to attempt to compile a definitive list of the 55 (or 58) names in order to eliminate them one by one. Many thanks to Harry, Martin, IPT and others for identifying several of these already.

Major Tower is an interesting candidate, although I'm not struck by any obvious resemblance. He appears to have been a pre-war officer in 1st battalion, and fell whilst commanding 4th battalion. He appears to have had strong family links with the regiment as his brother, Lt Colonel Kinglake Tower MC, belonged to the 4th, was wounded in 1914 and survived the war.

I have attached a photograph to provide an idea of the considerable size of the portrait. It is really quite impressive!

Thanks again and best wishes,

Alex

[Simon_Fielding]

Visiting the Fallen-Arras South

By Peter Hughes

[Simon_Fielding]

Friendly email from the NAM but no more leads. Suggest the RF Mnuseum - is that the one at the Tower?

[Simon_Fielding]

Reply from Royal Academy:

Dear Simon,

Although Frank Eastman showed here regularly, he was not an Academician and so we have little detailed information relating to him. He did show here throughout WWI but never a portrait of a man in the military. He did show a posthumous portrait of H T Eastman in 1919 who I assume to be a relative.

I am not aware of an archive with holding on Eastman.

The experts in portrait identification are at the National Portrait Gallery so it would be worth approaching them. In addition if this portrait were every reproduced then it may have ended up in the collection of the Witt Library. See http://courtauld.ac.uk/study/resources/image-libraries/witt-library

Regards

Andrew Potter

Research Assistant

Royal Academy Library

Collections Department

[HertsHistorian]

Hello all,

Apologies for the delay in responding. Simon many thanks for exploring that route of enquiry. Its a pity Eastman hasn't left a more obvious trace. I'm in contact with the RF museum again to enquire as to photos of the individuals concerned.

Through the London Gazette, I have identified the names of 52 officers of the Royal Fusiliers (regular, service and territorial) who were awarded the MC and Bar, 5 individuals who were attached to RF battalions and achieved the award, and the three individuals who were awarded the second bar. I'm not entirely convinced the list is entirely comprehensive but it does expand the number of known potential individuals significantly.

For any interested parties please find the list attached in PDF format

If I am able to establish his identity I'm hoping the portrait will rehung alongside the citations.

Thanks and best wishes,

Alex

RF MC and Bar List.pdf

[Guest]

A quick glance would eliminate 41 of them from your enquiries as their second award was after 1917 if these are LG dates. One eliminated on the basis he also had the MM.

That would leave 19 candidates. That gets you two thirds of the way from the starting point of 60 candidates.

Dearden might be eliminated as I think he was also a DSO before his first bar. You might also eliminate one or two others based on the photos. That might leave 15 or 16 candidates. I would suggest perusing their citations for the second award to see if TMB or bombing officer is mentioned as increasing the likelihood of a match. Then it will simply be searching for photos. MG

Edit. I think the two RAMC would have had RAMC collar badges and cap badges, so further possible reduction in candidates ..in fact certain elimination as they would not have a bomb badge.

Also I think the London Regt officers would have had the Territorial Force 'T' on their collars. If this can be confirmed with photos of London Regt Officers it eliminates another four candidates, leaving I think 10 or 11. A smaller haystack. MG

Edit. Stripping out the above here are the remaining names (including four from the Londons)

Lt Rupert Charles Bambridge

Lt Ralph Copeland Barkworth

Lt Francis George Bull

Capt Wilfred George Flack

2Lt Harry Gauthern

2Lt (T/Capt) Oliver William Hepburn

Major Samuel John Markham Hole

Capt Albert Alexander Pargiter Humfrey

Capt Norman Allan Lewis

2Lt George Stanley Pearcy

Major Henry Wilfred Persse

2Lt Wilfrid Pym Trotter

Capt James Ferrand Dearden - worth checking sequence of DSO between MCs.

Capt John Durnford Crosthwaite (Londons)

Lt William Arthur Francis (Londons)

Capt George Leonard Goodes (Londons)

2Lt Percival Robert Henri (Londons)

[Simon_Fielding]

Eureka?

[Guest]

Brilliant

So, a memorial portrait.

[charlie962]

looks convincing. what a fascinating exercise

[Simon_Fielding]

I was determined to solve this one! Looks fairly secure. Martin's Sherlockian techniques key! Very definitely a classic GWF collective effort!

[Simon_Fielding]

The Era - Wednesday 25 October 1916 p.8

The news of the death of Captain Goodes will be received with sorrow by his many friends. Goodes came to the front at an early age, both as a reciter and teacher, and when only 25 years of age he was appointed teacher of elocution at the Academy of Dramatic Art. During the last few years he has been most successful as one of the heads of the Polytechnic School of Elocution. His military career, which has been so soon ended, has shown in the same marked degree the elements of success. In January, 1915, he entered the Inns of Court 0.T.C., and few months later obtained a commission in the Royal Fusiliers. In September of last year he gave up a captaincy at home, and, leaving his battalion, went to France. There he took a special trench mortar battery course, and for ten months had been in charge of a battery. In June last he was awarded the M.C., and on several occasions his battery distinguished itself and won special recognition. On Oct. 6 went over the parapet with three of his men, and was struck by a shell. Death was instantaneous.