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2nd Battallion Royal Warwickshire

davidfowler

davidfowler

Exiled Brummie
Can anyone recommend a book which will have good info on the 2nd battallion please? I've got to the stage now where I can spend more time on my maternal Grandfather, Pte George Southwell, 2041. I've got some information from Terry confirming when he landed in France and also that he was reported injured (I've got a copy of this report in the Birmingham Daily Post 23.8.1915).
Now I need to go to Kew I guess. I'm also considering going to Warwick to the Museum to see if they can advise.
Cheers all.
David
 
David

No need to go to Kew. I have some of the original written War Diary of the 2nd Royal Warwicks that I have downloaded from the National Archives, Kew. I can email them to you. Also, I doubt if the Museum will be able to help you with much information either. There is a History of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment by Kingsford which covers all the Warwickshire battalions that served in WW1. I think the central Library has a copy.

Please forward your email onto me via a PM

Regards

Terry
 
My great uncle, Howard Arthur Fielding, died with the 2nd Btn, Royal Warwicks, during severe fighting Croisilles on 1 April 1917. Sadly, I have not been able to locate a photo of him. However, I recently met with distant relatives who had a letter written by Howard to his Uncle Joe. The letter was posted from Albany Barracks, Parkhurst, Isle of Wight and is dated 1915. Howard was born in 1898, so he was clearly under 18 when he enlisted in May 1915. This is what he wrote:
Dear Uncle
"I am writing to let you know that I havant forgot you nor Aunt. Well I hope you are in the best of health as it leaves me for I never felt so grand in all my life as I am now on this insland. Well as to a soldiers life its all right and as easy a life your couldant wish for only doing a mear 5 hours a day and allways done at 4 o clock. Well there is plenty of Bham lads up here so I Carn wish for much more. I dare say that you have got plenty of work as regards to government work and any one who is on that work is doing there bit . Well this is all for now except remember me to all at home.
Howard”
It's a wonderful letter and it was truly a marvellous moment when I realised that in amongst all the papers held by my distant relatives, there was this letter from Howard. The letter is written on YMCA notepaper. Was this usual? Can anyone tell me anything more about the camp on the Isle of Wight that seems to have been a training camp for the 'Birmingham lads'. If any of you are visiting the cemetery at Croisilles I would much appreciate a photo of his grave.
Nick Fielding
 
hello Nick

First of all The Isle of Wight camp was for all Royal Warwicks. I would imagine it was the base for the Reserve battalions. Soldiers who had done basic training and waiting to be sent out to replace casualties and also men who had been wounded and on their way to recovery... to be sent to the front again. All Military camps had YMCA huts and writing materials were provided free of charge.

Some time this year I will be making at least two trips to the Somme battlefields. On one trip I intend to stop off at Arras to visit newly open underground tunnels dug by troops in WW1. It is now a museum.
Croiselles is not far from Arras and I would be a great pleasure for me to visit the cemetery and take a photograph of H A Fielding's grave. However I cannot give you a date yet when I plan to go to France.

"Volunteering in May 1915, he served at various stations on important duties with his unit. he was drafted to France in December 1916, and during the severe fighting at Croiselles was killed in action on 1 April, 1917. he was buried at Just. He was entitled to the General Service and Victory medals."

National Roll of the Great War (Birmingham)

Regards

Terry

P.s do not under stand ' buried at Just'
 
Many thanks Terry for the extra details about the Isle of Wight and for the information on the National Roll of Honour. I don't understand the point about 'buried at Just' either. According to the CWGC he is buried at Croisilles. I also very much appreciate your offer to visit the cemetery.
Nick Fielding
 
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