Lt. Peter Reid - York & Lancaster Regiment - MC 1917

[Ivor Anderson]

I am posting the details that I have researched regarding an Orkney born WW1 soldier called PETER REID who was commissioned into the York & Lancaster Regiment in July 1916 and was awarded the MC in 1917 - for the record, and the information of others who may be interested.

I got his service record from the National Archives but I cannot find him in the Army List? Were territorial officers listed?

 

Born: High St., Kirkwall, Orkney 30th January 1880 to James Reid & Elizabeth (Sutherland).

1881 & 1891 census - Kirkwall Orkney. Three older brothers: James, Robert & William, & sister Elizabeth.

1901 census - Toxteth Park, Lancashire - occ. 'tailor’s cutter'.

1911 census - 26 St. George’s Square, Regent’s Park, London, occ.'tailor’s cutter'

Joined 2nd County of London Yeomanry 14th September 1914 - nos. 2260 & 115442. Occ. 'chef assistant cutter in 'Lesley & Roberts', George's St., Hanover Square.

            L. Corporal 27-04-1915, Corporal 02-12-1915 - 3/5 York & Lancaster Regiment.   Previously served 3 years in 1st Orkney Garrison Artillery (Territorials) until 1902.

 

Recommended for a Commission 27 December 1915. Approved 15-01-1916. Sent to Officer Cadet Unit at Pembroke College Cambridge 02-03-1916

Commissioned 2nd Lieut. 5th York & Lancaster 17-07-1916 (Mother, Mrs E. Reid, then at 3 Wellington Street, Kirkwall - Father died 14-04-1905) 

Commissioned into the York & Lancaster Regiment TF London Gazette Fri. 21st July 1916, no. 29675, p.7227 (Sheffield Daily Telegraph Sat. 22nd July 1916).

 

His Medal Card says he arrived in France 1-1-1917. Served with 6th York & Lancaster.

Wounded during Battle of Messines near Osttaverne on 14th June 1917 (bullet wound through left shoulder).

Arrived back in England (Boulogne-Dover) 20th June 1917 - Granted 8 weeks leave 20th June to 25 September 1917.

Awarded the Military Cross for 14th June 1917 - London Gazette 25th August 1917, p.8815 (in Sheffield Daily Telegraph & Leeds Mercury, Mon. 27th August 1917)

Named as wounded in June War Diary and MC award recorded at end of July War Diary of 6th York & Lancaster Regiment (32nd Brigade, 11th Division)

His Military Cross engraved inscription says presented 5th December 1917 (confirmed by his Military Cross Card at the National Archives).

There was an investiture by King George V at Buckingham Palace on that date for c.200 personnel (inc. 7 VCs) recorded in several newspapers.

 

Transferred to 2/5th Y&L 10th December 1917 (at Vaudricourt/ Caucourt)

Promoted to Lieutenant LG 2-3-1918 p. 2696 (as from 17th January 1918).

3rd February 1918 2/5th Y&L disbanded at St. Aubin. Peter Reid transferred with 12 other officers & 221 O.R. to 2/4th Y&L. 

 

Peter Reid wounded again on 28th March 1918 during an attack by 2/4th Y&L and other battalions on Rossignol Wood (S.W. of Arras, S.E. of Gommecourt).

Returned to England Calais-Dover due to 'wounds to left hip and arm', arriving 1st April 1918.

Wound confirmed 'slight not permanent' on 10 April 1918 - 6 weeks leave.

Classed 'unfit' for further 3 months on 29-07-1918 - 'in an officers' hospital' August-September. Further leave approved until 07-10-1918

Later found to have 'recovered completely' and 'can returned to duty' by medical board on 17-12-1918 - posted to 4th (Reserve) Y&L at Southend on Sea.

 

1938 7 December - address on back of Medal card - 36 School Green Lane, Fulwood, Sheffield? War & Victory medals also claimed 7-12-1938.

1939 Census -'Master Tailor', single, Marylebone, London.

Died 15th December 1942, 24 Clifton-hill, St. John's Wood, London - effects £26,769.

Buried: St. Olaf's Cemetery, Kirkwall, Orkney (Plot 21/4, old section) 'youngest son of the late James & Elizabeth Reid'.

 

 

 

 

Edited 8 March , 2020 by Ivor Anderson
Additions

[593jones]

This is interesting for me, as Lt Reid arrived in France on the same day as my grandfather, and served in the same battalion, 6th York and Lancaster.  I don't know much about the activities of the battalion, so it is very interesting to see they were in action in the Battle of Messines.  I knew, from The Long, Long Trail, that the division had served at Messines and during Third Ypres, but  have seen very little about the 6th Y & L, or, indeed, about 32 Brigade.  Thank you.

[Ivor Anderson]

Glad there is some helpful overlap. On 17-01-1917 the 6th Battalion had one officer dead and 5 wounded with 9 other ranks killed, 92 wounded and 12 missing near Beaucourt, S/Ancre. Peter Reid was only with the 6th Battalion until he was wounded in June 1917.

These pages from the War Diary for late June & July 1917 record his being wounded and the award of his MC:

Edited 9 March , 2020 by Ivor Anderson
Additions

[Kimberley John Lindsay]

Dear Ivor,

Good research work. Well done!

Interesting that he claimed his War Medals as late as 1938 - only four years before his premature death...

Kindest regards,

Kim.

[Ivor Anderson]

Just found Peter Reid in the Monthly Army Lists (which include territorial officers) for June 1917! 

Listed under 5th Battalion (to which he was commissioned on 17-07-1916) but serving with the 6th (6) in brackets.

Name listed almost half-way down the 2nd column.

Fully searchable Monthly Army Lists available here (FREE): https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/105432622

 

Edited 9 March , 2020 by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

The Military Cross Index Card for Lt. Peter Reid from the National Archives WO 389/20/3 confirming its presentation on 5th December 1917:

Annotated Citation confirming the place and date of the action (Source TNA):

Edited 23 February by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

Grave in St Olaf's Cemetery, Kirkwall - died 15 Dec 1942

 

Edited 22 December , 2022 by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

Front pages from his service record - source TNA:

[Ivor Anderson]

I am very pleased to report that this MC is going back to ORKNEY (where Peter Reid was born and is buried) to the guardianship of a dedicated local collector: