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S/6291 Ernest A. C. Speller, 12th Rifle Brigade


WHJ-2

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The medals to Sargeant Ernest Arthur Chuck Speller include a Military Medal (gazetted in October of 1916) and the WW1 Trio.  His service papers show that he was wounded in action on 22 February 1916 and invalided back to England on 2 March 1916, then subsequently discharged on 11 August as medically unfit for duty.

 

The 12th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade was part of the 20th Division (60th Brigade).   Speller's service papers concerning his wound (bullet in right thigh and buried in a dug-out) suggest he was along the Ypres Salient when wounded.  Presumably, his actions leading to his MM award would have been around the time he was wounded or perhaps before.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to find out more information on why Sjt. Speller has the Military Medal or the action in which his unit was involved when he was wounded?

 

WHJ

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Clarifying his details would he be...

Arthur Ernest Church Speller b. 1893 - 1911 Census Chestnut Middlesex

 

War Diaries on Ancestry will have a search 12th Battalion - found The Rifle Brigade February 1916 Ref: 459 of 1946 & still looking.

 

Barbara

Edited by BarbaraG
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Need to ask the experts here - gentlemen who understand these things better than I. Although he appears in casualty lists no names given not on 22nd in Diary.

 

As to where they were..

 

STEENVORDE 1st Feb. S.E. of BOESINGHE (460 of 1046)

ELVERDINGHE 16th (471 of 1046)

22nd Morning was quiet...2pm ....Enemy retaliation ...Front line trenches shelled & FARGATE and W Bank of the CANAL heavily shelled.

4pm enemy commenced an intense bombardment & formed a barrage from Bridge 6D to 6E, which absolutely prevented any movement along the trench.

During this bombardment, the battalion had 4 men killed & 34 wounded. (472 of 1046)

Screen Shot 2016-08-21 at 07.52.59.png

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Yes, that probably is the same Speller (born in November 1892).

 

Thank you for that information.  With it, I now know where his unit was and what it was doing when he was wounded in action on 22 February 1916.  Still to be defined is why he was awarded the Military Medal.

 

WHJ

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20 hours ago, WHJ-2 said:

Still to be defined is why he was awarded the Military Medal.

 

WHJ

 

It it was a 'retrospective award' as the MM was not available when he was wounded/returned to the UK.  This blog from the TNA outlines some of the difficulties with recommendations regarding these awards.

http://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/blog/centenary-military-medal/

 

In other words it may not have been for a specific act, or as you suggest the recommendation may have been as a result of his actions before he was wounded.

 

 A likely candidate was recorded in the war diary for the 12th February et seq details a very active period when the 'trenches' (or connected shell holes) were attacked by a German bombing party.  There is a lot of harrowing detail of the defence, counter attacks and aftermath but  no ORs mentioned by name.  

On the 17th the CO  received a congratulatory message from the GOC, Brigade and  Divisional Commander on how the battalion conducted themselves on the night of the 11/12th.  A successful operation was always more likely for a recommendation to succeed.

 

Ken

 

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I think Ken is on the right track with that action. Such small unit fights often produced awards and as he pointed out a successful action was more likely to result in approved awards. This boosted morale & fighting spirit & a job well done.

But as pointed out it could also be for earlier action or accumulated acts of bravery. But the raid is more likely in my opinion.
 

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  • 1 year later...
On 21 August 2016 at 07:19, WHJ-2 said:

The medals to Sargeant Ernest Arthur Chuck Speller include a Military Medal (gazetted in October of 1916) and the WW1 Trio.  His service papers show that he was wounded in action on 22 February 1916 and invalided back to England on 2 March 1916, then subsequently discharged on 11 August as medically unfit for duty.

 

The 12th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade was part of the 20th Division (60th Brigade).   Speller's service papers concerning his wound (bullet in right thigh and buried in a dug-out) suggest he was along the Ypres Salient when wounded.  Presumably, his actions leading to his MM award would have been around the time he was wounded or perhaps before.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to find out more information on why Sjt. Speller has the Military Medal or the action in which his unit was involved when he was wounded?

 

WHJ

Can you confirm how the MM is named please

thanks

 

Edited by riflemanww1
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