RMLI Rank

[mmm45]

Hi im researching my local Roll of Honour and have come to PLY21S Mne Arthur Wood he was KIA? 13th May 1915 in Dardanelles can anyone give me anymore info as to what the RMLI were up to that day and any more info on the Marine himself if you posess it.

Thanks

Ady

[michaeldr]

Ady,

PLY 21/S Pte Arthur Wood's date of death seems to be unclear

you have 13 May 1915

however the CWGC give ten days earlier

Name: WOOD, ARTHUR

Initials: A

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Royal Marine Light Infantry

Unit Text: Plymouth Bn. R.N. Div

Date of Death: 03/05/1915

Service No: PLY/21(S)

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 2 to 7.

Memorial: HELLES MEMORIAL

BUT, the RM and RND expert is John Morcombe and his book on his relative Jack Clegg suggests that this too is incorrect

see pages 20-21 of "If your alive speak, if dead don't bother" where Morcombe has Pte Wood as killed at 'Y' Beach Gallipoli on 25-26 April 1915

He explains the mistake in the date of death thus

"Such was the chaos after 'Y' Beach and the initial landings generally, that it was not until the 4th May that the DHQ were able to attend to the Plymouth Battalions records."

[The records show that only 5 men died at 'Y' Beach on 25-26 April while 45 are shown as having died on 3 May]

Morcombe continues "An inspection of the AFB 103s for the 49 Marines in question shows one common denominator; the Adjutant did not bother with an exact date of death, due to lack of time, information, witnesses & the great volume of work, so he used the catch all phrase 'about the 3rd of May 1915'."

John Morcombe is a member of the G W F and hopefully this will catch his eye and he can explain further

regards

Michael

[historydavid]

Ady, from Admiralty records:

WOOD, ARTHUR, PRIVATE, RMLI S 21 (Ply), PLYMOUTH BN. ROYAL NAVAL DIVISION, KIA 26/04/2015, Gallipoli

Best wishes

David

[mmm45]

Micheal and David

Thanks for your information will his service record be at the FAA museum or National Archives?

Ady

[horatio2]

Yes, papers are at the FAAM:-

Plymouth/21(S); WOOD, A; Enlisted 09/09/14; KIA (as above); Date of birth - 26/08/1888; Place of birth HECKMONDWIKE; enlisted RMLI ex-KOYLI.

[mmm45]

Cheers Horatio didnt know he was ex KOYLI.

Ady

[horatio2]

Cheers Horatio didnt know he was ex KOYLI.

Ady

Approx. the first 200 men to join Plymouth Division RMLI for short service were transferred from KOYLI in the first two weeks of September 1914.

[mmm45]

Horatio

You dont happen to know if 738s Mne Frank Hinchcliffe was also ex Koyli he was KIA in May 1915 also he is on the same memorial as Mne Wood back home.

Thanks

Ady

[horatio2]

Hinchcliffe was Portsmouth/738(S). He was not ex-Army. His papers are at Kew. He originally enlisted on 29 October 1914 as Plymouth/564(S) but was transferred, with about 90 other men of his batch, to Portsmouth Division in mid-December 1914. More information can be obtained on http://www.military-genealogy.com/rndAbout

[Max]

This link to John Morecombes website (excellent BTW) may give you a few pointers...Arthur Woods is mentioned.

http://www.cwgc.co.uk/ybeach.htm

Andy

[John Morcombe]

Good old Frank Hinchcliffe. Barnsley born:-

PLY/564/S (PO/738/S) Pte. Frank HINCHCLIFFE Collier. b. Barnsley, 16/8/1892.

Enlisted: Manchester 29/10/1914 age 22. Ht: 5ft. 5 & 3/4ins. Chest: 35ins. Fresh complexion. Eyes: Grey. Hair: Brown.

Ply. Div. UK 29/10/1914 -10/12/1914.

Transferred to Portsmouth Div. 10/12/1914 - New No. PO/738/S.

Embarked: HMS Victory (RM Bde.) 11/12/1914.

MEF Dardanelles 28/4/1915-3/5/1915.

Reported Wounded 3rd May 1915, later reported Wounded & Missing Nov 1915

DD - KIA Portsmouth Bn. 3/5/1915.

No Known Grave - Helles Memorial, Gallipoli.

Next of Kin: Mother, Mrs B.A. Stocks, Middlegate, High Town, Liversidge, Nr. Bradford, Yorks.

(14/15 Star, BWM & Vic. not issued) Paid War Gratuity £5 20/9/19. (AFB.103 & RND Card Index missing). Attestation papers at Kew OK.

Arthur Wood was surely killed at 'Y' beach 25-26/4/15.

Also, the rank was "Private" not "Marine". "Marine" rank came in 1923 & replaced Private.

[Max]

Hello John

As an aside...who is the chap you are using as your avatar, and where was he from? The resemblance between the picture and my old man as a 15 year old boy goes beyond the uncanny.

Andy

[mmm45]

John Thanks for that info

My mistake on the rank forgot about the RMLI and RMA split .He is remembered on the Cleckheaton War Memorial along with Pte Wood and the other Bootneck on it is Pte Sydney Green? KIA Arras you dont have anything on him do you??

Thanks again

Ady

[John Morcombe]

Dear Ady,

Here are Green's details from the RND Roll:-

PLY/1455/S Private Sydney Green Royal Marine Light Infantry

2nd Royal Marine Bn. 28/04/1917 Missing, assumed dead

Enlisted 6/3/16 ;

Embarked RM Brigade 2/8/16 ;

Draft for BEF 22/11/16, joined 2nd RM Bn. 8/12/16-28/4/17 DD.

Arras Memorial (MR 20)

b.Leeds 5/1/1897 ;

Father, Arthur, 2589 1/4th Bn. West Riding Regt., 2nd Provincial Bn., Sandhills, Saltfleet, Lincs., later of: Graycombe House, Fladbury, Worcs.

Dear Andy,

The Avatar photo is Jack Clegg, my main man. jackclegg.com gives other photos & stuff.

John