Pte T Garry 2190 9th Royal Scots MM.

[Stevend]

This soldier was awarded the MM  for the spring offensive 1918. London  Gazette 16th July.1918.

He was severely wounded and i am assuming  as he had the following  number 350458 he returned to his Regiment 

I would if possible like to find out more about hime i am aware he died in 1968.

Especially where his Regiment was and if there is a record of what he did to be awarded the MM.  Any information is greatly appreciated.

[kenf48]

The Medal Roll shows his original number was 2190, and he was attached to the 9th Royal Scots.  The six digit number was allocated in the renumbering of the Territorial Force in March 1917, therefore does not indicate he returned to his Battalion after he was wounded.

 

As the banner at the top of the page indicates you can currently download the war diary for free from TNA if you register, it may, or may not, note the award of the MM.  His medal entitlement, apart from the MM indicates he did not enter theatre until after 31 December 1916.

[Stevend]

Hi ken

Thats strange but im sure he was wounded in 1915 he recieved the wound stripe ? Il double check his medal index card i have shows no date of entry yes his number changed to 350458 and looks like he returned to his regiment i have his dog tags which show the royal scots.

Il keep looking   and thanks.

[Stevend]

Checked and he was wounded 23.3.15  GSW left arm and left side. I have a cutting which says he was shot in the stomach then to hospital in England.

[Matlock1418]

From his pension index cards at WFA/Fold3:

LCpl. Thomas Malcolm GARRY, 350458 [and 2190], Royal Scots

Born. 1895

Was Disembodied 23.3.19 [sounds worse than it was - essentially he was discharged - I think the term 'disembodiment' was used for TF soldiers]

Disability pension of 5/6 pw from 24.9.19 - pension was terminated with an unspecified final award [approx. 1923]

GSW Lt side

Address: Church St, Mid Calder

:-) M

Edited 4 June , 2021 by Matlock1418
explanation

[kenmorrison]

West Lothian Courier 2 April 1915

NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH.

Mr and Mrs George Garry, Station Rows, Uphall Station have received word from the War Office to the effect that their son. Pte. Thomas M. Garry. has been seriously wounded. Pte. Garry was twenty years of age, and enlisted in the 9th Royal Scots (Dandy Ninth) on the 1^st of September last year. He was drafted to France on 23^rd February. and it was while going into the trenches on March 12^th that he received a gun shot wound in the abdomen. He was taken to the dressing station near the trenches. where be remained till March 15th, and from there he was conveyed to the Base Hospital in Boulogne. and thence to England. He is now convelescent in a large house converted into an hospital in Herts. In a letter to his parents he states that the doctor says he was lucky in escaping with his life, as the bullet in its progress escaped killing him in four different vital places. He also states that the bullet is resting almost against his spine, and quoting the words of the Sister in attendance, be says that had it touched it he would hare been disabled for life. He writes in high terms of the manner in which he is being treated, and states that lords and suchlike are no better off than wounded soldiers.

 

Ken

[Stevend]

Thanks guys very much appreciated for extra information 

I found he is buried at uphall cemetery in 1968.

Where exactly  if possible  was his Regiment in the spring offensive  i imagine it would have been a chaotic time.  

[kenf48]

It is intriguing, my apologies I thought your post read he was wounded in 1918.  That said although he is on a casualty list published on the 16th April 1915 in the Mid Lothian Journal there is no entitlement to the 14-15 Star shown on the medal index card.

The war diary for the 1/9th confirms the above press cutting for his wound

"Dickebusch. A Company paraded for duty at 6pm in the trenches. Two platoons attached to the 2/Cameron Highlanders and 2 platoons attached  to the 1/ A & S Highlanders.

No 2190 Pte T Garry wounded"

It goes on to say B Company were digging trenches and Lt Col Blair rejoined the Battalion.

At this time  the Battalion was in 81st Brigade 27th Division.

 

By March 1918 they were with 183rd Brigade 61st South Midland Division having left the 51st (Highland) Division at the beginning of February 1918 and joined the Brigade on the 9th.  Most of March was spent in the line, which the diary records as very quiet, or training in billets.  On the 21st the Germans attacked and they were ordered to their battle positions.  It was reported they were continuously shelled throughout the day.

The 183rd Brigade war diary WO95/3059/1-4 has a detailed and readable account of the action of the Brigade during that week, essentially a fighting retreat with many casualties. There was a further action in early April in which the 9th Royal Scots were probably more involved. This was a successful operation and it was said medals were more likely to be awarded for successful operations.  I can find no list of decorations awarded in either diary.

 

As for the 14-15 Star that remains a mystery for now.

 

[kenf48]

You may have this but for the benefit of others interested always nice to have a picture shame about the fold

West Lothian Courier 10 May 1918

 

courtesy of BNA

 

 

[Stevend]

Thank you i never knew there qas a photo 

My sincerest thanks

Steven 

[Ivor Anderson]

The 16th July 1918 London Gazette did contain awards for the German Spring Offensive - 21 March to 11 April 1918 (Bate & Williamson).

Thomas Garry's MM Schedule no. was 172900. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6162876

There may be other 1/9th Bn. MMs in the same LG? https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30797/supplement/8317

E.g. Cpl. Samuel Bird 351550 - schedule no. 172879. The numerical difference implies that the battalion won quite a few MMs?

Awards are likely listed in 61st Division or Corps war diaries.

Edited 4 June , 2021 by Ivor Anderson

[Stevend]

Thank you very much Ivor

[davidhughhill]

His medals were for sale on “ Charlies Medals “ for a long time .

 

Did you buy them ?

 

Davie 

[Stevend]

Can anyone tell me or point me in the right direction  as to who were the German  Regiment(s) that the 9th were facing during the spring offensive 

 

Many thanks.

[Neill Gilhooley]

Hello, 

My notes are here https://neillgilhooley.com/9th-royal-scots/index/ 

Attestation: 2190 puts his attestation in September 1914.

12th March 1915: This was the first time A Company had gone into the front line trench. Another article on this https://www.capitalcollections.org.uk/view-item?i=30025&WINID=1623164714216 

Spring Offensive 1918: 61st Division were faced by four different German divisions on 21st March 1918 (the more relevant being 113th and 88th on the British left). 

Naturally I would direct you toward my book for more on the Ninth, unless there is something specific I might be able to answer?

[Stevend]

Thank you Neil

 

I as actually looking at your book on Amazon

And will purchase it at end of the month.

 

Thann you 

 

Steven 

[Neill Gilhooley]

No, my thanks to you and the contributors here, I've learned a lot about TMG. Have you a photo of his identity discs?

[Stevend]

I can send you his discs by email if you send me it.

Il do it tonight when i get home from work

[TullochArd]

On 04/06/2021 at 20:59, kenf48 said:

........"As for the 14-15 Star that remains a mystery for now."

 

.......15 Star is shown as awarded on a second (incorrectly indexed) MIC to 350458 PTE T. CARRY 9/ROYAL SCOTS.

[Stevend]

Thank you so he was awarded the star  

[Ivor Anderson]

On 10/06/2021 at 18:51, TullochArd said:

....15 Star is shown as awarded on a second (incorrectly indexed) MIC to 350458 PTE T. CARRY 9/ROYAL SCOTS.

Good find! Mis-spelt 1915 star roll here: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/5119/images/41804_611411_5917-00193?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=b7ea79a61392952aa87fff15684c063a&usePUB=true&_phsrc=AHE12946&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=5627580

 

[Stevend]

Hi can you clarify was he awarded the 14/15 star ?

 

[Ivor Anderson]

It would appear so, as a 2nd MIC and a 14-15 star roll entry have the same service number, but a mis-spelt surname ('Carry') with just the 1914-15 star on it. He seems to have entered France on 24th February 1915. Ancestry image:

 

[Stevend]

Ivor thank you very much for clarifying this for me.

I have had contct with local historian pte garry has no headstone which is a shame.

[Neill Gilhooley]

 

 

On 11/06/2021 at 14:49, Ivor Anderson said:

entered France on 24th February 1915

This is the date the battalion arrived in France.

 

I should have identified all the named MMs in the bn/bde/div war diaries and he is not among them.

 

On 04/06/2021 at 22:31, Ivor Anderson said:

Thomas Garry's MM Schedule no. was 172900. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6162876

There may be other 1/9th Bn. MMs in the same LG? https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30797/supplement/8317

E.g. Cpl. Samuel Bird 351550 - schedule no. 172879. The numerical difference implies that the battalion won quite a few MMs?

Awards are likely listed in 61st Division or Corps war diaries.

 

Good suggestion Ivor, not thought of that before, and you are right there are a lot. I've been through these pages of the LG and compared them to what I know from my index https://neillgilhooley.com/9th-royal-scots/index/. I've not shown them all here as most have nothing to add any dates:

Bird           172879 served F&F 13.7.16

Dobbin     172877 served F&F 23.11.16, wounded 31.3.18, bar to MM August 18

McBrearty 172892 PoW 22.3.18

Fairley       172898 severely wounded 30.3.18, died of wounds 5.4.18

Johnston   172886 awarded posthumously according to grandson, KIA 12.4.18

Garry         172900 ?

The 9th Royal Scots were heavily involved in the retreat from nr St Quentin to Gentelles, nr Amiens, 21.3.18 to 31.3.18 so this seems likely. However from 12 April they were also in the retreat at the Lys (Georgette), and I could not say the lists differentiate for certain between these two. Perhaps if I repeated the exercise in other editions of the Gazette I could be more certain.