Groningen escapees

[NR72]

Hi All ,

Does anyone know how many and who escaped , including escape attempts by men interned in HMS Timbertown, Groningen Holland ?

Thanks

 

 

[horatio2]

I did a trawl for these a few years ago. I do not have all the detail now but my project identified 52 escapees from Groningen of which 45 were successful:  9 of 11 Hawke Bn.;  1 of 1 Drake Bn.;  7 of 8 Collingwood Bn.;  27 of 30 Benbow Bn.;  0 of 1 Deal Bn.;  1 of 1 Howe Bn,

I cannot guarantee that these numbers are precise but they paint the general picture. I am happy to try and ansewer any questions but answers are generally to be found (exempt RMLI) in the ADM 339 RND Record cards.

Edited 26 March , 2023 by horatio2
Add 1 Howe Bn. escaper

[NR72]

I have a chap Percy Edward Barnard , 2/3463 Hawke bn states on his docs he escaped between 26/7/15 and 5/8/15 

His docs are stamped sea service , but cannot find his docs 

His RND docs have been annotated with two promotions LS (13/12/15) and A/PO (13/4/16) which would suggest he stayed with RND and...didn't escape ????

[horatio2]

After his successful escape he continued in RND service at Crystal Palace until 5 May 1916  -  https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7277662  servig in the Misc Bn.and 6 (Training) Bn. there. His later Sea Service is recorded in his RNVR record  -  https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7679959

His two advancements to LS and A/PO pre-date his transfer to Sea Service.

[NR72]

Yes I have his RND record , would like to read his account of his escape 

[horatio2]

He was one of four ratings who escaped over those dates, reporting at Crystal Palace between 2 and 4 Aug 1815. The other three:

COBB, Christopher Wilfred    L4/2632    LS    RNVR    Benbow
MORRELL, Leslie Richard    L5/2965    AB    RNVR    Benbow
TURIER, Harry    SS.109677    Sto1    RN    Collingwood
It would, indeed, be nice to find escape narratives. Few and far between sadly.

Edited 26 March , 2023 by horatio2

[johntanner]

This chap had an interesting subsequent career after escaping from Groningen

CHARLES ALEC SOUTHIN - 2^nd Lt. Royal Flying Corps. MC. (Promotion to Lt. gazetted 22 February 1918.) No.5 Training Squadron RFC (21st County of London Bn., London Regt., 1st Surrey Rifles Territorial Force attached No.5 Training Squadron RFC)

Personal details - Born 21 March 1893 ; Father, Charles S. Southin3 Walsingham Rd., Enfield (later noted as deceased), Relatives address: 14 Venner Rd., Sydenham, London SE. Widow Mrs C A Southin, Woodstock House, London Road, Enfield. A salesman.

 

Military service - Enlisted RNVR 10 April 1913 ex-London 1/2925 AB RNVR; Benbow Bn. Internee in Holland following the retreat from Antwerp 8 October 1914 ; Escaped from Holland between 4 June 1915 & 16 June 1915 in company with John Henry Bentham; Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant 21st (County of London) Bn., London Regt., 1st Surrey Rifles (Territorial Force) 30 August 1915.Killed whilst flying 15 February 1918 (Pilot) in BE2E No.A3062 with Observer 2nd Lieutenant J.A.G. Duncan, from Warboys, Huntingdon.  The accident report states that the pupil put the aircraft into a spiral when too low and putting on opposite controls caused the aircraft to spin and crash.  1914 Star issued to HQ London RNVR 17 June 1919. 

 

Commemoration - Buried C.B. 2137 ENFIELD (LAVENDER HILL) CEMETERY

The Enfield Grammar School; Roll of Honour records: LIEUTENANT C. A. SOUTHIN, M.C., Royal Flying Corps. who was at School from 1905 to 1909. greatly excelled in all kinds of games and sports. Being in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on the declaration of war. he was at once mobilised. and went to Antwerp early in October with the Royal Naval Division. The over-whelming German artillery rapidly effected the capitulation of the city (October 9th). but three battalions of the Naval Division remained in the trenches to the end, enabling the main body of the Belgian Army to make its escape into France. With about 500 others of the Division, Alec Southin got across the frontier into Holland, and was interned at Groningen. but after nine months he contrived to escape. re-appearing in Enfield in June. 1915. He then went to France with the West Surreys, quicklygaining a reputation for reckless bravery. In a letter to Mrs. Alec Southin, a fellow Officer, who was with him in France, refers to “that raid in France, when he deserved the V.C.” From France he went to Salonica. where. as 2nd Lieut.. with the 2/ 21^st London Regiment. he filled the duties of Intelligence. Sniping. Bombing and Raiding Officer to such good effect that he was awarded the Military Cross (February 21st, 1917), “For conspicuous gallantry when in charge Of a raiding party. He accounted for five of the enemy, and supported another party at a critical time. He has on many occasions carried out daring raids' (London Gazette. April 7th, 1917). At Salonica he joined the Flying Corps, quickly obtaining his wings as pilot. After doing a great deal of flying. both in Egypt and Palestine, he obtained leave to visit England in January. 1918. Refusing a Staff appointment in London. he went to Huntingdon (Wyton Aerodrome) as Flying Instructor. but on the fourth day after entering upon his duties he was killed in a spiral nose-dive with another pilot who was in control on the occasion (February 1 5th). Lt. Southin was interred in Gordon Hill Cemetery, Enfield. deeply regretted by all who knew him in the Army. and leaving behind him the reputation (to quote the words of his late Brig.-Gen. in the 21st London) of “a very gallant lad.”

[horatio2]

For these two escapers there is a surviving narrative.The escape of PO BENTHAM and AB SOUTHIN is very fully documented in BENTHAM's "A Young Officer's Diary" held in the Liddle Collection, Brotherton Library, Leeds University and published in Leonard SELLERS' "RND", Issue No.13, pp. 1189 - 1204.

Sub Lt BENTHAM also went into aviation, transferring from RND to RNAS in April 1917.

Edited 27 March , 2023 by horatio2

[johntanner]

Thanks for that, will have to have a look on the WFA website.

Here’s Southin

 

 

Edited 26 March , 2023 by johntanner

[NR72]

Thanks all