Seeking Information about Soldier's Medals

[Gazza]

Have just inherited 2 British War and Victory Medals for 61261 Gunner H. McNamee R.A.& 159350 Pioneer W.McNamee R.E.  As I live in Perth Australia my research on the British Army Records is very limited. Would someone be able to give me more info about these 2 brothers?

[mancpal]

Gazza,

I’m afraid I can’t really help other than to say that Herbert McNamee was in the Royal Garrison Artillery (big guns). William as you know was a dapper in the Royal Engineers. 
Neither saw action in a theatre of war prior to 1/1/16 which means you have their complete medal entitlement. 
When you say “inherited”, are they family members? If so please post as much biographical detail military or civilian as it will help build a picture of their lives. Things such as names of parents/siblings, addresses, occupations etc. can all help.

Simon

P.S. It looks like both men survived the war as the CWGC has no record of them. Also their mics don’t indicate a Silver War Badge so presumably relatively unscathed 

Edited 30 May , 2024 by mancpal

[Dai Bach y Sowldiwr]

43 minutes ago, mancpal said:

William as you know was a dapper in the Royal Engineers. 

I'm sure he was very smartly dressed, but I suspect mancpal meant to type "Sapper".

Edit: The Medal Rolls unfortunately add no further details.

Edited 30 May , 2024 by Dai Bach y Sowldiwr

[mancpal]

I kind of prefer Dapper. I can imagine him at his gun sporting a smoking jacket and spats.

Simon

[Allan1892]

Herbert McNamee, #61261 was indeed in the Royal Garrison Artillery. He enlisted at Manchester on the 29th October 1915.

(images courtesy of Find My Past)

[Allan1892]

Image courtesy of Find My Past

[Allan1892]

#159350, William McNamee served in the 3rd Special Battalion, Royal Engineers. His entry in the Soldiers Died in the Great War database shows that he enlisted in Manchester.

(image courtesy of Find My Past)

CWGC link

Find War Dead | Search Results | CWGC

[Allan1892]

Image courtesy of FindaGrave website

[mancpal]

I’m not sure how I missed the CWGC entry, it’s one of the few sites I don’t struggle with.

Simon

[sadbrewer]

From The British Newspaper Archives.

[Allan1892]

From the Rochdale Observer, 14 April 1917 (courtesy of Find My Past)

Snap!

Edited 30 May , 2024 by Allan1892

[sadbrewer]

1 minute ago, Allan1892 said:

From the Rochdale Observer, 14 April 1917 (courtesy of Find My Past)

Snap!

If yer not fast...yer last

[Allan1892]

@Gazza -- To find out about Special Battalions of the Royal Engineers, please follow the link below.

Special Battalions and Companies of the Royal Engineers - The Long, Long Trail (longlongtrail.co.uk)

[Dai Bach y Sowldiwr]

Herbert's RGA career in France began in 65 Siege Battery on 17/2/1916.

He was transferred to base  on 23/10/1917, before transferring to 162 Siege Battery on 31/10/1917 (I haven't looked at his record, but from the images posted, it looks as though he was with them to the Armistice.

War diaries are available for 65 SB  for that period at https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/008a985e6db64a8f857f9aeb424c6abd

Also for 162 SB, but only up to 31/12/1917 at https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/f57dfd192d194298ac70388920bcfdf1

For the period 17/2/16 -23/10/17, you can also look up the war diaries of the higher level brigades (=Heavy Artillery Groups) of the RGA that the SBs were part of. For 65 SB, these were quite complicated and I regret I haven't got enough time to post them at the moment.

 

Edited 30 May , 2024 by Dai Bach y Sowldiwr

[brianmorris547]

@Terry_Reeves might have some info on the Special Brigade man. He is not on my 1916 RE Index.

C on M Manchester was, and is, Chorlton on Medlock to the south of the City Centre.

Brian

[Terry_Reeves]

Spoiler

 

William  McNamee was serving with Section 48, J Special Company, 3rd Bn when he was killed. The unit war diary for 27 March, 1917 noted:

" Again the billets were shelled. At 6 pm a 150mm shell made a direct hit upon 26 Rue Jeanne d'Arc  the billet of Section 48. Casualties 2 OR killed  4 OR wounded  in action and 1 OR wounded (at duty)."  The company were billeted in Arras at this time. The other man killed was 206761 Pnr Clifford Travell Evans. Born and  enlisted Newport, Monmouthshire.

TR

 

Edited 30 May , 2024 by Terry_Reeves

[mancpal]

Chorlton on Medlock is  as Brian suggests south of the city centre. It’s between Ardwick and Hulme and at the was densely populated with workers from nearby mills and factories. I have a 14-15 trio to a young man from there who sadly didn’t make it home.

Simon

[Dai Bach y Sowldiwr]

The reason for looking up HAG/Brigade Diaries, is that they usually give a location for their constituent parts on certain dates, thus it will help you trace  your person of interest's movements through the war.

For 65 SB, this will be tricky and involve downloading lots of brigade diaries - usually £3.50 each, but free if you register at the National Archive.

65 SBs movements were as listed on the following page from document WO95/5494 at (and courtesy of ) The National Archives.

I did say it was complicated...