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Royal Warwickshire 1/8 Battalion
- Thread starter rupedenby
- Start date
Alan Tucker
master brummie
Wiki entry - Amey not Amery
William Amey (VC, MM) (5 March 1881 - 28 May 1940) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was 37 years old, and a lance-corporal in the 1/8th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 4 November 1918 at Landrecies, France, when many hostile machine-gun nests were missed by the leading troops owing to fog, Lance-Corporal Amey led his section against a machine-gun nest under heavy fire and drove the garrison into a neighbouring farm, finally capturing 50 prisoners and several machine-guns. Later, single-handed and under heavy fire he attacked a machine-gun post in a farmhouse, killed two of the garrison and drove the remainder into a cellar until assistance arrived. Subsequently he rushed a strongly-held post, capturing 20 more prisoners.
He later achieved the rank of corporal. Grave/memorial at Buried at All Saint's Churchyard, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England. Headstone.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Regiment of Fusliliers Museum (Royal Warwickshire)
Robert Williams thesis on the 1/8th which can be found on the internet...
The final award of the DSO to the Battalion was of an altogether different character. It was gazetted on 10 December 1919 and was for the same action in which Lance-Corporal Amey won his VC:
For gallant leadership during the crossing of the Sambre-Oise Canal and the capture of Landrecies on the 4th November, 1918. His battalion fought their way down to and across the canal against heavy opposition and helped to take Landrecies, capturing over 200 prisoners, some guns and many minenwerfer and machine-guns, he did fine work.
This citation reads as though the gallantry that was displayed for this award was that of his men, and that Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Whitehouse was rewarded for his leadership of such men.
(incidentally on 4.11.18 Wilfred Owen was also killed crossing the Sambre-Oise Canal)
William Amey (VC, MM) (5 March 1881 - 28 May 1940) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was 37 years old, and a lance-corporal in the 1/8th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 4 November 1918 at Landrecies, France, when many hostile machine-gun nests were missed by the leading troops owing to fog, Lance-Corporal Amey led his section against a machine-gun nest under heavy fire and drove the garrison into a neighbouring farm, finally capturing 50 prisoners and several machine-guns. Later, single-handed and under heavy fire he attacked a machine-gun post in a farmhouse, killed two of the garrison and drove the remainder into a cellar until assistance arrived. Subsequently he rushed a strongly-held post, capturing 20 more prisoners.
He later achieved the rank of corporal. Grave/memorial at Buried at All Saint's Churchyard, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England. Headstone.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Regiment of Fusliliers Museum (Royal Warwickshire)
Robert Williams thesis on the 1/8th which can be found on the internet...
The final award of the DSO to the Battalion was of an altogether different character. It was gazetted on 10 December 1919 and was for the same action in which Lance-Corporal Amey won his VC:
For gallant leadership during the crossing of the Sambre-Oise Canal and the capture of Landrecies on the 4th November, 1918. His battalion fought their way down to and across the canal against heavy opposition and helped to take Landrecies, capturing over 200 prisoners, some guns and many minenwerfer and machine-guns, he did fine work.
This citation reads as though the gallantry that was displayed for this award was that of his men, and that Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Whitehouse was rewarded for his leadership of such men.
(incidentally on 4.11.18 Wilfred Owen was also killed crossing the Sambre-Oise Canal)
Alan Tucker
master brummie
There is a problem here. Why were Amey and Whitehouse in France on November 4th 1918? The 1/8th Bn together with the other three Warwickshire Territorial bns (1/5th; 1/6th; 1/7th; 1/8th) were all in Italy at that time as part of 143rd Brigade (see the Long, Long Trail web site).
Hi Rupdenby
As it's much more fun to find stuff out yourself, here are a couple of links for tracing the 1/8 battalion:
https://battlefields1418.50megs.com/regiment012.htm>
https://www.1914-1918.net/warwicks.htm>
Within these sites you will find further links and be able to find your relative's medal card. The 1/8 battalion was a territorial force and the designation 1/ x meant they could be sent to fight abroad. The battalions numbered 2/ x were for home defence but, because the early battles more or les annihilated the professional and territorial soldiers, the Govt. decided around the middle of 1915 that every volunteer had volunteered to fight abroad and sent 2/ x battalions to France to join the Battle of the Somme. The 48th South Midland Division of which the 1/8 battalion was part, fought in Somme and suffered severe casualties.
Hope this helps.
As it's much more fun to find stuff out yourself, here are a couple of links for tracing the 1/8 battalion:
https://battlefields1418.50megs.com/regiment012.htm>
https://www.1914-1918.net/warwicks.htm>
Within these sites you will find further links and be able to find your relative's medal card. The 1/8 battalion was a territorial force and the designation 1/ x meant they could be sent to fight abroad. The battalions numbered 2/ x were for home defence but, because the early battles more or les annihilated the professional and territorial soldiers, the Govt. decided around the middle of 1915 that every volunteer had volunteered to fight abroad and sent 2/ x battalions to France to join the Battle of the Somme. The 48th South Midland Division of which the 1/8 battalion was part, fought in Somme and suffered severe casualties.
Hope this helps.
Alan Tucker
master brummie
The problem I posed isn't one. In 1918 the War Cabinet decided that brigades of the British Army would be reduced from 4 battalions to 3 and the 1/8th became the fall guys of 143rd Bde and were sent back to France from Italy - leaving the latter by train on September 14th.
terry carter
Birmingham Pals
Re: 1/8 Battallion TF. Royal Warwicks
Give me a couple of weeks or so and I will supply a bit more info and photographs of Lt Col P H whitehouse. A friend of mine has his medals and other info. Just to let you know a lot of his WW1 service was with the 2/8th Royal Warwicks.
Terry
Give me a couple of weeks or so and I will supply a bit more info and photographs of Lt Col P H whitehouse. A friend of mine has his medals and other info. Just to let you know a lot of his WW1 service was with the 2/8th Royal Warwicks.
Terry
Dear Terry
I will also be very keen to see whatever you have on the 2/8 btn. as my grandfather, Sgt. C. H. Downard, was with the btn. and died of wounds 16th August 1916. I suspect he was wounded in the Action at Fromelles. Perhaps Rupendy's relative was my grandfather's Colonel. Really looking forward to information or links you offered to supply.
regards
Downard
I will also be very keen to see whatever you have on the 2/8 btn. as my grandfather, Sgt. C. H. Downard, was with the btn. and died of wounds 16th August 1916. I suspect he was wounded in the Action at Fromelles. Perhaps Rupendy's relative was my grandfather's Colonel. Really looking forward to information or links you offered to supply.
regards
Downard
terry carter
Birmingham Pals
Hello Downard
There was a book published concerning the War history of the 2/8th Royal Warwicks and if I remember right, it was a limited edition of 200 copies. It is called 'Black Square Memories'. The black square being the battle patch that the men of the 2/8th wore on their uniform. The B'ham central library should have a copy and no doubt a copy could be obtained from the Library inter-loan system. Off the top of my head I cannot remember the author. I will get back to you.
Regards
Terry
There was a book published concerning the War history of the 2/8th Royal Warwicks and if I remember right, it was a limited edition of 200 copies. It is called 'Black Square Memories'. The black square being the battle patch that the men of the 2/8th wore on their uniform. The B'ham central library should have a copy and no doubt a copy could be obtained from the Library inter-loan system. Off the top of my head I cannot remember the author. I will get back to you.
Regards
Terry
Alan Tucker
master brummie
Author of Black Square - H.J.Chidgey. 184pp. Published 1924. Reprint 2003.
Black Square was a dining club of the 2/8th.
Reference Library - L75.12 316661
Black Square was a dining club of the 2/8th.
Reference Library - L75.12 316661
terry carter
Birmingham Pals
Hello again
Fortunately, I photo-copied the book. Sgt C H Downard was not wounded in the action at Fromelles as you can see.
Regards
Terry
Fortunately, I photo-copied the book. Sgt C H Downard was not wounded in the action at Fromelles as you can see.
Regards
Terry
C
Catkin
Guest
Hello Terry, knowing virtually nothing about the army, i wonder if you have any information on a Sergeant Major Dye or a Mr Niblett,both of the Royal Warwicks. Also have you any photographs of the Warwickshire regiment of the royal engineers,Thanking you in anticipation...Cat
terry carter
Birmingham Pals
The Royal Engineers was not connected to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. So, sorry cannot help that query.
The Medal card Index has 10 soldiers with the surname Niblett, see below. Only one with the name Dye but was not a Sgt Major.
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk...&catid=10&pagenumber=1&querytype=1&mediaarray=*
The Medal card Index has 10 soldiers with the surname Niblett, see below. Only one with the name Dye but was not a Sgt Major.
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk...&catid=10&pagenumber=1&querytype=1&mediaarray=*
Alan Tucker
master brummie
Hello Terry, knowing virtually nothing about the army, i wonder if you have any information on a Sergeant Major Dye or a Mr Niblett,both of the Royal Warwicks. Also have you any photographs of the Warwickshire regiment of the royal engineers,Thanking you in anticipation...Cat
2 Dyes and 4 Nibletts died serving as Royal Warwicks. Any more detail like forenames.
C
Catkin
Guest
Thank you Terry i have been and had a look. I realise now that i did not make myself very clear.
Terry/ Alan
I have a photograph and on the back is written Mr Niblett and a Sergeant Major Dye (no other names) with their wives and my grandfather Thomas Herrick, looking at the photograph again it says Sergeants' Mess 580 LLA Regiment then 5..8..Royal Warwickshire reg TA. on a board between them, there is only one man in uniform he being younger than my grandfather and the other gent. My grandfather was also a sergeant. thank you again in anticipation of more information...Cat
Terry/ Alan
I have a photograph and on the back is written Mr Niblett and a Sergeant Major Dye (no other names) with their wives and my grandfather Thomas Herrick, looking at the photograph again it says Sergeants' Mess 580 LLA Regiment then 5..8..Royal Warwickshire reg TA. on a board between them, there is only one man in uniform he being younger than my grandfather and the other gent. My grandfather was also a sergeant. thank you again in anticipation of more information...Cat
hello terry, great to recieve a reply from you . i have just replaced all nine of grandads medals for my mother to wear as she has four in her own right from ww2. as regards the photos we have about 200 of grandad in service ,home and abroad including a good aerial of the trenches.grandad wrote a book about the 1/8th i dont know how many were published apart from ours if any i have attached a couple of photos. but please any more military help would be greatly appreciated as ours is only family history. also is a photo of a magazine grandad was on the front cover of. thanks again, rupert denby.
Terry
You know, I joined this forum only a week ago today and thanks to you I already know where and when my grandfather, Charles Downard, died. His wife, my grandmother, did not know, nor his daughter (my mother) who born just a year before he was killed and died herself aged 90. We had his last two letters and those from an officer and from a nurse after his death but to see his name in print and to know the action in which he was wounded - that's fantastic. Thank you so much for taking so much trouble for me. Thank you.
Downard
You know, I joined this forum only a week ago today and thanks to you I already know where and when my grandfather, Charles Downard, died. His wife, my grandmother, did not know, nor his daughter (my mother) who born just a year before he was killed and died herself aged 90. We had his last two letters and those from an officer and from a nurse after his death but to see his name in print and to know the action in which he was wounded - that's fantastic. Thank you so much for taking so much trouble for me. Thank you.
Downard
Rupedenby
Many thanks indeed for the extract from your grandfather's book showing the date of my grandfather's death. Terry has also very kindly posted pages from a book in which my grandfather's name appears. My grandmother always used to say that he did not need to serve abroad. he had been training volunteers in Whittington Barracks but, apparently, he felt gulity about sitting out the war in England while so many he sent abroad got killed.
(from the Siegfried Sassoon poem, "Conscripts")
Once again, thank you for taking the trouble for me.
Many thanks indeed for the extract from your grandfather's book showing the date of my grandfather's death. Terry has also very kindly posted pages from a book in which my grandfather's name appears. My grandmother always used to say that he did not need to serve abroad. he had been training volunteers in Whittington Barracks but, apparently, he felt gulity about sitting out the war in England while so many he sent abroad got killed.
"Their training done, I shipped them all to France.
Where most of those I'd loved too well got killed.
Rapture and pale Enchantment and Romance,
And many a sickly, slender lord who'd filled
My soul long since with litanies of sin.
Went home, because they couldn't stand the din."Where most of those I'd loved too well got killed.
Rapture and pale Enchantment and Romance,
And many a sickly, slender lord who'd filled
My soul long since with litanies of sin.
(from the Siegfried Sassoon poem, "Conscripts")
Once again, thank you for taking the trouble for me.
For Catkin
The link below is from a Pte Niblett of the Royal Gloucesters and is part of a Niblett family History. There is a ictures of Pte Niblett which may help with identification:
https://members.westnet.com.au/Telbin/niblett/ww1dad.htm
Hope this helps
The link below is from a Pte Niblett of the Royal Gloucesters and is part of a Niblett family History. There is a ictures of Pte Niblett which may help with identification:
https://members.westnet.com.au/Telbin/niblett/ww1dad.htm
Hope this helps
sospiri
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Gott61,
Welcome to the Forum. I'm afraid no such book exists, because Catkin didn't say in her posts that he had written one. Just in case, I have checked the British Library & Academic Libraries, and no book exists by a Thomas Herrick. Incidentally, Catkin is no longer a member.
Maurice
Welcome to the Forum. I'm afraid no such book exists, because Catkin didn't say in her posts that he had written one. Just in case, I have checked the British Library & Academic Libraries, and no book exists by a Thomas Herrick. Incidentally, Catkin is no longer a member.
Maurice
My mistake, I have been collecting Warwickshire bits for some years mainly because of my Coventry family connections, I'm trying to find details of Arthur Moore born Coventry 1889. Son of John Moore & Emma Plover, we found this photo of Arthur (we believe) so been trying to find any books that might give us a lead.
So far he appears to be a bit of an enigma
Not knowing when he enlisted, Regiment or anything regarding is army service.
Again if you could point me in the right direction, I would be most grateful.
So far he appears to be a bit of an enigma
Not knowing when he enlisted, Regiment or anything regarding is army service.
Again if you could point me in the right direction, I would be most grateful.
Attachments
Radiorails
master brummie
There are two ways of interpreting the provenance of the book referred to by Maurice and Gott1.
The first that he wrote the book, which seems unlikely as it does not seem to exist. Secondly and the most probable interpretation is that the book was not written but owned by the grandfather..
The first that he wrote the book, which seems unlikely as it does not seem to exist. Secondly and the most probable interpretation is that the book was not written but owned by the grandfather..
Last edited:
sospiri
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Hi Gott61,
I know nothing about Army regimental badges, but there are several members here that do. Br aware that 60% of WW1 other ranks records were destroyed in a fire during WW2. Confirmation of regiment would be a start. He was certainly born in 1889, but I have not found a serviceman of that name, birth year & Coventry listed in surviving records. However, he will most likely exist in the WW1 Medal Rolls, but we need a regiment & service number to separate him from all the other "Arthur Moore"s.
On the 1911 Census, he was the only child of John & Emma still living at home at Charterhouse Mill, Coventry, his occupation being a carman & his father being a miller. If you are living in or near Coventry, the 1918 Absent Voters List will give his regiment & service number. Either Warwickshire Archives or the main library in Coventry should have a copy. Other members will no doubt be able to add further information in due course.
Maurice
I know nothing about Army regimental badges, but there are several members here that do. Br aware that 60% of WW1 other ranks records were destroyed in a fire during WW2. Confirmation of regiment would be a start. He was certainly born in 1889, but I have not found a serviceman of that name, birth year & Coventry listed in surviving records. However, he will most likely exist in the WW1 Medal Rolls, but we need a regiment & service number to separate him from all the other "Arthur Moore"s.
On the 1911 Census, he was the only child of John & Emma still living at home at Charterhouse Mill, Coventry, his occupation being a carman & his father being a miller. If you are living in or near Coventry, the 1918 Absent Voters List will give his regiment & service number. Either Warwickshire Archives or the main library in Coventry should have a copy. Other members will no doubt be able to add further information in due course.
Maurice
Out in the sticks Brummy
master brummie
Its a shame the cap badge isn't more clearer just an thought have a look in the Worcestershire reg
sospiri
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Gott61
There are 242 books written about the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and a list of them can be found on this and ensuing pages:-
https://copac.jisc.ac.uk/search?&keyword=Royal+Warwickshire+Regiment
but you first need to establish that that was indeed his regiment as detailed in my previous post. But there is no guarantee what any of them contain!
Maurice
There are 242 books written about the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and a list of them can be found on this and ensuing pages:-
https://copac.jisc.ac.uk/search?&keyword=Royal+Warwickshire+Regiment
but you first need to establish that that was indeed his regiment as detailed in my previous post. But there is no guarantee what any of them contain!
Maurice
Many thanks Maurice, its a starting point.