In Burma With The 1st Rifle Brigade.

India General Service Medal 1854 with clasps "Burma 1885 - 7" & "Burma 1887 - 89".
7052 Pte. J. Foy, 1st Rifle Brigade.

James Foy appears on the 1871 Census as the illegitimate two year old son of Bridget Foy, a 23 year old spoon polisher living in her parents' house at Vale Court, Birmingham. By the time of the 1881 Census, Bridget was living in Digbeth with James, now aged eleven, and Mary, his six year old sister. On leaving school, James found work as a labourer but on 9th October 1884 he met Sergeant Cox of the Coldstream Guards and was persuaded to enlist in the army, agreeing to serve for seven years with the Colours and five years in the 1st Class Army Reserve. James probably lied about his age as, assuming that the information in the Census records is reasonably correct, he can have been barely 15 years old at this point. His Attestation Papers, however, record his age as 18, his religion as Roman Catholic, and describe him as 5' 4" tall with blue eyes, brown hair and a fresh complexion.

On 13th October 1884, James joined the Rifle Brigade at the Regimental Depot in Winchester. After a period of basic training, he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion and spent the next two years on home service. In April 1885, he obtained his 4th Class Certificate of Education.

In October 1886, James was posted to the 1st Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, which was stationed at Belgaum in India. James would stay with the 1st Battalion for the next five years, during which time he would serve over two years in Burma involved in the military operations to bring the country under British rule and earning entitlement to the India General Service Medal. You can read more about the 3rd Anglo-Burmese War here. In addition, he was awarded his 1st and 2nd Good Conduct Pay, advanced to Lance Corporal (June 1888) and then Corporal (May 1889), and obtained his 3rd and 2nd Class Certificates of Education (August 1889 & February 1890).

James Foy returned to England in December 1891 and was transferred to the Army Reserve, his seven years of service having been completed. In April 1893, he married Mary McHale at St Michael's Catholic Church in Birmingham. After five years in Section "A" of the Reserve, James re-engaged for four years in Section "D" and, as a result of this, found himself mobilised for service in the Boer War in May 1900. He served one year and 128 days in South Africa with the 1st Rifle Brigade, his old Battalion, and was appointed Acting Sergeant on 23rd July 1900. He was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with three clasps. You can read more about the Rifle Brigade in the Boer War here.

Late in 1901, James was sent back to the UK and was finally dischargd from the army on 18th October at Gosport. His character was described as "very good" and his intended place of residence was given as Bradford Street, Birmingham. He had served a total of 17 years and 10 days, but his military career was far from over.

In September 1902, at the age of 36, James attested for the Royal Garrison Regiment, enlisting as no: 5662 with the rank of Private, and agreeing to serve for two years garrison duty with the Colours. He was quickly appointed Lance Corporal and, in March 1903, sent to Malta to serve with the garrison at Mtarfa. Soon after arriving, he spent six days in hospital because of a hernia, resulting from a rupture suffered in South Africa in 1901. He would have heard of the birth of his son, James Michael, back in Birmingham on 1st August 1903. He was promoted to Corporal in October of the same year.

In March 1904, James was on his way back to England and was discharged on completion of his two years' service on 17th September. His character on discharge was again described as "very good" and his intended place of residence was now Trent Street, Birmingham.

On 29th December 1904, James again enlisted in the Rifle Brigade in order to serve as a volunteer in the Reserve Division of the Militia. His attestation Papers record the fact that he was working as a clerk for the Birmingham City Gas Office at the time. Four years later, on completion of his term of engagement, he was discharged.

Following the outbreak of the First World War, James Foy once more came forward to serve his country. On 9th September 1914, at the age of 48, he again enlisted as a rifleman in the Rifle Brigade at Winchester. He was immediately promoted to Sergeant and posted to the Depot. In September 1915, he was posted to the 14th (Reserve) Battalion of the Rifle Brigade and appointed Acting Company Quarter Master Sergeant. Early in 1916, he was attached to the 21st KRRC and later in the same year joined the 25th (Reserve) Garrison Battalion of the Rifle Brigade. This unit was employed on coastal defence in the Falmouth area and also supplied drafts for the Territorial Battalions of the Rifle Brigade. It was disbanded on 26th March 1919 and on the same day James Foy was discharged from the army for the last time. He had served in the UK for the duration of the war, his service being recognised by the award of a Meritorious Service Medal, which was announced in the Peace Gazette of 3rd June 1919.

Long Service With The Royal Engineers.

Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps "Cape Colony", "Orange Free State", "Transvaal", "South Africa 1901" & "South Africa 1902".
1914 - 15 Trio.
George V Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal.
119 W.O. Cl 2. J. L. M. Spence, Royal Engineers.

Born in Dundee in 1877, John Matthew Leith Spence first appears in the historical records as a four year old child, recorded on the 1881 Scottish Census, together with his mother Julia and two younger brothers, as a visitor in the house of his grandparents, John and Jane Bond, at 143 Victoria Road, Dundee. By the time of the 1891 Census, he was a 14 year old plumber's apprentice, working with a Mr Brown of Broughty Ferry, and living in Gray Street, Monifieth, with his mother.

At some point, John enlisted in the Tay Division (Submarine Miners) of the Royal Engineers, a volunteer unit formed in 1888 with one company and an HQ based at Broughty Ferry, whose purpose was the planned deployment of mines in the Tay to strengthen the port defences. The idea of full-time soldiering must have held more appeal than working as a plumber as on the 3rd June 1896, at the age of 19 years and 9 months, John Spence attested for the Royal Engineers at Dundee, agreeing to serve for seven years with the Colours and five years in the Reserve. His Attestation Papers describe him as being 5' 9" in height, with good physical development, a fresh complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. His religion is recorded as presbyterian.

John's first 5 years in the army would all be home service but he would quickly make progress in his new career. He qualified in submarine mining and engine driving in 1897, obtained his 3rd Class Certificate of Education in February 1898 and was awarded his 1st Good Conduct Pay the following June. In November 1900, he was appointed Lance Corporal.

Following this, John served almost three years in South Africa, earning entitlement to the Queen's South Africa Medal with five clasps. In March 1902, he was promoted to 2nd Corporal and in April 1903 he returned to the UK. John had now completed his original obligation of seven years service but in June 1903 was allowed to extend his service to complete eight years with the Colours. In December 1904, this was extended to twelve years.

John was now serving with the 22nd Company (Submarine Miners) of the Royal Engineers, which was based on the Isle of Wight but, from December 1904 till December 1907, he had a spell of foreign service with the Mauritius Submarine Miners, during which he suffered from a mild attack of ague, with a resulting 12 days in hospital, and was promoted to Corporal.

Three more years of home service followed, during which John extended the term of his service to complete 21 years with the Colours and obtained his 2nd Class Certificate of Education. He married Emily Edmunds in the parish church of Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight on 25th August 1909, and the birth of a daughter, Gwendoline Emily Caroline, followed at Dover on 12th October 1910.

In November 1910, John Spence was transferred to the 44th Company (Fortress) of the Royal Engineers, based in Kingston, Jamaica, and it was during his time there that he was promoted to Sergeant and saw the arrival of a second child, Frank Matthew Henry.

In March 1914, the family were back in England. John Spence had now completed 18 years of service and was duly awarded a Good Conduct Medal with gratuity as announced in Army Order 412 of October 1914. Promotion to Company Quarter Master Sergeant and transfer to the 24th (A.P.) Company followed as did embarkation for France on 3rd March 1915, the beginning of over four years' service on the Western Front.

Appointed Acting Company Sergeant Major in November 1916, John would spend New Year 1917 on leave in England, before returning to France and being transferred to the 52nd Artisan Company of the Royal Engineers, with whom he would serve till the end of the war. Promotion to Warrant Officer Class 2 followed in April 1918. A fourth child, Joan Muriel Lilian, was born in September 1918 and in the following February John was granted 14 days leave to the UK to see his wife and new baby.

In June 1919, John Spence returned to England for the last time. He was finally discharged from the army on 19th February 1920, having served for 23 years and 262 days. His military character was described as "exemplary" and his intended pace of residence was given as Station Road, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.

The Gordon Highlanders At Ladysmith.

Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps "Defence of Ladysmith", "Laings Nek" and "Belfast".
King's South Africa Medal with clasps "South Africa 1901" & "South Africa 1902".
1211 Pte. P. McCabe, Gordon Highlanders.
Ex Thomas Lees Collection.

Philip McCabe, the son of Patrick McCabe, was born in Glasgow in the year 1867. On 14th November 1883, at the age of 16, he attested for the 2nd Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders at Dundee, agreeing to serve for 12 years and joining the Regiment two days later at Edinburgh as a boy soldier. His Attestation Papers describe him as just over 5' 2" in height, 111lbs in weight, with grey eyes and brown hair and with extensive tattoos on his chest and arms. Interestingly, his occupation is given as "musician".

Army life does not seem to have been much to Philip's liking at first; just over two months after enlisting, he deserted, remaining absent until the middle of March 1884, when he rejoined, was tried and imprisoned, and spent over two months in confinement, forfeiting all his previous service. Philip saw only home service during his first 14 years in the army but these years included a spell of garrison duty in the Channel Islands from December 1885 till August 1887, serving at Fort George in Guernsey with some time spent on the nearby island of Alderney. After this, the 2nd Gordons spent time in Ireland and it was here in 1890 that the Battalion football team distinguished themselves by winning the Irish Cup, drawing 2-2 against Cliftonville at Belfast on 8th March, and beating them 3-1 in the replay four days later.

By 1895, the 2nd Battalion were back in Glasgow with three more years of home service before them. The following year, Philip McCabe re-engaged to complete 21 years with the Colours. In September 1898, however, the Battalion were on their way to India for a taste of foreign service but, on arriving in that country, they would stay less than a month before being ordered to South Africa, where war with the Boers was now a foregone conclusion. The full story of the Gordon Highlanders involvement in the Boer War can be read here.

The 2nd Battalion of the Gordons were present in Ladysmith throughout the siege of the town and saw plenty of fighting. On 10th November 1899 they were playing a football match against a team from the Natal Regiments. Two minutes into the game, a 90lb shell from one of the Boer guns landed at the side of the ground but failed to stop play. The details of this and other actions during the siege can be read here.

Ladysmith was finally relieved on 28th February 1900 but the 2nd Gordons would stay in South Africa for two more years, enough time for the original members of the Battalion to earn their entitlement to the King's South Africa Medal in addition to the Queen's South Africa Medal.

In January 1902, the 2nd Battalion left South Africa and returned to India. In December of that year, Philip spent a few days in hospital because of a blistered heel caused by ill-fitting boots. In January 1905, he returned to the United Kingdom. Philip McCabe was discharged from the army on 2nd February after having served for just over 21 years in the ranks.
Philip McCabe's medals were originally part of the Thomas Lees collection. Mr Lees was a Scot and most of his collection was of regiments with a Scottish connection. He began collecting at a very early age, although the bulk of his purchases were made from leading London auctioneers and dealers during the 1920s and 1930s. Following Mr Lees' death in 1947, the collection remained intact and in the possession of his family until it was sold at Sotherbys in March 1986.

Frank Buttress: 190th Siege Battery RGA.

British War Medal 1914 - 1920.
Victory Medal.
Memorial Plaque.
61686 Gnr. F. D. Buttress, Royal Garrison Artillery.

William Harding Buttress married Annie Olivia Dunnicliff in 1891. Their first child, Ada Olivia, was born in 1894. Three years later, Frank Dunnicliff Buttress, their only son, was born in Aston, Birmingham. According to the 1901 Census, the family resided at 5 Fentham Road, Handsworth and William, now 36 years old, was employed as a Jeweller's traveller. Sadly, William died in 1905, leaving Annie to bring up the two children on her own and, at some point in the next few years, the family moved to 41 Crompton Road, Handsworth.

On 30th October 1915, Frank, now aged 19 and employed as a clerk, enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery and, after basic training, embarked at Southampton on 17th May 1916 for overseas service, initially with the 106th Siege Battery. During his time on the Western Front he suffered from impetigo and spent several spells in hospital, firstly in July - August 1916 and then from mid November 1916 till early 1917, when he spent time at the 16th General Hospital at Le Treport. On 9th January 1917, Frank was sent back to duty but was soon in hospital again, this time at the 1st Canadian General Hospital at Etaples, suffering from ICT (inflamed connective tissue) of the right hand. On 28th February, he was sent back to England on board the hospital ship "SS Brighton" and, in April, he was posted to the Siege Artillery Depot at Stowlangtoft in Suffolk.

On 25th June 1917, Frank again proceeded overseas and served for a while with the 126th Siege Battery. Early in 1918, he was again hospitalised at the 1st Southern General Hospital in Stourbridge, this time with ICT of the legs. On 6th May, he had recovered enough to be returned to France, joining the 190th Siege Battery on 21st May.

Two months later, on 29th July 1918, Frank Dunnicliff Buttress was killed in action. He was just 21 years old. He was buried in plot II C 5 in Hagle Dump Cemetery 7.5 km west of Ypres. Interestingly, in plot II B 6, lie the remains of 56943 Gunner Albert John Edmunds, also of the 190th Siege Battery, who was killed on the same day as Frank.

A few months later, some of Frank's personal possessions - letters, photos, three wallets, a book of poems, a cigarette case, a match-box and various cards - were returned to his mother in Handsworth. In September 1921, Annie Buttress wrote to the Royal Garrison Artillery Records Office in Dover enquiring about Frank's medals, which she had not yet received. In December, she acknowledged receipt of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Annie Buttress died at the age of 77 in Birmingham in 1939. Frank's sister, Ada, lived till the age of 81, dying in Malvern in 1976.

Pte. Davies - A Veteran Of Two Conflicts.

1914 Star.
L- 6396 Pte. L. Davies, 2nd Royal Sussex Regiment.

Lawrence Davies was born in Lambeth around the year 1883 and at the age of 17 years and 4 months attested for the 4th East Surrey Militia. His Papers describe him as having a fair complexion, dark brown eyes, black hair and a scar on his forehead. His address at the time was 108 Lambeth Walk and he was working as a costermonger. Lawrence served in the Militia for the best part of a year before deciding that full time soldiering would be more to his taste and attesting for the Royal Sussex Regiment at Dublin on 5th March 1901, agreeing to serve for seven years with the Colours and five years in the Reserve. His Attestation Papers describe him as 5' 5" in height, weighing 116lbs and with an anchor tattooed on his left forearm. His occupation was now given as labourer.

Lawrence joined the Royal Sussex at the Regimental Depot in Chichester and at the end of March and is recorded on the 1901 Census as single, 18 years old and residing in the barracks there. His early army career did not go completely smoothly; on 4th April 1901 he was absent from tattoo and found drunk and using obscene language in the town at 11.15pm; at the end of the month was found guilty of "overstaying his pass", both offences getting him periods of 10 days confined to barracks.
In May 1902, Lawrence was posted to the 1st Battalion of the Royal Sussex, which was in South Africa, engaged in the struggle against the Boers. He would stay five months there, during which time he was awarded his 1st Good Conduct Pay and earned entitlement to the Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps for "Cape Colony", "Orange Free State" and "South Africa 1902".
Following the end of the Boer War, Lawrence accompanied the 1st Battalion to India, where he would stay for the next six years. His relationship with military authority continued to be a difficult one. On 17th July 1905 at Ambala, he was absent from bugle practice and found guilty of not complying with an order, the result being the forfeiting of his Good Conduct Badge and 8 days confined to barracks. Two years later, in July 1907, he was again deprived of a Good Conduct Badge and awarded 8 days CB for being out of bounds, damaging property belonging to the station master at Barogh and assaulting natives.

In December 1908, Lawrence was on his way back to England, where he joined the 2nd Battalion. In March 1909, he was transferred to the Army Reserve. His Transfer Papers describe his conduct with the Colours as "fair" but make the comment that there had been no instances of drunkenness in the last seven years. It is also noted that he ws a first class shot and had been an acting drummer for seven years. (The Regimental Band of the 1st Royal Sussex at Ambala in 1905 is shown in the photo above.)

Lawrence had re-engaged for the Army Reserve in 1913 and consequently was called up as a reservist on the outbreak of war in 1914. He rejoined the Royal Sussex Depot on 8th August 1914 and on 12th September was sent to France with a draft of reinforcements for the 2nd Battalion, thus earning entitlement to the 1914 Star and the proud title of "Old Contemptible".
In September 1915, he suffered a gunshot wound to the neck, probably in the 2nd Battalion's attack at Loos on 25th, during which Sjt Harry Wells won a posthumous Victoria Cross (as described in a previous post). There followed a period of convalescence in England and duty with the 3rd Battalion at Newhaven. Here Lawrence continued to find himself on the wrong side of military authority. In May 1916, found guilty of being drunk in barracks and striking his superior officer, he received 14 days detention. Two months later, another case of drunkenness got him a further 8 days detention.

On 16th August 1916, Lawrence was posted back to France to join the 4th Army Base Depot, before rejoining the 2nd Royal Sussex on 19th September. Apart from June 1918, when he had a month's furlough in England, he would serve with the 2nd Battalion till the end of the war and after. Lawrence Davies was finally transferred to the Class Z Army Reserve on 30th April 1919.

Col Sjt. Burrows - 21 Years Of Service.

Edward VII Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal.

10385 C. Serjt. A. E. Burrows, Royal Fusiliers.

Alfred Ernest Burrows makes his first appearance in history as a 5 year old schoolboy recorded on the 1871 Census as living with his mother, Elizabeth, who is described as a seaman's wife, a younger brother Edmund and two aunts in Basset Street, Budock, near Falmouth in Cornwall. At the time of the 1881 Census, the family was still resident in Falmouth and Alfred, now 15 years old, was apprenticed to a local draper. However, in February 1888, he attested as a private soldier in the Rifle Brigade, was given the service number 9416, and commenced his basic training. He passed his 3rd Class Certificate of Education in April 1888 and was posted to the 2nd Rifle Brigade in June 1888. Early in 1889, Alfred had his first taste of overseas service when he was sent to join the 3rd Rifle Brigade, which was stationed at Rawalpindi in India.
He seems to have made steady progress in his new career, being awarded his 1st Good Conduct Pay and passing his 2nd Class Certificate of Education in February 1890. He was appointed Acting Corporal in April 1890, promoted Corporal in January 1894, appointed Acting Sergeant in 1895 and promoted Sergeant in 1896. In March 1897, Alfred re-engaged for the Rifle Brigade at Rawalpindi, agreeing to complete 21 years service.
In the summer of 1897, the 3rd Rifle Brigade was one of the British Battalions that took part in the Tochi Expedition, whose purpose was to punish the tribesmen living in the village of Maizar and the surrounding area, who had ambushed Mr. H. A. Gee, the Political Officer for Tochi, and his army escort. It was a frustrating campaign, the soldiers having to deal more with heat, flies and disease than with enemy forces. A good description of the expedition can be found here. For his part in the campaign, Alfred Burrows was awarded the India Medal 1895 - 1902 with clasp "Punjab Frontier 1897 - 98".

In December 1898, Alfred was back to England and posted to the 4th Rifle Brigade. In September 1899, he qualified as a Sergeant Instructor in Musketry at the Army School of Musketry in Hythe and was later posted to the Rifle Brigade Depot. The 1901 Census, taken on March 31st, records Alfred as 36 years old, still single and working as a hospital attendant in the military hospital at Alverstoke, Gosport.
In October 1901, Alfred joined the 5th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade and on the 18th December he married Jane Annie Turner. Alfred had little time to enjoy married life, however, as he was soon sent abroad again, this time to serve in the South African War, where British and Imperial forces were engaged in a long and bitter struggle with the Boers. He stayed in South Africa for 10 months, earning entitlement to a Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps for "Cape Colony", "Orange Free State" and "South Africa 1902".

Back in England again, Alfred was promoted to Colour Sergeant on 10th December 1902 and five months later, on 11th May 1903, he was posted for duty to the 4th Volunteer Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers as a Sergeant Instructor. Three children would be born to him and his wife over the next few years: Montague Alfred (b. 25/2/1904), Dorothy Annie (b. 5/2/1906) and Edna (b. 29/1/1907). His Long Service & Good Conduct Medal was awarded on 13th February 1906.
Alfred Ernest Burrows completed his 21 years of army service in February 1909 and was discharged at Hounslow. At the time he was on the permanent staff of the 4th Battalion, City of London Regiment (TF). His Discharge Papers describe him as 42 years and 2 months in age, 5' 5" in height and with a fair complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. His conduct had been "exemplary" and it was noted that he was "a good clerk, reliable, painstaking, willing & industrious. Will make an excellent caretaker." His intended place of residence was 44 Charteris Road, Tollington Park, London. Sadly, Alfred Burrows passed away on 12th July 1912.

A Machine Gunner In The Notts & Derbys.

1914 Star.
12360 Pte. S. J. Ball, 2nd Notts & Derby Regiment.

Sydney James Ball was born in 1895 in the village of Skegby, Nottinghamshire, the son of Henry Ball, a coal miner, and his wife Elizabeth. The 1901 Census records the family as living at 64 Chatsworth Street, Sutton in Ashfield, by which time Henry and his wife had had two more children: John (aged 3 yrs) and a baby girl Ann. In due course, Sydney would follow in his father's footsteps, finding work in the mines.

On 12th August 1914, barely a week after the outbreak of war with Germany, Sydney enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment) at Nottingham. He would have undegone a period of basic training and just three months later, on 11th November 1914, he found himself part of a draft sent out to reinforce the 2nd Battalion on the Western Front. The 2nd Notts & Derbys had left for France on 8th September and had taken part in the First Battle of Ypres, suffering heavy casualties at Ennetieres on 20th October, when the Battalion had been practically wiped out in a confused night action against superior numbers, many of the men being killed or taken prisoner.

Sydney served with the 2nd Battalion through to the end of December when he returned to England. The reason for this is not clear; it is possible he may have been slightly wounded. Whatever the cause, in March 1915 he was again with the Battalion and would serve a further six months in France and Flanders. On 5th October at Ypres, Sydney Ball was in action as a machine gunner when an aerial torpedo fell near to him, smashing up both the gun and the gun-pit. He was struck by several shell splinters and buried up to his neck in earth, which resulted in serious injury to his right knee joint. Evacuated to England four days later, Sydney would spend two months being treated at Southport Hospital before being returned to light duty at Derby.

Over the next couple of years, Sydney would attend various medical boards in order to be assessed for his disability pension. He was unable to walk properly and also needed an operation to remove shell fragments from his thigh. He had been discharged from the army on 5th September 1917 as "no longer physically fit for war service." His intended place of residence was 1a Primrose Street, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. His Discharge Papers stated that his military character was good and that he was sober and trustworthy. He had served in the army for just over three years and was entitled to a 1914 Star Trio and a Silver War Badge.

Pte. Thomas Haynes, 2nd Dragoons.

Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps "Relief of Kimberley", "Paardeberg", "Driefontein", "Johannesburg", "Diamond Hill" & "Belfast". 3859 Pte. J. Haynes, 2nd Dragoons. 

Thomas William Haynes was born in Bermondsey around the year 1873. He attested for the army at Aldershot on 19th September 1893, expressing a desire to serve with the dragoons and agreeing to serve for seven years with the Colours and five years in the Reserve. His Attestation Papers describe him as over 5' 11" tall with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair, and a scar on his chin. He was 20 years and 5 months old and he was working as a clerk. He had some military experience as he was serving as a volunteer in the Medical Staff Corps Militia. Given the service number 3859, Thomas spent the first years of his army service in the UK in the ranks of the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) and appears to have got on well. He was awarded his first Good Conduct Pay in September 1895, appointed Lance Corporal in 1897 and received a second Good Conduct Pay in September 1899. In the following month, he reverted to Private and in November, following the outbreak of the war with the Boers, sailed for South Africa with the Regiment. Thomas would serve for almost three years here, earning entitlement to the Queen's South Africa Medal with six clasps and a King's South Africa Medal with the usual two clasps. His QSA was impressed with the wrong initial and no attempt was made to correct it.

 

The Greys saw plenty of action during the Boer War, firstly as part of General French's forces, which advanced to the relief of the besieged town of Kimberley, and in various later engagements. The full details can be read here. On 25th June 1901, Thomas Haynes was tried by Court Martial and found guilty of "When on active service, using insubordinate language to his superior officer." He was sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment No:1, which would have involved spending part of each day tied to a wagon wheel. In addition, he forfeited his Good Conduct Pay.

In November 1902, Thomas was transferred to the 1st Class Army Reserve, being finally discharged on 18th September 1905, on the completion of his 12 years of service.

Wounded At The Hohenzollern Redoubt.

1914 - 15 Trio. Silver War Badge. 3310 Pte. I. Ross, 1/5th Lincolnshire Regiment.

Irvine Ross was born in Scotton, Lincolnshire, the son of Arthur Ross, an agricultural labourer, and his wife Mary. The 1901 Census lists the couple and their six children (Albert 12yrs, Charles 10yrs, Olive 8yrs, Irvine 6yrs, Myra 4yrs and Rose 2yrs) as resident in Church Road, Bolinbroke. By 1914, the family were living at Laughton Wood Cottage, Gainsborough.

On 9th November 1914, Irvine joined the 2/5th Lincolns, a Territorial Battalion based at Grimsby, his Attestation Papers describing him as 20 years old, 5' 6" in height and with good vision and good physical development. On 17th January 1914, he signed Army Form E.624 agreeing to serve outside the United Kingdom in the event of national emergency. After a period of basic training, he was transferred to the 1/5th Lincolns on 17th March 1915. This Battalion had actually gone to France on 1st March and Irvine would join them on the Western Front on 25th June, a member of the first draft of reinforcements under Lieutenant Walcott. The draft travelled by train to Poperinghe and was met on the road by the Regimental Band, who played them to their bivouac in an open field near the village of Ouderdom, where they were received with great enthusiasm.

On June 29th, the Battalion paraded at 7.00pm and marched seven miles to the trenches south of Hooge, where Irvine would have his first experience of life in the front line. Routine trench warfare interspersed with periods in reserve and at rest continued throughout the following months. On the 13th October 1915, the 1/5th Lincolns took part in the 46th (North Midland) Division's attack on the German positions around the Hohenzollern Redoubt. The Lincolns went over the top in the first wave and were cut down by heavy rifle and machine gun fire, suffering appalling casualties. 23 officers went into action, of whom 11 were killed and 11 were wounded, one of the latter subsequently dying of his wounds. 285 other ranks were reported killed or missing and 175 were wounded. A full description of the action can be read in the Battalion history. According to this "The attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt was a feat of arms of which the Battalion will be ever proud, but the enormous number of casualties practically destroyed it for the time being as a fighting unit. The survivors for a short period were shaken and depressed and all organization was destroyed, but the task of rebuilding the Battalion on its old lines and traditions was begun at once, and carried through ultimately with entire success. "

Private Irvine Ross suffered a gunshot wound to the neck in the attack and was evacuated to England on 18th October. After five months, he was sufficiently recovered to be sent back to the 1/5th Lincolns and would serve with them from 19th March 1916 through to 26th January 1917. On 1st July 1916, the Battle of the Somme commenced and the Lincolns were in reserve for the Division's attack on the Gommecourt Salient. A full account of this action, again from the Battalion history, can be read here. On 26th January 1917, Irvine Ross was again evacuated back to England but the surviving pages from his Service Record do not reveal the reason for this. In August 1917, he was discharged from the army and awarded a Silver War Badge for "Services Rendered". He had served a total of 2 years and 283 days.

Irvine is remembered on the Scotton Roll of Honour, which was "erected by this grateful village to commemorate its faithful sons who fought for England and liberty" and is located in the church of St Genewys. He is also listed on the Roll of Honour in Scotton Chapel. He died in 1964 at the age of 69. In 2006 a new memorial was unveiled on the site of the Hohenzollern Redoubt to commemorate the men of the 46th (North Midland) Division who died there in October 1915. You can read more about the battle and the memorial here and here.