Pte J.W. Wilmshurst

[Passey]

Dear All,

I have discovered that my Great Grandfather Jack Wentworth Wilmshurst served as a private with the Royal Sussex Regiment.

From his medal card he served with the 2nd Battalion and his service number was listed as 10237 and then underneath as L/10237. My first question is what does the L mean?

He recieved the 14 Star and the Clasps and Roses which I understand meant he saw action at the outbreak of the war.

He also recieved the Military Medal and on this medal card it states he was serving with the 7th (S) Battlion and this appeared in the London Gazzette on 11th february 1919. His number was still L/10237. I believe it was for an action in August 1918 - judging by the war diary. Is there anyway to find out what he recieved the medal for?

Also, was it common for a soldier to change Battalions? The 7th (S) Battalion was part of a new army.

Any help will be much appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Simon Passey

[Paul Reed]

Hi Simon,

I have a long standing interest in this regiment, coming from Sussex. The 'L' prefix was used to indicate a regular army enlistment and by his number, he joined the Regiment in October-November 1913 (Man with No L/10241 joined on 2nd December eg.).

He would have served with the 2nd Bn in France and Flanders 1914-15, but they suffered heavy losses at First Ypres, and then at Aubers Ridge in May 1915, so there is a change he was wounded at some stage. After recovery he may have had anothe period of service with the 2nd Bn or have been transferred to the 7th - this was not uncommon.

I have the following on him from a Sussex Newspaper dated 16th November 1916:

Private J.W.Wilmshurst for his gallant conduct on 7th July 1916 during the attack and capture of Ovillers, has been presented with a certificate by the Brigadier General. Mrs Wilmshurst who lives at Hailsham naturally feels proud of the certificate which arrived by post.

So his MM could have been for this but not finally awared until 1919 or it could be, as you say, awarded for bravery in 1918. There may be something about it in the 7th Bn history, but I don't have my copy to hand.

A little more on the regiment on my website:

http://battlefields1418.50megs.com/royalsussex.htm

Do you have any photos of him?

[Passey]

Hi Paul,

Thank you very much for the information.

Being presented with a certificate, does that mean the same as a medal?

Which newspaper was this in as I would love to get a photocopy?

I just assumed the gallant act occured in August 1918 because that was ca. 4 months before he appeared in the London Gazette. Is it common for such a long gap of nearly 3 years?

I haven't got any photographs personally but I shall ask my grandmother and her siblings.

Thanks again.

Simon

[Paul Reed]

I don't have a note of which newspaper, but I presuming it is the Sussex Daily News as that is where I gleamed a lot of info from in the 80s and 90s. There are microfilm copies available in Lewes County Records Office.

The certificate is likely to be a Divisional thing (the 7th were part of the 12th Eastern Division); I have known several examples of where men have been awarded a certificate which has been "upgraded" to a medal later in the conflict. However, as we have both said, these could easily be two seperate acts of gallantry.

[ypres1418]

Simon,

In the 7th Bn history he is mentioned as having received the MM in February 1919.

He is not mentioned by name in the book during the battle. If you give me a minute I'll check the diary and post what it says here.

Mandy

[ypres1418]

7th July. IN TRENCHES OPPOSITE (W of) OVILLERS.

36th Brigade attacked OVILLERS after intensive Bombardment by heavy and divisional Artillery (74th Brigade attacked from the right at 8am). Order of attack 9th Royal Fusiliers on the left, 7th Royal Sussex centre, 8th Royal Fusiliers on the right.

At 8:28am the first line crawled on top of ground, for the previous 5 to 10 minutes a heavy German ‘Barrage’ had been put on to the new assembly trench and over old front line trenches. At 8:30am the whole Brigade advanced in good line. The 8th Royal Fusiliers on right came under heavy machine gun fire from S.E i.e. from trenches, which 74th Brigade should have taken but did not penetrate far enough. The 7th Royal Sussex got a good share of this machine gun fire and were heavily shrapnelled by Whizz Bang guns and Jack Johnsons. The left 9th Royal Fusiliers got a good deal of machine gun fire from the NORTH plus the shrapnel and enemy’s barrage on their right. On reaching the line the 7th Royal Sussex got enfilade machine gun fire and found Germans either decamping or in their deep dugouts. 2nd Lt Broughall and a few (20) men of 7th Royal Sussex & 9th Royal Fusiliers reached the 3rd objective.

8:50am. Captain Cleaver, 2nd Lt’s Taylor, Burdett & Fortescue with about 50 men reached the 2nd objective (German support line) while Battalion Hd Qrs Lt Col Osborn, Lt’s Wilton & Gordon and 2nd Lt Sadler and 120 men off all companies occupied the first objective in German fire trench, all other Officers were Casualties.

The clearing up process then started under machine gun fire from S.E. The 8th Royal Fusiliers had not reached their first objective and only about 80 men 9th Royal Fusiliers under Captain Beck were in front German line on our left.

Germans were in groups some fighting, some surrendering and there was a good deal of sniping and some bomb throwing in which our men had the best of it. The Lewis Guns did good work on the retreating parties.

At one moment the German bombers drove in our left N flank but were soon dislodged and driven back to beyond the communication trench on our left, which led to our forward line in their S.F.T. trench. 2nd Lt Sadler & Cpl Prevett led the counter attack. Although each man had to carry over 20 bombs in sandbags many of them were dropped and the supply had to be saved even after collecting German bombs of which there were a number in the dugouts but no dump could be found. During fighting Lt Gordon was killed by a Whizz Bang. Lt Wilton wounded by shrapnel. Captain Cleaver bullet wound through shoulder, 2nd Lt Sadler bomb wound on head and bayonet thrust in foot.

12noon. The C.O. had now decided on abandoning 3rd objective and held 2nd with 2nd Lt’s Taylor, Fortescue & Broughall, (2nd Lt Burdett having been wounded) and about 60 men 7th Royal Sussex & 10 to 15 9th Royal Fusiliers. The garrison of first objective consisted of the C.O. (assisted ably by C.S.M. Joy & Whapham, Sgt Payne & Cpl Prevett) and 120 men 7th Royal Sussex with Captain Beck, 2nd Lt Calwell 9th Royal Fusiliers and about 40 men 9th Royal Fusiliers. Each line had some Lewis Guns. Sgt Russell (Scout Sgt) stayed with this line helping until all was settled and then retires owing to his wound being too much to go with. Up to this time no communication could be obtained, several messengers volunteered but never reached Brigade Hd Qrs in the sector of trenches from which the attack was made. Rain began and continued throughout the day making the trenches into a kind of porridge mud.

The day went on much the same with the cleaning up and consolidation of line by means of fire step and block making. Each line had strong bombing party supported by Lewis Guns on right and left flanks and the remaining Lewis Gunners were shifted from place to place as found requisite. The left of our forward position under 2nd Lt Taylor suffered much from hostile machine gun enfilade fire and finally traversed their trench with a sandbag wall. This line was also reinforced by some 15 of 8th Royal Fusiliers who joined up.

In the afternoon a party of Middlesex 40 strong with a Lewis Gun came up and brought more bombs, which were welcome, 2nd Lt Moore commanded this party. Later Captain Crombe, 11th Middlesex came with more bombs and a party of 50 11th Middlesex with a Lewis Gun. Also Sgt Leach with some of ‘D’ Coy 7th Royal Sussex. Lt Moore was directed to strengthen our first objective and our left defensive flank. The Brigadier General Boyd-Moss commanding 36th Infantry Brigade got his first news of our position at 6pm this evening.

Now four Companies 9th Essex under Major Ryan came up and reinforced our much-depleted line. Their objective was to further clear the Germans out on our left and particularly to get as far as to permit the extension of a shallow gallery known as RIVINGTON TUNNEL to meet the German line. Also to push through the village towards our third, fourth and fifth objectives.

Hope this is of use to you.

Mandy

[Passey]

Dear Mandy,

Thank you very much for the information. It's strange to image my great grandfather took part in that action. Shame it doesn't mention what he did to earn his certificate.

I'm hoping beyond hope that his service record still exists. I have a strong indication that he was still in the army after 1920, but I need to check this out.

Thanks once again.

Simon