Mystery Letter in Great Grandads File

[tjnsn1]

Hello,

I have been researching my Great Grandfather 201467 Pte Dennis Atkins who was killed in action on 2/9/18 near Vaulx vraucourt for about 18 months. I have got a copy of his battalion's war diary (2/4th York and Lancs) and using this and the published 'History of the 62nd West Riding Division', a few trench maps pals have sent me and modern day Google maps/aerial images I was able to pretty accurately plot the battle when I visited Vaulx Vraucourt last year.

This week I went on my first visit to the National Archives at Kew (I live in Cumbria so getting to Kew is not easy) and found his service record on microfilm. I learned a lot I didn't know such as that he had been wounded in 1917 and evacuated through a CCS to a General Hospital before rejoining his unit three weeks later.

The biggest surprise was a hand written letter at the end of the file. It was written in 1919 by my great grandfathers brother Charles H Atkins who was the Chief Fire Officer for Sheffield (I didn't know this either although when I told my dad he remembered visiting the fire station as a boy as all that side of the family were firemen.) I thought I might re-print it here for interest and in the hope that a Pal may be able to point me in the right direction from here.

The letter goes:

'Dear Sir,

I should be especially obliged if you could inform me whether my Brother has been awarded a medal for distinguished conduct, as I have been informed by both NCO's and Men that such is the case and as we have not heard anything about the same, I should be pleased if you will cause enquiry to be made regarding the same.

I have heard that it was for carrying wounded men in he was recommended, including an officer, a Sergeant and a Private that had lost both his legs. He was killed when rescuing the last named, being shot in the head, and is buried I believe at Gommercourt near Bapaume France.

Yours Most Sincerely,

Charles H Atkins

Fire station,

Sheffield'

As you can imagine when I read the letter for the first time I nearly fell off my chair!! If it is true, and I have no reason to believe otherwise as it appears that Charles, who held a position of some responsibility, has been told this information by 'NCOS and Men' indicating that more than 1 person has told him the account. Also my Great Grandfather was originally buried at Lagnicourt not Gomercourt but you can easily see how the two place names could be mixed up by someone recounting the story to Charles as I don’t believe that my great grandmother received notification of burial site until 1920 (I have a letter sent by the IWGC stating he was originally interred at Lagnicourt but moved to Vaulx Vraucourt).

I have a couple of questions associated with this letter

Am I right in saying that MM's and DCM's were not awarded posthumously, if so may that be the reason why he receive no medal?

Are any records remaining of recommendations for bravery awards?

Anyone any ideas where I may start looking for other personal accounts that may shed more light on this incident?

Regards

Tim

[Chris_Baker]

You could try the Imperial war Museum and the Liddle Collection at the University of Leeds. They both have collections of personal memoirs, letters, etc and it is just possible that they may have one of a soldier of the same battalion.

[tjnsn1]

Thanks Chris,

I will try contacting them. Do you know if accounts are organised by unit?

Regards

Tim

[jnorthall]

You could try searching:

http://www.leeds.ac.uk/library/spcoll/liddle/index.htm

[Bernard_Lewis]

The IWM were able to send me a list of men with Welsh Regiment associations. You then have to pick out the battalion that interests you, assuming there is an account from a man who served with that unit.

Bernard

[sotonmate]

Tim

It might be that,if the Bn War Diary didn't show the recommendation,then the Brigade (187) War Diary might have. It is WO95/3087 for the period you are convcerned with.

Best wishes

Sotonmate

[Max]

Tim

I stand to be shot down in flames here by those more knowledgeable, but I believe that the only two things that could be given for a man KiA whilst performing an act of bravery were the VC and a MID (mentioned in despatches)....have you tried searching the MID cards at Kew. (i'm not sure if they are listed in the London Gazette)

Andy

[azureus]

Hi , judging by his card he was only awarded the service medal and the victory medal, if you want to pm me with your email , ill send it on

regards Dave

[tjnsn1]

Thanks for the help. In relation to the MID cards is it possible that he was awarded a MID that didn't appear on his MIC? Are the MID cards a seperate record?

[Max]

Thanks for the help. In relation to the MID cards is it possible that he was awarded a MID that didn't appear on his MIC? Are the MID cards a seperate record?

As far as I know a MID is held on a different index card to the MIC

Andy

[tjnsn1]

Andy,

do you know if these are on-line like the MIC's

Tim

[Max]

Andy,

do you know if these are on-line like the MIC's

Tim

Tim

I don't think so, I think that you will have to go to Kew

andy

[tjnsn1]

How common was it for letters such as this to be filed in with service records. has anyone else come across similar letters. I would be interested to hear if they led anywhere.

Regards

Tim