Arthur Laishley DCM MM Royal Warwickshire Regiment

[gary ruck 1]

Can anyone help? I’m researching my grandfather Pte (L cpl) Arthur Laishley. I am particulary trying to find out which unit he originally served with, how he was wounded, and the date and place of the action which led to his MM. I have copies of his three medal cards from GRO and his certificate of disembodiment on demobilisation. Information from these is

Enlisted in TA (Royal Warwicks) 13 February 1914

Original service number 2193

Wounded on the Somme - listed in Birmingham Daily Post 19 August 1916

New service number 268306

New unit 2/7 Bn RWR

Won MM late 1917/early 1918 - listed in London Gazette 7 October 1918 but in Birmingham Evening

Despatch 18 June 1918.

Won DCM 24 October 1918 - listed in London Gazette 12 March 1919 and 2 December 1919.

Disembodied 16 February 1919

Reenlisted (assumed in TA) 12 July 1921

[mcderms]

Here's an ongoing topic to look at: Royal Warks Regt Thread. Also have you tried the London Gazette?

[SteveE]

I am particulary trying to find out which unit he originally served with

My guess would be that he originally served with the 7th as well. All territorial soldiers were renumbered in early 1917 to the 6-digit number, his falls into the range allocated to the 7th Battalion.

Have you downloaded his Medal Index Card to see if there are any clues as to when he went overseas?

Link to card is Here

Hope this helps.

Steve

[gary ruck 1]

My guess would be that he originally served with the 7th as well. All territorial soldiers were renumbered in early 1917 to the 6-digit number, his falls into the range allocated to the 7th Battalion.

Have you downloaded his Medal Index Card to see if there are any clues as to when he went overseas?

Link to card is Here

Hope this helps.

Steve

Thanks: I have all three medal cards he first arrived in France on 22 March 1915. I've since found out that his original unit was probably either 1/5 or 1/6 based at Thorp St in Birmingham, not far from where he lived.

[gary ruck 1]

Here's an ongoing topic to look at: Royal Warks Regt Thread. Also have you tried the London Gazette?

Yes I do have the do have the London Gazette entries. Many thanks

[SteveE]

Thanks: I have all three medal cards he first arrived in France on 22 March 1915. I've since found out that his original unit was probably either 1/5 or 1/6 based at Thorp St in Birmingham, not far from where he lived.

22nd March 1915 is consistant with the arrival of the South Midland Division in France of which the 1/5th, 1/6th, 1/7th and 1/8th Warwicks formed the Warwickshire Brigade. I'm guessing you've narrowed it down to 1/5th or 1/6th because he was living in Birmingham?

Since you have his Medal Index Card for his campaign medals, you also have his 1914-15 Star and BWM/Victory Medal Roll references. Have you tried posting them on the "I'm Going to the National Archives" forum as somebody may be able to get the Medal Roll details for you if you can't get there yourself. This should at least tell you which battalion he went overseas with.

Hope this helps.

Steve

[brindlerp]

"The various battalions of the Royal Warwickshire had borne so great a part in the stubborn fighting throughout July, and had suffered so heavily, that the following month was naturally for most of them a period of comparative rest. The 11th Royal Warwickshire took part in an attack towards Martinpuich at dark on August 12, when they were held up within twenty yards of their objective and forced to retire with the loss of 2 officers and over 150 men.

A splendid achievement was that of the 5th and 6th battalions, under Lieut.-Colonels Sladen and Danielsen, in an attack towards Thiepval on August 18. The two Royal Warwickshire battalions were on the right, and the position which they had to take was a perfect nest of dug-outs. Nevertheless in a brilliant advance they pushed forward on a front of 1000 yards for nearly half that distance in depth. They captured a fortified post from which there came out 6 officers and 244 unwounded prisoners, and the total number of prisoners taken was nearly 600. An eye-witness described the whole performance as extraordinarily good; the men said the officers led magnificently and the officers that the men were heroes. Captain L. C. Crockford of the 6th, who was a first-class shot, from behind a sandbag barricade, with his men behind him bombing over his head and keeping him supplied with relays of rifles, went on firing with unerring aim till he had put an enemy machine-gun out of action. Another German machine-gun team was kept away from its weapon by Corporal J. V. Haseler, who jumped on to the parados of the trench, and shot them down one by one till his own men came up and rushed the post ( The Times, August 21 and 25, 1916 ). Considering how much they had done the casualties in the two Warwickshire battalions were not heavy—about 300, including 8 officers. Captain Alabaster of the 5th and Captain Crockford received the M.C., and Corporal Haseler, who afterwards received a commission, was awarded the D.C.M."

Taken from:-

The Story of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Formerly the Sixth Foot)

[ 1674 to 1920 ]

by Charles Lethbridge Kingsford

Pages 148 to 158 inclusive

CHAPTER XX

THE GREAT WAR: THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME

1916

Check out the complete chapter at:

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...ic=8768&hl=

Attached is page 216 from the Appendix of the Kingsford book, titled Distinctions where Pte. A. Laishley is listed as receiving both the D.C.M. and M.M.

I have yet to find any other mention of Private Laishley in the book.

Regarding "I am particulary trying to find out which unit he originally served with, how he was wounded, and the date and place of the action which led to his MM." all I can suggest is to contact the Regimental Museum.

"

Need help with research?

We can help you, contact the museum now:

Tel: +44 (0)1926 491653

RRF Museum (Warwickshire)

St John's House

Warwick

England

CV34 4NF

"

Check out: http://www.warwickfusiliers.co.uk/default.asp

regards

Richard