Captain Richard Durant Trotter, Rifle Brigade

[bigronhartley]

Hello Dick

I would be most grateful if you would kindly look to see if you can find anything on Richard Durant Trotter. He was at Eton circa 1901 and later at Trinity College, Cambridge. During the Great War he served as a Captain with the Rifle Brigade. Many thanks.

Regards

Ron

[sotonmate]

NA File

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1070497

[bigronhartley]

Hello sotonmate

Thanks very much for your interest, much appreciated.

Regards

Ron

[rflory]

From the Eton School Register, Part VII (1899-1909):

 

Captain Richard Durant Trotter

Eldest son of J Trotter of Brickendon Grange, Hertsford

Entered Eton in 1900 and left in 1905

A Banker

Served in France during the Great War with 6th Battalion, Rifle Brigade as Captain, Special Reserve

 

 

[DavidOwen]

It might be a red herring but he is mentioned as a "mentor" to EA Bowles in the latter's Wiki article, seems he was a keen horticulturist and active in the RHS (they may have some info?)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Augustus_Bowles

 

David

[bigronhartley]

Hello Dick

Thanks very much for your help.

Regards

Ron

Hello David

Thanks for the link, much appreciated

Regards

Ron

[Guest]

A few bits from officer file-nothing on his service in France with 3rd RB

 

 

RICHARD DURANT TROTTER               WO 339/16571

Application for Commission in Special Reserve (Army Form B.201)

-          Asks for commission in the Rifle Brigade

Born 9^th May 1887

Cambridge BA

 

Address- Breckendon Grange, Hertford

Educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge

OTC at Eton, with rank of Corporal. Left July 1905

Ride- No

9^th September- recommendation from Lt Col commanding 6^th RB at Sheerness

(Medical examination  -height 76” – 6’3”

APPLICATION FOR COMMISSION    Form MT 393. Dated 19^th August 1914

    For Temporary Commission  in the Regular Army for the duration of the war for duration of war

    Good character signed off by Felix Schuster (Occupation-“Baronet”), 45 Cadogan Place, SW

[This is Schuster the international banker and financier)

20^th August 1914- Certificate of matriculation from Cambridge, signed off by John Neville Keynes

Medical  -19^th Ausgust 1914 at Warley

 

Letter to WO-26^th August 1917- Asks to resign commission on account of recurrent effects of dysentery

Writes from Auxilliary Hospital for Officers, Taplow Priory, Bucks.

Contracted dysentery during 10 months service in France attached to 3^rd Rifle Brigade

Returned to England 19^th September 1915

Had been in hospital for the previous 8 months

Advised to resign commission by Sir James Fowler, Principal Medical Consultant, Millbank Hospital

   Trotter wrote_ “I have private means and do not wish to continue to draw pay for work for work which I am unable to perform-and if  allowed to resign  would make no further claim

 

 

18^th September 1915- Returned to England

27^th September 1915- Medical Board at Bedford-Granted 3 weeks sick leave

18^th October 1915- Granted leave by medical board

MEDICAL BOARD- Great Bentley, Essex  22^nd January 1916- under treatment for 2 months. Attached 7^th Reserve Brigade

MEDICAL BOARD- Great Bentley, Essex, 22^nd February 1916. He is attached to 7^th Reserve Brigade

    3 months sick leave

26^th May 1916- Medical  report by Captain Hill, RAMC, HQ, 7 Provisional Field Ambulance, Thorpe-Le-Soken

       Has recurrent attacks  of dysentery, especially in wet or cold weather. Unfit for field service but able to carry out duties in brigade

2^nd April- Medical Board- Fit for Home Service

30^th June 1916-Medical Board-Fit for Home Service

12^th January 1917  Trotter attached to 226 Infantry Brigade at Kirby Cross, Essex

1^st September 1917  Report by Lt Col. James Fowler, Queen Alexandra’s Military Hospital, Grosvenor Road, London. He had put on a little weight but was till very weak and incapable of exertion. Advised him to resign-if he regained his health, he could apply to be reinstated

11 October 1917- To Retired List

  

[bigronhartley]

Hello Mike

Many thanks for your help with regard to RICHARD DURANT TROTTER . It is much appreciated  

Regards

Ron

[stiletto_33853]

His time overseas with 3rd.

 

Andy

[bigronhartley]

Hello Andy

Thanks very much for  your help, and the list, can I ask what the source is please ?

Regards

Ron

[stiletto_33853]

Hi Ron,

 

Source is a file of all officers service completed by the Regiment in 1919 covering all battalions which was held at the Green Jackets museum. It is now in the Hampshire Archives at Winchester where most of the material from the Green Jackets museum is now kept. The file number is D/5172, I presume the other Green Jackets Officer service rolls must be there, however my main interest is the Rifle Brigade so I just photographed this file. It is composed of a lot of loose sheets and extremely useful covering day arrived in France, day they are despatched to their battalion in the field and what happened to them as you can see. It is compiled by date overseas rather than rank. There is also a large volume covering all officers in the Regiment going back to it's date of forming, this lists when born, school, when enrolled for the Rifle Brigade, when due to join the regiment from school, address and which RB officer recommended them. Also several very large volumes of attestation books, but these cover from after the war when the new number sequence was issued. However are very useful for those men re-emlisting as it covers their previous war service.

Hope this helps you.

 

Andy

Edited 20 February , 2018 by stiletto_33853

[bigronhartley]

Hello Andy

Thanks very much, an interesting source of information.

Regards

Ron