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Remembered Today:

Trying get info on MM as it my great grandfather thanks


Brighty1994

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His service number of 23/136 tells us he originally joined the 23rd Battalion of the NF (4th Tyneside Scottish).

 

His medal roll tells us he first served overseas with 23rd Battalion but was at sometime posted to the 16th Battalion - however he was once again posted back to the 23rd in which he served last.

 

One way of finding out when a man was awarded an MM is to try to find his entry in the London Gazette, and a way of trying to find why is to look in the War Diary of the Battalion in which he was serving when he earned it.

 

Regards

 

Russ

 

PS: Welcome to the Forum !!

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Found in the Gazette along with a long list of other recipients

 

June 18th 1917

 

His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to award the Military Medal for bravery in the field to the undermentioned Non-commissioned Officers and Men: —
ord.JPG.c57940e487f655f00fa5662c36309479.JPG

 

 

 

 

And here is his MM "card" (courtesy TNA) which doesn't tell us much more - although it might mean he was with the 23rd Bn when he earned it - I'm not certain of that.

 

Regard

 

Russ

359679936_OrdMM.JPG.1f1a2efe1d8f41338c505e18fd2e1df4.JPG

 

 

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His low number of 136 tells me he was one of the founder members of the 23rd Bn when it was raised in November 1914.

 

I would recommend the book "Tyneside Scottish - 20th, 21st, 22nd & 23rd (Service) Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers" by Graham Stewart & John Sheen.

 

This will tell you all about their formation, training. deployment to France and their exploits once there.

 

23/136 N Ord is listed as an MM recipient in the book and he is also listed in the Appendix, which tells us that he was was wounded in September 1916. It is possible, that once he had recovered, this was the reason for why he was posted to the 16th Bn.

 

Regards

 

Russ

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His MM was most likely for the Battle of Arras in April 1917. I would check the 23rd Bn. war diary (as per the MM card) for April-May 1917.

His is probably one of a number of MMs awarded to the Battalion: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7353908

The prefix in the service no. gives the battalion. Just looking at those listed on the part LG page section that RussT posted above:

23/136 Nathaniel Ord, 23rd Bn.    85042

14240 Henry Purvis 23rd Bn.         85046

21/288 John R Palmer 21st Bn.      85022

26/601 G H Race 26th Bn.             85057

26/1183 E Reardon                       85084

There are at least 3 more MMs in that gazette to the 23rd Bn. (4th Tyneside Scottish) between 85042-46, and probably more either side.

The battalion were engaged in a major action from trenches at Roclincourt, north of Arras on 9-10th April 1917.

Edit - found a few more:

23/513 G A Thompson 85039

23/1370 Wm A Straker 85040

23/1074 Andrew Simpson

This means that there are at least 8 23rd Bn. MMs in the 18 June 1917 LG: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30135/supplement/6023

Edited by Ivor Anderson
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It looks like one of the field guns the Battalion captured on 9-10th April 1917 may have ended up in Newcastle as a war trophy:

The battalion was inspected by both the Corps & Divisional commanders on 18th April - though no mention of medal ribbons being presented.

(the battalion was also in a major action on the 29th April).

9127998_ScreenShot2021-04-25at17_23_16.png.0d3c33f1541afcfc77ceb92476f9904f.png

 

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On 17/04/2021 at 19:54, RussT said:

One way of finding out when a man was awarded an MM is to try to find his entry in the London Gazette, and a way of trying to find why is to look in the War Diary of the Battalion in which he was serving when he earned it.

 

On 17/04/2021 at 20:09, RussT said:

Found in the Gazette along with a long list of other recipients

June 18th 1917

Brighty,

Welcome to GWF,

Another place to look is to look out local newspaper articles - MM sometimes got a mention, even more rarely though perhaps with a photo.

:-) M

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