Pte Francis James Haskett

[bcerha]

Dear All,

Whilst at a family friends yesterday for coffee I noticed a picture she had of a fine looking chap mounted on a horse in 1903 pattern bandolier equipment. (I am attempting to get a scan done and will post the picture later) When I enquired who he was I was told that he was the Grandfather she had never met - because he had died when the ladies father was just ten as a result of wounds he recieved in the war. He was apparently Frances James Haskett, of Wolridge Farm, Motcombe, and was a member of the North Somerset Yeomanry.

I would be most grateful for any pals who might have any information on the North Somerset Yeomanry in general or Pte Haskett in particular so I can pursue this one furthe plus the best source of info that I might follow in order to get this lady some more details on her Grandfather.

Many thanks in advance

Regards

David

Edited 30 December , 2005 by bcerha

[bcerha]

Here is a scan of the picture I was refering to

[welshdoc]

Dont want to be insulting but did you try national archives -different spelling and regiment? Gareth

Description

Medal card of Haskett, Francis J

Corps Regiment No Rank

North Somerset Yeomanry 165149 Private

Date 1914-1920

Catalogue reference WO 372/9

Dept Records created or inherited by the War Office, Armed Forces, Judge Advocate General, and related bodies

Series War Office: Service Medal and Award Rolls Index, First World War

Piece Hampton E - Holland D

Image contains 1 medal card of many for this collection

[bcerha]

Dont want to be insulting but did you try national archives -different spelling and regiment? Gareth

Description

Medal card of Haskett, Francis J

Corps Regiment No Rank

North Somerset Yeomanry 165149 Private

Date 1914-1920

Catalogue reference WO 372/9

Dept Records created or inherited by the War Office, Armed Forces, Judge Advocate General, and related bodies

Series War Office: Service Medal and Award Rolls Index, First World War

Piece Hampton E - Holland D

Image contains 1 medal card of many for this collection

Brilliant - that is very helpful. Francis is the more likely spelling - he was apparently known as Frank at home. North Somerset Yeomanry would also be more in keeping with where the family lives now - but I will check up on this as to how far back they have resided south of Bristol. Most of the original info was at least 3rd hand and was not regarded as wholly reliable anyway!

thanks again

David

[bcerha]

Thanks to Gareth I have now got the MCI for the above soldier and found out that 1/1 N. Som. Yeo. went to France independently in Oct 1914 arriving on 3 Nov 14 and staying out for the duration as part of 6th Cav Bde, 3rd Cav Div.

I would however be most grateful if anyone could add some more meat to these meagre bones vis a vis the Regiment's time on the Western Front. I might add that the lady concerned was thrilled with the detail thus far when I rang her yesterday afternoon so any more information would be much appreciated.

Many thanks Gareth and hopefully thanks for any more which comes to light.

Regards as ever

David

[welshdoc]

Hi David, glad to have been a little help. Ive picked up a few tricks when researching due to friends on the forum, one of which is name spellings can be open to interpretation, also its always worth trying surnames alone /regiment etc if their not too common. Now looking at the London Gazette is another matter. The best information I was given is that the reader scans the last word of the previous line and adds it to the fist word or letter of the next! So if your looking for a number at the start of a line you are bugg**ed. Theres a really good website concerning the tricks but Ive misplaced it. Gareth

[Gordon Caldecott]

How interesting!!!!!!!!!!! By the looks of the photo, it seems to have been taken in someone`s back garden? I`ve done a trace of CWGC, but he must be in a private grave somewhere.

Do keep us up to date with your findings won`t you!!!

[BottsGreys]

David:

I don't have any specific information concerning the combat history of the N. Somerset Yeo. to share, but from a photo album I have, I can introduce you to 2 of Frank Haskett's comrades in the Battalion. The photo below shows 888 Sgt. Charles H. Gibbs and his younger brother, 536 L. Cpl. Frederick William Gibbs, both 1/1 North Somerset Yeomanry, with their parents, Charles and Elvira Gibbs. Frederick W. Gibbs was also 34310 Somerset Light Infantry, to which he appears by his MIC to have transferred on 22/12/16. Charles (born abt 1889) appears to have been discharged on 8/5/16. Both MICs indicate an arrival in F&F on 2/11/14 and two undated newspaper clippings indicate that both had been wounded, one stating that Frederick (born abt 1897) was wounded at Ypres and was home at Bath recovering.

The 1901 Census shows the Gibbs living in Bath and that the father, Charles (born approx. 1863) was an auctioneer/house estate agent. Elvira Gibbs was born approx. 1869. Aside from the 2 sons, in 1901 there were also 6 daughters. Two newspaper clippings announcing the marriages of 2 of the daughters in 1915 and 1916 show that the Gibbs family was then living at Parkhurst, Park Lane, Bath.

Chris

[bcerha]

Chris,

many thanks indeed for this excellent piece of information regarding other members of 1/1 N. Som Yeo. I will pass it on and I know it will be of real interest to Frank Hasketts relatives. It all bears out that they went to France early in the conflict in 1914 and must have been involved for the last two months of that year.

As an aside I read with great sadness the tributes paid to the young soldier remembered in your avatar. What a terrible loss of one so young and with obviously so much promise. May she and all the casualities of war rest in peace.

Many thanks once again

regards

David

[BottsGreys]

Chris,

many thanks indeed for this excellent piece of information regarding other members of 1/1 N. Som Yeo. I will pass it on and I know it will be of real interest to Frank Hasketts relatives. It all bears out that they went to France early in the conflict in 1914 and must have been involved for the last two months of that year.

As an aside I read with great sadness the tributes paid to the young soldier remembered in your avatar. What a terrible loss of one so young and with obviously so much promise. May she and all the casualities of war rest in peace.

Many thanks once again

regards

David

David:

My pleasure to be able to add a little something to your research on Pte Haskett. Thanks for your kind words regarding Pte. Huff.

Best regards,

Chris

[AnthonyC]

North Somerset Yeomanry became eventually a TA regiment and was amalgamted with 44th Royal Tank Regiment in 1956 with squadrons in Bristol, Bath,Weston Super Mare and Keynsham.

The NSY was formed in 1794 and involved in home duties supressing riots in industrial towns. First served abroad in Boer War.

WW1 in France as part of 6th Cavalry Brigade from August 1914 until April 1918 when due to extreme casualties it ceased to exist. Re-formed 1922 and in 1939 it was mobilsed and went to Far East as part of 1st Cavalry Division,.1941 having fought in Syria reformed as Air Formation Signals in Western Desert, Sicily, Italy and North West Europe. In 1947 the Regiment became the armoured regiment of 16th Airborne Divisoionand remained in this role until amalgamtion with 44 RTR in 1956

I served with the TA regiment 1958 - 1966 and in 1960 was part of detachment who received a new Guidon from H.M. the Queen

Tony C

[bcerha]

Tony,

Thanks very much for that excellent information. Were they involved in the suppression of the Chartist Riots in 1834 by any chance? I only ask because my unit currently occupies an old cavalry barracks in Newport South Wale, built for exactly this purpose.

Do you know whether or not there is a written regimental history of the NSY? If so do you by any chance have any details. i would be most interested to try and get hold of a copy if such a thing exists.

many thanks once again

regards

David

[AnthonyC]

David

The booklet I have does not give specifics regarding individual events only an outline history of the regiment. It does however mention the following battle honours

Ypres 1914,1915, Frezenburg,Loos, Arras 1`917, Scarpe 1917, Amiens, Hindenburg Line, Beaurevoir, Cambrai 1918, Pursuit to Mons, France and Flanders 1914-1918

WW2 "Jebe Mazar", Syria 1941

Honorary Distinction

A Badge of the Rpyal Corps of Signals with year dates 1942-1945 and four scrolls North Africa, Sicily, Italy, North West Europe

Unfortunately I do not know of any publications covering the Regiment, the information I have is contained in the order of service for the presentaion of Guidons in 1960.

[nf3996]

I'm a bit late on this one, but a couple of publications (both out of print) covering the North Somerset Yeomanry are:

FLOWER, A S

A Short Report on the North Somerset Yeomanry during the European War, 1914-1918

Published privately by the regiment, Bath, 1919

BARLOW, L & SMITH, R J

The Uniforms of the British Yeomanry Force 1794-1914. Volume 2: North Somerset Yeomanry

Robert Ogilby Trust, 1980

ISBN: 0859362493

Both of these are very slim - only a dozen or so pages. I obtained a photocopy of the 1919 booklet from the Imperial War Museum in London.

I also have an interest in the NSY (my great-great uncle served with 1/1st NSY and died at the First Battle of Ypres on 17.11.1914). I've transcribed below the NSY war diary for November 1914.

Alan

War diary of the North Somerset Yeomanry: November 1914

2-xi-14

Forest Row

The regiment strength 26 officers 1 warrant officer and 474 other ranks with 500 horses under the command of Lt Col G C Glyn DSO left Forest Row in 4 special trains to Southampton where it embarked during the evening on SS Rosetti.

3-xi-14

At sea

The Rosetti reached Havre at 3pm and the regiment disembarked and moved off at 6pm to a rest camp at La Hêve 2 ½ miles NW of Havre. The transport wagons did not leave the dock till 8pm.

4-xi-14

La Hêve

In the morning the regiment was inspected by the base Commandant Col H B Williams DSO. The regiment completed its equipment from Ordnance. 5 wagons received from Deptford on 1-xi-14 having become unserviceable were changed.

5-xi-14

La Hêve

The regiment received orders to entrain for St Omer and left in 3 special trains between 3.45pm and 6.45pm.

6-xi-14

On rail

The regiment arrived at St Omer and spent the night in French artillery barracks there.

7-xi-14

St Omer

The regiment paraded at 10.30am and marched to its billeting area in and around Esquerdes. The men in sheds and horses in the open.

8-xi-14

Esquerdes

In the afternoon the regiment was practised in digging trenches.

9-xi-14

Esquerdes

The regiment paraded at 12.30pm for drill. 1 officer and 2 NCOs per squadron under Major A H Gibbs went to Blendecques to see the entrenchments being made there.

10-xi-14

Esquerdes

The regiment paraded at 8.15am and went to Blendecques to take part in the entrenching scheme. It returned at 2.30pm.

11-xi-14

Esquerdes

The regiment paraded for drill at 8.45am. At 10.50am while the regiment was still out at the field orders were received to march at once to billets around St Sylvestre. An officer (Capt J H S Tyssen) was sent on a motor bicycle to report to GOC 1^st Army Corps at Chateau de Trois Tours Vlamertinghe for orders.

The regiment marched at 1pm and billeted that night in 3 farms close to St Sylvestre arriving about 8.45pm. The night was wet and stormy. The horses were in the open. Capt Tyssen brought orders to proceed to Hooge without distressing the horses.

12-xi-14

St Sylvestre

The regiment marched to Dranoutre at 10am via Bailleul arriving there at 2.30pm and billeting in 4 farms. The horses were in the open. The water for horses was not good. The regiment's arrival was reported to GOC 1^st Army Corps.

13-xi-14

Dranoutre

Acting on orders from GOC 1^st Army Corps the regiment marched at 10.30am to Ypres via Locre and Dickebusch to Ypres railway station and there along the railway to Halte on the Menin Road. The regiment's arrival was reported to GOC 3^rd Cavalry Division. The regiment was posted to the 6^th Cavalry Brigade.

The regiment went into billets in a chateau next to L'Ecole de Bienfaisance on the Menin Road ½ mile E of Halte. While the regiment was coming along the railway it was shelled. In these billets the horses were tied up round the sides of the field. The regiment was ordered to proceed to the trenches near Zillebeke in support and marched at 4pm. The men carried 200 rounds per man. On arrival the regiment halted for an hour and not being required for duty returned to billets. The billets were shelled during the day and night several shells falling amongst the horses which however escaped without injury.

14-xi-14

Ypres

During the night the billets were shelled so the regiment saddled up at 3.30am and marched at daylight to the railway just N of Halte on the Menin Road. The horses were tied along the west side of the cutting and the men made small dugouts on the E side. Echelon B remained in billets.

At 1pm the Brigade received orders to march to a billeting area near Vlamertinghe. The regiment was billeted in 2 farms. The billets were very cramped and the water supply bad. The weather was cold snow and the horses not being under shelter felt it. The regiment was warned to find 300 rifles for the trenches on 15-xi-14 for 48 hours.

15-xi-14

Vlamertinghe

Orders were received at 2.45am to saddle up and stand to at 6.30am. The regiment paraded mounted at 3.30pm [am?]. The men carried 200 rounds per man. The Brigade concentrated near Ypres railway station at which point the horses were sent back. The regiment under Lt Col G Glyn DSO marched dismounted to Zillebeke via the railway line which leads to Comines.

On arrival at Zillebeke C Squadron under Maj H G Spencer was ordered to join the 10^th Hussars. A Squadron under Maj G Lubbock, B Squadron under Capt F A C Liebert and the Maxims under Maj H B Mathews were placed under the orders of Col O Smith Bingham DSO 3^rd D[ragoon] Guards and told to occupy the trenches SE of Zillebeke. The relief of the 1^st Life Guards was effected at 7.30pm. A Squadron occupied the centre trench in the firing line with the Maxims between 2 squadrons 3^rd D Guards. B Squadron was in the reserve trenches.

The night 15/16 was fairly quiet but there was a certain amount of intermittent shelling and sniping and a small attack which was easily repulsed.

16-xi-14

Zillebeke

During the day there was continuous shelling and sniping and a few casualties from shrapnel. At 6.30pm B Squadron and one troop of A squadron under 2/Lieut N Bailward relieved A Squadron which went into the reserve trenches. The Maxim guns stayed in the firing line. There was a small attack about 9pm which was easily repulsed.

17-xi-14

Zillebeke

9am heavy shelling started and the trenches were searched by shrapnel and HE shells which gave off repulsive fumes. 2 German aeroplanes passed up the lines followed by a 3^rd. The trenches had already been damaged by shell fire and as no RE [Royal Engineers] were available they were repaired by the men as best they could but owing to the softness of the soil and no materials for revetting being available the trenches were soon rendered vulnerable again.

A determined attack was made at noon which was repulsed with heavy loss causing the regiment many casualties including Capt Liebert who was killed. The attack was renewed and Brig Gen Lord Cavan was now informed and asked for reinforcements. He sent up 2 coys Coldstream Gds who occupied the reserve trenches at 3.30pm. Meanwhile the attack had been continued and Lt J S Davey killed. 30 men of A Squadron were sent up under Capt R E English to replace casualties. Later on the remainder of A Squadron under Maj G Lubbock was sent up.

The enemy made another determined attack at dusk but was repulsed with heavy loss making it unnecessary to call up the Coldstream Guards. The enemy sent up a balloon at midday with flags attached and in the evening used magnesium light to direct the attack. The relief of the trenches was carried out at 6.30pm by the 2^nd Life Guards in the firing line and R[oyal] Horse Guards in reserve. C Squadron came under heavy shell fire in the reserve trenches but did not occupy the front trenches.

The regiment marched dismounted to Ypres where it picked up its horses and returned to its billets near Vlamertinghe.

Casualties - Capt F G C Liebert and Lt J S Davey killed. Capt S G Bates 7^th Hussars (adjutant) and 2/Lt A N Bailward wounded. NCOs and men killed 22. Wounded 39. Missing 3. Total casualties 64. Out of these 59 were sustained by the 200 rifles in trenches at Zillebeke.

The weather has been bitterly cold the last few days and the horses suffered from exposure.

18/19-xi-14

Vlamertinghe

The regiment remained in billets.

20-xi-14

The transport moved off at 7.30am and the Brigade at 3pm to a billeting area just N or Merville. The roads were very slippery owing to frost and the regiment did not reach its billets till between 12 and 2am. Each Squadron and the Maxim gun occupied a group of farms and regimental HQ were established at the Chateau Bultot [2?] ¾ mile N of Merville on the Hazebrook Road. All the horses were placed under cover.

The rest of the diary for 1914 records that from 21 November until 13 December the regiment remained in billets at Merville undergoing training. On 14 December it moved to billets at Bailleul, with the horses tied up in the open and the men in glass houses ¼ mile away. The regiment stayed there one more day and then returned to its original billets in Merville on 16 December. It saw out the rest of the month there in more training, finally leaving Merville on 28 January 1915.