Royal Artillery

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Northumbrian Gunners

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Friday, 29 April 2016

Ypres 2016 - Hooge Crater Museum

Hooge Crater Museum


Hooge Crater Museum
Artillery Shells

Hooge Crater Museum
Artillery Shells

Hooge Crater Museum
Artillery Fuses
 Messenger Dog...... wonder if they were ever used to send Artillery corrections ?
 
Hooge Crater Museum
Messenger Dog

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Tuesday, 26 April 2016

Ypres 2016 - Loos Memorial Lt John Kipling

Commemorated on the Loos Memorial is Lt John Kipling, the son of English journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist Rudyard Kipling,


Lt John Kipling Irish Guards
Loos Memorial
 
John Kipling was born in 17th August 1897 in Sussex. He was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire.

Rudyard Kipling was a keen imperialist, patriot and  supporter of the war who wrote propaganda on behalf of the Government. On reaching an age when John could join the Army, Rudyard Kipling sought to obtain a commission for his son. Initially John Kipling was rejected by the Royal Navy due to poor eyesight, his father then used his influence for his son to be commissioned into the Irish Guards.

Lt John Kipling Irish Guards
John Kipling was commissioned into the Irish Guards 15th September 1914 (LG 15-Sep-1914 7303) from the Special Reserve of Officers. He arrived in France on 17th August 1915 – just over 6 weeks later he was reported missing in action.
On 27th September 1915 during the Battle of Loos, he was leading his platoon from the 2nd Battalion Irish Guards in the area of Chalk Pit Wood, when according to the battalion War Diary he was wounded and went missing.
His father Rudyard Kipling and mother Carrie launched a search for their missing son. They visited war hospitals, interviewed soldiers from the Irish Guards and sought help from all quarters in order to find their son. Rudyard Kipling asked neutral ambassadors in Sweden to contact the Germans, as well as the Red Cross, to investigate if John had been found behind enemy lines.
John Kipling’s whereabouts were not ascertained, and after searching for 4 years Rudyard Kipling, in June 1919, wrote a letter to the Army accepting that his son was dead.
John Kipling's name was added to the Loos Memorial which remembers those lost in the area with no known grave. Rudyard Kipling died in 1936.
In 1992 the Commonwealth War Graves Commission confirmed that the grave of a unknown Irish Guards Lieutenant buried in St Mary’s ADS Cemetery, north of Loos-en-Gohelle, was that of John Kipling.
The Unidentified Irish Guards Lieutenant at Loos
The headstone of an unidentified Irish Guards Lieutenant was changed to Lieutenant John Kipling Irish Guards.
 
John Kipling
Graves Registration Form
 
 
 
 
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Sunday, 24 April 2016

Ypres 2016 - Loos Memorial / Dud Corner Cemetery



 
Loos Memorial and Dud Corner Cemetery

The Loos Memorial surrounds Dud Corner Cemetery and lies on the Lens - Bethune Road 1 km west of Loos. It was the site of a German strong point, the Lens Road Redoubt, captured by the 15th (Scottish) Division on the first day of the Battle of Loos.
 
The Loos Memorial commemorates over 20,000 officers and men who have no known grave, who fell in the area from the River Lys to the old southern boundary of the First Army, east and west of Grenay.  
 
CWGC Loos Memorial
 
Dud Corner Cemetery is believed to have been named due to the large number of unexploded enemy shells found in the neighbourhood after the Armistice.
 
CWGC - Dud Corner Loos 
 
Dud Corner Cemetery Cross of Sacrifice

The only burials in the cemetery from hostilities are four Black Watch Officers and a Dublin Fusilier, the other 679 are from the consolidation of cemeteries in the area brought together after the war.

Black Watch Officers & Dublin Fusilier
Dud Corner Cemetery Loos
 
Amongst the casualties are two members of Commands and Staff.
 
 
Major General GH Thesiger CB CMG. He was killed on the second day of the Battle of Loos (26 Sep 1915) whilst commanding the 9th (Scottish) Division when a artillery shell hit the trench he was located in after moving forward to observe the battle.

 
Brigadier General NT Nickalls was also killed on the 26th September 1915. He was commanding the 63rd Brigade, part of the 21st Division.
 

Another notable casualty recorded on the Loos Memorial is Lt John Kipling, the son of Rudyard Kipling. Lt Kipling was killed during the Battle of Loos on the 27th September 1915 serving with the 2nd Battalion Irish Guards.
 
Lt John Kippling

Loos Memorial
Irish Guards
Two graves to winners of the Victoria Cross are contained in the cemetery, both won on the first day of the Battle f Loos, 25th September 1915.


 
Capt AM Read VC

Sgt H Wells VC


Another brave Officer whose grave lies within Dud Corner Cemetery is Captain PS Burge MC MM Royal Air Force who died 24th July 1918.

Capt PS Burge MC MM
 

There are 29 identified Gunners buried in Dud Corner Cemetery.

Rank Initials Surname Date Death RA
2/Lt R St. G BROOKS 26/09/1915 RFA
Lt R BRUCE 25/09/1915 RFA
Brevet Col. H T BUTCHER 20/09/1915 RFA
2/Lt C A COLDWELLS 28/09/1915 RFA
Dvr S EASTWOOD 27/09/1915 RFA
Gnr A ETWELL 29/07/1917 RFA
Gnr S J FURBY 28/09/1915 RFA
Captain H De B GRANT 03/10/1915 RFA
Bdr O A HANSEN 14/11/1915 RFA
Capt E G HEATH 25/09/1915 RFA
Bdr W HERDSMAN 26/09/1915 RFA
Gnr A H HOLMAN 11/05/1916 RFA
Gnr E D JONES 27/09/1915 RFA
A/Bdr W H MARLEY 30/09/1915 RFA
Fitter T MATTHEWS 28/09/1915 RFA
Gnr J MORGAN 27/09/1915 RFA
A/Bdr J V MORRIS 28/09/1915 RFA
Gnr A R NEEDS 28/09/1915 RFA
Gnr H E PEARSON 30/04/1916 RGA
A/Bdr F H PURBROOK 28/09/1915 RFA
Gnr E E RAINBIRD 26/09/1915 RFA
Sjt J REYNOLDS 30/09/1915 RGA
Gnr G R ROBINSON 29/07/1917 RFA
Gnr W ROBINSON 29/07/1917 RFA
Gnr P E RUSSELL 03/10/1915 RFA
A/Bdr F SPOONER 29/07/1917 RFA
Gnr J SWALES 29/07/1917 RFA
Gnr W WATT 29/04/1916 RGA
Gnr A J WETHERSBY 20/09/1915 RGA


Royal Field Artillery and Royal Garrison Artillery casualties are recorded on panels 3 and 4 of the Loos Memorial.
.
Loos Memorial Panel 3
Loos Memorial Panel 4
Amongst the 141 Gunners is Shoeing Smith Thomas Anderson killed 28th May 1918 serving with C Battery 250th Brigade RFA, formerly 1st Northumbrian Brigade. The third Battery of the Northumberland's was the Elswick Battery.

Rank Initials Surname   RA Date Death
Gnr O W ALLEN   RFA 31/07/1918
Dvr J ALLMAN   RFA 27/03/1918
S/Smith T ANDERSON   RFA 28/05/1918
Gnr S BADROCK   RFA 08/10/1916
Gnr E BEARDMORE   RFA 31/08/1918
Capt S P BELL   RFA 26/09/1915
Gnr L BLAND   RFA 16/10/1915
Gnr J W BLOWER   RFA 08/10/1916
Gnr H BOWEN   RFA 13/10/1915
Gnr A BRETON   RFA 25/09/1915
Sjt A E V BRIGHTMORE   RFA 26/09/1915
Gnr A BROUGH   RFA 25/09/1915
Dvr H BRUNTON   RFA 10/04/1916
Dvr A A BUNCE   RFA 20/09/1916
2/Lt S BURDEKIN   RFA 28/09/1915
Gnr W E C BURTON   RFA 24/12/1916
Gnr A CAMPBELL   RFA 12/11/1915
Gnr W CLARKSON   RFA 10/04/1918
Gnr G COLLEY   RFA 23/10/1918
Gnr H E COOKE   RFA 30/03/1916
Gnr J F CRACKNELL   RFA 02/04/1916
Gnr W CRONIN   RFA 26/09/1915
Gnr C H CROOK   RFA 12/11/1915
A/Bdr J CURTIS   RFA 09/01/1917
Gnr A L DAWSON   RFA 28/03/1918
Gnr R DOLMAN   RFA 26/09/1915
Dvr H DOYLESON   RFA 26/09/1915
Gnr W DUNCAN   RFA 14/04/1918
Gnr A ELLIOTT   RFA 02/06/1916
Dvr E EMERY   RFA 25/09/1915
Gnr A ESPLEY   RFA 25/09/1915
A/Bdr W L EVANS   RFA 08/10/1916
A/Bdr A FERNYHOUGH   RFA 09/04/1918
Cpl P J FOSTER   RFA 22/10/1917
Bdr H E FOUND   RFA 15/08/1917
Gnr F FRANKHAM   RFA 18/04/1918
Gnr J FREEMAN   RFA 13/10/1915
Farrier/Sjt B GILES   RFA 29/04/1918
Sjt W GILPIN   RFA 28/09/1915
Gnr W GRIFFITHS   RFA 05/10/1915
Sjt H E HANKEY M M RFA 18/04/1918
Gnr A HARRIS   RFA 15/08/1917
Gnr H HARRISON   RFA 16/10/1915
Gnr T J HARRISON   RFA 25/09/1915
2/Lt T P HARRISON   RFA 09/04/1918
Gnr G H HAWKES   RFA 26/09/1915
Bdr C J HOPKINS   RFA 13/10/1915
Dvr H HUTCHINGS   RFA 26/09/1915
Cpl H INGER   RFA 21/05/1916
Gnr D JENKINS   RFA 26/06/1916
Gnr F JOHNSON   RFA 06/04/1916
Cpl F S KELLY   RFA 09/04/1918
Gnr J KELLY   RFA 25/09/1915
Gnr G KINGSHOTT   RFA 10/10/1915
Cpl E KITCHENSIDE   RFA 24/03/1918
Gnr J H KYBETT   RFA 26/09/1915
Gnr W LEE   RFA 13/10/1915
Dvr F C LLOYD   RFA 10/04/1918
Gnr W MARTIN   RFA 13/10/1915
A/Bdr W W MARTIN   RFA 25/09/1915
Dvr E MATHESON   RFA 26/09/1915
Gnr W McDONALD   RFA 28/04/1917
Gnr A E MEDLICOTT   RFA 27/04/1916
Gnr H W MELVIN   RFA 08/10/1916
Dvr J MOSS   RFA 09/04/1918
Gnr R MOSS   RFA 25/09/1915
Captain P H MURRAY   RFA 25/09/1915
Lt W M NICHOLLS   RFA 26/09/1915
Dvr W F PARSONS   RFA 20/08/1918
A/Bdr H E PAYNE   RFA 25/09/1915
Gnr T J PEREGRINE   RFA 05/10/1915
Dvr J PHILLIPS   RFA 04/01/1917
Sjt W J PHILLIPS   RFA 05/10/1915
Dvr J PICKLES   RFA 31/01/1917
Gnr J B PRICE   RFA 14/07/1917
Capt W D PRITCHARD   RFA 25/09/1915
Gnr J M REID   RFA 09/04/1918
Gnr T ROPER   RFA 21/03/1918
Gnr T ROSE   RFA 14/10/1918
Dvr R RUTLEY   RFA 08/10/1916
Gnr H SAVAGE   RFA 05/10/1915
Bdr F SHERWOOD   RFA 13/10/1915
A/Bdr W H A SHOPLAND   RFA 26/09/1915
Bdr W C SLATER   RFA 28/09/1915
Gnr G SMITH   RFA 23/12/1916
Gnr A SQUIRE   RFA 10/04/1918
Gnr G H STARR   RFA 04/04/1918
Gnr G STEWART   RFA 28/09/1915
Gnr B T STIENS   RFA 08/05/1918
Gnr C S STOREY   RFA 25/09/1915
Dvr R SULLIVAN   RFA 09/06/1917
Gnr W TALLENT   RFA 10/04/1918
Gnr S TAYLOR   RFA 08/10/1916
Gnr W R TAYLOR   RFA 08/10/1916
Dvr J THOMPSON   RFA 10/04/1918
Gnr H TIMMINS   RFA 26/09/1915
Gnr H TREGILGAS   RFA 09/04/1918
Sjt R WALKER   RFA 09/04/1918
BQMS W J WALTERS   RFA 15/05/1917
Gnr D WATERSON   RFA 25/09/1915
L/Bdr W WILSON   RFA 10/04/1918
Gnr A A WISEMAN   RFA 13/11/1915
Sjt J F YEATMAN   RFA 09/04/1918
Gnr H AINSWORTH   RGA 28/09/1915
Gnr A J ANNANDALE   RGA 09/04/1918
Gnr H BARNES   RGA 09/04/1918
A/Bdr J M BOWERS   RGA 13/10/1915
Gnr G E BRIGHTWELL   RGA 30/11/1917
Gnr D COTTER   RGA 16/04/1916
Gnr M CREED   RGA 25/09/1915
Gnr J DEFTY   RGA 13/10/1915
Lt R A S DOBBIN   RGA 25/09/1915
Gnr J DOREY   RGA 09/04/1918
Sjt S W DYER   RGA 25/09/1915
2/Lt H D ELLIS   RGA 25/09/1915
Bdr A E FENLON   RGA 05/04/1917
Gnr F J GOLDSBROUGH   RGA 13/10/1915
Gnr J GRINDROD   RGA 22/01/1916
Gnr J F HEWITT   RGA 30/09/1915
Gnr W HOLT   RGA 13/10/1915
Gnr A LAW   RGA 01/10/1917
Gnr T E LLOYD   RGA 02/08/1915
Gnr A J LUKE   RGA 26/09/1915
Gnr W McCARTHY   RGA 23/12/1916
Bdr L McGEE   RGA 14/05/1916
2/Lt J McINTOSH   RGA 09/04/1918
Gnr A MITCHELL   RGA 21/03/1918
Gnr G E MONKS   RGA 23/12/1916
Cpl J MORRIS   RGA 02/08/1917
Gnr J MORRIS   RGA 14/03/1917
Gnr S MURPHY   RGA 31/01/1917
Gnr G T OSBORNE   RGA 04/03/1916
Gnr T PARKER   RGA 04/03/1916
Cpl A E PARTON   RGA 27/09/1915
Bdr W W PATTERSON   RGA 27/04/1918
A/Bdr W POLSOM   RGA 13/10/1915
Cpl J D POOLE   RGA 23/12/1916
2/Lt O L PULLING   RGA 25/09/1915
Cpl H W SPRINKS   RGA 11/05/1916
Gnr R F THEDENS   RGA 07/06/1918
2/Lt G R H THORNTON   RGA 09/04/1918
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