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The Birmingham Pals in the Great War
- Thread starter Steve R
- Start date
terry carter
Birmingham Pals
Hi Steve
During 1915 Charlie Chaplin films were so popular that various Birmingham cinemas held competitions for the best Charlie Chaplin impersonator. No Doubt the Pals in your picture were doing the same.
Terry
(now I know who outbid me for this postcard on ebay!!!)
terry carter
Birmingham Pals
Here is a picture of the drums and bugles platoon of the 3rd Birmingham Battalion. On active service these would become stretcher bearers. The soldier marked with an "X" is Hilary Arthur Reuel Tolkien the brother of J.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings etc)
As you can see the men are now wearing khaki, thus I would imagine the picture was taken during the latter part of 1915 not long before they went to France.
Regards
Terry
As you can see the men are now wearing khaki, thus I would imagine the picture was taken during the latter part of 1915 not long before they went to France.
Regards
Terry
Attachments
maypolebaz
master brummie
The centre photo seems to have been signed with the dedication, "From one Buck to another".
Is it likely "Bucks" would've been some sort of nickname the Warwicks gave themselves, derived from the antelope in their cap badge ? Certainly the Leicestershire regiment called themselves "Tigers".
terry carter
Birmingham Pals
I have a few pictures, the small type, of the 16th Royal Warwickshire on active service that belonged to an officer of the battalion.
Terry
Post removed.
Viv.
Viv.
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Apologies Steve, I've just compared the photos I posted in #57 with your earlier images in # 41 and realised they're the same men. Your first photo in #41 is Horace Timmins. Some info about him:
Corporal Horace Timmins Service # 851, 15th Battalion
Son of Mrs E Timmins, 38 High Street, Amblecote, Stourbridge
b. 1894, Handsworth
d. 29/08/16 killed in action, Somme, named on Thiepval Memorial
Viv.
Corporal Horace Timmins Service # 851, 15th Battalion
Son of Mrs E Timmins, 38 High Street, Amblecote, Stourbridge
b. 1894, Handsworth
d. 29/08/16 killed in action, Somme, named on Thiepval Memorial
Viv.
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Some more information about Captain Roland Ivor Gough named in post # 51:
15th Battallion
b. 1896, in Birmingham. In 1901 living at. 163 Broad St, Birmingham
d. 14/10/16, memorial at St. Sever, Rouen. Supplement to the London Gazette describes circumstances of his death
Awarded the DSO
From the Supplement to the London Gazette 22/09/17
And info about the action in which he was wounded. He died in #2 Red Criss Hospital, Rouen.
ATTACK ON "WOOD LANE" 23 JULY 1916 20th July 1916 - 23rd July 1916
Lt-Col Colin Harding, the CO of the 15th (Service)Battalion, (2nd Birmingham) The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, recalled the following in his memoirs.
"Later, when proceeding to the scene of the action, I met amongst the wounded a stretcher bearing my dear old friend, Gough, (Captain Roland Ivor Gough, CO D Company; aged only twenty) still smoking his inevitable cigarette, bespatterd with mud, pale as death but cheerful. He had been shot through the thigh and had a compound fracture. As we shake hands, Gough gives me a few heart rending details of the loss of life and the attack, needlessly apologises for its failure and passed on. We never met again."
On 25th July 1916 Roland's father received a telegram from the War Office granting permission for him to visit his 'dangerously ill' son in the Red Cross Hospital in Rouen. For conspicuous gallantry in this action Roland Gough was awarded the DSO but died of his wounds shortly after the award was promulgated in the London Gazette. On 18 March 1917 Roland's father wrote to the War Office requesting that the medal be sent to him.
Viv.
15th Battallion
b. 1896, in Birmingham. In 1901 living at. 163 Broad St, Birmingham
d. 14/10/16, memorial at St. Sever, Rouen. Supplement to the London Gazette describes circumstances of his death
Awarded the DSO
From the Supplement to the London Gazette 22/09/17
And info about the action in which he was wounded. He died in #2 Red Criss Hospital, Rouen.
ATTACK ON "WOOD LANE" 23 JULY 1916 20th July 1916 - 23rd July 1916
Lt-Col Colin Harding, the CO of the 15th (Service)Battalion, (2nd Birmingham) The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, recalled the following in his memoirs.
"Later, when proceeding to the scene of the action, I met amongst the wounded a stretcher bearing my dear old friend, Gough, (Captain Roland Ivor Gough, CO D Company; aged only twenty) still smoking his inevitable cigarette, bespatterd with mud, pale as death but cheerful. He had been shot through the thigh and had a compound fracture. As we shake hands, Gough gives me a few heart rending details of the loss of life and the attack, needlessly apologises for its failure and passed on. We never met again."
On 25th July 1916 Roland's father received a telegram from the War Office granting permission for him to visit his 'dangerously ill' son in the Red Cross Hospital in Rouen. For conspicuous gallantry in this action Roland Gough was awarded the DSO but died of his wounds shortly after the award was promulgated in the London Gazette. On 18 March 1917 Roland's father wrote to the War Office requesting that the medal be sent to him.
Viv.
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terry carter
Birmingham Pals
Ghosts
One evening, ere the final fall of dark,
I walk'd awhile alone in Sutton Park
And view'd, with pleasure subtly mixed with pain,
The old familiar land-marks once again.
There, there before my memory-clouded eyes,
I saw the shades of yesterday arise.
Beneath the pallid summer-evening moon
A phantom sergeant drill'd his ghost platoon;
I heard the muffled tread of marching feet,
I saw them halt, mark-time, advance, retreat,
Form fours, left wheel, and change direction right
Pass thro' the trees and vanish from my sight.
Then, near the spot where once our guard-room stood,
I paused awhile in contemplative mood,
And there, with rhythm-measured beat and slow,
A ghostly sentinel march'd to and fro;
A spectral bugler blew a faint tattoo,
And then the vision vanish'd, and I knew
That Sutton Park, to those who hold it dear,
Is peopled by the ghosts of yester-year;
That, now the mortal soldier-men are gone,
The wraiths of the battalions "carry on".
They fight their mimic warfare o'er again
And haunt, as ghosts, the scenes they knew as men.
Private Richard Louis Bertram Moore No.1010, 2nd Birmingham Battalion (15th Royal Warwickshire)One evening, ere the final fall of dark,
I walk'd awhile alone in Sutton Park
And view'd, with pleasure subtly mixed with pain,
The old familiar land-marks once again.
There, there before my memory-clouded eyes,
I saw the shades of yesterday arise.
Beneath the pallid summer-evening moon
A phantom sergeant drill'd his ghost platoon;
I heard the muffled tread of marching feet,
I saw them halt, mark-time, advance, retreat,
Form fours, left wheel, and change direction right
Pass thro' the trees and vanish from my sight.
Then, near the spot where once our guard-room stood,
I paused awhile in contemplative mood,
And there, with rhythm-measured beat and slow,
A ghostly sentinel march'd to and fro;
A spectral bugler blew a faint tattoo,
And then the vision vanish'd, and I knew
That Sutton Park, to those who hold it dear,
Is peopled by the ghosts of yester-year;
That, now the mortal soldier-men are gone,
The wraiths of the battalions "carry on".
They fight their mimic warfare o'er again
And haunt, as ghosts, the scenes they knew as men.
taken from his book of verse "The Warblings of a Windy Warrior" published in 1923
Known throughout the battalion as "Ricardo"
Attachments
terry carter
Birmingham Pals
terry carter
Birmingham Pals
A little more info about the men in post 51:
Broughton is Second Lieutenant Pierce Broughton
15th Battallion
Captain Archibald Henry Tatlow
Son of Henrietta Tatlow, of 25, Molineux St, Derby and Albert H. Tatlow.
15th Battalion, Service #15/844
b. 1885, Burton, Staffordshire
d. 04/06/16 - killed in action, buried at Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery, Arras
Viv.
Broughton is Second Lieutenant Pierce Broughton
15th Battallion
Captain Archibald Henry Tatlow
Son of Henrietta Tatlow, of 25, Molineux St, Derby and Albert H. Tatlow.
15th Battalion, Service #15/844
b. 1885, Burton, Staffordshire
d. 04/06/16 - killed in action, buried at Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery, Arras
Viv.
Steve R
master brummie
Two picture of Christmas cards sent in 1916 and 1917.
Two Christmas cards sent back from the front lines. The first from 1916 lists the main battles the 1st B'ham Pals were involved in. In particular the battle in and around High wood on the 23rd July was the most costly for the 1st Pals followed by Falemont Farm in the September.
The post card from 1917 has greeting from France in it but this has been crossed out and Italy has been written it. In October a joint Austro-German offensive pushed the Italian back 80 miles and the Allies sent 12 Division (five British and seven French) from the Western Front to assist the demoralised Italian army. The Pals were amongst these soldiers being part of the 5th Division and were to remain in Italy until March 1918 when a Major German offensive started on the Western front and they were rushed back to stop the German advance. The Journey to Italy by slow moving trains was described as been a welcome change from the trenches of the Western front and having arrived in Italy the fighting had died down and little fighting done. The card has been sent by Private W T J Eadey. Ancestry shows Pte 18785 William T J Eadey as the only match and he survived the war
Steve R
Two Christmas cards sent back from the front lines. The first from 1916 lists the main battles the 1st B'ham Pals were involved in. In particular the battle in and around High wood on the 23rd July was the most costly for the 1st Pals followed by Falemont Farm in the September.
The post card from 1917 has greeting from France in it but this has been crossed out and Italy has been written it. In October a joint Austro-German offensive pushed the Italian back 80 miles and the Allies sent 12 Division (five British and seven French) from the Western Front to assist the demoralised Italian army. The Pals were amongst these soldiers being part of the 5th Division and were to remain in Italy until March 1918 when a Major German offensive started on the Western front and they were rushed back to stop the German advance. The Journey to Italy by slow moving trains was described as been a welcome change from the trenches of the Western front and having arrived in Italy the fighting had died down and little fighting done. The card has been sent by Private W T J Eadey. Ancestry shows Pte 18785 William T J Eadey as the only match and he survived the war
Steve R
The rifles in the photo are Lee Methods patt1888 with mag cut off and maybe sights for supressive fire you see p14s/p17s on dads army made by Eddeystone/Remminton/Winchester and Briish companis its a great photo
maypolebaz
master brummie
There's a pair of boots on the right edge of this great photo, with a huge hole in the sole. I can't believe an Infantry unit would allow a man's footwear to become so worn.
terry carter
Birmingham Pals
terry carter
Birmingham Pals
Steve R
master brummie
More pictures of the Pals to follow but I thought I would show a few Pals related items.
The first items demonstrate the skill of Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter. When the uniforms were issued there was no need to wear the lapel 'Mufti' badge an example of which I posted earlier in this thread. This one has been fixed to what appears to be a silver snuff box
The second and third picture are the same item. The lapel badge has been turned into a pendant for a loved one to wear to remind them of their soldier husbands and boyfriends. This pendant opens up to show the picture of an unknown soldier and a female.
Steve R
The first items demonstrate the skill of Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter. When the uniforms were issued there was no need to wear the lapel 'Mufti' badge an example of which I posted earlier in this thread. This one has been fixed to what appears to be a silver snuff box
The second and third picture are the same item. The lapel badge has been turned into a pendant for a loved one to wear to remind them of their soldier husbands and boyfriends. This pendant opens up to show the picture of an unknown soldier and a female.
Steve R
Steve R
master brummie
Her are some examples of what was done with the Pals buttons unique to their blue uniforms. Once these were exchanged for khaki.
Two pendants made from Pals buttons. The first does have a very faint photograph of a Pals soldier wearing the distinctive Pals cap badge. The second has a nice colour picture of a Pals soldier, again wearing the distinctive Pals cap badge.
Two pendants made from Pals buttons. The first does have a very faint photograph of a Pals soldier wearing the distinctive Pals cap badge. The second has a nice colour picture of a Pals soldier, again wearing the distinctive Pals cap badge.
Steve R
master brummie
Here are two items that came with a group of medals belonging to Private 1157 B W J Alexander.
The Lapel badge has a gold bead around the edge now and a pin affixed to the back. The Cap badge has had its two scroll filled in with Enamel. The slider that once run down the back to fix it to a cap has been removed and a pin runs across the back of the scrolls making both of these item broaches.
Steve R
The Lapel badge has a gold bead around the edge now and a pin affixed to the back. The Cap badge has had its two scroll filled in with Enamel. The slider that once run down the back to fix it to a cap has been removed and a pin runs across the back of the scrolls making both of these item broaches.
Steve R
Steve R
master brummie
Interesting post card this one.
Both men in the picture are Birmingham Pals but I am not sure of their identity. Looking at the rear of the picture it has been sent to A Cresswell at the Parade Ground Powells Pool. My records show a private 833 Creswell of the XVI Platoon in D Company 2nd Birmingham Pals. These soldiers trained in Sutton Park. The card was only posted from Wylde Green looking at the stamp but also has Malvern Stamped on it so I presume the card has been redirected having reached the crossed out Mrs Cooper from Malvern who was probably his landlady and redirected by her to the soldier now living in huts within the Park?
Steve R
Both men in the picture are Birmingham Pals but I am not sure of their identity. Looking at the rear of the picture it has been sent to A Cresswell at the Parade Ground Powells Pool. My records show a private 833 Creswell of the XVI Platoon in D Company 2nd Birmingham Pals. These soldiers trained in Sutton Park. The card was only posted from Wylde Green looking at the stamp but also has Malvern Stamped on it so I presume the card has been redirected having reached the crossed out Mrs Cooper from Malvern who was probably his landlady and redirected by her to the soldier now living in huts within the Park?
Steve R
Steve R
master brummie
Another unusual post card
The chap centre back has not taken this pic very seriously at all. He is wearing his cap back to front and has his tongue out. The rear of the card has Charlie Lodge The Royal Warwickshire Regiment 15th Service Battalion ( 2nd Birmingham Pals)
Perhaps the chap fooling around is Charlie? In any case from my research 'Charlie' is Pte 219 Charles Lodge Platoon No III A Company the 2nd Birmingham Pals.
Steve R
The chap centre back has not taken this pic very seriously at all. He is wearing his cap back to front and has his tongue out. The rear of the card has Charlie Lodge The Royal Warwickshire Regiment 15th Service Battalion ( 2nd Birmingham Pals)
Perhaps the chap fooling around is Charlie? In any case from my research 'Charlie' is Pte 219 Charles Lodge Platoon No III A Company the 2nd Birmingham Pals.
Steve R
Steve R
master brummie
A group of four soldiers from the Warwickshire Regiment. The guy on the right is wearing the Pals Cap badge. This is certainly very late in the War, perhaps when the war had finished as the chap on the left has four overseas service stripes on his right arm and the definite Pals soldier on the left has two wound stripe on his left arm, two of the men have what appears to be Military Medal ribbon on their left chest area.
Chalked on the wooden door of what may be a French building is the 5th Division Emblem to whom the Pals belonged and this appears to be where the signal once were. At a guess I would say this was four Sergeants having a 'keep sake' picture before demobilisation but I will never know for sure.
Steve R
maypolebaz
master brummie
I agree Steve, and what an interesting picture this is. I'm tempted to think there's a rubbed-out "Orderly Room" on the right hand panel.
I can't remember ever seeing bayonets carried like that before either.
I can't remember ever seeing bayonets carried like that before either.
maypolebaz
master brummie
Is that "Lance Cpl", written on the address Steve ?
