Hambo Posted 18 April , 2007 Share Posted 18 April , 2007 Harry The photos are fantastic. While I was trawling through Croydon and the Great War on another errand over the weekend I spotted an entry for a LNL and having double checked it against ODGW I have no battalion number but there's a very good chance he's one of yours Dickson, Cyril Garlies LN Lancs RegtBorn 17th April 1890 son of Mr and Mrs James John Garlies Couper Dickson of "Nuthurst" Avondale Road Croydon. Educated Whitgift Grammar School from 1901-1905 and at Blundells Tiverton Devon Fell E Africa 1914 Hope it's of use Hambo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter1 Posted 18 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 18 April , 2007 Hambo Thanks very much for that. Sadly Cyril Dickson is not going to survive the Tanga battle that we're presently involved in. Regards Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter1 Posted 19 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 19 April , 2007 www.africahousesafaris.com The railway cutting east of Tanga town. As the 2nd Loyal North Lancashires fought towards the railway cutting fire was coming from all directions, including wild firing from other British units on both flanks & in the rear. Now bees swarmed against the Bn again, stinging men ferociously. The Bn's Machine Guns were effectively handled against the Schutztruppe guns opposing them, but one Loyal North Lancs gun had to be temporarily abandoned as the crew was incapacitated by bee stings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter1 Posted 19 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 19 April , 2007 www.africahousesafaris.com Footbridge over the railway cutting east of Tanga looking west. In 1914 three footbridges crossed the railway cutting, & this one remains today. 6 Feldkompagnie were covering these bridges from the west. The Loyal North Lancashires maintained momentum & parts of all three forward double-companies fought across the railway cutting. To the north the Kashmiris also fought across the railway cutting & entered the town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter1 Posted 19 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 19 April , 2007 www.africahousesafaris.com Area just west of the railway cutting, Tanga. In 1914 this was open ground. The bulk of the three forward Loyal North Lancs double-companies crossed the open ground west of the railway cutting & started street & house to house fighting in the town. Bn HQ & the two Machine Guns appear to have remained on the east side of the cutting. The one reserve Loyal North Lancs double-company now crossed the cutting & attracted concentrated fire from the Railway Compound, which pinned it down in the area of this image before it could enter town. Not all the Palamcottahs disintegrated. Their two Machine Gun teams, directed by officers, fought to the best of their ability. A British & Indian officer of the 83rd Wallahabad Light Infantry (drafted into the Palamcottahs) got 25 men up to the railway cutting but their men were shot or fell away. The officers crossed the cutting but withdrew for lack of support, the Indian officer being shot in the cutting on the withdrawal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter1 Posted 19 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 19 April , 2007 www.africahousesafaris.com The Loyal North Lancashires were now taking casualties. One of them was the Bn Medical Officer, Captain C.A.T. Conyngham, who was killed in action & who is commemorated on a wall panel of the British & Indian Memorial, Tanga. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyblackpool Posted 19 April , 2007 Share Posted 19 April , 2007 hi harry, i have only just found out my grandfathers eldest brother was with the 2nd battalion LNLR, JOHN RODAWAY PRIVATE 10206 born liverpool 1895 parents FREDERICK AND CATHERINE RODAWAY he went into the army service corps m/41350 later on , and like my grandfather came home, first class thread great reading and great photos.regards tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter1 Posted 19 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 19 April , 2007 Tony Thank you very much for this. I have 10206 L/Cpl RODAWAY listed as fighting with the Mounted Infantry Company from the Salaita action up to the Company's disbandment on the Lukigura River, German East Africa on 04 July 1916. As he was a signaller there is a strong possibility that he then was posted to the Divisional Signals Company, known as "Zulu" Company. (If he didn't go to Zulu Company then he would have been posted to the Loyal North Lancs Machine Gun Company with the remainder of the disbanded Mounted Infantry Company lads. I will let you know if his name appears again.) The good thing is that his health must have been robust as he had not been sent on recuperation to South Africa in Spring 1916, along with the bulk of the Bn. Regards Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyblackpool Posted 20 April , 2007 Share Posted 20 April , 2007 Tony Thank you very much for this. I have 10206 L/Cpl RODAWAY listed as fighting with the Mounted Infantry Company from the Salaita action up to the Company's disbandment on the Lukigura River, German East Africa on 04 July 1916. As he was a signaller there is a strong possibility that he then was posted to the Divisional Signals Company, known as "Zulu" Company. (If he didn't go to Zulu Company then he would have been posted to the Loyal North Lancs Machine Gun Company with the remainder of the disbanded Mounted Infantry Company lads. I will let you know if his name appears again.) The good thing is that his health must have been robust as he had not been sent on recuperation to South Africa in Spring 1916, along with the bulk of the Bn. Regards Harry cheers harry, and thanks for info, if i come across anything i will post on, attachment patrol LNLR . tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter1 Posted 20 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 20 April , 2007 Tony I've found also that 10206 Private RODAWAY took part in the successful ambush described in post #177 earlier. It looks like he was in the Mounted Infantry Company from its inception, & he may have served in Cole's Scouts before that. (When many of the Somalis in Cole's Scouts mutinied a party from the 2nd Loyal North Lancashires apprehended them. Then around 80 Loyal North Lancashires were posted into Cole's Scouts until that unit was disbanded.) Regards Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter1 Posted 20 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 20 April , 2007 Courtesy of the US Army Command & General Staff College Map showing penetration into Tanga town by British units on 04 November 1915. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter1 Posted 20 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 20 April , 2007 www.africahousesafaris.com Colonial buildings to the north of Tanga town. On the British right the Imperial Service Brigade was going well & showing that well-selected & trained Indian troops were a match for the Schutztruppe. The Kashmiris bayonet-charged into town & captured a Machine Gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter1 Posted 20 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 20 April , 2007 www.africahousesafaris.com Colonial building in the north of Tanga town. After fierce bayonet fighting Rajputs & Kashmiris captured the Kaiser Hotel & removed the German flags flying above the roof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter1 Posted 20 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 20 April , 2007 www.africahousesafaris.com Old shops in Tanga town. The Kashmir State Forces recruited many Nepalese, & Lt. W.H. Anderson & his Loyal North Lancashire platoon, on the right of the Bn front, took some of these Gurkhas forward with them as they cleared houses. L/Cpl W. Taylor (killed in action), & Privates A. Allan & J. Ridgeway, all of C Company The Loyal North Lancashires, won DCMs for acts of gallantry during this fighting. L/Cpl Taylor disabled an enemy Machine Gun before he was killed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyblackpool Posted 20 April , 2007 Share Posted 20 April , 2007 Tony I've found also that 10206 Private RODAWAY took part in the successful ambush described in post #177 earlier. It looks like he was in the Mounted Infantry Company from its inception, & he may have served in Cole's Scouts before that. (When many of the Somalis in Cole's Scouts mutinied a party from the 2nd Loyal North Lancashires apprehended them. Then around 80 Loyal North Lancashires were posted into Cole's Scouts until that unit was disbanded.) Regards Harry cheers harry, i will have to read up later far to much to take in at the moment,just over the moon with the info already, johns younger brother william is the smaller of the soldiers on my avatar aged 16 the year was 1916, if you need any more info on john and the family let me know i can also call in to fulwood barracks if needed its just up the road, tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter1 Posted 20 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 20 April , 2007 www.africahousesafaris.com Colonial buildings to the south of Tanga town In the town Loyal North Lancashire Company Commanders re-grouped their men but the nature of the street fighting meant that Platoon Commanders were tasking their sections onto buildings & streets to their immediate front, & fighting their own intensive fights. In this street fighting British training, tactics & rifles had the edge. At one stage an intrepid German motorcyclist (probably from a Schutzenkompagnien) rode towards a Loyal North Lancashire group, stopped his machine, & opened fire at close range with a Maxim mounted on the cycle. He was despatched with rifle fire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter1 Posted 20 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 20 April , 2007 www.africahousesafaris.com Old buildings north of Tanga railway station Privates Coulson (H Coy) & Ainsworth & Ward (both F Coy) captured a German prisoner. (What hapened to him is not known. Meinertzhagen's diary complains that no prisoners were captured.) However things were not getting easier for the Loyal North Lancashires. Casualties were mounting & both casevac & ammunition replenishment were blocked by the continuing domination of the railway cutting by German machine guns. Lt. S.V.E. Hickson was hit in the arm, pulled under cover by Private Smith, a stretcher bearer, but the "cover" was enfiladed & both men were shot, Lt. Hickson in the chest fatally. Then Tom Prince put 7 & 8 Schutzenkompagnien into a counter-attack from the west of town. The Loyal North Lancashires, Kashmiris & Rajputs in the town had to defend the ground they had gained. The Loyal North Lancashire War Diary states: "It was at this period that co-operation of gun fire from the "Fox" or from other guns would have been invaluable, but no help was given until late in the afternoon." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter1 Posted 20 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 20 April , 2007 www.africahousesafaris.com The area northeast of Tanga railway station. On the British left the situation was deteriorating. The 98th Infantry, the reserve Bn of 27 Brigade, was suddenly attacked by bees & the men dispersed rapidly. Although slowly reformed the 98th then lost interest in the battle. (The Loyal North Lancs War Diary describes the few 98th infantrymen seen to the right rear: "These men lay down & appeared to take no further part in the fight.") More seriously the 101st Grenadiers, fighting furiously on the left flank, were now totally isolated. When the 63rd Palamcottah Light Infantry, wedged inbetween the Grenadiers to their left & the Loyal North Lancs to their right, broke & headed for the beach, the Grenadiers then had no right flank protection. The Grenadiers became even more isolated as the Loyal North Lancs ran across the railway cutting & entered town. As German reinforcements arrived in Tanga 16 Feldkompagnie had dug-in northeast of the railway station in the area of where the above image was taken. Observing the plight of the 101st Grenadiers, 27 Brigade Commander General Wapshare ordered the Bn to incline right. As the Grenadiers did so they entered the killing ground of 16 Feldkompagnie & suffered severely. The British situation was still not desperate, & could have been retrieved with salvos of well-directed 6-inch gunfire from HMS "Fox" & by the fire of the 28th Mountain Battery. However neither HMS "Fox" nor the Battery had put fire controllers & signals equipment ashore. (OC 28 Battery did try to use the mast-head of the "Bharata" as an Observation Post, but he still could not see his fall of shot.) Lettow sensed that his moment was arriving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter1 Posted 21 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 21 April , 2007 www.africahousesafaris.com Forming Up Place for German counter-attacks, looking in the direction of attack. A location in the high-density housing area of Tanga. Lettow moved 1 & 17 Feldkompagnies east of the railway station. This brought four new Machine Guns to bear on the 101st Grenadiers. 13 Feldkompagnie were formed up in the area of the above image for a counter-attack. By now the Grenadiers' leading companies had lost half their men & all their British officers. The Grenadiers' two Machine Guns, assisted by the Palamcottah's guns which were still in action, took on the German guns from the southern flank, but by now the 101st had fought itself into the ground & was losing cohesion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter1 Posted 21 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 21 April , 2007 www.africahousesafaris.com Old building in Tanga. In Tanga town Tom von Prince (awarded the "von" for many acts of gallantry in colonial fighting in GEA) was down, killed in action leading his Schutzenkompagnien. Tom had been very influential in the formation of Shooting Clubs for German settlers in GEA. These clubs now provided Lettow with a large number of trained leaders for the Schutztruppe. But increasing pressure was being applied onto the British troops in the town, & no support of any kind was provided. Some junior staff officers were in town but command elements stayed east of the railway cutting. As the Loyal North Lancashires heard the increased amount of firepower being used against the 101st Grenadiers they realised that soon they may be trapped in the town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter1 Posted 21 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 21 April , 2007 Courtesy of the US Army Command & General Staff College (These maps, generously placed by the US Army Command & General Staff College on the internet, are representational of events but not totally accurate. The compiler has accepted Meinertzhagen as a reliable source for details of unit movements & dispositions, & this has resulted in innacuracies when other sources such as War Diaries, histories & personal notes are compared.) The German counter-attacks on 04 November 1914. The fresh troops of 13 Feldkompagnie were launched into a counter-attack on the 101st Grenadiers' southern flank. The Grenadiers, still totally alone & now reeling, were driven back, crumbling into small groups. As Lettow records: "... & no witness will forget the moment when the machine guns of the 13th Company opened a continuous fire at this point & completely reversed the situation. The whole front jumped up & dashed forward with enthusiastic cheers." This was extremely bad news for the British troops in Tanga town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter1 Posted 21 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 21 April , 2007 Panels from the British & Indian Memorial Tanga The 101st Grenadiers had nearly one quarter of their strength killed in action. These are the first two of the four wall panels that commemorate these brave men. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter1 Posted 21 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 21 April , 2007 Panels from the British & Indian Memorial Tanga These are the third & fourth panels commemorating the gallant 101st Grenadiers. The fourth panel also commemorates men from the 83rd Wallajahbad Light Infantry, (some of them fighting up to the railway cutting), & starts the commemoration of men from the 13th Rajputs (The Shekhawati Regiment). Some of these Rajputs fought into Tanga town. Too many harsh & unjust general criticisms have been made about the performance of Indian troops at Tanga, & not enough credit has been given to the Indian infantrymen who stood their ground & fought bravely, sometimes to the death. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alcluith Posted 21 April , 2007 Share Posted 21 April , 2007 Harry, I have my grandfather's brother 10827 Private Donald James from Renton in Scotland the son of William & Elizabeth James in the LNLR. He drowned at Bangalore India on the 23rd Sept 1918. He has been five times wounded, three in France and twice in Mesopotamia. He was one of the original Expeditionary Force. I have no information regaring his time in the LNLR but would be interesting in finding out about him. rgds Drew Davidson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter1 Posted 22 April , 2007 Author Share Posted 22 April , 2007 Drew Thank you & welcome. "Soldiers Died in The Great War 1914-1919, Part 50, The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment" lists Donald James as serving with the 6th (Service) Bn. The 6th Bn were in Mesopotamia at the time of Donald's death so maybe he was in India recovering from wounds when he tragically drowned. The Regimental History Volume 2 by Wylly , now republished, gives a good account of the 6th Bn's activities & battles. Good Luck - you'll probably find that the searching becomes fascinating. Regards Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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