DIGC at Mudros

[michaeldr]

Deputy Inspector-General of Communications - Mudros

 

1] There is a very detail biography of Major-General G. F. Ellison here

https://www.anzac-biographies.com/2017/05/29/ellison-major-general-sir-gerald-francis-kcb-kcmg-mid/

which states that

“His qualifying date for entering a theatre of war was listed as 15th July 1915

and for Gallipoli and Egypt, August 1915 as written on his medal index card.” *

* edit: this August entry must be a mistake - see the next post below quoting Hamilton meets Ellison on Imbros 27th July

 

That bio also has

“In the London Gazette of 17th August 1915, page 8239, it was recorded under Special Appointments that Major-General Gerald F Ellison CB was to be Deputy Inspector-General of Communications.”

(my emphasis)

 

2] per Google – the book Reconsidering Gallipoli has on p.52 NOTES – Major-General G. F. Ellison was briefly deputy inspector general of communications at Mudros.

(my emphasis)

 

3] per the OH, Vol.II, p.487, Ellison succeeded Br.-Gen S. H. Winter as DQG on 7^th August

 

I think (?) that this indicates that Ellison was DIGC before he went on to be DQG

 

Can anyone tell me who succeeded Ellison as DIGC at Mudros on 7^th August 1915

OR

can anyone confirm that Ellison held both posts (had two hats if you will) beyond 7 August 1915?

 

Thanks in advance for any help here

Michael

Edited 21 June , 2020 by michaeldr

[michaeldr]

Re item 1 above

Not sure how much it adds (if anything) but, Hamilton's Diary mentions his meeting with Ellison on Imbros on 27^th July 1915 (see p. 32 here https://www.gutenberg.org/files/22021/22021-h/22021-h.htm )

[michaeldr]

It seems that most of the answer to this query can be found in 'Gallipoli – New Perspectives on the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force 1915-16' edited by Crawley & LoCicero. Rhys Crawley's chapter 'Shaping Operations: General Headquarters and the Gallipoli Campaign' has many useful details

 

25^th May 1915: Hamilton asks London to send him an Inspector-General of Communications (IGC)

Against Hamilton's advice, London selected Maj-Gen Alexander Wallace,.

7^th June: Wallace arrived, but minus staff at first. In the event, he was without any experience of logistics or systems, and way out of his depth

6th July: Hamilton writes to K requesting a replacement for Wallace

15^th - 27th July: Maj-Gen Ellison arrived in theatre and he probably also commenced as DIGC at that time

22th July: Lieut-Gen Edward Altham arrives as replacement IGC – with consequent 'improvement … almost instantaneous'

6^th August: The health of Brig-Gen S H Winter, DQMG, finally breaks down and he is is sent home

7^th August: Maj-Gen Ellison is appointed DQMG to replace Winter

 

Crawley writes that Altham transferred his department from Imbros to Mudros and

“freed the DQMG and DAG from their work on the lines of communication”

which appears to indicate that Ellison was no longer involved in that department

 

Maj-Gen Ellison seems to have remained as DQMG until very late in the campaign,

becoming (briefly) Birdwood's CGS MEF before the arrival on 27 October of Gen. Sir Charles Monro and his CGS Maj-Gen Lynden-Bell

At this point Ellison moves to Egypt in command of the Base at Alexandria

 

Does anyone know who Lt-Gen Altham's deputy was?

 

Edited 21 June , 2020 by michaeldr

[michaeldr]

On 21/06/2020 at 11:06, michaeldr said:

Does anyone know who Lt-Gen Altham's deputy was?

 

For the record, when Altham took over he had as his DIGC, Maj-Gen A. Wallace CB

My thanks to Alantwo for this info