bargingalong Posted 23 November , 2019 Share Posted 23 November , 2019 I visited St Patrick's Church, Wigan this week - and photographed the board listing the members of the local Old Contemptibles. It is in the Memorial Chapel of the church, but not on display. It would be good to know a bit of its history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewThornton Posted 23 November , 2019 Author Share Posted 23 November , 2019 That's fantastic. The Wigan Branch didn't send Branch Reports for publication in The Old Contemptible so information from that source is very sparce indeed. Some of the unusual surnames will be easily traceable from the 1914 Star Roll, but it's a shame that the units the individual Chums had served with weren't recorded as that would have given some clues. However the 1939 Register could also unlock some information as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bargingalong Posted 23 November , 2019 Share Posted 23 November , 2019 Some of them come up on the Wigan Archives site: https://archives.wigan.gov.uk/archive/first-world-war-records/wigan-newspaper-extracts-1914-1918/186591 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwin astill Posted 23 November , 2019 Share Posted 23 November , 2019 From the Rifles' Museum Salisbury Edwin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewThornton Posted 23 November , 2019 Author Share Posted 23 November , 2019 Chum Tom Arthur Hicks served with "B" Company, 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire Regiment), his regimental number was 8594. Chum Hicks died on 11 June 1951. It's a shame that his memorial plaque was removed from his grave but at least it is cared for in the museum of his former Regiment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bargingalong Posted 6 December , 2019 Share Posted 6 December , 2019 An article from the Wigan Observer of September 1st 1928: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bargingalong Posted 6 December , 2019 Share Posted 6 December , 2019 Wigan Observer, September 19th 1936: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alisonmallen62 Posted 6 December , 2019 Share Posted 6 December , 2019 How can I find out if our Birmingham relatives were part of the Old Contemptibles Assoc - we looked when we visited the great unwashed in Edmund St but found nothing . Names are J Fairbrother, R Allen and J Perry if anyone can advise please. Fascinating article which I will read again and keep for our younger family members Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewThornton Posted 7 December , 2019 Author Share Posted 7 December , 2019 21 hours ago, Alisonmallen62 said: How can I find out if our Birmingham relatives were part of the Old Contemptibles Assoc - we looked when we visited the great unwashed in Edmund St but found nothing . Names are J Fairbrother, R Allen and J Perry if anyone can advise please. Fascinating article which I will read again and keep for our younger family members Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewThornton Posted 7 December , 2019 Author Share Posted 7 December , 2019 There was a Chum J. Allen in the Branch in 1936, formerly Royal Garrison Artillery, and Chum J. J. Perry, ex-Royal Field Artillery. I haven't come across any Fairbrothers in the Birmingham Branch as yet but there were two in the Coventry Branch at various times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alisonmallen62 Posted 7 December , 2019 Share Posted 7 December , 2019 I couldn’t see R Allen or J Prey mentioned and I truly don’t know if they were involved. Reg was Birmingham born n bred and in the Dorsetshire Regt and John a Coldstream Guard also a Brummie. Both my husbands grandfathers. I have posted elsewhere on them. It just would seem to me they were the sort to be a Chum. The Fairbrothers were Reg’s brother in laws. Next time were go the Contemptibles pub I will have a look at the photos in more depth it is hard at times when people are sitting and blocking the view and I dnt like to move them so I can see haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewThornton Posted 8 December , 2019 Author Share Posted 8 December , 2019 I am afraid that although there are a handful of photographs on display in The Old Contemptible with names on they do not have a complete nominal roll of the Birmingham Branch. Two Branch Memorial Rolls are known to survive - one held at Royal British Legion County Headquarters in Birmingham and the other in store at the Council House. The Branch records however do not survive. I do have a nominal roll for the Birmingham Branch that was published in The Old Contemptible in four parts during 1936, as well as additional names from earlier and later years - about 400 in total. I am also working on a nominal roll of Chums of all Branches of the Association at the moment and have recently published Part One of this, which contains the names of 3,000 Chums. Part Two is being prepared and will contain the details of a further 3,000 Chums, and a third instalment is planned. Because of the fragmentary nature of the available records, it is unlikely that a complete list of Chums will ever be produced. Based on the number of badges issued during the lifetime of the Association somewhere between 40,000 and 50,000 men (and one confirmed lady Chum) were members between 1925 and 1975. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bargingalong Posted 17 February , 2020 Share Posted 17 February , 2020 I have just come across this report of an Old Contemptibles parade in Liverpool in the Wigan Observer for August 29th 1929: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Scorer Posted 22 February , 2020 Share Posted 22 February , 2020 I have not long returned from a short visit to Oxford. Whilst there, I called into St Michael at the North Gate Church in Ship Street. I was pleasantly surprised to find an "Old Contemptibles Association" standard hanging with a couple of other military Association standards. It was in pretty good condition for it's age, and looks well looked after. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewThornton Posted 23 February , 2020 Author Share Posted 23 February , 2020 I've been collating information regarding Branch Standards (and King's Colours that were also carried by some Branches) and so far have information regarding over 100 of them, with images. It is quite interesting finding out what has happened to them over the years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 26 December , 2020 Share Posted 26 December , 2020 First post here but I was staring at my bookcase wondering what to read next and picked up a copy of African Trilogy by Alan Moorehead and found this inside. A quick internet search brought me here and I thought it may be of interest. Kevin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewThornton Posted 26 December , 2020 Author Share Posted 26 December , 2020 That is a very interesting leaflet, Kevin. It dates from 1949 and was published to coincide with the Mons Week appeal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Padre Bill Posted 8 January , 2021 Share Posted 8 January , 2021 Two images relating to the same Chums event - meeting of the Chorley Old Contemptibles Association Branch at the town's War Memorial - Astley Hall - in August 1928. One is from the Flickr site, sent by Wayne Christie, who states that his Great Grandfather is on the photograph, and the other a newspaper report via local historian Stuart Clewlow of the reunion, with a list of those in the photograph. As some of the front row are identified as Officers from the Blackburn Branch, it may be that it is a joint reunion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Clifton Posted 8 January , 2021 Share Posted 8 January , 2021 Hello Alison Whilst it might not help you much, try to have a look at their medal index cards, which are available online, either on the TNA website or the WFA website if you are a WFA member. If there is a date earlier than 23.11.14 opposite the 1914 Star box, they were qualified to join the Old Contemptibles (though they may not have done so), but if there is a later date, or no date at all, they were not. The OCA were very strict about that. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatWaldoHan Posted 28 May , 2022 Share Posted 28 May , 2022 Hi PatWaldoHan here. Re list of Old Contemptible badge holders. My grandfather James W Hannan served in Boar War. In Duke Wellington West Riding Regiment. As aka James W Instone he served in Cold stream guard's during great war. His Old Contemptible badge is number 3483 could you tell me if he registered his real name. Thanks Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Padre Bill Posted 29 May , 2022 Share Posted 29 May , 2022 Discovered this tablet in the church of St Martin-in-the-Bullring, Birmingham: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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