Lieut L.M . Maxwell RFC

[charlie962]

War diary 11th Essex .

16/3/16, Potijze, E of Ypres: 2Lt Maxwell joined for duty. 

1/8/16 2Lt Maxwell left for RFC. 

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/60779/images/43112_1616_0-00055?backlabel=ReturnSearchResults&queryId=95c3400d2ac4c611cd9ac1caafafab28&pId=464795

I didn't see any subsequent mention of him as returning?

 

[CorporalPunishment]

10 hours ago, Kimberley John Lindsay said:

Dear All, and Pete,

I have the group and miniatures to Pepper, a RNAS, RFC, RAF DH9 Pilot, who had the MBE (Mil) for WWII.

He obviously got across the Channel to qualify for his F&G Star, but did not have the required time and qualification for the 1939-45 Star.

Kindest regards,

Kim.

Thanks for that Kim. Clearly another case of being late to the party.       Pete.

[CorporalPunishment]

21 hours ago, charlie962 said:

His RE TF and then RE Regular service records have survived and are on FindmyPast 

Here's an extract of his Regular bit.

If I am reading this correctly he enlisted on 26-12-1914, was promoted to Corporal on the same day and was shipped overseas 17-1-1915, just 22 days after enlisting. Sounds a bit odd to me but then I'm just a simple soul after all.       Pete.

[charlie962]

His TF bit started Oct 1914.

[charlie962]

Note M/C LCpl

[CorporalPunishment]

48 minutes ago, charlie962 said:

His TF bit started Oct 1914.

That's a different bit of paperwork to what was shown previously. Even so, enlistment into the TF on 26-10-1914 and promotion to Lance Corporal on the same day is still a bit odd considering he was just 19.   Pete.

[TullochArd]

2 hours ago, CorporalPunishment said:

If I am reading this correctly he enlisted on 26-12-1914, was promoted to Corporal on the same day and was shipped overseas 17-1-1915, just 22 days after enlisting. Sounds a bit odd to me but then I'm just a simple soul after all.       Pete.

It does sound a bit odd Pete however we've unravelled that he was a MC (Motorcycle) Cpl RE which attracted accelerated promotion on appointment at that time.

Have a scan this: 

Royal Engineers (Motor Cycle) - Soldiers and their units - The Great War (1914-1918) Forum (greatwarforum.org)

and another very good one:

Despatch Riders - RE Signals - Other Great War Chat - The Great War (1914-1918) Forum (greatwarforum.org)

   

Edited 14 November , 2022 by TullochArd

[CorporalPunishment]

27 minutes ago, TullochArd said:

It does sound a bit odd Pete however we've unravelled that he was a MC (Motorcycle) Cpl RE which attracted accelerated promotion on appointment at that time.

Have a scan this: 

Royal Engineers (Motor Cycle) - Soldiers and their units - The Great War (1914-1918) Forum (greatwarforum.org)

and another very good one:

Despatch Riders - RE Signals - Other Great War Chat - The Great War (1914-1918) Forum (greatwarforum.org)

   

Thanks for that, very interesting indeed. I know that specialist skills were made use of back then for obvious reasons but as a 19-year-old he must have been exceptional.    Pete.

[TullochArd]

7 minutes ago, CorporalPunishment said:

Thanks for that, very interesting indeed. I know that specialist skills were made use of back then for obvious reasons but as a 19-year-old he must have been exceptional.    Pete.

....... or privileged.  His father was not short of a bob or two and he likely knew how to ride a motorcycle before 1914. 

The tapes came with the appointment

"According to the regulations of the British Army, no man in the ranks may approach such an officer of his own accord, unless accompanied by a non-com. And non-coms are, naturally, of too much importance to be spared as permanent escorts. Were it not for this detail of army etiquette, the despatch rider would be no more than a mere private."

 

Edited 15 November , 2022 by TullochArd

[CorporalPunishment]

19 minutes ago, TullochArd said:

....... or privileged.  His father was not short of a bob or two and he likely knew how to ride a motorcycle before 1914. 

The tapes came with the appointment

"According to the regulations of the British Army, no man in the ranks may approach such an officer of his own accord, unless accompanied by a non-com. And non-coms are, naturally, of too much importance to be spared as permanent escorts. Were it not for this detail of army etiquette, the despatch rider would be no more than a mere private."

 

I never saw despatch riders as posh boys but there you go, you live and learn. 

[TullochArd]

12 hours ago, CorporalPunishment said:

I never saw despatch riders as posh boys but there you go, you live and learn. 

There's absolutely no evidence to suggest they were but at this early stage in the War, well before organised training and specific courses and cadres became the norm, prior experience counted a lot ........ if you want bread employ a baker sort of thing.  Reading through related GWF posts I get the impression that early on MC Cpls were targeted for prior experience and deployed very quickly regardless of background.  As I pointed out the tapes came with the appointment and the subject seems to have ticked the boxes to meet the specific task. There is little doubt it was viewed as a cavalier job.

Regarding my use of the word privileged: in the context of the day I must stand by that.  His father was a businessman. He was still a student at 19 on enlistment suggesting he may have been at university and therefore certainly a Grammar School or Public School chap prior to that. I would not be surprised if we found evidence that the technological novelty of the motorcycle was available to him well before enlistment. His selection for commissioning into the Essex R. further suggests he had the necessary social and educational foundation required at this time - not necessarily exceptional military experience. 

It's a story that just keeps on giving isn't it.

[TullochArd]

..... great relevant photo just posted by Stereoview Paul ....... RE Signals DRs ......... everyone a Cpl.

 

[RNCVR]

1 hour ago, TullochArd said:

..... great relevant photo just posted by Stereoview Paul ....... RE Signals DRs ......... everyone a Cpl.

 

A very nice photo!

Shop signs read ---  "Ready made clothes"  & "Womans wear/apparel"

[CorporalPunishment]

1 hour ago, TullochArd said:

..... great relevant photo just posted by Stereoview Paul ....... RE Signals DRs ......... everyone a Cpl.

 

Clearly they are not all RE. I can't make out the cap badges of the man on the far left and the man third from the left but definitely not RE.     Pete.

[TullochArd]

13 hours ago, CorporalPunishment said:

Clearly they are not all RE. I can't make out the cap badges of the man on the far left and the man third from the left but definitely not RE.     Pete.

No doubt about that Pete........my observation simply relates to the OP "....... RE Signals DRs RE MC Cpls ...... everyone a Cpl."  There's a tight pack of them and there are others as you rightly point out.

This photo is of 1914 Indian Expeditionary Force A which was sent to reinforce the BEF in France and shows elements of that Corps, that being principally 3rd (Lahore) and 7th (Meerut) Divisions. The other cap badges likely relate to units within these formations.

Edited 24 November , 2022 by TullochArd
RE Signals DRs to RE MC Cpls