Moriaty Posted 27 September , 2006 Share Posted 27 September , 2006 Can anyone help solve a mystery about my great uncle in Gallipoli in April 1915? A letter from my grandmother dated 27 April 1915 said that her brother Dick (Richard Martin Peter Preston) was fighting on the Gallipoli Peninsula. My researches indicate that Great Uncle Dick was in the Honorable Artillery Company and later in the Royal Horse Artillery (he was later a Major in the RHA and awarded the DSO and Bar), but I cant work whether he was actually in Gallipoli or whether Granny had got it wrong! If he was there, what fighting would he have been involved in? He subsequently wrote a book "The Desert Mounted Corps - an account of the cavalry operations in Palestine and Syria 1917-1918" published by Houghton & Miflin, Boston, 1923 Any thoughts would be most gratefully received! Moriaty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 27 September , 2006 Share Posted 27 September , 2006 Moriaty, I do not think the HAC were ever present at Gallipoli. They do not feature in either the OH or in Westlake's "British Regiments at Gallipoli". H2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 27 September , 2006 Share Posted 27 September , 2006 Highly unlikely that granny could have known about fighting on Gallipoli by 27th April? Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveE Posted 27 September , 2006 Share Posted 27 September , 2006 QUOTE (Phil_B @ Sep 27 2006, 01:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Highly unlikely that granny could have known about fighting on Gallipoli by 27th April? Phil B Sorry, but I don't agree. The Times newspaper first published details of the landings on Tuesday April 27th, so Granny could have known all about it when writing her letter. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveE Posted 27 September , 2006 Share Posted 27 September , 2006 Moriaty Have you tried his Service Records at the NA, Kew? This looks like his: WO339/5892 - Preston, R M P, Lieut-Col Hon. 1910-1919 Link to the reference is Here Hope this helps. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 27 September , 2006 Share Posted 27 September , 2006 If he was an officer, it is possible that he was not with his regiment but in a staff post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 27 September , 2006 Share Posted 27 September , 2006 It would be particularly useful to know the date when he changed over from the HAC to the RHA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 27 September , 2006 Share Posted 27 September , 2006 He was H.A.C. in 1913: London Gazette 16-9-1913 War Office, 16th September, 1913. TERRITORIAL FORCE. HONOURABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY. Captain the Honourable Richard M. P. Preston to be Major. Dated 22nd July, 1913. http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType= Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 27 September , 2006 Share Posted 27 September , 2006 His earlier promotions: LG 19-1-1904 War Office, Pall Mall, 19th January, 1904. ROYAL REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY. Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery, The undermentioned Gentlemen Cadets, from the Royal Military Academy, to be Second Lieutenants. Dated 23rd December, 1903:— The Honourable Richard Martin Peter Preston. http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType= LG 4-1-1907 ROYAL REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY. Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery, Major The undermentioned Second Lieutenants to be Lieutenants, under the provisions of Article 29, Royal Warrant, 19th March, 1906. Dated 23rd December, 1906 : Honourable Richard M. P. Preston. http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType= LG 1-9-1908 ROYAL REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY. Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery, Lieutenant The Honourable Richard M. P. Preston resigns his Commission. Dated 2nd September, 1908. http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType= LG 16-12-1910 War Office, 16th December, 1910. TERRITORIAL FORCE. HONOURABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY. Second Lieutenant The Honourable Richard M. P. Preston to be Captain. Dated 17th December, 1910. http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType= Promotion to Lt Col: LG 22-12-1917 The undermentioned to be actg. Lt.-Cols.: Maj. the Hon. R. M. P. Preston, D.S.O., T.F. 5th Oct. 1917. http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType= LG 19-10-1921 TERRITORIAL ARMY RESERVE. Regimental List. R.A. Lt.-Col. Hon. R. M. P. Preston, D.S.O., from, "B" Bty., H.A.C., to be Lt.-Col. (11th (H.A.C. & City of Lond. Yeo.) Bde.), R.H.A. 20th Oct. 1921. http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType= His D.S.O.: LG 4-6-1917 TO BE COMPANIONS OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER. Maj. The Hon. Richard Martin Peter Preston, H.A.C. http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType= LG 27-10-1917 Awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Service Order. The Hon. Richard Martin Peter Preston, D.S.O.,R.H.A. (frmly. H.A.C.). (D.S.O. gazetted 4th June, 1917.) http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType= Details in the Gazette aren't great evidence to rely on, but the D.S.O. refers to him in the H.A.C. and the Bar as formerly, as if he transferred some time in 1917. Maybe reading too much into it. A Google search suggests that one of the D.S.O.s had originally been a V.C. recommendation, by the way. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 27 September , 2006 Share Posted 27 September , 2006 Sorry, but I don't agree. The Times newspaper first published details of the landings on Tuesday April 27th, so Granny could have known all about it when writing her letter. Steve But not time for granny to have got a letter informing her that her brother was fighting there? Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 27 September , 2006 Share Posted 27 September , 2006 If you haven't seen his D.S.O, V.C. and M.I.D. recommendations have a look at this site: http://www.awm.gov.au/honours/awm28/ Just type in Preston into the Search. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerrymurland Posted 27 September , 2006 Share Posted 27 September , 2006 Steve, as ever i'm in awe over your ability to extract information from the Gazette, how about a master class sometime for us lesser mortals? Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 27 September , 2006 Share Posted 27 September , 2006 He seems to have been Mentioned in Despatches several times. My list of MID links is stranded on a backup drive whilst my home PC is being repaired, but if you can track him down as having an MID on the "Gallipoli lists" then it would suggest he was actually there... He has at least 3 MID cards under R M P Preston on the NA website. By the way, what does his campaign medals medal card say about his first theatre of war and date of entry? Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 27 September , 2006 Share Posted 27 September , 2006 Jerry, I was considering a Master Class. Then my (new) computer crashed - fatally. I'll see about it when I'm back up and running.... Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moriaty Posted 27 September , 2006 Author Share Posted 27 September , 2006 Thank you to everyone for all of their information about Great Uncle Dick, I never knew he had such an illustrious military career (I just remember him as a very elderly gent), so I will obviously have to start doing some serious research. Regarding Granny's letter about her brother fighting on the Gallipoli Peninsula, she always said she had second sight, so maybe that's how she knew about it! Moriaty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 27 September , 2006 Share Posted 27 September , 2006 Moriarty you may wish to contact our forum Pal 'rflory' who has a data base of over 53,000 RA officers He may well have the answer to your Gallipoli question and some others regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerrymurland Posted 27 September , 2006 Share Posted 27 September , 2006 I'll see about it when I'm back up and running.... Great, put me down for the dummies group!! Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveE Posted 27 September , 2006 Share Posted 27 September , 2006 QUOTE (Phil_B @ Sep 27 2006, 03:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> But not time for granny to have got a letter informing her that her brother was fighting there? Phil B Why a letter?, there were other methods of communication, how else did the newspapers find out? Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerrymurland Posted 27 September , 2006 Share Posted 27 September , 2006 Steve Captain Warren Murland MiD 15.5.17 North Irish Horse - can't find it. Will I actually find what he was MiD for in the 'Despatches' if so where do I find them? Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveE Posted 27 September , 2006 Share Posted 27 September , 2006 Steve Captain Warren Murland MiD 15.5.17 North Irish Horse - can't find it. Will I actually find what he was MiD for in the 'Despatches' if so where do I find them? Jerry Jerry London Gazette #30072, dated 15th May 1917..... CAVALRY (SPECIAL RESERVE). IRISH HORSE. Russell, Maj. Hon. A. H. Waring, Maj. H. Hughes, Capt. T. W. G. J. Murland, Capt. W. Downey, No. 41 Squad. Serjt.-Maj. R. J. Rodman, No. 1254 Serjt. R. B. Rutherford, No. 1293 Lee.-Corpl. H. Cooper, No. 1126 Pte. R. Link to the Gazette is Here Hope it helps. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerrymurland Posted 27 September , 2006 Share Posted 27 September , 2006 Steve - Cheers mate. Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 28 September , 2006 Share Posted 28 September , 2006 Why a letter?, there were other methods of communication, how else did the newspapers find out? Steve Anything`s possible Steve. But you must agree a little unlikely that granny would have a communications system to rival Reuters? Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moriaty Posted 28 September , 2006 Author Share Posted 28 September , 2006 Steve/Stebie9173 Thanks for all the info about Great Uncle Dick Preston, what I cant quite understand is why is appears on the Australian War Memorial database of "Australians serving with the Imperial Forces." He was Irish, not Australian.... Moriaty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 29 September , 2006 Share Posted 29 September , 2006 Don't know for sure but I suspect he was attached to the Australian forces in Palestine during his time there? My knowledge of Cavalry operations in Palestine is sketchy to say the least, but the Australian Light Horse played a key role in the conflict, and it wouldn't surprise me that he had some connection with them, at least considering the title of the book he wrote... Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerrymurland Posted 29 September , 2006 Share Posted 29 September , 2006 A large number of the AIF were not actually Australians, over 20% were Brits, Canadians etc reflecting the emigration trends of the day. My Gt. Uncle who was British appears on the Australian Lone Pine Memorial in Gallipoli and in the 15th Battalion AIF that fought in Gallipoli around 30 were other nationalities. Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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