Difference between revisions of "23rd (Northumbrian) Division"

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'''War Diary'''
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'''History'''
  
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In respect of the War Diary for the Division, this was not one single document or file.  Each Divisional Branch had its own War Diary and these need to be read in conjunction with each other.  Unfortunately, due largely to the circumstances experienced by this second-line Division, which existed only between September 1939 and June 1940, many of the pages are missing or contain only very limited information.
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To read the Wikipedia Page on this Division please click [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/23rd_(Northumbrian)_Division here]
  
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What does exist has been recorded in this section of the history and includes a very considerable amount of material dealing with the time spent in France and Belgium with the British Expeditionary Force, culminating in the complexities of the retreat to Dunkirk.
 
  
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[[1939]]
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'''Insignia'''
  
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'''AQ Branch'''
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On a recent visit to the [https://www.edencamp.co.uk/ Eden Camp Military Museum] near Malton, North Yorkshire, we spotted an example of the Divisional Sleeve Patch for the 23rd Division - not by any means a common sight.
  
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'''GS Branch'''
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The photograph taken of the patch is reproduced below, with our sincere thanks to the management of Eden Camp for permission to feature the image.
  
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'''Darlington - 28th September 1939'''
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[[File:23rd_Division_Sleeve_Patch.JPG|800px|thumb|centre|23rd Division Sleeve Patch]]
  
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Orders were received from Northern Command, prior to the opening of the new Divisional HQ at “Uplands”, Darlington, to the effect that 23rd Division would take over, from 50th Division, the responsibility for providing guards for vulnerable points in the Divisional area from 2nd October 1939.  These guards were to be found from the National Defence Companies, supplemented as necessary by T.A. personnel.
 
  
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23rd Division was also to take over from 50th Division responsibility for defence against seaborne attacks within the Command from 15th October 1939 and the following troops would be put at the disposal of the Division from that date :-
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'''War Diary'''
  
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(A) Tyne Group – one Battalion Infantry and one Regiment of Field Artillery from 42nd Division.
+
In respect of the War Diary for the Division, this was not one single document or file.  Each Divisional Branch had its own War Diary and these need to be read in conjunction with each other.  Unfortunately, due largely to the circumstances experienced by this second-line Division, which existed only between September 1939 and June 1940, many of the pages are missing or contain only very limited information.
  
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(B) Tees Group  -  one Battalion Infantry and one Regiment of Field Artillery from 49th Division.
+
What does exist has been recorded in this section of the history and includes a very considerable amount of material dealing with the time spent in France and Belgium with the British Expeditionary Force, culminating in the complexities of the retreat to Dunkirk.
  
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(C) Hull and East Riding Group – one Regiment of Yeomanry (dismounted) and one Regiment Royal Horse Artillery from 5th Cavalry                          Brigade, for operations North of the Humber.  One Regiment of Yeomanry (dismounted) and one Regiment Royal Horse Artillery from 6th Cavalry Brigade, for operations South of the Humber. 
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[[1939]]
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In addition, the Infantry Training Centres within the Division’s area would be made available as Area Reserves.
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'''Darlington - 29th September 1939'''
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Orders received from Northern Command ( CRNC No 2/3363(A) of 27th September 1939) that, with effect from 00:01 hrs on 2nd October 1939, the 23rd Division would be regarded as being under separate command, under its commander.  [From the declaration of War 23rd Division, as a new duplicate formation, had been under the administrative control of 50th Division, its parent body.]
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In a letter from 50th Division, reference 175/TA/G, received by all units in 23rd Division (said in the War Diary to have been dated 28th October 1935, though this is almost certainly a manuscript error for 28th September 1939) it was made clear that 23rd Division would function as a separate entity from 2nd October and would then take over the manning of all vulnerable points.  Furthermore, with effect from 15th October, the new Division would relieve 50th Division of all Civil Defence duties.  [This was so as to release 50th Division from UK commitments, prior to its despatch overseas as part of the B.E.F.]
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This letter also gave details of the troops placed at the disposal of 23rd Division for defence against sea or airborne attack.  Details are set out above in the entry for 28th September.
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'''Darlington - 16th November 1939'''
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70 Bde reported to the Division that 57 Lt AA Brigade had relieved 11 DLI from guarding R.A.F. Usworth.
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'''Darlington - 20th December 1939 - 1200 hours'''
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The War Diary included a note that the 23rd Div Signals Section took over Civil Defence duties from A Coy of 10 DLI in Darlington and its vicinity.  A Coy of 10 DLI then moved to South Shields on the 22nd of December 1939.
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'''Divisional Commander Royal Artillery'''
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'''Divisional Commander Royal Engineers'''
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'''Divisional Supply Column'''
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'''1940'''
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'''AQ Branch'''
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'''GS Branch'''
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'''Darlington - January 1940'''
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The Division noted that a cadre of 187th Field Ambulance, RAMC, reported to the 23rd Division and were stationed at Houghton-le-Skerne, near Darlington.  [For more details see the 187th Field Ambulance War Diary.]
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'''Darlington - 7th March 1940'''
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The Divisional staff were warned verbally at 17:00hrs  (presumably by either Northern Command or the War Office) about the impending move of the Division to France between 14th – 21st April 1940.
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'''Darlington - 9th March 1940'''
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Preparatory order received at 10:00 hours by the Division regarding the impending move overseas.  The troops expected to be included were the Divisional HQ, both Infantry Brigades, the Divisional Engineer units, some Signals personnel and one Field Ambulance.
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'''Darlington - 10th March 1940'''
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Information received that the date of embarkation was estimated to be 15th April 1940.
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'''Darlington 10th April 1940.'''
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Divisional advance parties despatched to the port of embarkation.
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'''Southampton - 11th April 1940'''
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Divisional  transport loaded on to the “SS City of Christchurch” for movement to France.
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'''12th April 1940.'''
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'''Darlington.'''
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Lecture by Brig Aubrey on the German Army to officers and men of the units of the Division.
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'''Southampton.'''
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The Divisional Advance Party embarked at Southampton on the “SS Lady of Man” – and docked at Le Havre 13th April.
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'''Darlington - 14th April 1940.'''
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The main Divisional Road Parties set off for Southampton, and arrived at the docks on 21st April.  The troops embarked on the “Ulster Prince” – docking at Le Havre on 22nd April.
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Infantry Road Parties were then despatched to Southampton.  On the journey there was some experience of seeing enemy aircraft overhead, and then being fired on in anger for the first time.
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'''France - 23rd to 27th April 1940.'''
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On arrival in France the Division were concentrated at BOLBEC then moved to MIRAUMONT.
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'''Darlington - 1st May 1940.'''
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The Division’s Rear Parties left Darlington to join their comrades in France.
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'''France - 2nd May 1940.'''
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Units of the Division started work on aerodrome construction – the core reason for the Division being posted to the B.E.F.
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'''France - 10th May 1940.'''
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German invasion of Belgium and France begins.  Some Construction Company casualties from air-raids.  None in the Infantry Battalions.
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'''France - 12th May 1940.'''
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Division asked to take over airfield protection in Line of Communication area N & S of ABBEVILLE.  Warning order passed to 70 Brigade to select a Battalion for this duty.  Extra RNF transport sent to 10 DLI – the Battalion selected for this role.
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'''France - 13th May 1940.'''
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Extra Field Ambulance (transport) truck also sent to 10 DLI. 
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'''France - 15th May 1940.'''
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10 DLI arrived ABBEVILLE – Operational order sent out.  All woods in vicinity of airfields to be combed, dawn and dusk – emergency operations message.  Transport provided to get troops to airfields.
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'''France - 16th May 1940.'''
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Aerodrome defence to take priority over all other work.
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'''France - 17th May 1940.'''
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Bridge guards ordered over all CANAL DU NORD bridges.  All units at immediate notice to move.
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Operational order issued ordering occupation of line CANAL DU NORD from RUYAULCOURT to ARLEUX.  70 Bde HQ at RIENCOURT.
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'''France - 18th May 1940.'''
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Div Cdr (Gen M G Herbert) visits 70 Bde HQ and carries out reconnaissance on right of the Brigade's sector – considers this an open flank BERTINCOURT – YTRES – NEUVILLE – RUYAULCOURT and thinks this is excellent tank country – completely unprotected.  Visits
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HQ 1 TS and briefs Lt-Col Swinburne.  Sees 10 DLI in reserve and goes back to Div HQ, reporting open right flank to GHQ.
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Allotted artillery turns out to be short of sights and signal instruments.  Some guns not working but repaired during day.  Two batteries allotted to right sector to cover right rear of right Brigade and two to left sector.
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Attacks on CRE demolition parties on right of 23 Div by tanks.  Anti-Tank guns and ammo sent from GHQ.  Troops had not been trained in their use.  CANAL DU NORD positions bombed.
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'''France 19th/20th May 1940'''
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Maj Trenam DAQMG sent to give verbal orders to Brg Kirkup for withdrawal to position behind LA BASSEE Canal.
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See copy of detail diary – 26 pages
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Copy of Operational summary – 11 pages.
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Copy of narrative and summary 1 Tyneside Scottish – 17 pages.
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[[1940]]
  
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Copy of detail diary – 7 pages
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'''Personnel Records for 23rd Division'''
  
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'''Divisional Commander Royal Artillery'''
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[[Adams Christopher Clement L/Cpl 5946614]] <br>
 +
[[Allenby Joseph Cpl 4456025]] <br>
 +
[[Allinson Sgt ]] <br>
 +
[[Armstrong D. Pte 7614523]] <br>
 +
[[Bailey K.C. 2/Lt ]] <br>
 +
[[Beally Cpl ]] <br>
 +
[[Bell 2/Lt ]] <br>
 +
[[Blake Peter J. ]] <br>
 +
[[Bleasby S. L/Cpl 4391460]] <br>
 +
[[Boyle Edward Driver 2075494]] <br>
 +
[[Burton H.E. Major ]] <br>
 +
[[Byers Charles Frederick Captain 36390]] <br>
 +
[[Cameron K.Mc.K. Major ]] <br>
 +
[[Chivers E.C. L/Cpl 561729]] <br>
 +
[[Colman G.H. Pte 7617751]] <br>
 +
[[Connor Brian Harvey Driver T/162645]] <br>
 +
[[Coombe T Pte 2614527]] <br>
 +
[[Crane Arthur Ronald Pte 4457195]] <br>
 +
[[Crawford R.F. Sapper 1897581]] <br>
 +
[[Davison T.K. 2/Lt ]] <br>
 +
[[Dodds K. 2/Lt ]] <br>
 +
[[Edwards Ernest Arthur Driver T/6140504]] <br>
 +
[[Ellis J Colonel ]] <br>
 +
[[Emery H.H. Driver 144200]] <br>
 +
[[England Bertram Frederick Driver T/1626641]] <br>
 +
[[Faulkner T.D. Driver 144279]] <br>
 +
[[Goldingham P.R. Major ]] <br>
 +
[[Gosling Walter Cecil L/Cpl T/167354]] <br>
 +
[[Gravett J. Gnr 947640]] <br>
 +
[[Gunn George Thomas Driver T/162453]] <br>
 +
[[Hall R.A. Pte 4458001]] <br>
 +
[[Hare John Francis Brevet Lt Col 0]] <br>
 +
[[Hedley Adrian Everard Captain 0]] <br>
 +
[[Herbert W N Major-General ]] <br>
 +
[[High G.W. Sapper 1897518]] <br>
 +
[[Holmes A.D. Driver T/118337]] <br>
 +
[[Houstoun-Boswall C. Lt ]] <br>
 +
[[Izod R.E. Captain ]] <br>
 +
[[Jackson Stuart Fraser CQMS T/162530]] <br>
 +
[[Jacques E.H. Captain Royal Army Medical Corps]] <br>
 +
[[Jarvis Leslie Holden Driver T/162515]] <br>
 +
[[Keam C.P. Sapper 1928163]] <br>
 +
[[Kennedy John Ross Lt Col 0]] <br>
 +
[[King Christopher Charles Driver T/156978]] <br>
 +
[[King F.J. Driver ]] <br>
 +
[[Lambie J.M.S. Lt ]] <br>
 +
[[Leaming J. Sapper 1897320]] <br>
 +
[[Lee J.W. Cpl 1897236]] <br>
 +
[[Linton R.B. Major ]] <br>
 +
[[Lockhead David Thomas Driver 2000369]] <br>
 +
[[Love B.M. Pte 7614335]] <br>
 +
[[Mangnall Alfred Captain 26728]] <br>
 +
[[Marchant A. Driver 167525]] <br>
 +
[[Marks F.W. Lt 0]] <br>
 +
[[Maughan B. Pte S/106354]] <br>
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[[Nimmo A. Pte 4390947]] <br>
 +
[[Oliver C. Fus 426827]] <br>
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[[Osborne Captain ]] <br>
 +
[[Parker T. Pte 7614434]] <br>
 +
[[Paterson Frederick WO II T/3122127]] <br>
 +
[[Plews-Lipsett G.R.W. Captain - CO]] <br>
 +
[[Povey Malcolm Pte 7613756]] <br>
 +
[[Poyser L. L/Cpl 2569691]] <br>
 +
[[Rice John Henry Driver T/166086]] <br>
 +
[[Roberts(?) D. Pte 7615827]] <br>
 +
[[Roger Ralph Albert Driver T/162880]] <br>
 +
[[Ryder I.A. Pte 7611533 ?]] <br>
 +
[[Sanderson G.R. L/Cpl 4390595]] <br>
 +
[[Smith C.R. Captain ]] <br>
 +
[[Squires F.R. Sgt S/106630]] <br>
 +
[[Taylor T.W.B. S/Sgt 7339058]] <br>
 +
[[Thomas P.E.A. Lt 14057]] <br>
 +
[[Thompson G.W. Sgt S/106508]] <br>
 +
[[Tissier Lt ]] <br>
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[[Trenam R. Major ]] <br>
 +
[[Waddington D.W. Pte 7617275]] <br>
 +
[[Walton A.J. Driver 144318]] <br>
 +
[[Warburton J. Pte 7617232]] <br>
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[[Watson A.R. Captain ]] <br>
 +
[[Webb W.R. Lt ]] <br>
 +
[[Weeks L M Lieutenant Colonel RAMC]] <br>
 +
[[Wells W. Pte 4344499]] <br>
 +
[[Welsh F.J. Driver 144218]] <br>
 +
[[Weston A. Driver 144107]] <br>
 +
[[Whittle A. Sapper 1897561]] <br>
 +
[[Wood D.R. 2/Lt ]] <br>
 +
[[Wood Norman Driver T/125621]] <br>
  
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'''Divisional Commander Royal Engineers'''
 
  
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'''Divisional Supply Column'''
+
To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - [mailto:70brigade@newmp.org.uk click here].

Latest revision as of 11:47, 18 January 2024

History

To read the Wikipedia Page on this Division please click here


Insignia

On a recent visit to the Eden Camp Military Museum near Malton, North Yorkshire, we spotted an example of the Divisional Sleeve Patch for the 23rd Division - not by any means a common sight.

The photograph taken of the patch is reproduced below, with our sincere thanks to the management of Eden Camp for permission to feature the image.

23rd Division Sleeve Patch


War Diary

In respect of the War Diary for the Division, this was not one single document or file. Each Divisional Branch had its own War Diary and these need to be read in conjunction with each other. Unfortunately, due largely to the circumstances experienced by this second-line Division, which existed only between September 1939 and June 1940, many of the pages are missing or contain only very limited information.

What does exist has been recorded in this section of the history and includes a very considerable amount of material dealing with the time spent in France and Belgium with the British Expeditionary Force, culminating in the complexities of the retreat to Dunkirk.

1939

1940

Personnel Records for 23rd Division

Adams Christopher Clement L/Cpl 5946614
Allenby Joseph Cpl 4456025
Allinson Sgt
Armstrong D. Pte 7614523
Bailey K.C. 2/Lt
Beally Cpl
Bell 2/Lt
Blake Peter J.
Bleasby S. L/Cpl 4391460
Boyle Edward Driver 2075494
Burton H.E. Major
Byers Charles Frederick Captain 36390
Cameron K.Mc.K. Major
Chivers E.C. L/Cpl 561729
Colman G.H. Pte 7617751
Connor Brian Harvey Driver T/162645
Coombe T Pte 2614527
Crane Arthur Ronald Pte 4457195
Crawford R.F. Sapper 1897581
Davison T.K. 2/Lt
Dodds K. 2/Lt
Edwards Ernest Arthur Driver T/6140504
Ellis J Colonel
Emery H.H. Driver 144200
England Bertram Frederick Driver T/1626641
Faulkner T.D. Driver 144279
Goldingham P.R. Major
Gosling Walter Cecil L/Cpl T/167354
Gravett J. Gnr 947640
Gunn George Thomas Driver T/162453
Hall R.A. Pte 4458001
Hare John Francis Brevet Lt Col 0
Hedley Adrian Everard Captain 0
Herbert W N Major-General
High G.W. Sapper 1897518
Holmes A.D. Driver T/118337
Houstoun-Boswall C. Lt
Izod R.E. Captain
Jackson Stuart Fraser CQMS T/162530
Jacques E.H. Captain Royal Army Medical Corps
Jarvis Leslie Holden Driver T/162515
Keam C.P. Sapper 1928163
Kennedy John Ross Lt Col 0
King Christopher Charles Driver T/156978
King F.J. Driver
Lambie J.M.S. Lt
Leaming J. Sapper 1897320
Lee J.W. Cpl 1897236
Linton R.B. Major
Lockhead David Thomas Driver 2000369
Love B.M. Pte 7614335
Mangnall Alfred Captain 26728
Marchant A. Driver 167525
Marks F.W. Lt 0
Maughan B. Pte S/106354
Nimmo A. Pte 4390947
Oliver C. Fus 426827
Osborne Captain
Parker T. Pte 7614434
Paterson Frederick WO II T/3122127
Plews-Lipsett G.R.W. Captain - CO
Povey Malcolm Pte 7613756
Poyser L. L/Cpl 2569691
Rice John Henry Driver T/166086
Roberts(?) D. Pte 7615827
Roger Ralph Albert Driver T/162880
Ryder I.A. Pte 7611533 ?
Sanderson G.R. L/Cpl 4390595
Smith C.R. Captain
Squires F.R. Sgt S/106630
Taylor T.W.B. S/Sgt 7339058
Thomas P.E.A. Lt 14057
Thompson G.W. Sgt S/106508
Tissier Lt
Trenam R. Major
Waddington D.W. Pte 7617275
Walton A.J. Driver 144318
Warburton J. Pte 7617232
Watson A.R. Captain
Webb W.R. Lt
Weeks L M Lieutenant Colonel RAMC
Wells W. Pte 4344499
Welsh F.J. Driver 144218
Weston A. Driver 144107
Whittle A. Sapper 1897561
Wood D.R. 2/Lt
Wood Norman Driver T/125621


To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - click here.

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