Mark Hone Posted 23 January , 2003 Share Posted 23 January , 2003 I am trying to find out as much as I can about the above officer, who is the only 'Accrington Pal' on our school roll of honour. He was wounded on 1st July 1916 and won the DSO for his role in the Pals' successful raid at Oppy Wood in 1917. He briefly commanded the battalion when Colonel Rickman was ill. He survived the war. Bill Turner, the Pals historian, has supplied me with some information, including a charming newspaper article on his wedding, but admits that he has uncovered surprisingly little about this officer in his researches. I would be very interested if anyone who knows more-particularly about his post-war career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon_Fielding Posted 23 January , 2003 Share Posted 23 January , 2003 Mark: Presumably you've seen the photograph on: http://www.btinternet.com/~a.jackson/ross.htm ?? Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 3 December , 2004 Share Posted 3 December , 2004 As a matter of interest, I have Major Kershaw's signature on my Grandfather's commission application from 1916 as he signed one of the character references 'in the field' on the 26/11/16. My Grandfather was one of the original Accrington Pals and is listed as "Frank McVickers" as he joined under a false name. He went into the R.E Signals section after that and finished in 1920 as Lt G.E Haynes" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hone Posted 3 December , 2004 Author Share Posted 3 December , 2004 Jeremy-I'd be interested to see a copy if you have one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 16 February , 2006 Share Posted 16 February , 2006 As a matter of interest, I have Major Kershaw's signature on my Grandfather's commission application from 1916 as he signed one of the character references 'in the field' on the 26/11/16. My Grandfather was one of the original Accrington Pals and is listed as "Frank McVickers" as he joined under a false name. He went into the R.E Signals section after that and finished in 1920 as Lt G.E Haynes" Get in touch with me on inpoint@optushome.com.au Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John84 Posted 16 February , 2006 Share Posted 16 February , 2006 Mark, don't know if you already have these, but here are some gazette entries I found for John Victor Kershaw..... it looks like his DSO was awarded in the 1918 new years honours list.....it also looks like he was serving up to 1937. John. http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...&selHonourType= http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...&selHonourType= http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...&selHonourType= http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...&selHonourType= Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hone Posted 16 February , 2006 Author Share Posted 16 February , 2006 John and Jeremy, Thank you for the information. John Kershaw will feature in our two school battlefields tours to the Somme this year. Have you got a scan of your grandfather's commission? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 18 June , 2007 Share Posted 18 June , 2007 Jeremy-I'd be interested to see a copy if you have one. Jeremy here. Sorry I have not visited this thread for a long time. Please contact me directly by email at inpoint@optusnet.com.au and I will organise a scan of Kershaw's signature. cheers Jeremy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hone Posted 19 June , 2007 Author Share Posted 19 June , 2007 Thanks very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 19 June , 2007 Share Posted 19 June , 2007 From debretts 1924 European war 1914-18 as major e lancashire regt(despatches, DSO) cr DSO 1918, OBE (civil) 1922 So you will need to amend the question by adding OBE! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hone Posted 19 June , 2007 Author Share Posted 19 June , 2007 Thanks, Coldstreamer. Kershaw really is the mystery man of the Accrington Pals: junior officer on the Somme (was he wounded or not?) rises to be 2 i/c and CO when Rickman is ill, wins the DSO for his successful Oppy Wood operation, gains the OBE after the war- and yet he hardly appears in any of the books on the battalion, which is very well documented, and no-one seems to know much about him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corisande Posted 12 July , 2010 Share Posted 12 July , 2010 I have email Mark Reason that I am resurrecting the thread is that I think he may well have been in Intelligence in Ireland. The OBE list that he is on is half comprised of Irish service nominations If anyone can link him to work in Ireland with Intelligence or anyone else, I would be grateful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corisande Posted 21 August , 2010 Share Posted 21 August , 2010 (edited) Here is as far as I have got with him J V Kershaw He had a Special Appointment, Class GG, and got a civil OBE in the list that is mainly Irish Intelligence awards. Both pointing to service in Dublin Castle Intelligence If anyone can ad to that, I would be very grateful [I have updated the link] Edited 6 March , 2019 by corisande Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hone Posted 5 September , 2010 Author Share Posted 5 September , 2010 Ever more intriguing. I wonder if anyone does have further information about him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corisande Posted 5 September , 2010 Share Posted 5 September , 2010 (edited) If you have a look at this page I have on Dublin Castle Intelligence you can see how I believe he fits in to the picture. Note the GG Special Appointment and the OBE along with the others here The secrecy/danger of the work in Dublin meant that virtually none of the men involved ever spoke about their work afterward, and I have found when I have traced descendants of many of these men they have no idea what their ancestor did in Dublin. It is probably only by tracking down one of his descendants who actually has information that one could get much further. Edited 6 March , 2019 by corisande Updated links Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hone Posted 6 September , 2010 Author Share Posted 6 September , 2010 I note from your excellent website that Kershaw's medals came up for auction in 2008. I wonder who sold and bought them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corisande Posted 6 September , 2010 Share Posted 6 September , 2010 Sold by Bonhams 1 Oct 2008 A Great War D.S.O. and Interwar O.B.E. group of four to Major J.V.Kershaw, East Lancashire Regiment, Disinguished Service Order, G.V.R., in silver-gilt and enamel; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E., Civil Division, 1st type; British War and Victory Medal with MID Oakleaf (Major J.V.Kershaw.). The last two mounted as worn. With corresponding miniatures. Very fine. (8) Sold for £3,643 inclusive of Buyer's Premium They will not divulge who bought them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corisande Posted 30 June , 2018 Share Posted 30 June , 2018 I see on re-looking at Kershaw that 2015 Medals on sale again at £6900 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retlaw Posted 5 March , 2019 Share Posted 5 March , 2019 Just seen this thread re Kershaw, When Bill Turner & I were researching down at Kew, Kershaws papers were not available still serving in 1922, when WW1 service records were transferred to Kew. Kershaw was still with the battalion up to the last entry in the 11ths war diaries June 1st 1919. His medal card and the army lists only show service with the 11th East Lancs. He may have been posted to Ireland after the 11th was disbanded. Kershaw lived at 2 Hoodhouse St, Burnley, there may be some info in the Burnley fish & chip wrapper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now