London Regt, Rangers, 1/12 Gommecourt 1 July 1916

[andrewcml]

Private Campbell Percy WC 2676 died age 21, 01/07/1916 Thiepval Memorial. Just read Alan MacDonald's tour de force Pro Patria Mori and would like to pin down Great Uncle Percy to his company & platoon if possible. Also where did he join up/train and movements prior to 1 July. Percy's older brother by 2 years(my grandfather) wasn't called up till end of war probably because he was the breadwinner for his mother & 2 sisters (father died 1910) and was still in training when armistace declared (lucky for his decendants!). Grandfather never talked about Percy so a big blank in family history.

Would prefer to avoid expensive professional search sites. Any info gratefully recieved.

Andrew Campbell

[bmac]

Andrew,

2676 Pte Percival William Charles Campbell was in the 1/2nd London Regt (Royal Fusiliers) not the 1/12th Rangers. His medal roll is available through the National Archives (though they have him as P N C not P W C) which should at least tell you when he first started his overseas service and where. That might help pin down a bit more about his activities although whether his company and platoon will be possible to ascertain is another matter.

I will try to find out if his personal file still exists when I am next over at the NA which may be in about two weeks.

And thanks for the 'tour de force' mention. Appreciated.

Bill MacCormick aka Alan MacDonald

[bmac]

Andrew,

My guess is then that Percy was one of the 200 men who joined the Rangers from the 2/2nd London Regt (RF) who had been in Gallipoli. On the battalions return to France it was disbanded and the men divided up principally amongst the 1/2nd Londons, the Rangers and the Queen's Westminster Rifles. On 24th May 200 men from the 2/2nd joined the Rangers and 223 joined the QWR. The Medal Roll entry might confirm this with the details of when and where he first was sent overseas. Percy is certainly listed in the 2nd Londons' Roll of Honour in the regimental history.

The 2/2nd were formed on the departure of the 1/2nd for Malta in September 1914. Originally known as the 2nd (1st Reserve) Battalion, The London Regiment this was later changed to the 2/2nd Londons resulting in a nickname of 'The Two and Twopennies'. The battalion was formed from men recruited too late to get into the 1/2nd and the continuing flow of recruits. Two companies (of the then eight) were recruited from Westminster Training College.

Training took place in Vincent Square (opp Westminster Training College's buildings) but they then moved to Epsom Downs where the battalion was billeted in the stables and jockey's quarters at Tattenham Corner. Station buildings owned by the South East and Chatham Railway were also used.

On 15th December they moved with the rest of the brigade to Tonbridge. On the 23rd, after 48 hours leave, they entrained for Southampton and embarked on HT Neuralia for Malta.

The 2/2nd Londons were sent to garrrison Malta arriving in Valletta harbour arriving on 31st December 1914. They took over the garrison responsibility from the 1st London Infantry Brigade which then went to France and the 2/1st London Infantry Brigade assumed their duties.

At the end of August they were sent to Gallipoli via Alexandria which they reached on 30th August. From there they went to Cairo where they stayed throughout September training. They left for Gallipoli on 5th October, arriving Lemnos on the 8th and Gallipoli on the 13th, landing at Cape Helles at 9pm. The battalion was attached to the 2nd Brigade of the Royal Naval Division.

They first entered the trenches on the 17th October in front of Krithia. They suffered their first casualties on the 20th when relieved by the 2/4th Londons. Throughout the early part of November it was quiet with the battalions rotating 7 days in the trenches and 7 in reserve.

On 15th November the 52nd Division launched a limited operation involving the blowing of three mines and the 2/2nd supported with rifle fire and bombing. The battalions four machine guns, 2 old Vickers-Maxims and 2 Nordenfeldts, helped in the attack. Heavy Turkish artillery fire later resulted in some casualties to the 2/2nds but a counter-attack was beaten off.

The battalion now started to suffer through sickness as the weather broke with severe storms resulting in deep flooding of the trenches. On the 24th November the 2/2nds went into the front line and two days later an enormous storm broke over the peninsula with almost everywhere becoming uninhabitable and men having to climb out of the trenches to avoid being swept away. Three days later a blizzard swept the area freezing the water around the mens' ankles and the oil in the bolts of the rifles. At one time only one machine gun in the entire brigade was useable because of frozen parts. Heavy snow then fell and many men succumbed to the cold. 6,000 men became casualties as a result of the blizzard.

The 2/2nds were in the front line from the 11th to 29th December as the process of evacuating Gallipoli started and suffered heavy casualties on the 19th when they took part in a diversion to cover the final evacuation of Suvla and Anzac Coves. The battalion was evacuated in two stages on the 1st and 9th January 1916.

On the 18th they left for Alexandria having spent the intervening time on Lemnos. Arriving on the 21st they were sent to Wardan near Cairo and were attached to the 53rd Division. They were then attached to the 'Southern Force' being used to suppress the activities of various tribes sympathetic to the Turks. Their role was wholly defensive here with most of the action taking place on the Northern Force's front.

On 12th April they returned to Alexandria, leaving for France on the 17th where they arrived on the 24th. Going by train from Marseille to Rouen they were sent into camps. The battalion was broken up as from the 5th May with men going to the 1/2nds, Rangers and QWR. The battalion was then wound up.

[bmac]

There doesn't appear to be a War Diary for the 2/2 Londons covering this period but there may some material of interest in the Diaries covering the Royal Naval Division and its components (National Archives files WO 95/4290 and 4291).

The history of the 1/2nd and 2/2nd Londons is available from Naval and Military Press, price £22 (2ND CITY OF LONDON REGIMENT (ROYAL FUSILIERS) IN THE GREAT WAR (1914-1919) by Maj W.E.Grey. http://www.naval-military-press.com

[andrewcml]

Just been talking to my second cousin who I discover has Percy's medals, photos and a war diary!!! He confirms Percy was at Gallipoli just as you surmised. His mother had told him. Apparantly the last part of the journey on the way back from Gallipoli, from Marseilleto the Somme was not by any official train. His unit/platoon was just told to make its own way. Have asked my cousin to photo copy all and send me it. Will email results on Forum once sorted. Would still appreciate any info you can find at Kew archives re company & platoon etc. Am currently reading Sebastian Faulk's Birdsong for my book club. Percy's 2 years of active service in 2 millitary disasters would seem worthy of a similar book I feel!

Andrew

[bmac]

Pleased to hear of the find. If I find out anything more I will let you know.

[JOSTURM]

Pleased to hear of the find. If I find out anything more I will let you know.

Andrew & Bill,

Always great to read the threads about the London Regiment battalions.

Bill - as you know, I'm a 5th London obsessive - but have an interest in the 2nd, 9th and 16th who formed up in 169 Bde with the 56th Divn.

Love your book - glad I bought a copy.

If you have any specialist knowledge about the 5th Out of the ordinary, please let me know.

I'm on the photograph hunt right now.

Andrew - my grandfather - Joe Sturmer served with 2/5th Londons and was transferred to 1/28th in january 18, surviving the war. I was lucky to know him for 17 of my years until 1977.

See my thread about setting up a 'London Rifle Brigade Pals' group.

Peter

JOSTURM

[andrewcml]

PERCY’S DIARY

Dec 23rd 1914

Left England at 4.25pm on board HMT Neuralia bound for Malta.

Dec 31

Arrived in Malta harbour.

Jan 2 1915

Landed, went to Barracks (St Andrews). Jolly fine place. Spent 8 months there.

Aug 27

Left Malta for Egypt on the HMT Iverma. Very fine boat.

Sept 1

Arriving at Alexandria, went from there to Cairo. Spent 7 weeks in Cairo, visiting

Pyramids and Sphinx and general places of interest.

Oct 5

We left Egypt on the HMT Simla, bound for the Dardenelles.

Oct 8

We put into a Greek port named Lemnos Harbour. Stayed five days in same.

Oct 13

Left Lemnos Harbour for the Peninsula on the HMT Sarnia,arriving and landing at Cape

Hellas the same night about 7.20pm.

Oct 18

First visit to firing line.

Oct 19

Trench digging under fire.

Oct 20

Same as 19th

Oct 21

Back to what they called a rest camp but was under shell fire all the time.

Nov -Dec

Same thing as Oct 18-21

Jan 1st 1916

Evacuation of the Peninsula. Wonderful sight. We left on a paddle boat named the Barry.

Jan 2

Arriving at the Greek island of Mindros. Stayed there until...

Jan 18

when we sailed once more to Egypt on the HMT Ionian.

Jan 22

Got into Alexandria.

Jan 23

Left Alexandria for Kardan camp about 40 miles north of Cairo. Was taken ill while there with jaundice. Three weeks in hospital.

Feb 16

Left Kardan for the small town of Beni-Suef. Stayed there one day.

Feb 18

Left there (for) another small town of Peni-Mayar. Visiting the town — not a bad place.

Mar 10

Left Beni-Mayar in cattle trucks for Esna, stopping at Luxor for about a day.

Mar 13

Arriving at Esna after 2’/2 days in train

Mar 20

Guarding a large dam going across the Nile. Very fine place.Very hot indeed, only 50

miles from the borders of the Sudan.

April 12

Left Esna for Alexandria

April 14

Arriving at Alexandria at 1 3Oam, we stopped at a big camp named Sidi-Bister for 3days.

Visited Alexandria.

April 17

Left Alexandria on the HMT Transylvania bound for Marseilles. 15000 tons, speed 22

knots.

April 23

Arrived Marseilles

April 24

Easter Monday, we entrained for Rouen. Got to Rouen after 2½ day train journey.

Encamped there - very fine place.

May 6

Left Rouen on train for Blighty — England — (for) 7days leave.

May 7

Arriving at Dover at 1-o’clock Sunday afternoon. Got to Charing X Station 7pm, Home at 8.30pm.

Excerpts from Percy’s letters home

30/08/15 (to Mother) Arrived Alexandria Sunday (29th) Leaving tomorrow [Tuesday] for Cairo [postcard is of RMS Ivernia]

11/09/15 (to Lily) [postcard from Cairo]

23/11/15 (to Lily) Sid has gone away from the Peninsula with an attack of dysentery.

It is very cold at present but we have been served out with

pants, jersey and vest etc., we hope to get a waterproof cape and a new cap as soon as they have them in stock.

…………. received a letter card from Wally in France …………

24/11/15 (to Mother) It is very cold out here now that the winter weather has set in It has been snowing today, it is so cold that when we make tea we have to keep it on the fire otherwise it freezes.

25/12/15 (to Mother) Christmas day in the trenches.

We have had another swamping out, talk about rain, it seemed someone had opened the bottom of a river over our heads, it came down in torrents.

It has turned out a glorious day today and I hope it will continue to be so.

30/04/16 (to Quin.) [postcard, from Rouen]

Transcript of Letter from Enquiry Dept British Red Cross to Percy’s mother, Mary Campbell

Dated 21/08/1917

Dear Madam

Now that over a year has passed without news, notwithstanding our diligent enquiries at home and abroad, we fear that the soldiers of the 12 Londons who were missing in the attack of July 1st 1916 cannot have survived. This was, as you know, the first day of the great offensive on the Somme front and the battle was everywhere very violent.

Our reports state that the 12th Londons made two morning attacks, one at 7.30am and one at 8.15 am, between Gommecourt and Hebuterne, N. of Albert. An eye-witness says:

“We were trying to take 3 lines of German trenches. We expected to find the first two practically unoccupied, as an officer had crawled over the night before and found them so, but they were all occupied and the Germans were holding them well with machine guns etc.”

An officer says that it was above all the violent machine gun fire, added to the strength of the German wire, which checked the advance. We also hear that there was “very heavy high explosive firing, and the ground was fairly torn up by it” Even the road to the Dressing Station in our reserve line was raked by barrage fire. In the1st German trench which the battalion held for some hours, trench mortars, it seems, fell so thickly that as one officer says “We couldn’t get out at all either way” Finally our men withdrew to their own line about 400 yards away and the next day there was an armistice to bring in the wounded.

In the stress of the incessant fighting, men had little opportunity for noticing the movements of their comrades. After questioning every reliable witness whom we could find, we have reluctantly had to give up all hope of hearing anything of your son’s fate, though we never cease to watch the Prisoner’s Lists from Germany for the names of all the missing.

With much sympathy in what we feel convinced is your sad loss,

Yours truly B.W. for the Earl of Lucan

Note the original copy of this is held by my father’s cousin, John Dangerfield, who also has Percy’s medals, diary & letters.

[chrrip]

hi If the entry on the BWM roll is PD ( presumed dead ) and not KIA then he almost certainly will be listed on the Red Cross list of the missing; a friend of mine has a copy of the list for Aut 1916 and has given me a list of 5th london men listed; a many of them have details of platoon and section!! Let me know if you want to pursue this line

[andrewcml]

Heading for Transcripted letter to Percy's mother

[andrewcml]

hi If the entry on the BWM roll is PD ( presumed dead ) and not KIA then he almost certainly will be listed on the Red Cross list of the missing; a friend of mine has a copy of the list for Aut 1916 and has given me a list of 5th london men listed; a many of them have details of platoon and section!! Let me know if you want to pursue this line

Dear Ernie

I'd love any info you can give me re platoon & section.

Andrew

[andrewcml]

Percy Photos

Poor Quality I see I will have to play around with the settings

Andrew

[chrrip]

Andrew

he was B Company XII platoon accordingly to the Red Cross list of the Missing Aut 1916 so believe have found what you were after; my colleague is sending me a hard photocopy if you want it

[andrewcml]

Dear Earnie

Yes please to the offer of the hard copy. Post it on here? I think I have just about exhausted this particular Long Long Trail, unless there is information somewhere out there, about his pals in his company/platoon. At 19 years I think it likely he would have signed up with other friends from his street in Clapham or workplace but then they probably all died with him.

Andrew

[andrewcml]

Percy: which Platoon & Company?

Letter from family sent to Percy at the front (unaware of his death 01/07/1916), postmarked Battersea 8.15pm 11 July addressed to Rifleman P.W. Campbell, C company 1st/12 London Regiment, Rangers, B.E. Force, France. So his family thought he was in C company!

The letters were returned stamped “Present Location Uncertain” & “Undelivered for reason stated, return to sender” Someone has written “Wounded” and initialled it in pencil. This must have caused great confusion and distress in the family who were uncertain of his fate for at least another two years. This prompted the following advertisement in the Territorial Service Gazette July 14 1917 with photos of eight missing persons including Percy, headed:

THE FOLLOWING SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN REPORTED MISSING (OR DIED) ON THE DATE MENTIONED. CAN ANY COMRADE SUPPLY INFORMATION?

Under Percy’s photo caption reads: 2676 Pte P. W. C. Campbell C Co, 9th Plat, London Regt (RF), attd Rangers. (Presumed killed July 1/16) News to Mrs Campbell (Mother), 1 Amner Road, Clapham Common, London. I have a photo copy of Effects form 100C, issued by the War Office 1st Oct 1917 which finally confirms he is assumed dead.

Rangers Attack Plan for July 1st 1916 (taken from Alan McDonald’s Pro Patria Mori, p242) gives

C company No 9 Platoon, Snipers & Observers in 2nd wave of the attack. As Percy was a rifleman, this is the most likely. No 12 Platoon is listed under C company, NOT B company as suggested and was composed of Tools etc & Lewis gun teams, so probably NOT Percy.

On a separate note, I know that even today artifacts/material/body parts are still found each year on the Western Front Battlefields and occasionally it has been possible to identify the soldier. Is there a data base kept of such information. My thought was that the family moved from London back in the 1960's and if there had been any find connected with Percy we would not know. Realistically I am probably clutching at straws as my Great Grandmother must have done!

Andrew

[bmac]

Andrew,

9-12 Companiess were in C Company for what this is worth so the Red Cross information of B Coy and 12 Platoon is wrong. I know someone who may have definitive information on this (he told me which Company my mother's uncle was in). I will try to dig out his email address (on another computer) and ask if he knows.

Cheers

Bill

[artyali]

Private Campbell Percy WC 2676 died age 21, 01/07/1916 Thiepval Memorial. Just read Alan MacDonald's tour de force Pro Patria Mori and would like to pin down Great Uncle Percy to his company & platoon if possible. Also where did he join up/train and movements prior to 1 July. Percy's older brother by 2 years(my grandfather) wasn't called up till end of war probably because he was the breadwinner for his mother & 2 sisters (father died 1910) and was still in training when armistace declared (lucky for his decendants!). Grandfather never talked about Percy so a big blank in family history.

Would prefer to avoid expensive professional search sites. Any info gratefully recieved.

Andrew Campbell

Andrew,

My Great Uncle, 3628 Pte John Cyril Caley, was also in the 2nd London Royal Fusiliers and died at Gommecourt on July 1st. He is buried in The British Cemetery no 2 between Gommecourt and Hebuterne after having his body retrieved from the battlefield the following spring. I have letters from him to his parents ( My Great Grand Parents) if youre interested in where he may have been prior to his death. I believe that the 56th all met up at Rouen, as my Gt uncles letters are initially sent from YMCA at Rouen. This is where they formed as one......56th. My Gt Uncle was in C Company of 1/2 Londoners at Gommecourt. I have information contained in his letters about what A,B and D company were up to in the month leading up to the attack.

Alison

[Rick Back]

Hi,

 

My great uncle died on the first day of the Somme fighting with the Rangers. I wanted to know when he enlisted as he was only 17 and a half when he died! I'd like to find out what company he was in and when he travelled across to France. I have no confirmed photo of him and have looked at the poly mags but he is not mentioned. I think he went to school in Shepherd's Bush. 

 

His is name was George Henry Back.

 

Finally lay where could I look for details of his death?

 

thanks Rick