The Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)

BATTALION ORDERS PART I

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London, 15^th September 1914.

1. The Battalion is now in process of being formed.  It will become a Battalion of the Duke of Cambridge’s Own Middlesex Regiment.  The Regiment in the Peninsular War earned for itself at the battle of Albuhera, 16^th May, 1813, the glorious title of “The Diehards”.  It has won fame at El Bodon, in the Crimea, and in South Africa, when it saved the situation at Spion Kop.  It has now two Battalions, the first and the fourth, actually in the fighting line of the present Expeditionary Force in France.  It rests with Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and men of our new Public School Battalion to uphold this reputation both in camp and the field.

• The Organization of the Battalion will be:-

HEAD-QUARTERS SECTION.

A B C AND D COMPANIES

MACHINE GUN SECTION. 

A total strength of 29 Officers, 1 Warrant Officer, 49 Staff Sergeants and Sergeants, 16 Drummers and Buglers, 1,005 Rank and File.

• Provisional appointments have been made (see Part II orders) to the various ranks of Officers, Warrant Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers all to date from September 15^th 1914.  The appointments to commissioned rank now made will require to be confirmed by the Army Council when the Commanding Officer considers it desirable to forward recommendations on the subject.

Vacancies have been left for 50 per cent in each rank in order to enable Officers commanding Companies to submit recommendations of suitable candidates for appointment from those who have enlisted and are enlisting.

• Lists of Companies appear in Part II.  Men wishing to transfer into another Company in order to serve with friends will give in their names to the Adjutant at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, the 16^th inst.

• The Battalion strength about 10 officers, 700 men, will; parade at Waterloo Station on Tuesday, 15^th inst., at 11 a.m., and proceed by train from thence to Kempton.

• Every man on arriving at Waterloo Station will be given a copy of these orders and in Part II he will find the particular Company to which he has been posted.

• Every man will fall in with his Company on the platform and no man will enter the train until ordered to do so.  In the same way no man will leave the train at Kempton Park until so ordered.

• Captain H.W. Ryan and Lieutenant F.G. Jackson will remain at 24, St. James Street to carry on the Recruiting of the Battalion until further orders, during this period Lieutenant F.R. Hill will also be in charge of A Company.

W.R. CAREY, Captain,

Adjutant Public School Battalion

D.C.O. Middlesex Regiment.

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PART II.

1. The following Officers have been given temporary commissions subject to confirmation by the Army Council:-

Commanding Officer and Lieut.-Colonel:

Major J.H. Hall, The D.C.O., Middlesex Regiment.

To be Majors:

Lt. J.J. Mackay, late Westminster Dragoons.

To be Captains:

Lt. H.W. Ryan, late 19^th Hussars.

Capt. G.C. Way, Natal Mounted Rifles.

Capt. V. Ward-Brown, late Dublin Fusiliers.

To be Lieutenants:

Sergt. F.R. Hill, late Bombay Light Horse.

Lieut. F.G. Jackson, late V.B., East Yorks.

Mr. W.H. Dawson, later Ragoon Volunteer Rifles.

To be 2^nd Lieutenants:

Mr. J.C. Clayton, late O.T.C.

Mr. Russel Goodman, late O.T.C.

Captain and Adjutant:

Capt. W.R. Carey, 53^rd Sikhs F.F.

Lieutenant and Quartermaster:

Mr. A. d’Alpuget, late East Surrey Regiment.

• The following officers are posted to the Companies named:-

Capt. H.W. Ryan …             A Co.

Lieut. F.J. Jackson  …        A Co.

Capt. G.C. Way …               B Co.

Lieut. W.H. Dawson …       B Co.

Capt. V. Ward-Brown …     C Co.

2^nd Lieut. J.C. Clayton …    C Co.

Lieut. F.R. Hill …                  D Co.

2^nd Lieut. R. Goodman …   D Co.

• The Commanding Officer is pleased to make the following promotions from this date:-

To be Sergeant: S.B. Bendle.

To be Corporal: R. Norman.

• The following men are posted to A, B, C, and D Companies respectively:-

A COMPANY.

No.                                          No.                                          No.

1          Sahl, P.                      36        Barnfield, A.E.          71        Chester, R.

2          Monkton, F.G.           37        Villers, A.W.               72        Norris, F.E.E.

3          Mackerness, R.S.P. 38        Taylor, C.M.C            73        Armitage, D.W.

4          Winton, H.B.              39        Gilfillan, D.R.             74        Grange, H.T.

5          Lewis, H.M.               40        Gilson, C.M.              75        Colegate, R.

6          Mayhew, T.R.            41        Robinson, C.D.         76        Dawson, J.V.

7          Lushington, G.H.F.  42        Malcolm, G.L.            77        Gallop, R.C.

8          Andrews, H.G.          43        Samuel, E.D.             78        Walker, G.

9          Parsons, T.F.            44        Norman, S.                79        Martin. J.B.L.

10        Jones, S.H.               45        Boorman, R.C.          80        Thomas, R.G.

11        Tweedale, A.             46        Carmichael, G.C.      81        Baker, G.B.

12        Samuel, E.B.             47        Sanderson, W.K.      82        Livingstone, W.H.D.

13        Usman, N.A.             48        Old, R.M.                   83        Sainsbury, A.W.

14        Boulton, A.                49        Gibson, J.G.              84        Rodd, J.H.

15        Millikin, D.M.             50        Groom, N.                  85        Lowth, N.C.L.

16        Relton, T.L.                51        Henderson, C.E.      86        Lean, J.T.

17        Lyne, G.E.A.              52        Porter, E.H.               87        Stevens, L.B.

18        Dalby, H.A.                53        Carruthers, J.N.A.    88        Young, A.E.

19        Lazarus, A.                54        Cooper, R.T.             89        Hood, G.E.W.

20        Sproston, N.              55        Byrne, L.C.                90        Howie, F.

21        Stewart, V.M.J.         56        Grose, R.S.               91        Whitby, E.R.

22        Hopwood, R.H.         57        Marshall, H.               92        Fanghanel, F.C.

23        Tanqueray, F.B.       58        Murray, J.W.              93        Burn, R.F.

24        Church, G.S.             59        Coxon, A.J.                94        King, R.

25        Womersley, A.D.      60        Carter, E.M.               95        Strang, D.

26        Bell, A.M.                   61        Oliver, T.F.                 96        Bowman, N.J.

27        Helbert, C.                 62        Lurcott, K.G.              97        Moore, H.C.

28        Wegg, H.N.               63        Clay, H.J.                   98        Rayner, C.H.L.

29        Gundry-White, L.A.  64        Walker, A.T.              99        Hoskins, H.N.

30        Pells, C.A.                 65        Gray, J.E.B.               100     Colin, A.H.

31        Irons, A.J.                  66        Hurly, E.                     101     Sacre, L.H.

32        Muddiman, N.L.        67        Keep, L.H.                 102     Bennett, J.

33        Opie, T.                      68        Keep, D.S.H.             103     Hill, J.C.

34        Church, J.W.             69        Coleridge, S.K.         104     Berry, D.D.A.

35        Gallwey, N.V.            70        Chevalier, P.T.          105     Draper, F.J.S.

106     Lambert                      138     Spencer, F.P.            170     Maitland, W.K.

107     Dillon, E.C.B.            139     Stampe, G.H.            171     Cox, H.

108     Franklin, W.               140     Burnett, A.H.             172     North, R.D.

109     Forrester, P.H.          141     Henderson-Rowe, G.C.  173     Corner, W.G.

110     Bickersteth, C.W.     142     Solomon, D.C.          174     Ross, D.E.

111     Evans, E.L.                143     Thomlinson, M.B.     175     Leavis, H.

112     Evered, H.                 144     Phipps, E.                  176     Agar, B.M.

113     Lake, N.G.                 145     Barry, J.W.                 177     Glennie, A.W.

114     Moule, E.B.               146     Macrae, F.L.              178     Grain, H.W.W.

115     Anstey, G.A.              147     Dickinson, F.G.C.     179     Tuton, J.T.

116     Heslop, G.H.             148     Scott, G.H.                 180     Brunton, B.T.

117     Legat, W.G.               149     Marlar, J.                    181     Barham, J.F.

118     Bitchertin, F.H.          150     Bywater, S.F.            182     Yorke, C.H.

119     Edmondson, C.R.E. 151     Going, C.E.               183     Cohen, E.

120     Johnson, V.P.           152     Ludlow, A.                 184     Page, R.

121     Koop, C.                     153     Nicholson. R.            185     Coxon, W.H.

122     Gregory, F.                154     Irvine, Q.                    186     Dice, T.C.

123     Rudford, A.C.            155     Lingner, G.                187     Howard, K.S.

124     Keefe, R.C.N.           156     Francis, N.P.             188     Lovaine, L.G.

125     Dracopoli, J.C.          157     Williamson. T.R.       189     Hopkinson, H.C.

126     Jones, F.W.               158     Corke, H.W.              190     Tillie, W.K.

127     Chapman, K.J.          159     Stanford, G.               191     Jardine, A.C.

128     Weir, N.                      160     Box, F. Vanden        192     Blest, F.

129     Knight, H.B.               161     Price, E.M.                 193     Robinson, S.F.

130     Nunnersley, M.T.      162     Crompton, A.N.         194     Irwin, T.W.C.

131     Manders, T.C.           163     Furbank, A.W.           195     Norman, R.

132     Westbrook, H.W.      164     Course, R.R.             196     Abbott, F.G.W.

133     Purnell, A.C.             165     Gross, W.S.               197     Jones, S.E.

134     Mallinson, P.P.         166     Leathes, W.H.B.       198     Edes, J.

135     Bowles, K.A.             167     Deakin, C.J.K.           199     D’Alcom, W.

136     Sylvester, J.              168     Foster, J.H.                200     Woolley, R.H.

137     Springfield, E.O.       169     Bowler, L.H.W.

B COMPANY.

No.                                          No.                                          No.

1          Duke, L.G.                 59        Butler, St. J.D.A.       117     Dewhurst, C.R.

2          Paul, E.W.                 60        Shewell, A.V.            118     Johnson, E.

3          Martin, S.F.                61        Lambourne, R.B.      119     Rowe, R.L.

4          Coverdale, M.           62        Hopgood, J.L.           120     Moran, W.B.

5          Lydon, S.F.                63        Clarke, H.W.              121     Horsley, C.C.

6          Muller, Louis.            64        Caldecott, A.             122     Coates, L.G.

7          Wood, P.B.                65        Graham, L.N.            123     Heape, R.H.

8          Hadley, O.H.             66        Summers, R.A.         124     Heape, J.S.

9          Helbert, C.                 67        Norman, D.F.            125     Cooks, E.L.

10        **                                 68        Nicholson, C.L.         126     Jameson, A.M.

11        *** E.H.                       69        Turner, A.C.              127     Johns, H.A.

12        Stokes, W.S.             70        Dyson, G.                   128     Taylor, W.E.

13        Davies, E.O.              71        Nichols, E.A.M.         129     Owen, R.F.

14        Arber, A.G.                72        Knight, E.J.                130     Lees, L.

15        Cressy, C.H.             73        O’Brien, G.W.            131     Denny, E.M.C.

16        Smith, J.C.                 74        Tillard, T.A.                132     Wash, G.C.M.

17        Hall, G.                       75        Rien, H.                      133     Grane, C.G.

18        Renshaw, H.W.        76        Pycroft, A.H.              134     Lyne, A.O.

19        Gibson, D.N.             77        Simmonds, G.B.       135     Croll, C.

20        Terry, D.J.                  78        Elliot, G.F.                  136     Lawson, C.

21        Atkinson, C.E.           79        Hart, A.F.                   137     Hewat, A.G.

22        Williams, R.H.           80        Rice. B.N.                  138     Englefield. F.R.H.

23        Blumer, M.P.H.         81        Sparrow, C.W.          139     Church, G.S.

24        Wood, H.G.               82        Heath, L.G.                140     Albrecht, P.V.

25        Badcock, H.V.           83        Aubertin, W.A.          141     Douglas, F.F.

26        Bullock, H.T.              84        Sacre, L.G.B.            142     Pole, B.J.

27        James, H.M.              85        Brandt, C.R.              143     Garrett, H.B.

28        Mayhew, T.G.            86        Wood, R.L.                144     Gatehouse, G.J.W.

29        Jones, A.W.               87        Andrews, B.J.W.       145     Davies, G.T.

30        Grimway, L.               88        Roberts, W.S.           146     Lacey, C.D.

31        Spurrell, W.J.            89        Duranty, W.H.           147     Pope, H.V.K.

32        Spurrell, F.J.D.          90        Dankes, A.H.             148     Westlake, A.N.

33        Ditchburn, A.H.         91        Heath, J.L.                 149     Middleton, H.P.

34        Crickow, P.E.            92        Edwards, A.H.           150     Lacey, E.S.

35        Shearer, J.G.             93        Ryder Cosmo, C.A.  151     Hewitt, N.D.M.

36        Bentnick, B.W.          94        Townsend, R.E.L.    152     Bowden, E.E.

37        French, C.A.L.          95        Lawrence, J.R.M.     153     Addington, C.F.

38        Vernham, N.M.         96        Fellowes, E.A.           154     Williams, H.S.

39        Willett, J.W.               97        Williams, H.P.           155     Berlein, L.

40        Russell, A.L.N.          98        Grant, D.                    156     Lukes, W.M.

41        Jones, I.                     99        Cochran, F.S.           157     Bury, H.V.

42        Pease, T.O.               100     Gray, C.B.                 158     Lyne, C.V.

43        Boyle, E.A.                101     Schaap, N.J.             159     Storkley, H.

44        Mitchell, G.                102     Haigh, A.D.                160     La Touche, A.G.

45        Seager, J.O.              103     Draysdall, J.D.          161     Raven, G.E.

46        Campbell, J.K.          104     Brooke, J.W.             162     Day, G.W.L.

47        Mitchell, T.I.               105     Greenway, E.R.        163     McCulloch, K.

48        Hoffmann, J.A.         106     Cottier, C.E.              164     McCulloch Douglas

49        Holmes, R.B.             107     Black, F.G.                 165     Haldwell, F.H.

50        Goodwin, H.D.          108     Bassett, W.S.           166     Hatch, A.B.

51        Twynam, C.               109     Yeats, G.F.W.           167     Cressy, C.H.

52        Donovan, N.S.          110     Eldrid, F.B.                168     Williams, G.M.

53        Alexander, A.W.       111     Murray, M.A.             169     Brookes, J.H.

54        Crick, A.                     112     Beamish, J.S.H.        170     Groome, F.C.

55        Hirst, L.G.                  113     Donner, W.A.            171     Payne, R.W.

56        Parnall, R.H.             114     Paule, W.M. de         172     Virgol, G.C.B.

57        Elwell, E.E.                115     Fidler, T.W.                173     Hardy, E.J.A.

58        Cleland, M.W.d’A.    116     Bowman, A.W.         174     Dakin, G.

No.                                          No.                                          No.

175     Abraham, J.F.           184     Brigge, C.E.               193     Glen, D.A.

176     Harvey, C.A.             185     Proctor, W.H.            194     Wainwright, C.L.

177     Jones, F.                    186     Gleed, R.W.A.           195     Stevens, C.

178     Cornwell, F.B.           187     Burrough, W.R.        196     Maudling, L.H.

179     Johnstone, J.A.        188     Bevan, G.T.M.           197     Holding, H.E.

180     Hollands, W.G.         189     Warren, H.L.             198     Botley, F.H.

181     Neilson, W.J.             190     de Mowbray, L.S.J.  199     Gibson, K.J.

182     Lees, J.                      191     Smith, G.                    200     Porter, A.J.

183     Saunders, E.J.          192     Glover, S.L.

C COMPANY.

No.                                          No.                                          No.

1          Read, A.W.                27        Connell, C.H.            53        Gorges, J.A.

2          Barton, E.C.              28        Hutchings, J.             54        Edmonds, W.

3          Arnell, O.R.                29        Plumer, J.E.B.           55        Chapman, R.B.

4          Smith, G.S.J.             30        Carrington, J.T.         56        Fawsett, T.K.

5          Houghton, F.J.          31        Plunkett, O.               57        Hudson, E.D.B.

6          Smith, J.A.M.             32        Upton. J.A.E.             58        Watts, T.H.

7          White, J.W.B.            33        Whitefield, E.D.        59        Pepper, C.

8          Shephard, C.W.        34        Williams, L.E.A.        60        Wylde, J.G.

9          Harrison, F.H.           35        Greene, C.C.G.         61        Cleghorn, C.R.

10        Davies, B.E.              36        Firth, R.C.D.              62        Dicks, E.L.

11        Edwards, R.H.          37        Bren, H.A.H.              63        Kentfield, E.L.

12        Norton, T.E.               38        Shepherd, D.S.         64        Allen, G.M.

13        Huth, A.                      39        Stolterfolt, G.H.         65        Naylor, H.C.

14        Keating, G.H.            40        Feyr, F.C.                  66        Bendle, S.B.

15        Goodall, E.D.E.         41        Comins, B.T.             67        Alken, F.A.H.

16        Lash, L.R.                  42        Sall, B.                       68        Croall, R.E.

17        Tullidge, R.M.            43        Ramsden, J.H.F.      69        Doulton, J.M.

18        Swoffield, J.              44        Batten, S.R.               70        Thorne, M.

19        Holmes, E.O.             45        Lidstone, T.C.           71        Clegthorn, J.

20        Dommett, J.A.           46        Taylor, H.L.                72        Fowke, L.A.

21        Smith, V.                    47        Ward, C.                    73        White, P.B.

22        Waldy, R.G.               48        Dickson, H.E.            74        Harwood, H.M.

23        Menneir, J.C.W.        49        Wassner, F.A.B.       75        Dalbiac, J.H.

24        Nicholson, R.W.B.    50        Wassner, W.A.          76        Douglas, S.

25        Howard, E.E.             51        Murdock, D.M.          77        Warry, H.E.

26        Newton, B.                 52        Stafford, A.D.            78        Bernard, E.

No.                                          No.                                          No.

79        Williams, H.G.           120     Lynwood, T.B.           161     Barton, W.B.

80        Longman, R.G.         121     Buggs, G.                   162     Young, H.

81        Mackenzie, H.C.       122     Scott, R.                     163     Macrae, G.A.

82        Dudding, R.N.           123     Franklin, W.V.           164     Seward, S.R.

83        Ryder, D.G.               124     Williams, T.W.           165     Todd, H.C.

84        Freeland, R.A.B.       125     O’Neill, R.                  166     Wills, A.L.

85        Brock, C.W.               126     Smyth, A.H.               167     Platt, J.C.

86        Box, W.R.                  127     Dickson, J.H.R.         168     Gray, E.C.

87        S*** R.C.                    128     Watts, R.L.                169     Lins, F.G.V.

88        **** H.T.                      129     Leech, W.P.              170     Ferraby, E.L.

89        Kemble, *. .                130     Thomas, L.G.W.       171     Taylor, C.Q.

90        Mount, *.*.                  131     Davies, D.P.              172     Strang, I.

91        Baldwin, *.S.             132     Haldwell, F.H.G.       173     Richards, F.

92        Edmondson, J.K.      133     Peters, A.J.                174     Richardson, J.B.

93        Oppenshaw, C.E.     134     Goodwin, H.S.          175     Turner, S.W.H.

94        Thatcher, G.R.          135     Allen, E.V.                 176     Swann, E.C.

95        Detnold, F.*.              136     Crook, E.A.                177     Cope, G.S.

96        Holderness, G.N.      137     Tyke, R.E.                 178     Cumberland, C.E.

97        Hughes, T.*.              138     Aitken, A.D.   .           179     Bright, H.M.

98        Aitken, K.*.                 139     Foley, R.E.                180     Harris, R.H.

99        Morris, F.*.                 140     Fawens, W.               181     Harris, J.R.

100     Handford, *.S.           141     Hoggett, J.R.             182     Berndt, R.M.

101     Nightingale, V.R.      142     Popham, W.V.M.      183     Holman, B.K.

102     Cohen, E.                  143     Fitzgerald, A.             184     Thickett, H.

103     Tolson, R.H.              144     Cole, N.F.                  185     Marshall, K.

104     Coutts, K.V.               145     Bavin, C.                    186     Stone, C.R.

105     Holden, M.                 146     Edwards, T.J.            187     Downe, C.N.

106     Prendergast, L.C.     147     Kirkpatrick                 188     Christian, W.D.D.

107     Bazell, J.B.                148     im Theron, C.D.        189     Berry, S.B.

108     Clapham, B.A.          149     im Theron R.F.         190     Hedley, G.M.

109     Soar, C.W.                 150     Tidmarsh, D.             191     Frogley, S.G.

110     Poole, H.W.L.            151     Reeves-Smith, D.     192     Brittain, R.H.

111     Hart, R.M.                  152     Robinson, G.P.         193     Dyer, R.G.

112     Harwood, G.W.         153     Cole, D.F.                  194     Robertson, R.F.

113     Nash, C.E.                 154     Berryman, F.             195     Gibbons, G.S.

114     Smart, T.C.                155     Worthington, P.        196     Chapman, T.

115     Denson, H.C.            156     Birch, P.D.                 197     Wingrove, C.L.

116     Sillars, R.G.               157     Lanes, W.G.C.          198     Carrington, R.C.

117     Sturt, E.G.M.             158     Gibbin, A.L.               199     Finnis, A.H.

118     Boyle, C.H.                159     Boutflower, H.N.       200     Francis, A.N.

119     Tirzard, C.                 160     Snow, R.

D COMPANY.

No.                                          No.                                          No.

1          Williams,                    12        Foster, H.                   22        Tennant, C.G.

2          Steward, M.A.           13        Binns, J.B.                 23        Chapman, D.G.

3          Sheffield, G.S.          14        Nobbs, L.C.               24        Thomson, S.J.K.

4          Allpass, E.T.              15        Franks, B.A.              25        Hooper, W.A.

5          Nichols, E.A.M.         16        Goodall, F.B.             26        Cang, A.W.

6          Presmall, M.A.          17        Britts, C.W.G.            27        Dart, H.

7          De Foissons, P.        18        Staryan, T.G.             28        Hope, R.H.W.

8          Berryman, J.H.J.P.   19        Le Pass, W.               29        Stokes, A.E.S.

9          Brett, H.C.                 20        Williams, N.D.           30        Goolden, D.C.

10        Vernon, S.M.             21        Tuck, D.R.                 31        Case*** *

11        Harris, H.                                                                  

W.R. CAREY, Capt.,

Adjt. P.S. Bn., D.C.O. Middlesex Regt.

(AUTHORISED)

MIDDLESEX REGIMENT.

The following Kit will be supplied by Government:-

            Article                             Number                 Article                         Number

GREATCOAT                                        1                     SHAVING BRUSH                    1

BOOTS AND LACES                            1 pair             TOOTH BRUSH                       1

CAP                                                     1                     COMB                                      1

DRAWERS, WOOLEN                         2 pairs           KNIFE                                      1

JACKETS                                             2                     FORK                                       1

TROUSERS                                          2 pairs           SPOON                                    1

PUTTIES                                              1 pair             HOUSEWIFE                            1

CARDIGAN WAISTCOAT OR JERSEY 1                     RAZOR                                    1

KIT BAG                                              1                     SHIRTS, FLANNEL                  2

BRACES                                              1 pair             SOCKS                                    3 pairs

HAIR BRUSH                                       1                     TOWELS                                  2

The Government regulations are for two pairs of boots to be supplied to each man.  It is thought however that most men would prefer to obtain for themselves one pair, which they are at liberty to do, and for which an allowance of 12s. 3d. will be made.  It is necessary however that these should be of regulation pattern, viz: – Black, Derby fronts. No toe caps.

As some of the kit cannot be obtained for several days, men will, when warned, turn up in their oldest clothes and bring with them such necessaries as they may require for a few days, e.g., Brush and Comb, Shaving and Tooth Brushes, Razor and Socks.

Notice of Mobilization will be given.

24, ST JAMES’ STREET

LONDON, S.W.

(AUTHORISED)

MIDDLESEX REGIMENT.

The following Kit will be supplied by Government:-

            Article                             Number                 Article                         Number

GREATCOAT                                        1                     SHAVING BRUSH                    1

BOOTS AND LACES                            1 pair             TOOTH BRUSH                       1

CAP                                                     1                     COMB                                      1

DRAWERS, WOOLEN                         2 pairs           KNIFE                                      1

JACKETS                                             2                     FORK                                       1

TROUSERS                                          2 pairs           SPOON                                    1

PUTTIES                                              1 pair             HOUSEWIFE                            1

CARDIGAN WAISTCOAT OR JERSEY 1                     RAZOR                                    1

KIT BAG                                              1                     SHIRTS, FLANNEL                  2

BRACES                                              1 pair             SOCKS                                    3 pairs

HAIR BRUSH                                       1                     TOWELS                                  2

The Government regulations are for two pairs of boots to be supplied to each man.  It is thought however that most men would prefer to obtain for themselves one pair, which they are at liberty to do, and for which an allowance of 12s. 3d. will be made.  It is necessary however that these should be of regulation pattern, viz: – Black, Derby fronts. No toe caps.

As some of the kit cannot be obtained for several days, men will, when warned, turn up in their oldest clothes and bring with them such necessaries as they may require for a few days, e.g., Brush and Comb, Shaving and Tooth Brushes, Razor and Socks.

Notice of Mobilization will be given.

24, ST JAMES’ STREET

LONDON, S.W.

14 Sept Thurs.

Up in good time and on from 8.30 – 1 pm – no startling news today – 1 mile from AACHEN.  BBC postscript about le Havre.  Finished Rogue Hermes after dinner.  Flap about our move? Tomorrow to Antwerp – BGS brought back news that move not before 4-5 days time.  Good ‘swan’ to bty posn with T, K and CW at BRIERE – got some useful stuff incl super wooden box etc, etc.  Wrote A before & after dinner.  Good dinner incl pork, fried spuds, stuffing etc.  V good & buckshee captured wine (red)

To B       ]                                                       From – A

     Mrs C] LCS                                                          G

      A                                                                           AJA

13 Sept Wed

Egg in the Mess for breakfast – very ***e.  During morning wrote to A and L – drew my NAAFI rations and went for short walk before an early lunch at 12.30.  Then on duty at 1 pm – 6 pm.  Odd flap for maps for Rozzer – off duty at 6.30.  Then out on egg recce – got glass of fire water – 2 pears, 3 oeufs.  After dinner finished off letter to A.  Bed very early.

To A                                                    From –A

      L                                                               L

B Baccy (DF)

Postmark London 12 SP 14 C.T.O.

To Commins Pembroke Hse Bromley Kent.

Parade Waterloo Station eleven o clock Tuesday morning bring enough kit for ten days and one blanket.

Officer Commanding Public School Battalion.

12 Sept

Quiet night but hectic hour or so until 8.30 – Tim did absolutely sweet FA to help.  Bed from 9.30 til 12.30 then wash and shave.  After lunch went on a swan with Lyall and Stephen.  Got to Le Havre, or nearly, fausands of mines etc.  saw also fausands of PW on the roads and in the Corps cage – total about 8,000.  Le Havre virtually captured – excellent show.  Duty from 6-11 pm.  Only main item of news from outside world being US forces into Germany at TRIER.  One egg on way back.  exchanged goggles for compass – good swap.

To – Nil                                              From – Nil

10 Sept (Sun)

Read most of morning.  Wrote to Mrs Wilson, then after early lunch went on duty at 1 ocl.  Rained a bit during am but otherwise bright & sunny.  Attack on LE HAVRE started at 1745 hrs – Lancs & Halifaxes did their stuff first.  Attacks going well & all first strong points captured.  Very early to bed (9.30) and after reading for a bit soon asleep.

To Mrs Wilson                                  From – baccy from L

     A

L (*** L)

September 1944

(Britain)

On the 1^st September 1939 the “Black-out” restrictions were introduced. From sunset to sunrise all lights inside buildings were to be obscured and lights outside buildings to be extinguished. ARP wardens (Air Raid Precautions) were in attendance to ensure these restrictions were carried out. The “Black-out” restrictions were eased on the 6^th September 1944 when the “dim-out” was introduced. The “dim-out” was the equivalent lighting to that on a clear full moon night. In the event an air raid alert was sounded all lights had to be extinguished.

(Liberation of Europe)

With Paris liberated the Allies advanced toward the Franco-German border. On the 1^s September 1944 Canadian troops liberated the port of Dieppe in France. On the 3^rd September 1944 the British Second Army had reached and liberated Brussels in Belgium. In the meantime French and American troops advancing from the Mediterranean on the 3^rd September 1944 liberated Lyon in central France.

Two Allied armies met at Dijon, in the Bourgogne-Franche-Compté region of eastern France on the 10^th September 1944. With the success of Operation Dragon, the American and Free French troops at Provence in southern Vichy France, advanced northwards forcing the Germans to retreat. When the liberating forces from Operation Overlord, The D-Day Landings, met up with Operation Dragon, they effectively cut France in half. Approximately 19,000 German troops were captured. In the meantime approximately 60,000 Germans escaped eastwards to be integrated into the defence of Vosges Mountains, not far from the German border.

On the 4^th September 1944 Operation Outward, a British campaign attacking Germany and German occupied Europe with free flying balloons ended. Nearly 100.000 of these hydrogen filled, cheaply produced balloons were deployed since they were first introduced in March 1942. Approximately half were fitted with trailing steel cables to damage high voltage power lines. The remaining were fitted with incendiary devices to start fires in fields, forests and heathland.

In Belgium, British troops liberated Antwerp on the 5^th September 1944 together with Ghent and Liege on the 6^th September 1944. Canadian troops liberated the Belgian port of Ostend on the 8^th September 1944. By the 10^th September 1944 troops from the U.S. First Army liberated Luxemburg from German occupation, after its invasion of May 1940. Also on the 10^th September 1944 U.S. soldiers entered the city of Aachen in Germany. This city was part of the Siegfried Line which formed the main defensive network on Germany’s western border. By the 13^th September 1944 U.S. troops had reached the Siegfried Line

In London on the 10^th September 1944 the Dutch government in exile ordered Dutch railway workers to go on strike. Over 30,000 rail workers responded to the call in order to halt German troop transport movements.  By halting the troop movements the Allied forces would have free access for their airborne landings for Operation Market Garden. The rail workers remained on strike for nearly eight months until the end of the war.

Operation Market Garden was an ambitious British, American and Polish operation in German occupied Holland. The objective was to create a salient into German territory via bridges over the Lower Rhine River. The operation began on the 17^th September 1944 and ended on the 25^th September 1944. For further details see the separate essay on Operation Market Garden.

The port of Brest, on the west coast of north west France, fell to the U.S. and Free French troops on the 18^th September 1944. With the Allies occupying Brest the German U-boat facility had been eliminated. The city of Nancy in the Lorraine region of France was liberated on the 15^th September 1944 by the U.S. First Army. The Canadian Army had hoped to liberate the ports of Boulogne and Calais as they progressed east along the coast to the French/German border. The German fortification were sufficiently formidable at both ports to halt liberation. Concentrated assaults by Canadian forces resulted in the surrender at both ports. German defenders surrendered at Boulogne on the 22^nd September1944 and Calais on the 30^th September 1944.

(Germany)

The first successful operational use of the German V-2 rocket was launched against London on the 8^th September 1944. The V-2 was a liquid-fuelled ballistic missile and was silent after the initial launch until it reached its target and exploded. The speed of the V-2 was such that the 200 mile flight could be accomplished in about five minutes. The British public soon began to refer to the V-2s as the ”Flying Gas Pipe”, as British propaganda referred to the explosion as a burst gas pipe. A total of 1,115 V-2s were fired at Britain but mainly at London. Launched from the Hague in the Netherlands the first V-2 struck Chiswick, west London, causing 13 casualties on the 8^th September 1944.

(Eastern Front)

The Moscow Peace Treaty was signed by Finland and the Soviet Union in March 1940. This treaty ended the Winter War following the Soviet invasion in November 1939. Failing to obtain support from the Allies, the harsh terms imposed on the Finns by the Soviets, led them to seek support from Nazi Germany. In June 1941 the Finnish/German alliance declared war on the Soviet Union. In consequence the alliance invaded the Soviet Union in what became known as the Continuation War. The aim was to regain territory lost in the Winter War. The heavy losses sustained by both sides resulted in the Soviet Union and Finnish representatives signing the “Moscow Agreement” on the 19^th September 1944. This agreement and armistice had been signed by both sides to restore “The Moscow Peace Treaty” of 1940. However, Finland was forced to concede and surrender even more territory and became part of the communist system.

Since 1941 Bulgaria had been an ally of Nazi Germany. Soviet troops entered Bulgaria on the 8^th September 1944 after declaring war a few days before. On the 9^th September 1944, “The 1944 Bulgarian” coup d’état was the overthrow of the government of the Kingdom of Bulgaria. Led by Bulgarian communists, the coup d’état was augmented by the Fatherland Front political coalition, who immediately declared war on Nazi Germany.

The Baltic Offensive began on the 14^th September 1944. The offensive was a campaign between the Red and German Armies in the Baltic States. The offensive was a series of separate offensive operations. The Riga offensive began on the 14^th September 1944 to clear the eastern coast of the Gulf of Riga. The Tallinn offensive to drive the Germans out of Estonia was fought between the 17^th – 26^th September 1944. The Moonsund Landing Operation was an amphibious landing on the Estonian Islands and began on the 27^th September 1944. The Estonian Islands blocked access to the Gulf of Riga. The Red Army captured mainland Estonia on the 28^th September 1944.

(Pacific)

 In the Pacific the U.S. Marines were island hopping in the war against the Japanese. The Marines landed on the beaches of Peleliu, during the Palau campaign, on the 15^th September 1944. Stiff opposition from the outnumbered Japanese defenders extended the expected four days to secure the island to more than two months. The Japanese fought to the death in the Japanese Emperor’s name and it became known as the “Emperor’s Island” in Japan.

Unopposed, the U.S. 81^st Division landed on the Ulithi Atoll in the Caroline Islands on the 23^rd September 1944. The survey ship USS Summer found the atoll was well protected with plenty of water depth for fleet anchorage. Shortly after landing U.S. Navy Seabeesstated work on building the largest naval base during the war and capable of anchoring over 600 ships. The Seabees are the better known name for the U.S. Naval Construction Battalions.    

(Other Areas)

The British and American governments attended the Second Quebec Conference on the 12^th September 1944. In attendance were, Winston Churchill, Franklyn D. Roosevelt and the Combined Chiefs of Staff. The host was Canada’s Prime Minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King, who did not attend the key meetings. Agreements were reached on the Allied occupation zones in defeated Germany, the plan to demilitarise Germany, the continued U.S. Lend-Lease aid to Britain and the war against Japan to have Royal Naval assistance. The conference ended in Quebec on the 16^th September 1944 with provisional plans to drop an atomic bomb on Japan.

Brigadier-General Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (Teddy) was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on the 21^st September 1944. Teddy was the eldest son of ex-President Theodore Roosevelt. The award was for gallantry beyond the call of duty on D-Day the 6^th June 1944. Landing with the first wave to attack Utah Beach, he repeatedly led groups of his men from the beach, over the seawall and established them inland. He achieved this whilst facing heavy fire. Roosevelt Jr. had heart problems which he didn’t disclose to his doctors or his superiors. His major health concern was arthritis, after suffering injures in the Great War, and walked with a walking stick. Aged 56 Roosevelt Jr. died of heart attack on the 12^th July 1944 and is buried in the American Cemetery in Normandy. The Medal of Honor is the U.S. Armed Forces highest military decoration.

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