Pte. William Haggas MM, 1998 W. York Regt. & 202682 2nd Highland Light Infantry

[Ivor Anderson]

Pte. William Haggas MM, 1998 & 202682, 2nd Highland Light Infantry

 

Entered France 15 April 1915 (MIC) with 7th W. Yorkshire Regiment (1998). From Leeds at enlistment.

Later with 14th & 2nd Bn. Highland Light Infantry. Entitled to BWM, VM & 1914-15 Star. Sergeant at demob in 1919 (Medal Roll).

I cannot find a surviving service record, or pinpoint him pre-WW1?

Awarded MM with 2nd Highland Light Infantry for Battle of Amiens - LG (Supp. 31227) 13 March 1919, schedule no. 210689.

Sad to see his MM in such poor condition with the suspender missing:

MM Index Card - TNA WO-372-23-114714

Edited 12 December , 2020 by Ivor Anderson

[Mark1959]

1918 Absent Voter List for Leeds give his address as 21 Richmond Road, Leeds.

This means this record from 1911 is relevant. Parents Robert and Elizabeth only married 2 years. Think likely his natural mother is Hannah and he was born 9/10/98. Married 1923. Died 1978. TBC but all seems to fit as found a divorce of Robert Wright Haggas and Hannah in 1908/9. Robert and Hannah were married in 1894

edit

Yes. All correct. Divorce papers show Richmond Road address. Died 6/10/1978

Edited 12 December , 2020 by Mark1959

[Ivor Anderson]

Thanks Mark. That was my main lead, but your absent voters list confirms it is him. Great!  

Baptised St. Peter's, Leeds: https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=2252&h=7588894&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=2352

Edited 12 December , 2020 by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

Parents actually married 1894 (father must have remarried): https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/2253/images/32355_249428-00108?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=8261670

This is relevant: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/5085/images/41238_1831115184_2006-00221?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=142460

Edited 12 December , 2020 by Ivor Anderson

[Mark1959]

Married Elizabeth Riley 2Q 1909. Registered Bramley

[Guest]

This gentleman, Bill Haggas, was our next door but one neighbour for 10 years when I was growing up in Blackpool - in a community where all the neighbours were known as Uncle/Auntie, he was of the respected generation known as Mr/Miss/Mrs so we knew him as Mr Haggas.  I just about remember his wife, although she passed away not long after we moved there.  My Mum used to get his shopping for him and we used to walk his dog when he was feeling tired.  I came across the grave for him and his wife recently and only then found that he had a MM, as it was noted on his gravestone.  I was surprised on doing a search to then find a picture of his medal.

[RaySearching]

 

Source Find a Grave

[RaySearching]

William  married Alice Grace in the July-Sept Qtr of 1923

from the register of Probate and wills

 

 

and welcome to the forum Beanstork

Hope Jack is in the best of health and has avoided Covid

 

Regards Ray

 

 

 

[Ivor Anderson]

8 hours ago, Beanstork said:

This gentleman, Bill Haggas, was our next door but one neighbour for 10 years when I was growing up in Blackpool - in a community where all the neighbours were known as Uncle/Auntie, he was of the respected generation known as Mr/Miss/Mrs so we knew him as Mr Haggas.  I just about remember his wife, although she passed away not long after we moved there.  My Mum used to get his shopping for him and we used to walk his dog when he was feeling tired.  I came across the grave for him and his wife recently and only then found that he had a MM, as it was noted on his gravestone.  I was surprised on doing a search to then find a picture of his medal.

Thanks Beanstork, and welcome to the forum. It is these personal connections that bring these brave old soldiers to life and make posting about them a joy.

His MM sold on ebay on 20th February 2021 for £282, so whoever bought it valued it despite its condition. Hopefully they will replace the missing suspender.

I think he won it during a major action of the battalion on 23rd August 1918, at 'Moyblain Trench', near Gomiecourt and Behagnies, during the 'Battle of Amiens', when the Bn. suffered 3 officers & 13 ORs killed, 6 officers & 132 ORs wounded and 19 missing.

 

Edited 21 April , 2021 by Ivor Anderson

[Matlock1418]

Hi all you medalers,

On 12/12/2020 at 16:48, Ivor Anderson said:

 

 

 

On 12/12/2020 at 16:48, Ivor Anderson said:

 

Am interested to note that the MM has the rank-appointment of Pte-LCpl. on it.

[MM MIC and the LG https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/13418/page/1188 also use this - Pte/L/Cpl and Pte (L/C) respectively]

Was this the common way of embossing MM for such recipients?

[Later war medals would only have rank of Pte and not appointment of LCpl - in fact I believe a paper slip explaining this was frequently sent with the medals in order to head off such enquires]

???

:-) M

 

Edit: @collectorsguide Howard, Rather hoping you may be able to help me/us out here please.

Edited 21 April , 2021 by Matlock1418
edit

[Ivor Anderson]

Another MM winner from the 2nd Highland Light Infantry: B-21232 Pte. Robert McAulay from Perth

Born c.1891. Parents Robert & Catherine McAulay. Arrived in France 5th October 1915.

MM in LG 30287 - 17th September 1917: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30287/supplement/9609

Died 1 October 1918: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/529779/r-mcaulay/

 

Edited 26 March , 2022 by Ivor Anderson