Cpl Thomas Edward Ward 563950 MSM, L.E.E. Royal Engineers (T) London Air Defence Area

[Ivor Anderson]

Cpl Thomas Edward Ward 563950 MSM,  L.E.E. Royal Engineers (T) London Air Defence Area

I am interested in learning about the London Air Defence against zeppelins during WW1. This 1919 'Peace Gazette' MSM was awarded to a Royal Engineer who was on home service with them. Seemingly it is was his only WW1 medal entitlement. What did L.E.E. stand for?

He was from Cardiff.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31198/supplement/2693

Edited 4 November , 2022 by Ivor Anderson

[George Rayner]

This appears to be him in FMP?

First name(s)	Thomas Edward
Country	Great Britain
Last name	Ward
Medal type	British Army Medal Index Cards, 1914-1920
Year	1914-20
Archive reference	WO372/24
Service number	563950
Archive reference description	Mentions in Despatches, Meritorious Service Medals and Territorial Force Efficiency Medals
Rank	Sapper Lance Corporal /acting Corporal
Record set	Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards
Regiment	Royal Engineers Transport
Category	Military, armed forces & conflict
Service record	Soldier Number: 563950, Rank: Sapper Lance Corporal /Acting Corporal, Corps: Royal Engineers Transport
Subcategory	Medal Rolls and Honours
Image link	http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D6347713

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBM%2FMCI%2F5226714

R.E. (T)-Royal Engineers Transport-but what L.E.E is no clues yet

George

[charlie962]

L E E = London Electrical Engineers

[charlie962]

Service no falls in range allocated to TF London Electrical Engineer's. 562000-568000.

Near numbers (Svc files)

2944/563954 and 2937/563497 were Derby men who were mobilized 20/5/16.

I suggest Ward was the same and prev number 2940.

Duties of Elec Coys was broadly 'installation, operation and maintenance of all RE machinery in Army Areas.

Source H.Williamson

Charlie

[charlie962]

Search for London Electrical Engineers in this forum brings up a number of hits, eg 

Terry Reeves says they worked on searchlights.

 

 

Try the IET link in that thread.

[charlie962]

You will find he has Pension Cards. 

3 Talworth St, Cardiff.

Claim rejected.

Edited 4 November , 2022 by charlie962

[charlie962]

Apart from those old threads on this forum this forum, wiki has this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Electrical_Engineers

..Anti-Aircraft defence.

The first night raid was made by Zeppelin airships on 19/20 January 1915, then in April and May regular raids began on the East Coast of England, reaching London on 31 May/1 June. Zeppelin raids continued during the summer and autumn of 1915, after which it was decided that the Royal Navy would try to deal with raiders approaching the British coastline, while the Army would be responsible for dealing with them over land. The transfer took effect between February and April 1916. Experience had shown the need for plentiful searchlights to guide both gunners and fighter pilots to their targets. The army established a 25-mile wide searchlight belt stretching from Northumberland to Sussex, with a double ring round London.[2][25]

 

The TF began forming AA S/L companies in December 1915, mainly from the LEE and the Tyne Electrical Engineers (TEE). By July 1917 there were 42 AA Companies of the RE scattered around the country, all with the LEE and TEE as their parent units. These included the following LEE units:[26][27] ....

 

 

 

...In August 1918, a new establishment was implemented. The London and Tyne Electrical Engineers became the parent units for all coast defence and anti-aircraft Electric Light units and the depots that trained men for them.[30] It was from these that nearly all RE AA companies and AASL companies were formed, serving on Home Defence, with the British Expeditionary Force in France.......

 

....Between 1915 and 1918, the RE formed 76 AA Searchlight Sections for overseas service. The LEE is known to have found 25 of these: Nos 2 (jointly with Regular RE), 3–5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 25, 29, 30, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45 and 48, together with Nos 21, 23 and 24, which were formed in France from Nos 1-8 AAS sections. Others were formed by the Regular RE (No 1) and by the TEE. The parent units of a further 29 AAS sections are not known, but they probably consisted of mixed LEE, TEE and Medical Category B personnel. A fixed two-light section in France in 1917 comprised 20 men with three vehicles; a mobile three-light section in 1918 consisted of five vehicles and 28 men.....

 

...Among the professionals who served with the London Electrical Engineers during the war were the electrical engineer Reginald Frankland-Payne Gallwey (who later succeeded as the 5th Baronet of that name)[36] and the chemist Theodore Acland. The remaining part-time civilian searchlight operators were also replaced. By the end of the war there were 622 searchlights in use for Home Defence.

Edited 4 November , 2022 by charlie962

[Ivor Anderson]

2 hours ago, charlie962 said:

Terry Reeves says they worked on searchlights.

Thanks Charlie. Interesting stuff. Ward must have done a good job to get a MSM.

 

Edited 4 November , 2022 by Ivor Anderson

[George Rayner]

The medal roll looks like MM but crossed through

George

[Ivor Anderson]

5 minutes ago, George Rayner said:

The medal roll looks like MM but crossed through

I didn't see a medal roll or MIC George. Would he have got service medals having not served abroad? He has a duplicate MSM card.

 

[George Rayner]

I’ll look it up again Ivor and post if so.

currently away from the laptop

George