2nd & 6th battalions, Royal Berkshire regt.

[Mac657]

Hello all,

 

I'm researching a particular relative of mine who transferred from 2nd Royal Berkshires to the 6th bn at some unknown time and i'm trying to pinpoint when he moved.

 

I know for certain that he was with the 2nd bn when they fought at Neuve Chappelle in 1915 and i know that he was with the 6th bn at the Somme on 1st July 1916, so he transferred some time between those dates. And i know that he would likely have been a senior NCO as he was a CSM at the Somme.

 

I'm guessing that it was a case of routine postings between the battalions as and when they needed replacements ? But i just wondered if there were any 'block transfers' that may have occured of experienced troops, bearing in mind the 2nd was a regular battalion and the 6th a New Army one. I cannot find any reference in either battalions war diary regarding 'block transfers' which makes me think it was on a more individual basis.

 

There are personal papers stored at the regimantal museum in Salisbury, which i will view asap (i've only just found out about him),  however any help in the meantime would be much appreciated.

 

Mac.

[kenf48]

Name and regimental number might help us to help you.  

 

 

Ken

[Mac657]

Thanks Ken,

 

He was 8244 WO2 Frederick Arthur Sayer, Company Sergeant Major, A company, 6 R Berks on 1st July 1916. He received a DCM for this action.  In 1911 he was a L/Cpl with 2nd bn in India. As a result of a wound received on 1st July he was transferred to the Labour corps, (No-515933).

 

Regards,

 

Mac.

[sotonmate]

The DCM citation states that he was wounded at the same time as he killed a German sniper. He is likely to have been signed off the strength of 2 Bn. for treatment and recovery, replaced there, and when fit would have been drafted to the next Battalion needing his rank and services.

The Berkshires museum, The Wardrobe, has war diaries available online, a bit of a task but it is probable that he is named when he joins 6 Bn.

[springer]

Mac

 

 

The following may assist. I did some researching the R/Berks Regt DCM winners a number of years ago.  I suspect that after being wounded in 1915, then recovered he was posted to the 6th Battalion as an experienced soldier to assist as it were. I don't think there were any block postings apart from when the 6th Battalion were disbanded in 1918 and groups were sent to other R/Berks Battalions. 

 

Cheers

Springer

 

 

 

8244 C.S.M. Fredrick Arthur SAYER D.C.M. 6th Bn Royal Berkshire Regiment.

Citation

For conspicuous bravery throughout an attack. Towards the end of the day an enemy sniper was holding up the advance and C.S.M. SAYER went into the open and managed to kill the sniper, being wounded himself by the sniper as he fired at him.

(L.G. 20th Oct 1916)

 

SAYER served in India in the 2^nd Battalion having been posted to them in 1907 having already spent three years in the 1^st Bn. being posted to B Coy  at one time he served in ‘E’ Coy under Capt ALDWORTH.

 

He had his medal presented at Reading Barracks by Lt Col CHASE. He lived at 29 Swainstone Road, Reading. CHASE said the medal was won for a very gallant act which was performed on July 1st 1916, the first day of the Somme battle. Towards the end of the day an enemy sniper was holding up the advance when CSM SAYER went into the open and managed to kill the sniper. SAYER being wounded in the left shoulder. (This was his third wound his arm being fractured in three places) Going to a Military hospital in Nottingham

CSM SAYER told him that in front of the Berkshire line, about 20 yards in front there was a German sniper and that he was doing a great deal of execution amongst our fellows, in fact he had put out of action about 30 of them and two officers. CSM SAYER went out to the front himself with a revolver and killed this man. They could not very well imagine a greater act of gallantry than this. He offered him his congratulations of all ranks of the Regiment. He must understand that in obtaining that medal he had not only done a great thing for himself but had added to the previous laurels won by the Regiment those honours already very numerous.

 

A photo appeared in the Chronicle dated 15th June 1917 showing CSM SAYER on his wedding day when he married Miss Ada MOORE of 41 Blenhelm Gardens Reading. At this time he was displaying two wound stripes. He had once been accidentally wounded at Bombing Practice. And had also been wounded at Neuve Chapelle.

 

Wounded for the third time during the great advance on July 1^st, Hit by a Machine gun bullet which penetrated his left shoulder, and fractured the arm in three places. He is now in the General Hospital in Nottingham and is progressing favourably

 

On the 3rd April 1918 he transferred to the Labour Corps.

 

On the 23^rd July 1921 and on the 28^th July 1923 he attended the OCA Dinners at Reading Town Hall and in the 30s

 

The following medals are in the Regimental Museum,

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Queens South African Medal 1899-1902

Kings South African Medal 1901-1902

Long Service and good Conduct Medal

 

[Mac657]

Springer,  firstly, i   must apologise for the delay replying.  I missed the email notification .

 

Secondly,  thank you very much for the information that you supplied.  I was aware of the circumstances of his award but you've given much more detail. I'm particularly grateful for the dates he served in individual units which is what i was really after and fills in some blanks.

 

It's interesting that you list his medals at the regimental museum because they do not come up on a search of their archives. Other documents do, so I'll confirm when I visit to view them. I also  have the photo of his wedding which I will upload.

Thanks again I appreciate your help.

 

Mac.

[Mac657]

Springer, here is the wedding photo that you referred to in your post above;

 

"A photo appeared in the Chronicle dated 15th June 1917 showing CSM SAYER on his wedding day when he married Miss Ada MOORE of 41 Blenhelm Gardens Reading. At this time he was displaying two wound stripes. He had once been accidentally wounded at Bombing Practice. And had also been wounded at Neuve Chapelle".

[springer]

Dear Mac

 

Glad to have been of assistance. That image is in fact on the museum website within the Regimental archive. I think it originated from a local newspaper [Not 100% sure]. Treat with caution the reference to Boer War Medals in the Museum, I might have copied info from another soldier. I will check through some old records and see what I can find.

 

Good luck with your research.

 

Cheers

 

Springer

[Old Harry]

Mac

 

I am having the same problem concerning my uncle, 37322 Pte Frederick Percy Clark, and have tended to come to the same conclusion as you. He transferred from the 2/1st Berkshire Yeomanry to the 2nd Bn Royal Berkshire Regiment and arrived in France in a draft of 95 ORs on 29th Sept 1916. At some stage he transferred to the 8th Bn, but I can't find when.

 

A recently-discovered photo of him in combat uniform with a rifle, apparently taken in England, shows a wound stripe on his arm. On the 29th Sept  the 2nd Bn went into the front line trenches until 3rd October; during which time they had a man killed and several wounded. Three weeks later they spent 6 days in the front line and suffered heavy casualties – 5 officers were killed and 5, including the Chaplain, wounded, while 72 ORs were killed or missing and 128 wounded. I wonder if my uncle was among the latter?

 

You say that you cannot find any 'block transfers' from one bn to another. The 2nd Bn's War Diary, which is online, is full of them. However, there is no record of any transfers from the 2nd to the 8th, and no other mention of my uncle until he was killed on 21th March 1918. I'm glad you have received plenty of information about your relative.

 

Roy.