Military Medal Citation Query

[MDPMicahDominicParsons]

Hello everyone,

 

I have hit hit a bit of a brick wall. I have been trying to find Military Medal Citations and pictures of the following men from The 1/6th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

 

Corporal F.J. McKay (20839).

Private T.A. Woskett (5563).

Private C.H. Exley (26253).

Private T. Benzing (1952).

Serjeant W. Channing (2698).

Lance Corporal A.E. Bayliss (1531).

Serjeant L. Bardell (2624).

 

I was also hoping to find some more information about Corporal C. Etheridge (20867), Lance Corporal J. Baker (242855), Private W.G. Davies (5743), Private W.C. Smith (20743) and Private C. Doody (20855).

 

It seems that these medals were all awarded for actions in February and March 1917.

 

I have really hit a brick wall in my research and I was hoping to include information about these men in a video that is being created featuring a specially commissioned piece of music from a well known composer in the film industry. Any further information or images would be much appreciated.

 

Best Wishes,

 

Micah Dominic Parsons

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 18 May , 2021 by MicahDominicParsons

[sadbrewer]

Different, or at least re-numbers according to this article.

From The Coventry  Evening Telegraph 27th March 1917.

Courtesy of the British Newspaper Archive.

 

Another Bayliss of The Warwicks

 

 

 

A little more on A Bayliss'

 

 

Also 23900 S J Bayliss...another Warwicks MM.

[sadbrewer]

Possibly Etheridge, killed and reported in The Birmingham Daily Post on April 3rd, 1917.

 

[MDPMicahDominicParsons]

Hello SadBrewer,

 

Thank you so much for this information, I really do appreciate all your help. I hit a total block with finding out more about the above men. I have photographs of most of their graves but I could not find anything about their lives and their awards.

 

I have quite a special project which is based upon commemorating these men and I have just a few weeks left to find out some more information before I have to put everything together. I really do appreciate the help that you have given me and I hope that I may be able to find just a little more information about these men and their actions.

 

Thank you again for all your help.

 

Best Wishes,

 

Micah Dominic Parsons

[Ivor Anderson]

It is highly unlikely that any of their MM citations have survived.

Their MMs are listed in the LG of 26 March 1917: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30001/supplement/2990 

Which was 'for minor operations in Jan-Feb 1917'. AO ref for all these MMs was 68/121/176 - schedule nos. to left:

70352 Private Thomas Benzing (240182/1752).

70354 Serjeant W. Channing (240598/2698).

70355 Serjeant Leonard Bardell (240567/2624).

70356 Lance Corporal Arthur E. Baylis (240105/1531).

70357? Private Charles Exley (242098/20253)

 

70345 Private Thomas Harold Wosket(t) (7615/202765) MM in LG 17 April 1917:

 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30023/supplement/3699

Perhaps the delay was due to confusion as he previously served as 5563 and was remobilised 29-06-1916:
His service record survived: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1219/images/31240_209749-00682?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=d816aa0794619f30ee51d895b0e964c7&usePUB=true&_phsrc=AHE12312&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=1426918

SWB issued: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/2456/images/wo329_3117-00247?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=e23e250c3e927720ff7e34e7f159aeb0&usePUB=true&_phsrc=AHE12329&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=484341

Corporal Frank J. McKay (242657/20839) got a DCM in LG 26 March 1917: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30001/supplement/2988

 

[Ivor Anderson]

The 1/6th Bn. War Diary on 9th February 1917 lists the awards for 4th February 1917:

 

[Ivor Anderson]

Although it was a 'minor operation' it was a significant and costly action for the Battalion on 4th February 1917 - War Diary from TNA:

 

[Ivor Anderson]

Those who died in action on 4th February 1917 are listed here: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/search-results/?Surname=&Forename=&Initials=&ServiceNum=&Regiment=royal+warwickshire+regiment&ServedIn=Army&WarSelect=1&Unit=1st%2f6th&DateDeathFromDay=4&DateDeathFromMonth=February&DateDeathFromYear=1917&DateDeathToDay=4&DateDeathToMonth=February&DateDeathToYear=1917&DateOfDeath=&CountryCommemoratedIn=null&Cemetery=&Rank=&SecondaryRegiment=&AgeOfDeath=0&Honours=null&AdditionalInfo=&Page=1

Edited 18 May , 2021 by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

Most of the other names you mention are listed in the WD for MMs around 19 March 1917 and are in the LG of 26 April 1917:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30036/supplement/3946 (these may have been for a raid on 8 March - see WD).

 

L/Cpl. John Baker 242855 was KIA on 9 March 1917 - perhaps before his MM recommendation could go through?

A Cpl. R. H. Lane (20835/242148) is also in the WD for a Corp MM on 13 March 1917. His is in the 17 April 1917 LG along with Wosket's. 

 

[MDPMicahDominicParsons]

Hello everyone,

 

Thank you so much for all of your help. The raid by the German 1st Prussian Guards on Sunday 4th February 1917 was repelled at heavy cost by the men of The 1/6th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment. I have an account from the German side which states that a number of prisoners were taken but I have never been able to put names to these people or to find out more about the men who were awarded medals for their actions on Sunday 4th February 1917. 

 

I am amazed that a service record survives for one of these men and I must go and check it out.

 

Thank you so much for all your help.

 

Best Wishes,

 

Micah Dominic Parsons