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Coventry played an important part in the life of the First Tank Crews. The Coventry offices of the enthusiasts' magazine "Motor Cycle" was listed as a recruiting office for the MMGS; the Editor Geoffrey Smith using his paper to draw in young mechanic to serve with the Motor Machine Gun Service (MMGS). Men from the MMGS formed a major source of the First Tank Crews; many were enlisted, medically assessed and undertook trade tests to see if they were competent; they were then sent by train to commence training at Bisley.
Coventry was also the home for several of the crews. These included:
2Lt Frank William Bluemel. Commanded tank C2 on 15th September. Commissioned into MMGS as T/2Lt 9 Sep 15. T/Lt 1 Jul 16 (LG 7486 dated 28 Jul 16). Deployed to France on 24 Aug 16, the 1917 Army list shows him employed with the Ministry of Munitions. He relinquished commission on 31 May 1919. He married Katie Nichol on 16th September 22 at Hatch End and later (in the 1930s) he took charge of the family engineering firm based in Coventry. Living at Cannon Hill, Kenilworth Rd. Coventry, he was Vice President of the Coventry Branch of the Tank Regt Old Comrades Association. He died on 29 Aug 61.
Gnr William Bertram Debenham born Canterbury 90. Moved to Coventry by 1901 and was living with mother Annie and stepfather James W Appleton. Enlisted Coventry. He was kiiled age 26 on 15 Sep 1916; CWGC states he was the son of Mrs Annie Laureen Appleton of 33 Northumberland Rd, Coventry
Gnr Ernest Didcote was born in London Oct 92. He enlisted into the MMGS, aged 23 years and 18 days, at Coventry on 3rd Nov 15. He was shown to be living at 24 Holyhead Rd, Coventry. He survived the war and settled in Woking.
Cpl Clarence Wilfred Edwards. Born January 96. Living at 4 Croft Rd Coventry; a metal and celluloid glass case marker. He fought with the tanks through the war until 28 August when he was wounded and evacuated back to the UK. Within a month he was back with his unit and he stayed with them to the end of the war. Awarded the Military Medal for rescuing infantrymen during the battle for Achiet le Grand on 21 August 1918. He returned to Coventry and was still living there in 1925.
Gnr William John Thomas Higgs was born Sep 1880 in Barnstable. He had settled in Coventry by 1914, his son Gordon being born on 21 Mar 1914 at 10 Kensington Rd Coventry. He joined the MMGS and served with C Company Heavy Section MGC. On 12 Dec 1916,, his wife wrote from 149 Foreshill Road Coventry sought an extra allowance on the birth of a child . He fought with the tanks for the remainder of the war and was demobilised in June 1919.
Gnr William Jones MGC, Initially joined the MMGS. Deployed to France on 24 Aug 16, he was a member of the crew of Tank C6 (Cordon Rouge) which assisted with the capture of the Courcellette sugar factory and was the only tank, on 15th September to come out of action undamaged. Injured during the actions on the Ancre (25 Sep to 2 Oct). Later 201270 Pte Tank Corps, he was commissioned 2Lt Tank Corps on 30 Jul18. Home address 18 St Georges Rd Coventry
Gnr J Thomas deployed to France on 24 Aug 16. Possibly living in 1925 in Earlson St Coventry
I am hoping to find out more about these men by writing to the local paper - any suggestions as to which one would be best
Stephen
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