nomis$60 Posted 10 August , 2018 Share Posted 10 August , 2018 James Ezra Smalley was a Corporal killed in action on 26 September 1918. I am researching the individual and have visited his grave at Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy He was awarded the Military Medal but I can find no record of it in the London Gazette. Can anyone explain why it is not published in the gazette? Sometimes his initials are E J Smalley as on the Medal Index Card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomis$60 Posted 10 August , 2018 Author Share Posted 10 August , 2018 My hobby is buying medals and researching individual soldiers and if possible relating their part to the tactical (unit level) and wider picture. I do not do this for any financial gain much more out of respect for the individual. and their comrades. The attachment is what I have learnt about Cpl Smalley to date. I visited his grave on 24 April 2018. I would be grateful if anyone can fill in any details on his Military Medal award as I keep hitting a blank. Cpl_J_E_Smalley_MM_L'pool_R.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxD Posted 10 August , 2018 Share Posted 10 August , 2018 His LG entry is https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30476/supplement/843 (Often best found by searching with a man's number only) Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clk Posted 10 August , 2018 Share Posted 10 August , 2018 Hi nomis$60, It appears that he was attached to 165 Bde MGCoy when he 'won' his MM'. Image source: Findmypast - Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards The 'concentration' sheet in his CWGC records indicate that he was originally buried at trench map reference (sheet 36) S23.b.9.9.Link to a map (with modern landscape blend view) from December 1917. 1911 census link on Ancestry. Regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 10 August , 2018 Share Posted 10 August , 2018 Soldiers Died in the Great War adds that he was formerly Welsh Regt Ezra James Smalley (in that order) Born Liverpool Enlisted Manchester Place of Residence Manchester Service Number 44505 Formerly 40468 Rank Corporal Cause of Death Killed In Action Place of Death France & Flanders Decoration M.M. Date of Death 26th September 1918 Regiment King's (Liverpool Regiment), 6th Battalion Formerly Welsh Regiment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss002d6252 Posted 10 August , 2018 Share Posted 10 August , 2018 (edited) https://wargratuity.uk/war-gratuity-calculator/ Craig Edited 10 August , 2018 by ss002d6252 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxD Posted 10 August , 2018 Share Posted 10 August , 2018 Following up Charlie962's post. It is pretty clear from the place/date of burial that he was at that time with 1/6th King's whose diary places them exactly in the area east of Festubert and who lost 6 men killed that day, all of whom were initially buried in the area of S 29/S 30. Neither his medal card or the medal roll mention the MGC. I find nothing obvious in the 165 MG Coy diary for the few months prior to the Jan 1918 award. For what it is worth. Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 10 August , 2018 Share Posted 10 August , 2018 Presumably he was temporarily attached to 165 MGC Coy rather than posted. Hence no MGC number. Since both 165 MGC Co and 6th Kings L'pool were same 165 Bde then without a service record it becomes a bit difficult to say which unit he was with when. Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss002d6252 Posted 10 August , 2018 Share Posted 10 August , 2018 20 minutes ago, charlie962 said: Presumably he was temporarily attached to 165 MGC Coy rather than posted. Hence no MGC number. Since both 165 MGC Co and 6th Kings L'pool were same 165 Bde then without a service record it becomes a bit difficult to say which unit he was with when. Charlie Certainly not an uncommon occurrence. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomis$60 Posted 10 August , 2018 Author Share Posted 10 August , 2018 Very many thanks for your assistance. I have learnt a lot of additional information about Cpl J E Smalley MM L'pool R today. I will be able to progress my research. I assume information on what he won the Military Medal for is lost in time. Many thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 10 August , 2018 Share Posted 10 August , 2018 12 minutes ago, nomis$60 said: I assume information on what he won the Military Medal for is lost in time. Always a problem with MMs. Local papers are the best source. Since he came from Cheetham, Manchester papers may have something ? A quick search on FMP newspapers only seems to produce this hit relevant to his death. (excuse optical recognition errors) Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mancpal Posted 10 August , 2018 Share Posted 10 August , 2018 Charlie, please excuse my lack of knowledge but what are“optical recognition errors “? Could “British Wnunghnse” be British Westinghouse based at “Trsgorg Park” (Trafford Park)? For those without local knowledge, Westinghouse Lane still exists and is close to Old Trafford football ground, therefore still not in Manchester! Blue Moon, Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 10 August , 2018 Share Posted 10 August , 2018 (edited) 5 minutes ago, mancpal said: “optical recognition errors “? I may have used wrong term. I mean that FMP have used a computer to read the text and it often squirts out a certain amount of rubbish. You need to look at the original newspaper article which will be legible. Without a subscription I can do the search but not go to the next level down, the actual article. Edited 10 August , 2018 by charlie962 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mancpal Posted 10 August , 2018 Share Posted 10 August , 2018 Charlie, please don’t take my flippancy to heart. However, you say “often squirts out a certain amount of rubbish “, this brings me back to my last post about a certain footy club near Mcr. sorry for interrupting thread and I’ll now keep my lips shut . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 10 August , 2018 Share Posted 10 August , 2018 2 minutes ago, mancpal said: footy club Not offended. Not a fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxD Posted 11 August , 2018 Share Posted 11 August , 2018 The Westinghouse reference belongs to the paragraph before Smalley's. The actual article gives his name, address and date of death and says "he was a partner of Messrs J and A Smalley, paper merchants, Manchester. He is one of a number under the heading "Fallen Fighters". There is also a photograph. Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 11 August , 2018 Share Posted 11 August , 2018 3 hours ago, MaxD said: There is also a photograph. That would be an excellent result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxD Posted 16 August , 2018 Share Posted 16 August , 2018 Doesn't seem to have registered with the original poster! Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomis$60 Posted 1 October , 2018 Author Share Posted 1 October , 2018 Many thanks for all the support. I have updated my profile of Corporal Smalley. I will continue to research him and see if anything else turns up. Cpl_J_E_Smalley_MM_L'pool_R.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 17 April , 2019 Share Posted 17 April , 2019 Are you related. He was my great grandfathers brother. I have researched him slightly. My name is Stella Louise Smalley known as Louise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomis$60 Posted 20 April , 2019 Author Share Posted 20 April , 2019 I research soldiers of the King's (Liverpool Regiment) There is a book due out on the Liverpool Rifles which may have more information Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouiseAllen Posted 26 November , 2020 Share Posted 26 November , 2020 I have the book and now a lot of extensive research on my Great Uncle. Unfortunately some 30 odd years ago his medals were stolen from his nephews home and now sadly lost to us. I spend a lot of time searching for them in the hope of buying them back. If you are by any chance the now owner of his medals would you be so kind as to let me have some pictures of them showing the inscriptions. I would be thrilled and indebted to you. Many Thanks Louise Smalley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 26 November , 2020 Admin Share Posted 26 November , 2020 Welcome to the forum; nomis hasn't logged into the forum this year. You can send them a private message to try and contact them. Michelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouiseAllen Posted 27 November , 2020 Share Posted 27 November , 2020 Thank you Lou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now