10 replies to this topic

[seaforth78]

Can anyone steer me to a title of two where to get a book on this battalion?

Thanks in advance,

Seaforth

[Martin G]

"A Bibliography of Regimental Histories of the British Army" by Arthur S White shows no publication on this battalion. The nearest you will get is "The Fifth in the Great War" by H R Sandilands but I think it might only cover the 1st and 2nd Bns.

The War Diaries for Gallipoli from Jul-Nov 1915 are held at the National Archives (and are available online)  - Ref WO 95/4299 and contains over 60 pages. http://www.nationala...&accessmethod=4

Much of the official Diary was destroyed and has been supplemented with a typewritten account "A Short History from 8th Aug to 26th Sep [1915]" and there are a few short accounts by a few officers including an accusation of cowardice by one officer of another officer. All except the accused was either killed or wounded within days of landing at Suvla Bay. In addition there are a number of first-hand accounts written by Officers and Senior NCOs on the Suvla Bay landings on 6th/7th August held at the National Army Museum

Also,
War Diaries for  Jan 1916- Jun 1916: http://www.nationala...&CATID=-2248358
War Diaries for  Jul 1916- Mar 1919: http://www.nationala...EF=WO 95/1821/2

There is also "My Own Darling - letters from Montie to Kitty Carlise. by M Carlisle Edited by his son C Carlisle.
London: Carlisle Books, 1989. 256 pages. Illustrated. which covers 8th Battalion at Gallipoli and in France. Wounded in September 1916 and thereafter on the staff of 101st Brigade.
http://www.armymuseu...ce=Book-Display

[seaforth78]

Hi Martin,

Yes, it's been frusutrating. I see that the 7th, 9th and 10th Battalions had their histories except the 8th!!

I just the bought the sword of Major Edward Geoffrey Mildmay Buckley, Northumberland Fusiliers who was comm. January 1914 out of Sandhurst. His younger brother Felix was killed in France after winning an MC with the 8th also.

Can you please tell me if Edward was commisioned straight into the 1st or 2nd Battalion in January 1914 and if he went to France with them in 1914 please? This part puzzles me as he was a regular and wondered why he was sent on to the 8th shortly later.....

Thank you,

Seaforth

[Graham Stewart]

As far as I'm aware there is no 10th Bn History either. You have 7th, 9th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, Tyneside Scottish & Tyneside Irish Histories and Divisional Histories which take up the slack.

Depends on whether he was held over in the Depot on mobilisation, where a number of men were held over to receive Reservists and sort out those enlisting.

[Martin G]

seaforth78, on 03 July 2012 - 10:23 PM, said:

Hi Martin,

I just the bought the sword of Major Edward Geoffrey Mildmay Buckley, Northumberland Fusiliers who was comm. January 1914 out of Sandhurst. His younger brother Felix was killed in France after winning an MC with the 8th also.
Can you please tell me if Edward was commisioned straight into the 1st or 2nd Battalion in January 1914 and if he went to France with them in 1914 please? This part puzzles me as he was a regular and wondered why he was sent on to the 8th shortly later.....Thank you, Seaforth

Seaforth - I only have the Army List for May 1915 and he is shown under the consolidated list for the 1st and 2nd Bn with (8) next to his name which according to the list of abbreviations means he was attached (to the depot?) and not posted to his designated battalion  - the 8th Bn. The date next to his name is 17 Dec 1914 which I thought was the date of his commission. You asked if he was serving in France in 1914.....I can't tell from the info - the War Diaries or the Bn history would probably record the Officers who embarked - If he did it could only be the 1st Bn as they landed in France on 14th August. The 2nd Bn was still in In India at the outbreak of war, sailed to England on 20th Nov, landing on 22nd Dec 1914 and not arriving in France until 18th Jan 1915.

I can't find his MIC on Ancestry so I cant check is disembarkation date.....From the Army List he looks as if he was commissioned in Dec 1914...are you certain of his commission dates?

Maybe someone else with the Bn history might be able to check to see if he is mentioned embarking with the 1st Bn.

[seaforth78]

Hi Martin,

Thank you for the above. Here is the LG entry for his comm.

http://www.london-ga...es/603/page.pdf

So I should think he would have with the 1st Bn on the outbreak of 1914 unless he was exiled to stay at the depot (?)

Any information you may have will be deeply appreciated.

Thanks

seaforth

[Martin G]

Seaforth

Interesting. I wonder what the date next to his name in the Army List  means. Given the Gazette info he could have been posted to either Bn. Hopefully his MIC or service records should reveal which Bn he was initially posted to...

He is also listed under the 8th Bn with two dates - 15th Nov 14 and immediately below it 17th Dec 14. Also his name is followed by Noth'd Fus wheras others are not. I think that indicates he was from the Regular Bns posted to the Service Bn - the only others annotated with North'd Fus (or other Regiments such as three Majors from the 25th Punjabis and one from the 126th Baluchis) are all senior Officers. So I suspect the men with Regiments next to their names are the Regulars sent to form the 8th Bn (i.e. not Kitchener men)

As an aside, it was the Officer from the 126th Baluchis who was the only unscathed survivor from Gallipoli who was accused of cowardice.

I have your man in Y Coy and he was wounded on 7th August 1915 - the first day of the Suvla bay landing.

MG

[seaforth78]

Hi Martin,

Many many thanks!!

Next I am trying to get a photograph of him. I would think that this would be easier because as a regular with the 1st Battalion in January 1914, there would have an opportunity or two for photos of the officers. I think in this case I should look at the post war history of the 1st Battalion in which I should think they would some photos.....

Or else try I'll try the archivist of the Northumberland Fus. Museum.

Thank you kindly again.

PS I wondered if it was ever proved if the 126th officer who was accused of coawadice was ever cashiered?

[Martin G]

The allegations were made privately by a brother Officer. The officer survived, was awarded the DSO and commanded his Bn (Baluchis) in India after the War allegedly.

[seaforth78]

In super quick time after one mere email inquiry I was able to obtain from the archivist of the Northumberland Fusiliers a very nice portrait photo of Buckley in 1918 as a Captain.

Once I get it I will post if here.  Many thanks again Martin.

Seaforth

[seaforth78]

Martin G, on 05 July 2012 - 04:45 AM, said:

The allegations were made privately by a brother Officer. The officer survived, was awarded the DSO and commanded his Bn (Baluchis) in India after the War allegedly.

Would you know his name?