984 replies to this topic

[bushfighter1]

Hello fellow East Africa Campaign researchers

I am preparing a manuscript on the activities of the Loyal North Lancashires in East Africa 1914 - 1918 & I am trying to name as many Loyals as possible who served in:

2nd Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regiment (in theatre & on recuperation in South Africa)
"Logan's Battery" (No 1 Light then No 6 Field Battery)
The Loyals Machine Gun Companies
259 Machine Gun Company, Machine Gun Corps
The Mounted Infantry Company
Cole's Scouts & other local units
"Zulu Company" (1 EA Div Signals Company)
Ammunition Trains
Lines of Communication duties
Staff duties
The King's African Rifles (on attachment)
Indian Army units in theatre (on attachment)
West African Frontier Force units in theatre (on attachment)
As prisoners in German East Africa

I am using war & personal diaries, museum documents, journal articles, regimental & general histories, London Gazette entries & CWGC lists but I would really appreciate any other information, however brief, or advice from yourselves.
Regards
Harry Fecitt
(ex-1 LOYALS 61-63)

[KONDOA]

Harry

Welcome to the rather exclusive club of East African researchers.

I will look through my stuff and extract what I can for  you when I get a spare day or two.

Roop

[SteveE]

Welcome Harry

Always nice to get a new member researching this 'forgotten' theatre.

I'll do likewise tonight and extract what details I can from the bits and pieces I've got.

Regards

Steve

[bushfighter1]

Roop
Thanks
I assume you have downloaded "A Hull Sgt's Great War Diary" from the South African Military History Society's journal archives.

As I cannot find much on Logan's Battery I'm going to use extracts from this diary, particularly to describe road conditions in GEA.

Regards
Harry

Harry

Welcome to the rather exclusive club of East African researchers.

I will look through my stuff and extract what I can for  you when I get a spare day or two.

Roop

[bushfighter1]

Steve
Thanks

Let me know your interests & I'll reciprocate.

Regards
Harry

Welcome Harry

Always nice to get a new member researching this 'forgotten' theatre.

I'll do likewise tonight and extract what details I can from the bits and pieces I've got.

Regards

Steve

[LST_164]

Harry,
Just a snippett re. a casualty you have probably obtained from other sources:

9679 Private Thomas EVANS, 2nd L.N.Lancs killed at Tanga 4 Nov 1914 (and commemorated there).  Born Llandudno, enlisted Preston Lancs, next of kin resident Holyhead, Anglesey.  

He's the only E.African casualty of that regt. who has connections with Anglesey- but that's solely due to his SDGW entry.  He was ignored as far as Anglesey local memorials, rolls of honour & press coverage go, so perhaps he and/or his next-of-kin wasn't that local a person?

I have also checked the online list of men on Llandudno war memorials (to be found under the Conwy County Council website): there is one Thomas Evans listed on the main town memorial, but since a "Thomas Evans, Pte.  R.Welsh Fus."  also appears on the memorial in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Llandudno, I wonder whether this LNLancs man has any commemoration in North Wales.

If you discover more about this casualty, I'd be pleased to know, since at least I'll include him in my ongoing roll of those with Anglesey connections who died in the First World War.

Cheers,
LST_164

[SteveE]

Steve
Thanks

Let me know your interests & I'll reciprocate.

Regards
Harry

Harry

The other 'UK' Infantry Battalion involved in the campaign, namely the 25th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (Frontiersmen).

Steve

[SteveE]

Harry

A few names to be going on with.....

Distinguished Conduct Medals (awarded for action at Tanga, 4th November 1914.)

London Gazette #29180, dated 3rd June 1915.
Citations read “For gallant conduct on 4th November, 1914. during the attack at Tanga (East Africa), and for general good work performed under a heavy fire.”

10033 Private A. Allan
10073 Private C. Arnull
7035 Private T. Boyle
8541 Private J. Cunningham
9422 Private M. Lawlor
9732 Private J. Ridgeway
9141 Private T. Smith
9877 L/Corporal W. Taylor
10351 Private R. Woodward

London Gazette #29447, dated 22nd January 1916.
Citation reads “For gallant conduct under heavy fire in rallying parties of men on several occasions during the action at Tanga (East Africa) on 4th November, 1914, and thereby checking the enemy's counter-attack.

8966 L/Corporal W. Wylde

[SteveE]

List #2

Mentions in Dispatches

London Gazette #29648, dated 30th June 1916

Captain C. J. de V. I'Anson (on Staff)
Major R. H. Logan
Major H. A. Robinson
Captain G. P. Atkinson
Captain D. P. J. Collas
Lieut. W. Parker
2nd Lieut. L. M. Kerr
2nd Lieut. O. E. Almond
4868 Regt. Serjt.-Major W. S. Heaton
8221 Serjeant J. Crawley
9311 Private H. J. McNeil

London Gazette #29933, dated 8th February 1917

Major R. E. Berkeley
Major R. H. Logan
10164 Private (A/Sjt.) J. T. Williams
9616 Private G. Bowyer
6736 Serjeant T. Hewitson (Mtd. Inf., E. Afr. Divn.)

There are more but will continue to look tomorrow...

Hope this helps.

Steve

[KONDOA]

Harry,

Send email and I shall scan and send some stuff.


Roop

[bushfighter1]

Harry,
Just a snippett re. a casualty you have probably obtained from other sources:

9679 Private Thomas EVANS, 2nd L.N.Lancs killed at Tanga 4 Nov 1914 (and commemorated there).  Born Llandudno, enlisted Preston Lancs, next of kin resident Holyhead, Anglesey.  

He's the only E.African casualty of that regt. who has connections with Anglesey- but that's solely due to his SDGW entry.  He was ignored as far as Anglesey local memorials, rolls of honour & press coverage go, so perhaps he and/or his next-of-kin wasn't that local a person?

I have also checked the online list of men on Llandudno war memorials (to be found under the Conwy County Council website): there is one Thomas Evans listed on the main town memorial, but since a "Thomas Evans, Pte.  R.Welsh Fus."  also appears on the memorial in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Llandudno, I wonder whether this LNLancs man has any commemoration in North Wales.

If you discover more about this casualty, I'd be pleased to know, since at least I'll include him in my ongoing roll of those with Anglesey connections who died in the First World War.

Cheers,
LST_164

Thanks for that.
Thomas Evans doesn't get a mention in the War Diary but if I find out anything further I'll let you know.
Maybe next year I'll visit Tanga - would you like an image of the grave?
Regards   Harry

[bushfighter1]

Harry

A few names to be going on with.....

Distinguished Conduct Medals (awarded for action at Tanga, 4th November 1914.)

London Gazette #29180, dated 3rd June 1915.
Citations read “For gallant conduct on 4th November, 1914. during the attack at Tanga (East Africa), and for general good work performed under a heavy fire.”

10033 Private A. Allan
10073 Private C. Arnull
7035 Private T. Boyle
8541 Private J. Cunningham
9422 Private M. Lawlor
9732 Private J. Ridgeway
9141 Private T. Smith
9877 L/Corporal W. Taylor
10351 Private R. Woodward

London Gazette #29447, dated 22nd January 1916.
Citation reads “For gallant conduct under heavy fire in rallying parties of men on several occasions during the action at Tanga (East Africa) on 4th November, 1914, and thereby checking the enemy's counter-attack.

8966 L/Corporal W. Wylde

Steve
Thanks
It appears that the EA HQ didn't act on all of the CO 2LNL's  recommendations or wording & so a general citation was given for the bulk of the lads that the HQ selected.
L/Cpl Wylde was, by the look of it, a late submission & he was recommended by Capt Bunbury 13th Rajputs.  His citation follows Capt Bunbury's description of events.
Regards    Harry

[bushfighter1]

List #2

Mentions in Dispatches

London Gazette #29648, dated 30th June 1916

Captain C. J. de V. I'Anson (on Staff)
Major R. H. Logan
Major H. A. Robinson
Captain G. P. Atkinson
Captain D. P. J. Collas
Lieut. W. Parker
2nd Lieut. L. M. Kerr
2nd Lieut. O. E. Almond
4868 Regt. Serjt.-Major W. S. Heaton
8221 Serjeant J. Crawley
9311 Private H. J. McNeil

London Gazette #29933, dated 8th February 1917

Major R. E. Berkeley
Major R. H. Logan
10164 Private (A/Sjt.) J. T. Williams
9616 Private G. Bowyer
6736 Serjeant T. Hewitson (Mtd. Inf., E. Afr. Divn.)

There are more but will continue to look tomorrow...

Hope this helps.

Steve

Steve
Thanks.
Maj Robinson suddenly died whilst on recuperation in South Africa.
Owen Almond, who was RSM at Tanga & was commissioned shortly afterwards, died gallantly in a bayonet fight in the bush in September 1915.
Regards   Harry

[bushfighter1]

Harry

The other 'UK' Infantry Battalion involved in the campaign, namely the 25th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (Frontiersmen).

Steve

Steve
Have you read the diary of R.W. Ball 25RF in the IWM (Con Shelf)?
Regards   Harry

[LST_164]

Thanks for that.
Thomas Evans doesn't get a mention in the War Diary but if I find out anything further I'll let you know.
Maybe next year I'll visit Tanga - would you like an image of the grave?
Regards   Harry

Thanks very much Harry - yes please, if it's not too much trouble whilst you're there.

LST_164

[SteveE]

Steve
Have you read the diary of R.W. Ball 25RF in the IWM (Con Shelf)?
Regards   Harry

I thought you'd got a new one for me Harry  

Sadly R. W. Ball wasn't 25th RF but East African Mounted Rifles, as far as I can tell IWM only have 25th RF diaries of R. D. Mountfort, C. Turner and Angus Buchanan in their collections, none of which I've read, unless you count Buchanan's "Three Years of War in East Africa" which was based on his diary.  It is my intention to get to the IWM and read/view these sometime in the (not too distant) future.

Steve

[SteveE]

List #3

More MID's

London Gazette #30300, dated 22nd September 1917

Major R. E. Berkeley

London Gazette #30560, dated 7th March 1918

Captain G. P. Atkinson M.C.
93883 Serjeant E. C. Moody (MGC late N. Lan. R.)
8945 Serjeant S. C. Munday (N. Lan. R. seconded to E. Afr. T. C. (Supply)
9295 Regt. Serjt.-Major S. E. Bagley (N. Lan. R. & K. A. R.)

London Gazette #30829, dated 6th August 1918

Captain G. E. Bowden (N. Lan. R. attd. MGC)

Steve

[Spud Trevor]

Harry,
I can let you have a picture of Tom Kirkbright's memorial plaque.
Pte 26333, 2nd Bn. Loyal North Lancs.
Remembered on the Nairobi memorial.

Maybe of some use,
Regards,
Spud

[bushfighter1]

I thought you'd got a new one for me Harry  

Sadly R. W. Ball wasn't 25th RF but East African Mounted Rifles, as far as I can tell IWM only have 25th RF diaries of R. D. Mountfort, C. Turner and Angus Buchanan in their collections, none of which I've read, unless you count Buchanan's "Three Years of War in East Africa" which was based on his diary.  It is my intention to get to the IWM and read/view these sometime in the (not too distant) future.

Steve

Steve
Sorry about Ball.  
Pte Charles Shaw 25RF left papers with the Liddle Collection (Ref:  AFE 28) at Leeds University
Regards
Harry

[bushfighter1]

Harry,
I can let you have a picture of Tom Kirkbright's memorial plaque.
Pte 26333, 2nd Bn. Loyal North Lancs.
Remembered on the Nairobi memorial.

Maybe of some use,
Regards,
Spud

Spud
Thanks - Yes please.
The War Diary for 2 Jan 17 (when the Bn was sailing on the "Saxon" between Zanzibar & Mombassa, having come up from Kilwa)  states:
ONE OR DIED "DEBILITY" FOLLOWING MALARIA
Regards
Harry

[bushfighter1]

List #3

More MID's

London Gazette #30300, dated 22nd September 1917

Major R. E. Berkeley

London Gazette #30560, dated 7th March 1918

Captain G. P. Atkinson M.C.
93883 Serjeant E. C. Moody (MGC late N. Lan. R.)
8945 Serjeant S. C. Munday (N. Lan. R. seconded to E. Afr. T. C. (Supply)
9295 Regt. Serjt.-Major S. E. Bagley (N. Lan. R. & K. A. R.)

London Gazette #30829, dated 6th August 1918

Captain G. E. Bowden (N. Lan. R. attd. MGC)

Steve

Steve
Thanks again.

RESEARCHING MC & DSO CITATIONS.
Are there any reference books on the market with consolidated lists of recipients & citations?
My attempts on the LG search machine never get where I want, but often lead me down other interesting avenues.
Regards
Harry

[SteveE]

Sorry about Ball.
Pte Charles Shaw 25RF left papers with the Liddle Collection (Ref:  AFE 28) at Leeds University
Regards
Harry

Harry

No problem and thanks for the heads up for Shaw's papers, I am aware of their existance in the Liddle Collection but it's a long old journey for one set of documents, will have to check them out when I'm up that way sometime.

Steve

[SteveE]

RESEARCHING MC & DSO CITATIONS.
Are there any reference books on the market with consolidated lists of recipients & citations?
My attempts on the LG search machine never get where I want, but often lead me down other interesting avenues.

Not that I'm aware of although somebody on the forum might know otherwise. I've got a few East African Gallantry award entries from the London Gazette, I'll trawl through them next to see if there's anything there.

Steve

[SteveE]

I've got a few East African Gallantry award entries from the London Gazette, I'll trawl through them next to see if there's anything there.

Harry

Finally had a look through my bits and pieces and apart from the original list of DCM winners I posted I can't see any others.

Steve

[GavinH]

Harry,

Private 9721 George Henry Heaton served with the LNLR in East Africa:

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...ge+henry+heaton

Regards
Gavin