Lt Frederick Ernest Hill

[mrfrank]

Would anyone happen to know which Company this officer was in - or even better - which platoon he was in command of in 1914/15 before departing for Gallipoli? Thanks in advance. 

Mike 

[Mark1959]

Regiment? It’s a common name.

if he is a Lt in Wilts one man with that name definitely went to Gallipoli. 

Reading http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/the-duke-of-edinburghs-wiltshire-regiment/ the 5th Battalion was the only Wilts one that went to Gallipol

Appears in 1916 List as with 8th Reserve Battalion.

Edited 24 August , 2019 by Mark1959

[charlie962]

I suspect this one: Oxford Uni Roll War Service

1911 Hill, F. E., B.A. (August 28, 1914). Lieutenant 5th Wiltshire Regiment Lieutenant, General List, employed Min. of National Service. Gallipoli, 1915.

 

Hospital Admission here doesn't give company.

 

charlie

 

You may need his service file at NA under this ref WO 339/11606

 

photo Bond of Sacrifice IWM here

 

Reading the War Diary Aug 1915 makes it clear why the interest !

Edited 24 August , 2019 by charlie962

[mrfrank]

Thanks for the replies, that's certainly the individual I'm interested in. 

Sorry, but as i know it's a fairly common name so I added the tag "5th Wiltshire" to the topic when posting so hopefully that's visible to forum members? I ask the question because I've recently purchased a platoon group photo that the majority of platoon members had signed to the mount. The framer's had pencil marked (as they do) the framing instructions to the reverse and it appears that a "Rev Hill" was the customer. Having looked at an Army List for early 1915 and finding a 'Lt F E Hill' listed there, I believe this is possibly this officer's father having the image framed after he'd got his platoon soldiers to sign his copy of the photo for him. Hence why I'm interested in finding out which platoon/Company it is. I've managed to identify the majority of those signed with the help of the medal rolls and will add the names to the thread for future reference/searching. 

 

Cheers

...... and the 'Bond of Sacrifice' image certainly looks like the officer in my photo :-) 

Edited 24 August , 2019 by mrfrank

[Kimberley John Lindsay]

Dear mrfrank,

By all means post a scan of the signed photograph - the kind (and knowlegeable) helpers would be pleased to see it!

Kindest regards,

Kim.

[alf mcm]

Mike,

 

There is a tree on Ancestry which shows a Frederick Ernest Hill, born in India in 1891, whose father was Rev. Frederick Charles Hill. This could be your man.  https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/77029625/person/170038542668/facts?_phsrc=bmY32319&_phstart=successSource

 

Regards,

 

Alf McM

[mrfrank]

Looks like that's my man with his Reverend father arranging the framing. The image mount has a Cirencester photographers stamp so believe the image dates to Dec 1914 - Feb 1915 whilst they were at Cicely Barracks, Cirencester. I've looked at 'The Wardrobe' website and they have a similar image of what appears to be another platoon from this battalion possibly taken at the same time at Bathurst Park.  Will post images of the platoon photo here tomorrow and will also list what I have so far regarding the soldiers who have signed. 

Many thanks to all. 

Edited 24 August , 2019 by mrfrank

[Tom P-C]

Not sure whether this is your man appearing as father of the bride in a wedding announcement [Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 28 July 1948].  Despite it being a common name, I mention it because of the connection with Aldro School.  If it is him you may be in luck that the archivist there has correspondence, diaries, letters, magazine articles etc. which could unlock a great deal more information for you.  Worth a quick call to Nick Swan, the archivist there (though possibly on holiday till early Sept).

Best wishes,

Tom

[mrfrank]

Thanks for the school link - I'll chase that up. 

Here's some images of the photo in question. 49 men present and 40 signatures present to the mount. I believe the officer is Lt Frederick Ernest Hill. Here are those probably identified thus far from the incomplete medal rolls, a fair number of service numbers fall in the run 9443-9483 joining on the outbreak of war:

 

NCOs:

Sgt John Ayris 3/164

Cpl Henry Playford 11309

Cpl Edward Consitt 9468

L/Cpl Percy F South 9444

L/Cpl Cecil George Starr 11766 - KIA 11Aug15

L/Cpl Leonard Arthur Cox 9449 - KIA 10Aug15

 

Privates:

Herbert C Stevens 9646

Ernest Quartermaine 9483

Ernest Neeve 9470 (MGC 61993)

Stephen H Chance 9466

Harry J Roberts 12546 

Ernest Jellett 9505 (signature looks like 'Pellett')?

Charles F Hale 14282? (service number too high for early 1915?) 

Francis Gorton 9462 MM 

William G Gage 9521 - KIA 25Aug15 

Percy J Aubertin 9443

Lawrence A Williams 10787 - KIA 29Mar18

Charles M White 10169

Arthur J Templeman 11772

William H Faulkner 11771

Edward Marshman 9455

Percival Bartholomew 9451

Charles William Windless 9452 - KIA 19Oct15

Harry Prewett 9463 - KIA 29Mar17

Edward Clack 9459

Charles V Applegate 9447

William Higgs 9456 OR William George Higgs 9490 KIA 10Aug15

Henry Cull 9465

Walter Bassett 9422

John Crook 10005 

Bertram Wootton 9445

James Hacker 9458

 

Those unidentified (can't find in medal roll or signature not 100% clear) that members may be able to help me with! 

 

Sgt Ercott or Escott?

L/Cpl Scorar?

 

B Lewis 

W Cale or Cole?

J Latham 

W Cooper/ Hooper (unclear -will post image of signature)

F V Chapman?

HJ Smith (again signature difficult)?

 

 

 

 

 

[mrfrank]

Chapman signature and what I'm seeing as 'HJ Smith' above and to the right? 

[mrfrank]

To the bottom and fainter ......I'm seeing 'W Cooper or Hooper'? 

[mrfrank]

The NCOs block with 'Ercott/Escott and WR Scorar'? Any assistance/suggestions gratefully accepted! 

Could be William R Scorrar 11538 and later Royal Engineers, medal roll states rank Private and theatre of war states 3 not 2B despite the date of entry of 12Jul15 tallying for 5Wilts? 

Edited 25 August , 2019 by mrfrank

[charlie962]

L Cpl W R Scorrar 11535 of 5th Wilts was wounded per CasList of 16/9/15  (could be transcript error)

 

His Service Record survives and says 11538. William Reed Scorrar. Afterwards he went to Mespot with RE.

Med 30/6/15 -

 

Charlie

Edited 25 August , 2019 by charlie962

[charlie962]

There's an Albert E Escott, sgt, 3/207  From Wiltshire Regt(3rd(Res) & 5th Bns) to Northumberland Fusiliers 56773 a/CSM

MIC gives entry 2B 30/6/15

[mrfrank]

Thanks Charlie, that's those two identified. Appreciate your help.

[charlie962]

7 hours ago, mrfrank said:

F V Chapman?

Frank Victor Chapman 9425 5th Wilts , 2B 30/6/15, 36599 Suffolk Regt per MIC but Cambridgeshire per SDGW and CWGC .   KiA 26/9/17

 

 

[mrfrank]

Well found sir! After trying to work out how I’d missed him, all I can see is that it’s spelt ‘Wilthsire’ on the medal roll database. It’s a bit of a lottery. Many thanks! 

[Kimberley John Lindsay]

Dear mrfrank,

Yes, Charlie is the man to go to, when in trouble!

Kindest regards,

Kim.