13 replies to this topic

[David643]

Hello

The above relative was awarded the MSM "in the field" 29.4.1917. The Regiment was in Iraq - but I do not know what action he may have been involved in on this day. Please can any experts in RWK history help me further?

Thank you

David

[Peter Zieminski]

Hi David

William enlisted on the 11/10/1906 into the 2nd Battalion. On the 29/07/1916 he embarked for Busra and on the 15/10/1916 joined 15 Div Headquarters. Jonathan Saunders may be able to shed more light on this - while William's service record runs to some 32 pages there is nothing that details the action of the 29th April in them.  William had a total of just over 12 years service with The Queen's Own and his Conduct Sheet shows a man who enjoyed his fair share of brushes with authority! (There's a great entry in 1914 that describes William as " ...inclined to be excitable - clean and hard working").

Hope this is of assistance.

[Ianander]

Hello David and Welcome to GWF, Have you tried the LLT, here are some links that is the best place to start your research

http://www.1914-1918.net/rwk.htm

http://www.1914-1918.net/mespot.htm

best regards
Ian

[David643]

Thank you Peter & Ian
Most informative and locations to follow-up for wider reading. Seems that William was not afraid to make his presence felt and to tell others what he thought! Maybe this side of his character contributed to the award of the MSM. I have found the London Gazette entry..it's just a little frustrating to not know why the award was given. A search of the local press may be a possible place of research but I am not too optomistic. However, you never know!

I will follow-up on the links to other websites to see what assistance they will offer in taking this work further...

Regards
David

[Peter Zieminski]

Hi David

I'm sure that the local press will have marked the award in some way - most newspapers were keen to exploit any act of heroism - I would be really interested in anything else you discover.

[David643]

Peter Zieminski, on 29 July 2012 - 07:37 PM, said:

Hi David

I'm sure that the local press will have marked the award in some way - most newspapers were keen to exploit any act of heroism - I would be really interested in anything else you discover.

I am in Maidstone and the town library held the KM on microfilm - I don't know whether the films have been moved to the new Archives Centre - but it should not be problematic to book a viewer one weekend. I'd guess that any local press reports will follow the LG entry - so this would help in terms of pinning the date range down to a manageable search range. Happy to let you know what comes of checking the contemporary press and sharing information.

I have another WW1 RWK soldier in the family who came from Halling and went to school with the chap who won the VC and came from the village. His name escapes me for the moment. My relative was Sidney Kemp and he and his brother both fought in and survived the war.

Regards
David

[Peter Zieminski]

Hi David

Was your relative Private G/363 Sidney T Kemp of the 6th Battalion?  If so then he went to France on the same day that the soldier I have researched and remember, Private G/438 William Peat.  Private G/363 Sidney Kemp's Medal Index Card shows that he was discharged on the 15th May 1918.  Please PM me and I will email you.

I have also asked Jonathan Saunders and Chris Jupp (who is the Honoury Regimental Archivist at the Maidstone Museum) to see if they have access to the 2nd Battalion Diary in case it can shed any further light on William Latter's award.

[Peter Zieminski]

Hi David

Chris Jupp has come back to me with what he has been able to find out so far (I have amended my original post as a result).  Chris has discovered that a lot of men of 2/RWK received the MSM in Mesopotamia, mainly on Staff or L of C duties. Sadly there are no citations and nothing in the war diaries that shed any further light on William's award.

[David643]

Peter Zieminski, on 30 July 2012 - 09:34 AM, said:

Hi David

Chris Jupp has come back to me with what he has been able to find out so far (I have amended my original post as a result).  Chris has discovered that a lot of men of 2/RWK received the MSM in Mesopotamia, mainly on Staff or L of C duties. Sadly there are no citations and nothing in the war diaries that shed any further light on William's award.

Hello Peter

Thank yo for your last two emails and your kindness in asking your contacts for help in relation to my research. Maybe a search of the KM will not be too enlightening unless William Latter's MSM was awarded for other than duties at GHQ. However, all new information is most welcome.

Thank you for the offer to send the medal card. I am fortunate and do have Sidney's medal card. (Sometimes Sydney as he was born in Sydney, NSW - his sister's second name was Victoria as she too was born in Australia) It's very fascinating to know you are researching a soldier who probably knew Sidney. Sidney's brother is Frederick George Kemp (364) and he was wounded in action in 1917. I have his service record - but not Sidney's.

I am confident that you already know about this website (RWK Battalion Orders) - but just in case you have not come across it - please find the link below
www.woodchurchancestry.org.uk/qorwk/index.php

Best wishes
David

[David643]

David643, on 30 July 2012 - 07:08 PM, said:

Hello Peter

Thank yo for your last two emails and your kindness in asking your contacts for help in relation to my research. Maybe a search of the KM will not be too enlightening unless William Latter's MSM was awarded for other than duties at GHQ. However, all new information is most welcome.

Thank you for the offer to send the medal card. I am fortunate and do have Sidney's medal card. (Sometimes Sydney as he was born in Sydney, NSW - his sister's second name was Victoria as she too was born in Australia) It's very fascinating to know you are researching a soldier who probably knew Sidney. Sidney's brother is Frederick George Kemp (364) and he was wounded in action in 1917. I have his service record - but not Sidney's.

I am confident that you already know about this website (RWK Battalion Orders) - but just in case you have not come across it - please find the link below
www.woodchurchancestry.org.uk/qorwk/index.php

Best wishes
David

Hello Peter

Just recalled the VC winner - Sgt Thomas Harris MM, VC from Halling - 6Bttn RWK

[Peter Zieminski]

Thanks for the update(s) David - Sadly no Service Record appears to have survived the Blitz for Sidney - Good luck with your search and let me know if you uncover anything else.

[Jonathan Saunders]

David643, on 29 July 2012 - 07:51 PM, said:

My relative was Sidney Kemp and he and his brother both fought in and survived the war.

David - sorry If I have missed this but you do realise Sid Kemp left a manuscript of his WW1 service dont you?  Would be really interested if you had a photo of him and Ethel and/or Fred.  Also what relation are you to the Kemp's?

Regards,

Jonathan S

[David643]

Jonathan Saunders, on 31 July 2012 - 07:53 AM, said:

David - sorry If I have missed this but you do realise Sid Kemp left a manuscript of his WW1 service dont you?  Would be really interested if you had a photo of him and Ethel and/or Fred.  Also what relation are you to the Kemp's?

Regards,

Jonathan S

Hi Jonathan

Thanks for your message - regret I do not have a photo of Sydney or his brother. He is the brother of my great-uncle's wife -so a little distant but nevertheless of interest to the family. I am aware of the diary - held by the IWM

Regards
David

[Jonathan Saunders]

I did see a local newspaper photo of him taken in the 1970s when he gave copies of his manuscript to the IWM.  A really good read.

Regards,

Jonathan S