Unravelling a soldiers past No 3

[RaySearching]

THOMAS HESLIN       True name Denis/Dennis O’Brien   

Private THOMAS HESLIN

3/6572 2nd Bn East Yorkshire Regiment

Dennis enlisted using the alias Thomas Heslin he entered the theatre of war in France on the 9th November 1914. First serving with the 1st Bn East Yorks before being transferred to the 2nd Bn East Yorks. He was killed in action on the 5th May 1915

The war diary records on the 4th May 1915 the battalion were in trenches at Ypres. The battalion were heavily  shelled from dawn to dusk , on the following day the 5th May  the battalion were violently shelled from 5 am to noon and 2 to 5 pm  as the Germans advanced  to within 300 yards of the battalions line

The battalion casualties are recorded as 35 killed 134 wounded 6 missing

The register of soldiers’ effects list his brother Patrick and sister Catherine Logan as the legatee of his effects

Whist he is shown on the CWGC register, MIC, medal rolls and SDGW, as Thomas Heslin his soldiers’ effects record reveal his true identity Dennis O’Brien, he is also commemorated on Middlesbrough war memorial under his true name, Dennis O’Brien

Listed on SDGW as born Maryport Cumberland enlisted Middlesbrough

YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

 

Denis O’Brien was the son of Denis and Eliza O’Brien originally from Ireland

Born in Crosscanonby Maryport Cumbria in 1873/4

Denis can be found on the 1881 census residing with his mother and siblings

110 Londsdale Road near Crosscanonby  Maryport Cumbria

 

1881 census

Name                               Age             Born

Eliza O'Brien                          27            Irelamd

Denis O'Brien                        7               Maryport

Mary J. O'Brien                     5               Middlesbrough

Patrick O'Brien                      3                Maryport

Catherine A. O'Brien            6 months     Maryport

 

On the 1891 census Denis can be found aged 17 at Crosscanonby residing with his uncle and aunt Owen and Ann McGann and family

 

His father Denis now a widower and siblings can be found on the 1901 census residing at 47 Nelson Street South Bank near Middlesbrough.  His father died in Middlesbrough in 1908

 

On the 22nd December 1901  1891 Denis enlisted into the Border Regiment giving his place of birth as Crosscanonby his age as 18 and his occupation as a labourer. He had previously served in the 3rd Bn Militia of the Border Regiment (discharged to permit him to enlist into the regular army

 

On the 2nd November 1893 Denis is shown to have deserted the army being deficient in kit to the value of £2.15s.0p

 

 Whilst his siblings can be found residing in the Middlesbrough area, Denis’s whereabouts on the 1911 census is unknown.  He had probably changed his name after deserting the army  

 

 

Image curtsy  of Ancestry

 

 

 

Edited 24 September , 2020 by RaySearching

[PRC]

2 hours ago, RaySearching said:

On the 22nd December 1901 Denis enlisted into the Border Regiment giving his place of birth as Crosscanonby his age as 18 and his occupation as a labourer. He had previously served in the 3rd Bn Militia of the Border Regiment (discharged to permit him to enlist into the regular army

 

On the 2nd November 1893 Denis is shown to have deserted the army being deficient in kit to the value of £2.15s.0p

 

Either the age on enlistment \ date of enlistment or the date of desertion is incorrect?

 

Going from a general search on the 1881 Census the Civil Registration District that covered Crosscannoby was Cockermouth. UKBMD also shows Cockermouth covering the civil parishes of Crosscannoby and Maryport. https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/cockermouth.html

 

A wildcard search of first name Den* applied to the Cockermouth Civil Registration District between Q1 1873 and Q4 1874 only brings up one match - the birth of a Dennis O'Brine was registered in the April to June quarter, (Q2), 1874. Unfortunately the sources I'm using don't have a mothers' maiden name transcribed for that one yet.

 

I encountered the same absence of a mothers maiden name for brother Patrick O'Brien, (Q1 1878) and sister Catherine Ann O'Brien, (Q4 1880).

 

Father Denis was already a widower by the time of the 1891 Census of England & Wales. Head of the household at 15 Mandle Street, Netherton, Cumberland, as well as children Patrick and Catherine he also has a 6 year old daughter Julia.

Netherton is shown on the Census schedule as being in the Civil Parish of Ellenborough & Ewanrigg. The birth place of all three children is shown as Ellenborough. Fortunately that parish is also covered by the Cockermouth Civil Registration District.

The birth of a Julia O'Brian was registered with the civil authorities in the Cockermouth District in Q4 1884. But still no mothers' maiden name, and I was only looking in case it gave another alternative to search for him on the 1911 Census.

 

The most likely death of the mother is probably that of the 36 year old Eliza O'Brien recorded in the Cockermoth District in Q2 1889.

 

Another line of enquiry might be to try and establish when that East Yorkshire Regiment Special Reservist number might have been issued. Paul Nixons' website doesn't reference whether the 3rd Battalion used it's own number range but seems likely as 6572 was issued by the Regular Army Battalions in the period 1900 - 1901.

https://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.com/2012/12/east-yorkshire-regiment-1st-and-2nd.html

 

It's just that if it pre-dates the 1911 Census then he may turn up there using the Heslin surname.

 

Hope some of that helps,

Peter

[RaySearching]

 

 

9 hours ago, PRC said:

Either the age on enlistment \ date of enlistment or the date of desertion is incorrect?

 

 

12 hours ago, RaySearching said:

On the 22nd December 1901 Denis enlisted into the Border Regiment giving his place of birth as Crosscanonby his age as 18 and his occupation as a labourer. He had previously served in the 3rd Bn Militia of the Border Regiment (discharged to permit him to enlist into the regular army

 

 

Well spotted Peter you are correct

  Typo on date of enlistment into the Border Regiment  should read 22nd December 1891

he has surviving service records (water damaged) for his his first enlistment into the Border Regiment

 

 

Regards Ray

[ss002d6252]

Searching numbers shows no evidence that the 3rd East Yorks used their own range in 1900 so presumably they fitted in to the regular sequence.

 

#6571        12 year        6 Nov 1900
#6573        12 year        10 Nov 1900
#6574        12 year        8 Nov 1900
#6576        12 year        10 Nov 1900
#6577        12 year        12 Nov 1900
#6579        12 year        13 Nov 1900

 

It seems he had probably enlisted using Heslin. As Peter suggests it would be less likely that he wasn't using the same surname for other things in 1911 as it seems he had continuos service in the reserve until 1914 using that name.

 

Craig

[PRC]

On 24/09/2020 at 09:39, RaySearching said:

he has surviving service records (water damaged) for his his first enlistment into the Border Regiment

 

Sorry - I was a bit too tired last night to delve into the military side so didn't spot these. Having enlisted on the 22nd December 1891, its difficult to make out due to a tear in the page, but looks like he was made Lance-Corporal in (possibly January) 1892, passed his professional exam for Corporal, (27-10-92) and then got his second stripe on the 16th January 1893. But there was a recurring disciplinary problem with drunkeness and he was busted back to the ranks in April 1893, a few months before he deserted. I could see how his plus sides might lead to his promotion later on in his time with the East Yorkshire Regiment.

 

Next of kin is his father living at 15 Mandel Street, Maryport which probably ties in with the address on the 1891 Census in some way. There is also a younger brother and sister.

 

On 24/09/2020 at 00:24, PRC said:

Another line of enquiry might be to try and establish when that East Yorkshire Regiment Special Reservist number might have been issued. Paul Nixons' website doesn't reference whether the 3rd Battalion used it's own number range but seems likely as 6572 was issued by the Regular Army Battalions in the period 1900 - 1901.

 

On 24/09/2020 at 10:22, ss002d6252 said:

Searching numbers shows no evidence that the 3rd East Yorks used their own range in 1900 so presumably they fitted in to the regular sequence.

 

Sorry Craig, I didn't express myself clearly. Even if he signed up for 12 years at the end of the period, (1901) he would have been time expired well before the outbreak of war. While I can understand one man, (Heslin), signing up for Army Reserve D for another four years, it would unlikely that everyone with nearby service numbers did the same. A quick look at the National Archive catalogue last night indicated that there are MiCs' for practically all the 3/657* service numbers.

 

So for my penance I've taken a closer look.

 

3/6570 Michael Bhones

MiC – 1st East Yorks, Landed France 9.11.14. 1914 Star, VM & BWM & SWB

SWB Roll (FMP transcription) – enlisted 20-Aug-14

 

3/6571 Henry Reid

MiC – Landed France 27.12.14. 1914/15 Star, VM & BWM. Remarks “Pres Dead”

SDGW Killed in action with the 1st Battalion 9th August 1915. Enlisted Hull.

 

3/6572 Thomas Heslin

 

3/6573 Thomas Hughes

Surviving Service Record. Enlisted 21st August 1914 West Hartlepool as a Special Reservist. Aged 41 years and 290 days, he was an unmarried dock labourer who had been discharged after 18 years service with the East Yorkshire Regiment at his own request. He was mobilised the next day to the 3rd Battalion and then posted to the 7th Battalion on the 15th September 1914. He was discharged for misconduct on the 12th October 1914. His address on discharge was Clapham, London.

 

3/6574 Thomas Bhones

MiC – VM & BWM. Remarks “KiA”

SDGW – “Died” 2nd November 1917 serving with the 1st Battalion. Born and enlisted Hull.

 

3/6574 Thomas Grannon

MiC – Landed France 27.12.14. 1914/15 Star, VM & BWM. Remarks”Accidentally killed”

No match SDGW or CWGC.???????

 

3/6576 S Mann

MiC – MiD London Gazette 4.1.17.

MiC – Sydney Mann National Archive catalogued as 8/6573.Ancestry indexed as 3/6576. Landed France 27.1.15. 1914/15 Star, VM & BWM & SWB. Remarks”Disch”

FMP doesn’t appear to have a SWB Roll transcription for him.

 

3/6577 George Barker

MiC (Ancestry) service number appears to be 3/6377 – Landed France 2.6.15. 1914/15 Star, VM & BWM. Remarks”Disemb”

FMP has an admissions record on the 2nd February 1917 for a Private 6377 G. Barker, 2 East Yorks at 31 CCS. Aged 21, he had 3 years service, 22 completed months with the Field Force.

Although it's an earlier number it would appear he enlisted late 1913\early 1914.

 

3/6578 Henry F Forge

MiC – 1st East Yorks, Landed France 9.11.14. 1914 Star, VM & BWM. Remarks “Disch”

 

3/6579 R. Bodilly

MiC (Ancestry) service number appears to be 3/6519. 1st East Yorks, Landed France 9.11.14. 1914 Star, VM & BWM.

Separate MiC for 6519 East York Regiment / 565025 Labour Corps Robert Bodilly, VM & BWM.

 

So first impression is that Thomas Heslin most likely enlisted Hull on the 20th / 21st August 1914. That doesn’t necessarily help with where he might have been on the 1901 & 1911 Censuses – if he was even recorded at all.

 

Cheers,

Peter

Edited 25 September , 2020 by PRC
Typo

[RaySearching]

Following on from Peters post above   (thanks Peter)

 

The silver war badge records show the enlistment dates of the following soldiers

 

Carr              3 /6565        enlisted 19/8/14

 

McGlashan   3/6569             enlisted 19/9/14

 

Addison         3/6589            enlisted 21/8/14

 

Clayton           3/6596            enlisted 21/8/14

 

Yeaman        3/6654           enlisted  21/8/14

 

So we can assume that the above soldiers were called up for service from army reserves

 

would I be correct in thinking  in this case that the prefix 3 indicates special reservists ?

 

 

42 minutes ago, PRC said:

So first impression is that Thomas Heslin most likely enlisted Hull on the 20th / 21st August 1914. That doesn’t necessarily help with where he might have been on the 1901 & 1911 Censuses – if he was even recorded at all.

 

Whilst the place of enlistment is not always correct on SDGW 

He is shown to have enlisted in Middlesbrough on SDGW which corresponds with where his siblings were residing

if this is correct then he must have been residing locally, to have received his call up papers as (Thomas Heslin)  

 

 

Ray

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tawhiri]

18 hours ago, PRC said:

A wildcard search of first name Den* applied to the Cockermouth Civil Registration District between Q1 1873 and Q4 1874 only brings up one match - the birth of a Dennis O'Brine was registered in the April to June quarter, (Q2), 1874. Unfortunately the sources I'm using don't have a mothers' maiden name transcribed for that one yet.

 

I encountered the same absence of a mothers maiden name for brother Patrick O'Brien, (Q1 1878) and sister Catherine Ann O'Brien, (Q4 1880).

Just to add to Peter's post, according the GRO Online Index Dennis' mother's maiden name was Duffey, as was Patrick and Catherine's mother's maiden name. Julia's mother's maiden name was recorded as Duffy, but we can probably put that down to a spelling variation, and assume that she has the same mother.

[PRC]

3 hours ago, RaySearching said:

So we can assume that the above soldiers were called up for service from army reserves

 

Based on the attestation form for Thomas Hughes and the recruitment dates identified above these are newly recruited men, albeit I suspect there is a healthy smattering of men who were time expired or had previous military experience. The basic term is set out in the header of the attestation form amd looks to me to be a rehash of that used in the Boer War.

 

(Source: FindMyPast)

 

What this means in reality is set out in question 16.

 

(Source: FindMyPast)

 

So unfortunately Thomas Heslin may have come into being on the day Dennis O'Brien walked into the recruiting office, or it may have been a personna that he had been using for the last 21 years since he deserted from the Border Regiment. But he wasn't under any legal obligation to report and no call up papers in that name. Just as Thomas Hughes volunteered at West Hartlepool but appears to live in Clapham, Dennis O'Brien may have travelled to Middlesbrough to enlist and actually may have been living elsewhere.

 

Cheers,

Peter

 

Edited 24 September , 2020 by PRC
Typo

[RaySearching]

Peter

Thanks for your input on this thread 

 

Ok will stick to the facts, Thomas Heslin  (alias Denis O’Brien)  enlisted (based on surrounding service numbers) on or around the 21st August 1914  shortly after war was declared,  placed in the 3rd (Reserve) Bn East Yorks (a training unit)  after a period of training  posted to the 1st Bn then posted/transferred to the 2nd Bn

He was of course an older recruit aged  abt 40 in 1914

He entering the theatre of war in France on 9th November 1914 just three months after enlisting

 

Where Denis O’Brien was residing and under what name since deserting the Border Regiment in

1893 is unknown  

He appears not to be married as his brother Patrick and sister Catherine are listed as the legatees of his effects

 

Don’t know why I had got it into my head that Thomas Heslin (alias O’Brien) was a reservist

If he had been a reservist as “Thomas Heslin”. He should have been able to have been found on the 1911 census under the name Thomas Heslin, as he cannot this leaves a question mark on whether or not he had been previously in the reserves,  the evidence so far suggests not

 

At least we now know Thomas Heslin's true identity, Denis O'Brien and his family details

His sacrifice not forgotten

 

Regards Ray

Edited 25 September , 2020 by RaySearching
spelling

[T, Fazzini]

In regard to  Private  3/6574  Thomas "Grannon"

His real identity was  3/6574 T Bhones [Alias crossed out on Grave Registration Report]

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/165899/T BHONES/

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/165899/T BHONES/#&gid=1&pid=1

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/165899/T BHONES/#&gid=1&pid=2

 

[Keith_history_buff]

On 24/09/2020 at 19:06, RaySearching said:

So we can assume that the above soldiers were called up for service from army reserves

The evidence below would suggest these men were civilians in August 1914. Some may have had prior military experience. If they had extended their service in the Army Reserve, then by definition, they would not be given new numbers.

  

On 24/09/2020 at 19:06, RaySearching said:

would I be correct in thinking  in this case that the prefix 3 indicates special reservists ?
..if this is correct then he must have been residing locally, to have received his call up papers as (Thomas Heslin)  

It he was still in the Army Reserve, then he could not have joined the Special Reserve. This man died prior to conscription, so he would not have been called up to perform compulsory military service. 

The  prefix would suggest having been in the Special Reserves, but legwork is required. Fortunately, the legwork has been done and is reproduced below.

One unforeseen circumstance of 1914 is the administrative confusion when (i) the service numbers issued to those who enlisted under Regular terms were similar to (ii)  the service numbers issued to those who enlisted under Special Reserve terms. In order to make service numbers distinctive, there was an order from on high. Army Council Instruction 144 dated 18th May 1915, to deal with the problem of duplicate numbering, and has been mentioned on Paul Nixon's blog.

Where such duplicate numbering existed, a soldier's regimental number would be prefixed by the number of the battalion in which he was serving thus, for example, 5/3492

 

https://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.com/2010/01/army-number-prefixes.html

  

On 24/09/2020 at 10:22, ss002d6252 said:

Searching numbers shows no evidence that the 3rd East Yorks used their own range in 1900 so presumably they fitted in to the regular sequence.

 

#6571        12 year        6 Nov 1900
#6573        12 year        10 Nov 1900
#6574        12 year        8 Nov 1900
#6576        12 year        10 Nov 1900
#6577        12 year        12 Nov 1900
#6579        12 year        13 Nov 1900

 

  

On 24/09/2020 at 19:06, RaySearching said:

Following on from Peters post above   (thanks Peter)

 

The silver war badge records show the enlistment dates of the following soldiers

 

Carr              3 /6565        enlisted 19/8/14

 

McGlashan   3/6569             enlisted 19/9/14

 

Addison         3/6589            enlisted 21/8/14

 

Clayton           3/6596            enlisted 21/8/14

 

Yeaman        3/6654           enlisted  21/8/14

 

Ray

 

It would appear that he reenlisted in the army under Special Reserve terms of service. In 1914, the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion was simply a pool of spare men. Whilst it would have contained men of the Special Reserve who were mobilised on 8 August 1914, it would have also contained men serving with the colours, and Army Reserve men who were mobilised too. Thereafter, trained recruits would have been in the battalion. As and when the 1st needed reinforcements, the 3rd would provide these, and they would be sent to France & Flanders. From what I have seen, men who reenlisted with prior military experience were prioritised when the drafts of reinforcements were sent over in 1914, and thus appear on the 1914 Star roll, such as O'Brien AKA HESLIN.

Based on the information above, the Special Reservists of the East Yorkshire Regiment appear to have had the "3/" prefix recorded, to distinguish them from regular counterparts. I suspect this may have been unofficially adopted for some administrative activities prior to the ACI being formally decreed in 1915. 

In some cases, the regimental clerk compiled separate BWM & VM rolls for men of the Special Reserve, as distinct from those who enlisted under Regular terms. This does make it easier when looking at a soldier, and trying to determine whether they were in the Special Reserve or not.

 

 

[PRC]

Chucking this one in for consideration, although there are some discrepancies.

 

In the surviving service records for Denis O’Brien he is recorded as having deserted from the Border Regiment on the 2nd November 1893. That would make him 19 years old.

 

On the 5th October 1893 a Thomas Heslin, aged 18 years 6 months enlisted at Nuneaton with the 3rd Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment. His service number was 4382. (Question – is it possible Denis was initially AWOL \ overstayed leave, and so could actually have been recorded missing from an earlier date?)

 

Here is the physical description of Denis O’Brien from his service record.

(Source: FindMyPast)

 

And here is Thomas Heslin.

 

Source: FindMyPast.

 

Both are shown as Roman Catholics.

 

Elsewhere in the record, Thomas Heslin gave his birthplace as the Parish of St James, Liverpool and occupation as Collier. His next of kin was his father. James Heslin, 18 Mansfield Street, Liverpool.

 

I could not find a Thomas Heslin born in Lancashire in 1875 +/- 2 years. The only James Heslin with a Liverpool connection on the 1891 Census of England & Wales that I could find was a 31 year old married man, born Liverpool and resident Chester. On the 1891 Census there are three households recorded at 18 Mansfield Street, Liverpool.

First: Michael Flynn, (40, Builders Labourer, born Dublin) and wife Ann, (45, born Liverpool).

Second: Mary Pendgras, (45, widower, charwoman, born Liverpool).

Third: James McHale, (48, Dock Labourer, born Ireland) and wife Elizabeth (49, born Liverpool).

On the 1901 Census of England & Wales there are two households recorded at that address, the Brindle’s and the Brownlow’s. Both households include children, so potentially James Heslin could have moved in with his family after the 1891 Census and before his son Thomas joined the Army in 1893.

 

Thomas Heslin signed up for 7 years in the colours and 5 in the reserves. After his initial training he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion on the 21st November 1893. On the 12th November 1894 he was imprisoned for 14 days by his C.O. From the 1st March 1895 he is shown as stationed in Egypt – this is most likely the date he left the UK. On the 18th March 1895 he was transferred to the 1st Battalion. His service record shows him leaving Egypt on the 25th November 1895 and arriving India the next day!

 

On the 13th November 1901, while still with the 1st Battalion, he opted to extend his time in the colours to the full twelve years. On the 17th November 1905 he is shown as being back in the UK. On the 20th November 1905 he was discharged on completion of his first period of engagement.

 

No obvious match for a Thomas Heslin from Liverpool born c1875 on the 1911 Census of England & Wales.

 

If such a man turned up at the recruiting office on the 20th / 21st August 1914, as long as he was physically fit, I’m sure he would have been welcome back with open arms by his old regiment. With 12 years service under his belt he would probably have been seen as someone who could quite quickly be sent to the front and be an effective soldier – and therefore worth signing up for a year.

 

The age and place of birth discrepancy can be ignored if you assume it’s the same man and as Thomas Heslin he is lieing – I’ve not been able to find anything so far in the civil records to corroborate Thomas Heslins’ back story.

 

But the date of desertion from the Border Regiment and the earlier date of the enlistment with the East Yorkshire Regiment is harder to account for.

 

Blue eyes vs Grey eyes and brown hair vs dark brown hair – I don’t know if the medical officers worked off standardised colour charts, otherwise it can get a bit subjective.

 

The additional scars on the East Yorkshire Regiment enlistment could reflect his time with the Border Regiment.

 

I’m not saying it’s definitely him and more than happy for it to be torn to pieces – like I said, just putting it out there for consideration.

 

Cheers,

Peter

[RaySearching]

Keith Thank you for your informative post on the Special Reserves

 

Peter

My gut feeling is that Heslin/O'Brien may have or had served pre war after deserting the Border Regiment, but he could have served in any unit using any alias

which may or may not  account for his absence on the censuses

 

He could have deserted and travelled to Ireland where he probably  had relatives and enlisted into one of the Irish regiments, which would turn out to be a nightmare to identify him  among all the Denis O'Brien's there  Pure speculation of course

 

Regarding the candidate you have put forward whilst I agree there are similarity's,  its not conclusive   The date your candidate enlisted being among the anomaly's 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ray

 

 

Nothing in research of this nature is cast in stone