Northumbrian Gunner: February 2015

Saturday 28 February 2015

London - Cenotaph

The Cenotaph in London has become the centre for Remembrance where on Remembrance Sunday the Queen lies a wreath on behalf of the nation.

Designed by Edwin Lutyens and built from Portland Stone, the simple monolith is a non religious memorial with it's origins in remembering the sacrifices of the First World War.

Cenotaph London

The original Cenotaph was a temporary structure erected for a Peace Day Parade in July 1919, and any wreaths and flowers were left at it's base. Following the parade it was decided to erect the permanent structure which was unveiled by King George V on 11th November 1920.

Cenotaph 11th November 1920

King George V lays wreath
Cenotaph 11th November 1920

Friday 27 February 2015

IWM London - Nery Gun

The Imperial War Museum London contains the Nery Gun which was engaged in the Action at Nery 1st September 1914 resulting in the awarding of 3 Victoria Crosses.

Nery Gun Imperial War Museum

During the Retreat from Mons the 1st Cavalry Brigade were on the western flank of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). In support of the Brigade were III Brigade RHA (D & E Bty) and VII RHA (I & L Bty). On the night of the night of the 31st August 1914 the 1st Cavalry Brigade were billeted in the village of Nery, 65 km (40 miles) NE of Paris. In the early hours of 1st September, with mist as cover, the German 4th Cavalry Division attacked the British in Nery.

Action at Nery
1st September 1914

L Battery RHA brought 3 guns into action to engage German Artillery. In the ensuing artillery duel, one of L Battery's guns was immediately destroyed, the second shortly after.

Captain Bradbury and Sergeant Nelson continued to fire from the third gun, when they were joined by BSM Dorrell as detachment members became casualties. Under heavy German artillery fire, Captain Bradbury was mortally wounded as he collected ammunition, whilst BSM Dorrell and Sgt Nelson continued firing until ammunition was expended. The action helped to hold the German advance, and causing them to withdraw.

L Battery RHA Nery 1st September 1914

For their gallantry, Captain Bradbury, BSM Dorrell and Sgt Nelson were awarded the Victoria Cross.

Nery VC's

IWM Nery Gun

Nery Gun
Imperial War Museum

Nery Gun & Limber
Imperial War Museum

Nery Gun Limber
Imperial War Museum

Tuesday 24 February 2015

IWM London - Le Cateau VC's

Early in the morning of the 26th August 1914, the British II Corps were ordered to stand fast to the west of Le Cateau. The 37th Howitzer Battery RFA in support of the 5th Division deployed either side of a road in a covered position.

The weight of the German advance forced the BEF to withdraw, though their efforts were such that that a stopping blow forced the Germans to pause. This action allowed the BEF to commence a retreat which would ultimately stop on the River Marne.

During the battle, the 37th Howitzer Battery RFA had withdrawn 4 guns. Captain Douglas Reynolds found two horse teams when he retired to Remount, and decided to rescue the remaining two howitzers. He called for volunteers to assist him and amongst them were Driver Job Drain and Driver Fred Luke.

Under heavy fire Captain Reynolds, Driver Drain and Driver Luke were able to rescue one of the guns. For their bravery Captain Reynolds, Driver Drain and Driver Luke were awarded the Victoria Cross.

Le Cateau - Saving the Guns

The Victoria Crosses awarded to Drivers Darin and Luke are located in the Ashcroft Gallery in the Imperial War Museum London.

IWM Lord Ashcroft
Le Cateau VC's

Driver Job Drain

London Gazette, 25^th November 1914
Citation with Driver Drain: At Le Cateau on August 26^th, 1914, as volunteers, these two drivers saved their guns from falling into the hands of the enemy, although it was at the time under heavy fire from hostile infantry, who were only 100 yards away.

IWM Lord Ashcroft Gallery
Drain VC

Driver Frederick Luke

London Gazette, 25^th November 1914

Citation with Driver Luke: At Le Cateau on August 26^th, 1914, as volunteers, these two drivers saved their guns from falling into the hands of the enemy, although it was at the time under heavy fire from hostile infantry, who were only 100 yards away.

IWM Lord Ashcroft Gallery
Luke VC

IWM London - Royal Artillery WW1

The Great War became dominated by Artillery.

In August 1914 the British Expeditionary Force deployed to France with 342 guns. The emphasis was on manoeuvre, 13 pounders and 18 pounders providing direct support to the infantry and the cavalry.

Imperial War Museum 13 pounder Gun

The first round fired on the Western Front was fired by E Battery RHA on 22nd August 1914

First British Artilley round on Western Front

By the end of the war over 170 million rounds had been fired.

Imperial War Museum Artillery Shells

The transition to trench warfare called for heavy artillery and the expansion of the Royal Artillery. By the end of the First World War there were 6,437 guns in France.

In 1914 the Royal Artillery fielded 3 Siege Batteries. In 1918 there were 400 Siege Batteries.

Imperial War Museum 9.2 inch Howitzer

IWM Visit - WW1 Galleries

Imperial War Museum London
The First World War Galleries

To commemorate the Centenary of the First World War the Imperial War Museum in London opened the WW1 Galleries. The exhibition chronicles the period from the pre war Britain and Empire through the conflict to the Armistice in 1918, and the aftermath.

IWM London WW1 Galleries
French 75mm Quick Firing Gun

IWM London WW1 Galleries
Kitchener's iconic recruiting poster

IWM London WW1 Galleries
Kitchener Blues uniform

IWM London WW1 Galleries
American / British / French uniforms

IWM London WW1 Galleries
British SMLE Rifles

IWM London WW1 Galleries
British Weapons
Grenade rifle
SMLE rifle
Lewis gun
Mills bombs

IWM London WW1 Galleries
Vickers Machine Gun sowing interlocking fire

IWM London WW1 Galleries
Sopwith Camel
British Tank

IWM London WW1 Galleries
Financing the war

IWM London WW1 Galleries
Naval convoy model

Saturday 21 February 2015

Imperial War Museum London

The Imperial War museum was founded in 1917 to record the military effort and sacrifices of the British Empire during the First World War. The museum was originally located in Crystal Palace and opened in 1920. It moved to South Kensington in 1924. In 1936 the museum moved to the present location in Southwark , the buildings previously being the Bethlehem Royal Hospital.

The museum and collections were subsequently expanded to record the Second World War and subsequent conflicts.

Imperial War Museum London

IWM London 15 inch Naval Guns

In 1968 two 15-inch naval guns were mounted outside the museum. One had been on the HMS Ramillies and the other on both HMS Resolution and HMS Roberts. Both had been fired during World War two.

IWM London - Selfie

Friday 13 February 2015

Beamish - WW1 Exhibits

Beamish Town printers - WW1 recruiting window

Beamish Town printers - South Shields tram

Thomas Pascoe - Beamish Soldier

Thomas Pascoe
1st Field Ambulance
Royal Naval Division

Thomas Pascoe was born in 1881 and grew up at 8 Eden Terrace, Urpeth, a short distance from Beamish. He lived with his mother and step father Charles Blake.

Thomas worked as a miner and by 1911 he had married Elizabeth. had a daughter Mary (born in 1903) and was living at 5 Wood Row, Beamish, he was a member of Beamish Methodist Church and the local St John's Ambulance.

He joined the 1st Field Ambulance Royal Naval Division in March 1915, serving in Gallipoli, Turkey and on the Western Front in France.

Thomas Pascoe - War Journey of a Durham Soldier

Royal Naval Division cards

Thomas Pascoe letters home

Thomas Pascoe died of wounds 4th January 1918. He is listed as serving in the Royal Marines Medical unit Royal Naval Division - service number Deal/3633(S).

Thomas is buried at ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN

CWGC Information

Tuesday 3 February 2015

March of the Tyneside Scottish - Alnwick Castle

Alnwick Castle

Tyneside Scottish Alnwick Castle

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March of the Tyneside Scottish - Alnwick

On the 30^th January 1915 the 1st Tyneside Scottish (20^th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers) marched north from Morpeth via Felton en route to the new Army Camp built on the pastures to the north of Alnwick Castle.

At 4:30 pm the Battalion arrived on the outskirts of the town. When they reached Alnwick Station the Pipes and Drums struck up. The Tyneside Scots marched through the Bondgate and along the main street, the town turning out in force to welcome the soldiers to Alnwick.

On Sunday 1^st February 2015, 100 years later, the Tyneside Scottish once more marched through Bondgate into Alnwick. The Pipe band of Northumbria ACF led serving TS from 204 (Tyneside Scottish) Battery Royal Artillery, veterans from the Tyneside Scottish Branch RAA and the Tyneside Scottish detachments of Northumbria ACF down Bondgate, and into Alnwick Castle.