In From The Cold - 25.04.06

[Terry Denham]

The following 'new' WW1 casualties were added to CWGC's database today - Tuesday 25th April

Colour Serjeant Alfred John BAKER

Army Remount Service

Died 17.02.15 Age 51

Buried: Ashford Cemetery, Kent, UK

Private James Watson CROMB

5 Bn, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)

Died 27.11.16 Age 20

Buried: Eassie Churchyard, Angus, UK

NOT FORGOTTEN

[chrisharley9]

May they rest in peace

[Roy Evans]

Thanks for the update Terry, are these additions becoming more frequent of late?

Roy

[Terry Denham]

Roy

It's just the luck of the draw although I think MoD are speeding up slightly.

[Will O'Brien]

Remembering Alfred & James tonight

[Neil Clark]

ALFRED BAKER DCM

Approved 25th April 2006. Thank you Terry for bringing this matter to the notice of Forum Members... Just a suggestion - Bearing in mind the increased number of these cases coming to light, would it be possible to have Non Coms listed in their own area on the Forum? This way all the men's names will appear together making life much easier for those with an interest in these matters. Over to you Terry...

Note that the CWGC forgot to mention his DCM! I have been in touch and this has now been added. They already had this information with my original submission! How can you forget something as important as this. I am getting fed up with keep having to go behind them like this. It's sloppy work and the men deserve better...

He is soon to get a new headstone. His current one has no name on it other than "Alf".

They record his rank as COLOUR SERGEANT. This is incorrect he was a Sergeant Major. I provided evidence of this but the MoD has totally ignored it. Alf was promoted to CSM in 1913 and was the Drill Instructor at Ashford T.F Drill Hall (National Reserve). I gave the CWGC 5 newspaper cuttings confirming this.

He was a Colour Sergeant in 1900 during the Boer War!

Can anyone help with this rank problem - Does anyone know the likely rank of an ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDANT of a Remount Depot? His boss was a full Colonel (Birdwood). It looks like Alf must have been the Senior NCO in the depot. I see there was a Farrier Major. I presume Alf would have outranked this NCO?

BAKER A.J

Sergeant Major Alfred (Alf) John BAKER DCM. Army Remount Service (A.R.S). Assistant Superintendant, Pluckley Remount Depot. Formerly (22 years) (55) 2nd battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Died 17th February 1915 aged 51 years. Born New Romney, Kent. Alfred resided at 204 Godinton Road, Ashford, Kent. Killed when he was thrown from his horse at the Pluckley railway station en route to the “Remount Depot”. Reported in the Kentish Express on 27th February 1915. He fell in the road fracturing the case of his skull. Alfred was actually on duty when he had the accident. Alfred’s service records do not appear to now exist. Extensive searches at the National Archives have been made. The situation is made even more difficult by the fact that Alfred did not serve overseas and was therefore not entitled to any Great War medals. Because of this his name will not be on the medal index cards. There is however overwhelming evidence to support a case for belated commemoration. Alfred was a serving soldier and died when on duty. Buried Ashford Cemetery, Canterbury Road, Ashford, Kent. Grave reference – 3165.

Alfred’s death Certificate reference is – Western Ashford/CH15/415.

An inquest was held into Alfred’s death 18th February 1915 by the Coroner of Kent C Duncan Murton. These records at Maidstone were destroyed in the 1950’s.

Alfred was born in New Romney before coming to Ashford and working for Mr Finn (the grocer). Alfred served 22 years in the 2nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment 17 of which were spent in India. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) by Lord Roberts in South Africa. He won the DCM during the Battle of Belfast (Boer war 1900-1902). It is recorded that he won this bravery award for rescuing an injured soldier whilst under heavy fire. In 1913 Alf was Drill Instructor for the Ashford Company, Kent National Reserve. When the Great War commenced Alfred volunteered for service overseas but was turned down due to his age. Instead he was enlisted into the Army Remount Service (A.R.S). Alfred was almost immediately appointed Assistant Superintendent of the Remount Depot at Pluckley. The Superintendant and Alf’s boss was Colonel Birdwood also of the Army Remount Service.

His DCM was gazetted in the London Gazette on 27th September 1901 (Army Order 15/02). The award was made for a deed during the Battle of Belfast action on the 27th August 1900. It is also recorded that Alfred was wounded in action on 24th August 1900. The 2nd Warwickshire Regiment sailed on the SS Gaul on 26th November 1899 bound for the South African Boer War. It arrived in the Cape on 16th December 1899. Upon reaching South Africa the battalion was placed in the 5th Division commanded by Sir Charles Warren. The Battle of Belfast was the last set piece battle of the war.

Alfred’s death is not recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as a war casualty. His death should have been recorded as a war casualty because he was a serving soldier at the time of his death. The Army Remount Service was manned by experienced but elderly soldiers who were too old to serve overseas. It was custom for these men to retain their former army ranks. The Army Remount Service had its own designated cap badge. The photo of Alfred shows him wearing a cap with this badge on it. The Remount Depots were run by the A.R.S but the vast majority of manpower was supplied by Army Service Corps (A.S.C) soldiers attached to the Army Remount Service.

The Army Eastern area of command (which included Kent) had 6 Remount Depots staffed and run by the Army Remount Service in conjunction with the Army Service Corps (ASC). The personnel operating the Remount Depots were fulltime soldiers who in the main wore the badge of the Army Service Corps and to a lesser extent the Army Remount Service. Alfred Baker was a member of the Army Remount Service. These remount Depots looked after the horses that were used by the British army throughout Europe and the Middle East. Pluckley was chosen because it was in close proximity to Dover. Pluckley’s depot was located close to the railway line possibly near or at the site of the old brickworks. The horses were transported by train to Dover and then put on ferries for the sea crossing (Richborough Port, Dover and Folkestone). Once in France or Belgium they were taken to a forward remount depot for field deployment.

REMOUNT DEPOT’s (Eastern District)

Pluckley, Kent (from 4th August 1914)

Brentwood, Essex

Luton, Bedfordshire

Market Harborough

Kettering, Northamptonshire

Redhill, Surrey.

The Superintendant of the Pluckley Remount Depot was Colonel Birdwood.

Members of the Remount Depot who attended Alf’s funeral

Colonel Birdwood

Major Fagfan

Captain Littledale (Veterinary Officer)

Farrier Major Pierce

Sergeant Bell

Sergeant Griffin

Sergeant Matthews

Corporal Hemsley

Corporal Kemp

Corporal Packham

Corporal Shorter

Canteen Orderly Wood

Private Homewood

Private Buss

Private Gibson

Private Russell

Here is a photo of Alf and his grave -

[Terry Denham]

Neil

I doubt that Chris would want another section. The GWF already has more than is usual for most forums.

I always use the same heading so that a simple search on 'In From The Cold' will always find these names.

[Neil Clark]

Point taken Terry - but one can live in hope...

Thanks again

Neil