10th Squadron Machine Gun Corps

[Dravinger]

 

I’m currently researching a chap called Sidney Bartlett, a regular in the army having joined the 16th Lancers in 1909 (Service number 1723). He served in the 17th (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) Lancers in the Sialkot Cavalry Brigade at the start of the Great War and in 1916 transfered to the 10th Squadron, Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) (Service number 50802).

 

I’ve tracked down the Squadron’s War Diaries as far as late February 1918 when the last entry in it says they were in Marseilles preparing to go “over seas”. However, the headquarters war diary entry for 4th March says: “Orders received on 4th that 10th MG Squadron would not proceed with Brigade, but stand fast at Marseilles till further orders.”

 

Any suggestions to where / how I can find out what happened to Sidney’s Squadron or does someone out there know?

Many thanks

Andy

[david murdoch]

Looking at MGC(C) casualties on CWGC most have Squadron noted. There are a number of casualties for 10th  Squadron at the end of March 1918 indicating they were on the Western Front and involved in action resulting from the German spring offensive.  Casualties are either on Pozieres Memorial or buried in Gommecourt (reburials which have map reference of where body found) so in that general area. There are a couple more in early April - possibly died of wounds and one died in UK. 

[Dravinger]

Thanks David, I don't know why I didn't think of doing that - can't see the woods for the trees sometimes!

I'll keep on looking to see if I can work out which Division / Brigade they had joined. 

[kenf48]

I don't know but suspect they were posted as Army Troops in Third Army (reasoning below)

These units are listed on the LLT here, this shows a number went to Second Army:-

http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/machine-gun-corps-in-the-first-world-war/the-companies-and-battalions-of-the-machine-gun-corps/

scroll to bottom of the page.  The war diaries are at TNA but I don't think Ancestry has copied 'Army Troops' diaries. 

They retained their identity, i.e. 10th Squadron but  I can't pin down the higher formation at the moment.

 

I have found one wounded soldier (50823 Gregson) who, on the 11th April 1918 was admitted to 2/2 West Riding Division Field Ambulance then located at Souastre and part of 62nd (West Riding) Division. Though I'm not suggesting they were in that Division.  I have looked at the War Diary for the 62nd Battalion MGC which is very extensive and informative but no mention of MGC (Cav.) units. 

They were relieving 37th Division MG both units rotating  in and out of the line during very heavy fighting. 

One of the casualties noted by David and 'brought in' is shown with two men of the 8th Lincolns each killed on the 5th April, the 8th Lincolns were in 37th Division.

This at least does indicate there is strong circumstantial evidence that the 'further orders' saw them deployed in the fierce fighting around Bucquoy.

The 62nd Division were in Reserve when the German Offensive began but were placed under the orders of IV Corps, which was in Third Army. Whether 10th Squadron served/remained with Third Army needs more research.

 

The service record of 50791 John Collins is also informative.(and equally frustrating!) This shows he was at the Base on the 15th April, he  has a mention in dispatches for 7th April which I've not traced.  He was admitted to 2/1 'WFA' in December 1917. I don't know if that should be 'WRFA' but is a possibility.

 

One machine gunner, who was with the 9th Division has described this period when the Division returned from Italy, "Directly we arrived back on French soil we were rushed to the firing line....for several weeks it was absolutely chaos and during this time we took a terrible beating.'   

 

I imagine 10 Squadron's experience was similar.

Many MG units war diaries for March/April have been lost.

[Dravinger]

Thanks Ken, very informative and helpful.

I'd started looking down the 62nd Division and 41st Division route  (I found a reference that the 41st Division's 128th Brigade were near Rossignol Wood around 27/30th March when some of the casualties occured) and found the same as you - no mention of the 10th in thier MG unit war diaries at all which was frustrating... 

 

[FJR]

Hi Andy, I'm also trying to track the 10th MG Squadron after the Sialkot Brigade was broken up in March 1918.  Have you had any more luck? Cheers, Ben

 

[Michelle Young]

Welcome to the forum Ben. @Dravingerhasn't visited since December. I would suggest that you send him a private message.

Michelle 

[Dravinger]

7 hours ago, FJR said:

Hi Andy, I'm also trying to track the 10th MG Squadron after the Sialkot Brigade was broken up in March 1918.  Have you had any more luck? Cheers, Ben

 

Sorry Ben, I've not got any further with this I'm afraid 

Cheers

Andy

[FJR]

Thanks I'll keep searching and if I find anything will share.  I've checked various war diaries and orbats and the 10th doesnt appear after Feb 1918.  I wonder whether it was disbanded, as several of the MG squadrons/coys were at that time of reorganisation, and its members returned to their parent units. 

[FJR]

Next clue points to the squadron being disbanded in April 1918 https://vickersmg.blog/in-use/british-service/the-british-army/machine-gun-corps/machine-gun-corps-cavalry/