L/Cpl. Algernon Roland Lane MM, 59547 154th Field Co. RE

[Ivor Anderson]

L/Cpl. Algernon Roland Lane, 59547 154th Field Co. RE 

 

Born Paddington (Westbourne Park) Q4 1886 to Roland and Jemima Lane. 

Parents Roland Lane & Jemima Head married 20 March 1880 @ St James, Clerkenwell.

1891 (aged 4) Hammersmith, London with parents & 2 younger brothers.

1901 (aged 10?) 61 Cambridge Road, Hammersmith with parents.

1911 (aged 23) he lived at 61 Cambridge Road, Hammersmith, and is listed as a Motor Engineer. Younger brothers John William (22) and Roland Oscar (20 - b. Q4 1890). 

Married Louisa Philps 1914, their address is given by CWGC as: Southdown House, King’s Rd, Shalford, Guildford.

Son Roland Algernon born 29 December 1915. Baptised Christ Church, Woking 20/08/16

       (His son, Roland Algernon Lane, would die in WW2 with the RAF on 21/2/45, aged 30): 

        https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1810502/ROLAND ALGERNON LANE/

 

Algernon joined the 154th Field Coy, Royal Engineers, and landed in France 1/8/15 (MIC).  

He was awarded the Military Medal during the Somme offensive (Gazetted 21/9/16) Schedule no. 43062

The action which earned him the medal was recorded in the War Diary:

 

War Diary - 154 Field Coy     Place: GUOYSERVINS                Date: Aug 1-4 [1916]

Distribution of the Company on Aug 1.           H.Qs; Nos 3+4 sections at GUOY SERVINS, Nos 1+2 sections at ABLAIN

On the evening of the 4th 5th the Tunnelling officers reported that Gerry’s mine was in close proximity to ours, and that consequently our mine would be sprung at 11pm.  Lt Hayes with 10 men of No 1 section constituted the consolidation party and successfully consolidated the near lip, Lt Hayes being wounded at about1:30am.  For this work Lt Hayes’ name was brought to the notice of the CRE and also the names of Corp Pitfield, Saps Lane and Chapman.

 

War Diary - Place: GUOYSERVINS                Date: Aug 15 [1916]

Capt Cresswell hit while inspecting wire at Left Picket. Sappers Lane and Chapman awarded Military Medal for their work on the third visit. [N.B. 23rd-28th Aug: Hayes received Military Cross and Pitfield DCM for their work on the third visit].

 

2 Lt. Cyril Beauchamp Hayes - MC in LG 29760, 22 Sept. 1916

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29760/supplement/9267

DCM to Cpl. Charles F. Pitfield 66599,           

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29758/supplement/9203

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/12990/page/1731

Other MM to Sapper Arthur J. Chapman 63349 - Schedule no. 43063

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29758/supplement/9200

 

Algernon died of Wounds aged 31 at Ypres on 1/10/17 (Battle of Polyon Wood).  

Algernon was entitled to the 1915 Star and MM as well as the pair. 

 

[Ivor Anderson]

MM action & award mentioned in 154th WD (images TNA):

 

 

[Ivor Anderson]

His 1915 star was returned in 1923 and a CRV (certified receipt voucher?) was issued for it in February 1924 (Ancestry roll image).

His war and victory medals are still with their original issue boxes:

[Ivor Anderson]

Grave Photo: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12115748/algernon-roland-lane

CWGC: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/104686/ALGERNON ROLAND LANE/

 

[Ivor Anderson]

One of Algernon's younger brothers (Roland Oscar Lane) was killed in action serving with Australian Light Horse - died 21/11/15 in Egypt:

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/109209/ROLAND OSCAR LANE/

https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/48586

Edited 28 May , 2021 by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

Algernon's MM is mentioned in the son's 1945 CWGC entry: "Son of L. Cpl. Algernon Roland Lane, M.M., Royal Engineers, killed in action 1st October, 1917",
so the family knew about its awarding and presumably received it. It hopefully still exists somewhere?

 

Algernon's 1915 star seems to have been returned in 1923 (possibly due to a change of address?) and a CRV (certified receipt voucher?) was issued for it in February 1924 (Ancestry roll image). I do not see any evidence of its reissue?

Q. Checking: was a 'CRV' a medal office receipt for the returned medal, or a receipt from the family for its reissue in 1924? (Ancestry image).