Forest of Dean FHT Forum - 100 years ago, Autumn 1916 - 13th Gloucestershire Regiment

100 years ago, Autumn 1916 - 13th Gloucestershire Regiment (reply)

Jefff — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 18:17:23 +0000

On the 90th anniversary of the Somme offensive, perhaps its time to reflect on the Forest Pioneer's who gave their lives in the mud and gore of battle, and of course those who returned.

http://www.malvernremembers.org.uk/Fea_13Glos.html

The 'Forest of Dean Pioneers', officially known as the 13th
(Service) Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment

They were raised by Sir Harry Webb in Cinderford Town Hall on Monday night,
14th December 1914, and consisted of coal miners and labourers. About 25% of
the battalion's strength came from the Forest itself, while the rest were
miners from South Wales and County Durham, along with labourers and artisans
from the rest of Gloucestershire, and a few from Birmingham.

They went to France in March 1916, and spent the war on the Western Front,
serving on the Somme in 1916 and the Passchendaele offensive in 1917. They
suffered heavy losses during the German offensives of March - April 1918.

Today is the 100th Anniversary of the start of the Third Battle of the Somme, which opened on the 15th of September 1916. I hope the forum will agree it's appropriate to rekindle this old thread, as I'm sure Slowhands would have done if he were still with us. Here's to the memory of the 13th Glosters, and all their comrades in arms across all services, who fought and died so we could all enjoy peace.
Thankyou.

"In Flanders"

I'm homesick for my hills again -
My hills again!
To see above the Severn plain,
Unscabbarded against the sky,
The blue high blade of Cotswold lie;
The giant clouds go royally
By jagged Malvern with a train
Of shadows. Where the land is low
Like a huge imprisoning O
I hear a heart that's sound and high,
I hear the heart within me cry:
"I'm homesick for my hills again -
My hills again!
Cotswold or Malvern, sun or rain!
My hills again!"

by F. W. "Will" Harvey (of Hartpury, Minsterworth and Yorkley)

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=7769
http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=23492

First world war records - medals (reply)

admin — Tue, 22 May 2007 16:08:59 +0000

You can search the National Archives
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/medals.asp

First world war records (reply)

Capener — Tue, 22 May 2007 07:56:10 +0000

Dear Slowhands

is there any way we can find out about the first world war records if we don't have any information, i.e. medals etc?

Regards Debbie

My relative came from Cinderford

Pte Charles Leonard ADAMS 1893 - 1916 (reply)

JSannwald — Mon, 21 May 2007 11:43:09 +0000

My grandfather was half brother to Charles and was named after his father - Albert.

Pte Charles Leonard ADAMS 1893 - 1916 (reply)

helena — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:18:49 +0000

I would like to echo my thanks to 'slowhands' for providing this information. Albert Adams was the brother of my Great Grandfather Woodman Adams. Woodman and his 'future wife' Emily Willes, were witnesses at the marriage of Albert and Eliza Adams, nee Pearce on 9 March 1889 at All Saints, Viney Hill. I found the information relating to Albert's sons Charles and James very moving and I will have great pride in sharing this information with my own father, thank you. I hope you don't mind me asking, but I would love to know your grandfathers name...it must have either been Frederick or Harry? Thank you.

Pte Charles Leonard ADAMS 1893 - 1916 (reply)

JSannwald — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 02:19:12 +0000

One again many thanks to Slowhands for this info.
Where can I find the source of this info?

Pte Charles Leonard ADAMS 1893 - 1916 (reply)

JSannwald — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 08:47:42 +0000

Thankyou very much for this information. I had found the ref to their deaths and ref to the grave & memorial on the Commonwealth graves site having been lucky enough to have their service numbers but it good to have such a personal refrence .

Pte Charles Leonard ADAMS 1893 - 1916 R I P (reply)

slowhands — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 05:39:07 +0000

PTE CHARLE L ADAMS RUSPIDGE

Charles Leonard Adams, second son of Mr
Albert Adams, of Lower Ruspidge, Cinderford
is among those who have made the great sacri-
fice for home and country. He was 22 years of
age, and joined the forces in June 1915, and
belonged to the Gloucester Regt. When he left
home for this purpose he was a fireman at
Lightmoor Colliery, where he had spent all
his working life, He had attended St. Johns
Sunday School as a boy and belonged to the
choir at that time. He was a happy com-
panionable fellow and was much beloved. The
friends have received official notice of his
death but in addition Sergt. J. Major has also
written as follows :- " I am sorry to tell
you your son was killed on the night of the
26th August. The whole of the
section and myself send our deepest sympathy
for you all. I am quite pleased to say he died
doing his best for his country, and that he
was not in agony, as his death was instan-
taneous and that he has has a proper burial
and a cross. I am sorry to say being such a
lively and good natured fellow, he is very much
missed in this section ". In addition to this
sorrow, Mr Adams also received an intimation
at the time that his eldest son James was
wounded and missing at the Dardanelles in
August 1915 and no further tidings have been
received of him. To Mr and Mrs Adams - the
step mother of the two lads - the deepest sym-
pathy will be expressed "

Name: James Adams
Year of Registration: 1891
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
DISTRICT: Westbury On Severn
County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 258

Name: Charles Leonard Adams
Year of Registration: 1893
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
DISTRICT: Westbury On Severn
County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 241

1901
Albert Adams abt 1865 Cornwall, England Head East Dean Gloucestershire
Mary Adams abt 1864 Berkshire, England Wife East Dean Gloucestershire
Alice Adams abt 1890 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean Gloucestershire
Charles Adams abt 1893 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
Fred Adams abt 1897 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
Harry Adams abt 1896 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
James Adams abt 1892 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
Baby Adams abt 1898 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire

Albert Adams is here :-
http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?mode=thread&id=4846#p4850

1891 Blakeney Hill
Albert Adams abt 1865 Chaddleworth, Banks [BERKS]Head East Dean Gloucestershire
Eliza Adams abt 1867 Furnace Bettam, Gloucester Wife East Dean Gloucestershire
Alice Adams abt 1890 Fletching, Greenland[PITCHING GREEN] Daughter East Dean Gloucestershire

Name: Eliza Pearce
Name: Albert Adams
Year of Registration: 1889
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
DISTRICT: Westbury On Severn
County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 306

Autumn 1916 - Gloucestershire Regiment (reply)

JSannwald — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 01:59:54 +0000

Remembering those who lost their lives in the Somme ; I have some details of my grandfather's brother( half- brother)who lost his life on 0n the 20th August fighting with the Glos' Ist Btn

Name: ADAMS
Initials: C L
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Gloucestershire Regiment
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Date of Death: 20/08/1916
Service No: 23137
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: XI. A. 7.
Cemetery: CATERPILLAR VALLEY CEMETERY, LONGUEVAL

Also his brother James died in 1915 in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey
Name: ADAMS, JAMES
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Worcestershire Regiment
Unit Text: 9th Bn.
Date of Death: 10/08/1915
Service No: 18693
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 104 to 113.
Memorial: HELLES MEMORIAL

Have no other details other than census returns for 1901 gives their ages as James 9 & Charles 8 living in Viney Woodside, father an engine driver at the colliery. At the time of the first world war may have been living in Soudley area , miners.

Were the Glos and Worcs regiments closely linked?

I do not know when they joined up but as men were lost I presume battalions were reformed.

30th Gloucestershire Railway Labour Battalion (reply)

Shirleyanne — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 03:10:01 +0000

My grandfather, Joseph John Allaway, was born in Morse, East Dean, and worked as a miner in the forest before moving to Birmingham. He became a postman but volunteered during WW1 (at the age of 47) and was a pioneer in the Royal Engineers. His regiment no was WR255683 and the WR stood for Waterways and Railways. I posted a question on the Great War Forum and received the following information:
He was almost certainly a member of the 30th Railway Labour Battalion, Royal Engineers. The 30th (or Gloucestershire) Railway Labour Battalion was formed for service in France to assist the Royal Engineers Railway Troops. The recruitment for this Battalion was targeted specifically at men aged 41 to 47 who were over the then maximum military age of 41 but who could still perform the required labouring work. Men were required who were accustomed to working on railway construction and on other constructional and building works. In fact, any man with a labouring background was, I believe, acceptable.
The county of Gloucestershire was originally targeted having already raised the 113th Railway Company, Royal Engineers and it would appear the net was widened to include the surrounding counties in the quest to raise the necessary 1000 men. Recruitment for the Battalion by Captain Peake, Royal Engineers, commenced on April 3rd 1916 (and my grandfather enlisted on 15/16th May 1916). The Battalion was then trained and equipped at Longmoor, Hampshire before proceeding overseas. They were there by 20th July 1916 when they suffered their first casualties.
I haven't been able to find out about their service in France as no War Diary exists for them - does anyone have any more information?

CHJ Meek volunteered into the 27th NF (4th Tyneside Irish) (reply)

admin — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 22:30:54 +0000

The historian has confirmed the following. CHJ Meek volunteered into the 27th NF (4th Tyneside Irish) and was sent to France in1915 . As with many he was wounded on the first day of the Battle of the Somme and was hospitalised.

After convalescing he was assigned to the 25th NF (2nd Tyneside Irish) where he served until wounded again in 1917. Due to the heavy losses of the TI Btn many soldiers were reassigned to other duties and CHJ Meek was again transferred into the 1/4th NF assigned to the 149th Light Trench Mortar Battery where he served until his death in April 1918.

He survived his brother Francis Reginald Meek of the 171st Tunnelling Company by one year who was killed in action in 1917. FR Meek originally volunteered to the 1st Monmouthshire Regiment however was drafted into the Royal Engineers due to his skills gained as a miner in the Forest Of Dean, as were several generations before them.

There are a number of books available on the miners drafted in to Tunnelling Companies from the Forest of Dean due to their specialist skills if interested people can check out the The Long, Long Trail Website.

http://www.forest-of-dean.net/downloads/files/C_H_J_Meek.pdf

Charles Henry James MEEK 1882 - 1918 Ruardean R I P (reply)

slowhands — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 02:29:20 +0000

When you go home
tell them of us and say:
"For your tomorrow,
we gave our today"

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?mode=thread&id=982#p1176

http://www.cwgc.org/search/certificate.aspx?casualty=870359

Name: MEEK, CHARLES HENRY JAMES
Initials: C H J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Northumberland Fusiliers
Unit Text: 1st/4th Bn.
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 149th Trench Mortar Bty.
Age: 36
Date of Death: 12/04/1918
Service No: 204612
Additional information: Son of Beriah and Jane Meek, of 9, Bloomfield Terrace, Blackwood, Mon.;
husband of Lily Meek, of 5, Chapel Row, Teams, Gateshead-on-Tyne.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 2.
Memorial: PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL

Autumn 1916 - 13th Gloucestershire Regiment (reply)

nigel marshall — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 11:37:42 +0000

My g grandfather Charles Henry James Meek was born in Ruardean , moved to Blackwood in South Wales as a child and later enlisted in the 4th Tyneside Irish after moving to Co.Durham . Sadly he lost his life in the later stages of this campaign and as with many others has no recognised grave .I hope we will never have to experience such a waste of life again. May God rest all their souls.

Autumn 1916 - 13th Gloucestershire Regiment

slowhands — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 11:48:39 +0000

On the 90th anniversary of the Somme offensive, perhaps its time to reflect on the Forest Pioneer's who gave their lives in the mud and gore of battle, and of course those who returned.

http://www.malvernremembers.org.uk/Fea_13Glos.html

The 'Forest of Dean Pioneers', officially known as the 13th
(Service) Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment

They were raised by Sir Harry Webb in Cinderford Town Hall on Monday night,
14th December 1914, and consisted of coal miners and labourers. About 25% of
the battalion's strength came from the Forest itself, while the rest were
miners from South Wales and County Durham, along with labourers and artisans
from the rest of Gloucestershire, and a few from Birmingham.

They went to France in March 1916, and spent the war on the Western Front,
serving on the Somme in 1916 and the Passchendaele offensive in 1917. They
suffered heavy losses during the German offensives of March - April 1918.

Further reading in the New Regard
http://homepages.which.net/~keith.walker3/LHSnr20sample.htm