johnnie Posted 28 June , 2016 Share Posted 28 June , 2016 Dear All, I have been researching (or trying to research) a victory medal I have to Acting Lance Daffadar Sheo Chand who was killed (or died) on the 24th March 1917 while serving with the 14th Murray's Jat Lancers. I knew it wouldn't be an easy medal to research, but it seems far harder than I expected. I know the CWGC have him listed as being commemorated on the Neuve-Chapelle Memorial which made me think he was killed (or died) on the Western Front, however a search on google suggested that the unit were not actually on the Western Front in 1917. If this is the case, could my chap have been attached to another unit? At present I have no idea where to go with this, and all I really have is the CWGC details. Could any members suggest a way forwards with this? Any help at all would be fantastic as I'm completely stuck. Many thanks, Johnnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberley John Lindsay Posted 28 June , 2016 Share Posted 28 June , 2016 Dear Johnnie, Yes, the Indian Army (which makes up the bulk of my collection) is notoriously difficult to research. I have the medal group to Arthur Wood, who joined the Indian Army Reserve of Officers from the Indian Police. He was attached 14 Lancers, but had been transferred to Skinner's Horse before Sheo Chand lost his life. However, as far as I can make out, 14 Lancers were in Mesopotamia in 1917. The War Diaries for that period survive at TNA, apparently... Kindest regards, Kim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Underdown Posted 28 June , 2016 Share Posted 28 June , 2016 And in fact now available for download: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/66063691c7ae40d6ab13c9cad1fe3f30 - but there doesn't seem to be any mention of casualties (if you download this, you will see that it gets divided into two files, 24 March 1917 should be the very first entry in the second part) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnie Posted 28 June , 2016 Author Share Posted 28 June , 2016 Many thanks for the replies. So could we be looking at a chap attached to another unit, with the 14th being his original/parent unit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 28 June , 2016 Share Posted 28 June , 2016 (edited) Probably. There was much cross-posting of Indian personnel: many units needed to be made up to strength on mobilisation, and then casualties needed replacing from India once the fighting started. I'm assuming the CWGC doesn't mention an alternative unit, so difficult to know the next steps. The chances are that he was killed while serving with a unit following-up the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line. Just looked at the CWGC and I see it states he was attached to the 29th Lancers (Deccan Horse), so I think that answers your question pretty conclusively. Edited 28 June , 2016 by Steven Broomfield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberley John Lindsay Posted 28 June , 2016 Share Posted 28 June , 2016 Dear Steven Broomfield, Good work! The 29 Lancers connection would tie in with the Neuve-Chapelle Memorial commemoration for A-L/Daffadar Sheo Chand, and the Hindenburg Line follow-up. I was way out with Mesopotamia, of course... Kindest regards, Kim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnie Posted 28 June , 2016 Author Share Posted 28 June , 2016 I feel like a bit of a fool now. I had just been going off the CWGC certificate print out which does not mention the 29th Lancers link. Many thanks for that!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 28 June , 2016 Share Posted 28 June , 2016 We've all done it I have a copy (N&M reprint) of the Deccan Horse history at home. I'm working tonight but will have a look tomorrow, just in case there's anything of interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnie Posted 29 June , 2016 Author Share Posted 29 June , 2016 That would be great. Any help or suggestion from the book would be a great help. At the moment the only other death from the Deccan Horse I can find is the death of Lt Col C V Martin who is down as dying on the 27th Marc 1917. He is buried in Lijssenthoek Cemetery which may suggest he died of wounds of illness rather than being KIA. If (and this is a big, even massive if) he died of wounds, could he have been wounded at the same time as Chand? I note that Martin was attached to X Corps HQ at the time of his death so there may be no link at all, but that is all I have to go on at the moment, so any help would be great. Johnnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 29 June , 2016 Share Posted 29 June , 2016 Not much help, I'm afraid. The 29th had spent the previous 10 days on the old Somme battlefields, patrolling and assisting infantry in minor operations near Warlencourt, Le Sars, etc. There are no mention of casualties (although Sheo Chand is mentioned in the Roll of Honour in the Appendices), and on the 21st the regiment had withdrawn to bivouac, prior to marching to Aveluy on the 26th. No idea, then, what happened to Sheo Chand: I suspect he might have been on a working- or carrying party. There's no index in the book, I'm afraid, so finding reference to the 14th is difficult. Regarding Martin, a note states that "During the month" [April]" information was received that Captain C V Martin (Temporary Lt Col) attached Headquarters Staff, X Corps, had been killed in action on 24th March 1917" - his death was obviously extra regimentally employed. Sorry I can't find more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnie Posted 30 June , 2016 Author Share Posted 30 June , 2016 Steven, Many thanks for that. So the Battalion seem to have been in bivouac between the 21st and the 26th when they moved to Aveluy. Would they have been supplying carrying parties while they were in camped out of the line? I noticed that the regimental history seems to state that Martin was killed on the 24th March, while he actually died on the 27th, while we know that Chand was killed/died on the 24th. Is there a chance (and we might never be able to prove this) that Chand was with Martin? Johnnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 30 June , 2016 Share Posted 30 June , 2016 1 hour ago, johnnie said: Steven, Many thanks for that. So the Battalion seem to have been in bivouac between the 21st and the 26th when they moved to Aveluy. Would they have been supplying carrying parties while they were in camped out of the line? I noticed that the regimental history seems to state that Martin was killed on the 24th March, while he actually died on the 27th, while we know that Chand was killed/died on the 24th. Is there a chance (and we might never be able to prove this) that Chand was with Martin? Johnnie It is, I suppose, possible: Martin may well have taken an Orderly with him, I suppose. By the way, it's not 'Battalion', but 'Regiment' - cavalry units were not sub-divided into battalions as were infantry, but remained as discrete units. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberley John Lindsay Posted 30 June , 2016 Share Posted 30 June , 2016 Dear Johnnie, Your obscure Victory Medal to Chand has turned into quite an interesting research effort. One must admire Steven Broomfield's expertise and ability to find out such things. Kindest regards, Kim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 30 June , 2016 Share Posted 30 June , 2016 Too kind. I only wish we could find out more about the poor chap. By the way, his rank equates to Lance Corporal - Daffadar (or Duffadar) is a sergeant, a Lance Daffadar is a Corporal and an Acting Lance Daffadar is a Lance Corporal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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