Trebrys Posted 12 February , 2007 Share Posted 12 February , 2007 I'm making an enquiry on behalf of someone who has read a scrap book collected by a Welshman who fought during the Great War. In it are found the experiences of a group from Caernarfonshire and a Col. JW Calden who was killed whilst attacking a wood. Did this man exist? I suspect it might be JW Carden who was killed whilst leading the 16th RWF on July 10 1916 at Mametz Wood, though I'm not altogether sure how a man of the 17th Lancers would be leading this particular battalion. Would anyone be able to confirm or correct my assumption? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWFmedals Posted 12 February , 2007 Share Posted 12 February , 2007 Sounds to me like Lt-Col Ronald C Carden of the 16/RWF who was killed leading the battalion at Mametz Wood on the 11th July 1916. Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 12 February , 2007 Share Posted 12 February , 2007 Lt Colonel Carden was: Name: CARDEN, RONALD JAMES WALTER Initials: R J W Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Lieutenant Colonel Regiment/Service: 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Secondary Regiment: Royal Welsh Fusiliers Secondary Unit Text: attd. 16th Bn. Age: 40 Date of Death: 10/07/1916 Additional information: Son of the late Lt. Col. Sir F. W. Carden, 2nd Bart., and Lady Carden, of Stargroves, Newbury, Berks. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: S. 22. Cemetery: CARNOY MILITARY CEMETERY Times 17-7-1916 Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trebrys Posted 12 February , 2007 Author Share Posted 12 February , 2007 Many thanks gents! I had thought it was him, but was just double checking before confirming it with my acquaintance. Trebrys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 12 February , 2007 Share Posted 12 February , 2007 No real surprise in an officer of the 17th lancers commanding an infantry battalion: quite common, in fact. There was a huge shortage of experienced officers for the New Armies, and using Indian Army officers on leave, 'dug out' (i.e. retired) officers, or volunteers from cavalry units which weren't so pressed was extremely common. Looking at your man's age (40), makes me wonder if he was a dug out - got his Majority in 1907, so possible he was on retired pay in 1914. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trebrys Posted 12 February , 2007 Author Share Posted 12 February , 2007 Sorry, Steven........what do you mean by 'majority?' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 12 February , 2007 Share Posted 12 February , 2007 Promoted to Major - as in: Lieutenancy, Captaincy, Majority. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trebrys Posted 12 February , 2007 Author Share Posted 12 February , 2007 Ah thanks, again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWFmedals Posted 13 February , 2007 Share Posted 13 February , 2007 Would be nice to hear more about that scrap book too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trebrys Posted 13 February , 2007 Author Share Posted 13 February , 2007 Re. the scrapbook. All I know is that they're the musings of a J.W. Jones of Blaenau Ffestiniog about his experiences during the War. It talks of a group of men from the Bethesda area of Caernarfonshire complaining about gas and mud up to their armpits. It was here that the Col. JW Calden [sic] being killed is mentioned too. The scrapbook can be found at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth and is written in Welsh, apparently. I have not seen the book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWFmedals Posted 19 February , 2007 Share Posted 19 February , 2007 Not sure if I am breaking any rules here - if so please feel free to delete the post. Saw this on Ebay this morning relating to this officer. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Memorial-Program-for...tem140087702286 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 6 December , 2018 Share Posted 6 December , 2018 (edited) Here he is, seated next to Haig, Colonel of the 17th Lancers from 1912 to 1922. Edited 6 December , 2018 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberley John Lindsay Posted 6 December , 2018 Share Posted 6 December , 2018 Dear Ted1975, Super group photo. Kindest regards, Kim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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