An "Old Contemptible" In The Dukes.

1914 Trio.
6558 Pte. J. Corker, 2nd Duke Of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment.

John Corker was born in 1883, the oldest son of John Corker, a coal porter, and his wife Elizabeth. According to the 1891 Census, the couple were living at 71 Campbell Road, Islington, and had four children: John (7), Elizabeth (6), Sarah (4) and Robert (9 mths). In June 1900, at the age of 17, John enlisted in the Volunteer Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. The idea of full-time soldiering must have appealed to him because just over five months later, on 28th November , he enlisted in the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment, agreeing to serve for seven years with the Colours and five years in the Reserve. His Attestation Papers describe him as 18 years and 2 months old, just over 5' 4" tall, weighing 116lbs and with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair.

However, Private Corker's military career did not progress smoothly; on 9th December, just a few days after joining the Depot at Halifax, he deserted and, if the dates in his Service Record can be trusted, didn't appear again until December 1902. Posted to the 2nd Battalion of the Regiment, which was returning to India at this time, John Corker was tried by Court Martial and found guilty of "deserting his Majesty's service and losing by neglect equipment and clothing." He was sentenced to 28 days imprisonment with hard labour and all his previous service was forfeited.
John stayed in India with the 2nd Battalion and, in December 1904, he was again in trouble with military authority, this time being guilty of "disobeying a lawful command given by his superior officer" and "an act to the prejudice of good order and military discipline", for which he was sentenced to 35 days imprisonment.

In September 1905, orders were received that the 2nd Battalion was to proceed home to England, leaving 500 men behind to be posted to the 1st Battalion, which was sailing out to replace them. The Regimental History mentions the fact that "the 1st and 2nd Battalions passed each other in the Indian Ocean, the one going out to, the other returning from, India." John Corker was one of the men left behind and transferred to the 1st Battalion on its arrival at the hill station of Lebong. Life here followed the dull routine of garrison duty with little excitement beyond what was found on the football pitch. Over the next few years however, the 1st Duke of Wellington's Regiment built up a reputation for prowess on the sports field, winning the "Calcutta" Cup, the premier Rugby-football trophy in India, every year from 1906 till 1913.

In June 1906, John Corker chose to extend his service to complete nine years with the Colours. In January 1907, he was appointed Drummer although he reverted to Private at his own request in 1911. In the same year, the Battalion was in Delhi, taking part in the Coronation Durbar held in the King Emperor's honour in December. A total of 6 officers and 112 other ranks received the Delhi Durbar Medal, but John Corker was not one of them. In February 1912, having completed the agreed term, he returned to England and was transferred to the Class 'B' Army Reserve. His previous misdemeanours behind him, his character on discharge was described as "exemplary" and it was noted that there had been no case of drunkenness in all his period of service. In addition, he was in possession of two Good Conduct Badges and a 2nd Class Musketry Certificate. His intended place of residence was given as 43 Pembroke Road, New Southgate, London, and his preferred employment was with the Great Western Railway Police.

In August 1914, following the outbreak of the First World War, John Corker was recalled from the Reserve and sent to join the 2nd Battalion of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment in France, arriving there on 27th August. The Battalion had taken part in the Battle of Mons and was now retreating in the face of the German advance. John must have joined up with the Battalion at some point and taken part in the fighting on the Aisne, but in January 1915 he was back in England for health reasons. Returning to France in May 1915, he would serve with the Battalion as a Drummer for the rest of the war. The 2nd Dukes were engaged in the Somme Battles in the summer of 1916, at Fampoux in April / May 1917, at Passchendaele in late 1917 and the Final Advance in 1918. John Corker, having survived numerous engagements, finally returned to England in January 1919, was transferred to the Class 'Z' Reserve on 13th February, and was discharged on 31st March 1920.

Taken Prisoner At Bullecourt, May 1917.

British War Medal 1914 - 20.
Victory Medal.
Silver War Badge No: B186507
4337 Pte. J.Marshall, West Yorkshire Regiment.

John Marshall was born in 1890, the seventh child of Charles Marshall, an engineer's machinist, and his wife Mary. The couple appear on the 1891 Census, where their address is given as 24 Albert Terrace, Gainsborough, and their children are listed as William (11), Albert (10), Maria (8), Alice (6), Charles (4), Lilly (2) and John (5 mths). By the time if the 1901 Census, the family had moved to 4 Trent Street, Gainsborough, and John, by now 10 years old, had three younger siblings: Elizabeth (8), Walter (6) and Frank (2).
John Marshall appears to have been still living at home when the First World War broke out in August 1914. He enlisted for the duration of the war on 10th December 1915 and in March of the following year was posted to the 2/5th West Yorkshire Regiment, a Territorial Force battalion that had been formed at York in September 1914.
The 2/5th West Yorks were sent to France in 1917, arriving at Le Havre on 5th January, as part of the 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division. The Division was involved in the attacks on Bullecourt in April and May 1917. You can read about them here. In the second Battle of Bullecourt, which began on 3rd May 1917, John Marshall was taken prisoner and would remain in captivity for the remainder of the war. On his return to England in January 1919, he was categorised as "no longer physically fit for war service" and discharged from the army on 2nd April. He was suffering from defective vision and neurasthenia caused by his war service and was awarded a Silver War Badge and a disability pension, which he would continue to receive until December 1920. John's younger brother, Frank, had also joined the army and sadly had been killed in action, at the age of 20, on 15th June 1918 serving in 'C' Company of the 8th Yorkshire Regiment.

Torpedoed On Board HMS Majestic.

British War Medal 1914 - 20.
Edward VII Naval Long Service & Good Conduct Medal.
PLY-4902 Pte. G. H. Haydon, R.M.L.I.

George Henry Haydon was born on 29th May 1871 in Alphington, near Exeter, and is recorded on the 1881 Census as a 9 year old scholar, the second son of Samuel Haydon, a labourer in an iron foundry, and his wife Lucy. George enlisted in the Royal Marines on 29th June 1889. His Service Papers give his occupation as "labourer" and describe him as having a fair complexion, light brown hair, blue eyes and a tattoo of an anchor on his arm. After initial training at the Recruit Depot, George was allocated to the Plymouth Division of the Royal Marines and passed a course in first aid to the injured in June 1890. He served on HMS Indus and later on HMS Belleisle, the coastguard ship at Kingstown, Ireland. George Haydon is listed as a member of this ship's crew on the 1891 Census.

George's career continued with him successfully passing his musketry and sea gunnery drills every three years and with periods of service on HMS Edgar, HMS Defiance (1899 - 1902), the newly-commissioned HMS Swiftsure (1904 - 1905) and HMS Talbot (1907 - 1910). You can read more about Swiftsure and Talbot here. On 13th March 1910, having completed 21 years service, he received his Long Service & Good Conduct Medal. The following June, he transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve.

Recalled on the outbreak of the First World War, George Haydon, now aged 43, joined the crew of HMS Majestic on 24th August 1914. Assigned to the Channel Fleet, Majestic covered the passage of British troops to France in September 1914. The following month she helped escort the first Canadian troop convoy to Europe. In 1915, HMS Majestic was involved in the Dardanelles campaign and saw much action; firstly while bombarding Turkish positions in the initial attempt to force the Narrows by naval power alone and later while supporting the allied troop landings on the Gallipoli peninsular. On 27th May 1915, three months after arriving in the Dardanelles, HMS Majestic was sunk by a single torpedo from the German submarine U-21, commanded by Commander Otto Hersing. The ship capsized in just nine minutes but fortunately fewer than 50 of the crew lost their lives. George Haydon survived the sinking of the Majestic but his Long Service Medal was lost when the ship went down. An interesting note on his Service Papers states that this medal was "replaced at public expense - original lost in HMS Majestic". There is more information about HMS Majestic together with many photos of the ship and the wreck here and here.

George Haydon served for the rest of the war on HMS Egmont, and was discharged from the Royal Fleet Reserve as medically unfit for further service on 11th September 1920.

Wounded At Messines, POW At Bourlon Wood.

British War Medal 1914 - 20.
Victory Medal.
4779 Pte. W. C. C. Doughton, 15th London Regiment (Civil Service Rifles).

William Charles Cornelius Doughton was born in January 1888 and is recorded on the 1901 Census as the oldest of four children born to Henry and Francis Doughton, residing at 1 Queen's Terrace, Marylebone. By 1914, the family had moved to 5 Belgrave Gardens, Abbey Road, and William was working for Victor Jay & Company, a hat manufacturer located at 34 & 36 Southwark Bridge Road.

On 23rd November 1915, William attested for the Territorial Force, enlisting for the duration of the war in the 15th London Regiment (Civil Service Rifles) at Somerset House. His Attestation Papers describe him as 27 years and 10 months old, 5' 9" tall but with only "fair" physical development. Despite this, he was passed fit for service and signed Army Form E624, stating his willingness to serve overseas. For basic training, William was posted to the 3/15th Londons, the home service battalion stationed at Hazeley Down, where he was appointed paid Lance Corporal on 15th February 1916 and promoted to Corporal five months later. In April 1916, he married Marguerite Giles at St Paul's church in Clapham.

On 19th December 1916, William was sent to France, joining the 1/15th London Regiment on 30th December and reverting to the rank of Private. The Battalion had sustained heavy casualties in the later stages of the Battle of the Somme, firstly on 15th September at High Wood and then on 7th October at the Butte de Warlencourt, and William would have been one of many fresh reinforcements brought in to bring the Battalion up to strength. In early 1917, the 1/15th Londons were in the Ypres Salient contending with enemy activity and freezing winter conditions. In mid-January, the Germans, attired in white garments, took advantage of the snow covering No Man's Land and carried out a successful raid on the British trenches.

In June, the Battalion was engaged in the Battle of Messines Ridge and it was here that William Doughton was wounded in the shoulder, but not seriously enough to merit his being evacuated to England. After four months out of the line at Le Treport and Le Havre, William was able to rejoin his unit in late October.

From 28th November till 6th December, the 1/15th London Regiment were in action in the vicinity of Bourlon Wood. On the 6th, the Battalion was subjected to a strong German attack and forced to withdraw from the village of Graincourt. Following a day of confused fighting, some of the Battalion found themselves surrounded by the enemy and, as darkness fell, attempted to slip through the lines and rejoin their comrades. Unfortunately, they ran into a large enemy force and were taken prisoner. William Doughton was one of those reported missing and later confirmed as a POW. He would spend the next year in captivity, only being repatriated to England in December 1918.

After serving for over three years, William was discharged from the army on 13th February 1919, his intended place of residence being given as 588 Wandsworth Road. He was lucky in one respect; his old employer, Victor Jay, was willing to offer him a position as a buyer and stock controller. His medals were issued to him in August 1921.

From Boy To Chief Petty Officer.

Africa General Service Medal with clasp "Somaliland 1902 - 04". HMS Hyacinth.
202698 T. H. Cross, Able Seaman, Royal Navy.

Thomas Henry Cross was born on 24th August 1883 at Plymouth. He was taken into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 20th January 1899 and spent the initial part of his career on HMS Ganges, a training establishment for boys, where he was advanced to Boy 1st Class eight months later. From August 1900 till February 1902, he served aboard HMS Camperdown, an Admiral-class battleship, and it was here that Thomas was rated Seaman and later Able Seaman, subsequently being given the sub-ratings of Trained Man followed by Qualified Gunner in 1902. In March 1903, during a spell at HMS Defiance, the Royal Navy Torpedo School, Thomas qualified as a Leading Torpedo Man. You can see photos of this establishment here.

In April 1903, he joined the crew of HMS Hyacinth, a Highflyer-class cruiser that had been launched in 1898 and one of the ships that took part in the Somaliland Campaign of 1902-04. It was here that Thomas earned his entitlement to the Africa General Service Medal. He stayed with Hyacinth until April 1906, being rated Leading Seaman in December 1905. In the years leading up to the First World War, Thomas served on a number of ships, including HMS Sutlej, HMS Donegal and HMS Prometheus, alternating with periods at HMS Defiance; he had been promoted to Petty Officer 2nd Class in 1907, passed professionally for Petty Officer in 1909 and qualified as a Torpedo Gunner's Mate in August 1910.

On the outbreak of war, Thomas Cross joined HMS Albion, a Canopus-class pre-dreadnought battleship that spent some months on the Cape and East Africa Station before being sent to the Dardanelles in 1915. Albion took part in the bombardment of the Turkish positons on March 18th in the attempt to force the Narrows by naval power alone; the endeavour failed and resulted in the loss of HMS Irresistible, HMS Ocean and the French battleship Bouvet. On 25th April, British and Australian troops landed on the Gallipoli peninsular. HMS Albion was badly damaged while supporting the landings and suffered further damage on May 24th when, having become stuck on a sandbank off Gaba Tepe, she became a target for Turkish artillery. Hit over 100 times but fortunately sustaining few casualties, the ship was towed free only after reducing weight and using the recoil effect of firing her main guns simultaneously.

HMS Albion returned to England in 1916 and was scrapped three years later. Thomas Cross later served on HMS Contest and HMS Valorous. He was promoted to Chief Petty Officer and stayed in the Navy until August 1923, when he transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve.

Pte. William Aitken, 2nd Dragoons.

Victory Medal.
4971 Pte. W. Aitken, 2nd Dragoons.

William Aitken was born in Kirkleston, Edinburgh, and enlisted into the 2nd Dragoons (Scots Greys) in 1900. He served in the Boer War and received the Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps "Cape Colony", "Orange Free State" and "Transvaal".
On the outbreak of the First World War, the 2nd Dragoons (Scots Greys) were stationed at York. They crossed to France in August 1914 as part of the 5th Cavalry Brigade and took part in the retreat from Mons and the cavalry action at Cerizy on 28th August, when two squadrons of the Greys and the 12th Lancers charged a force of dismounted German cavalry. It was a rare opportunity for the British Cavalry to use their speed and surprise to full effect, cutting down between 70 and 80 of the enemy. Throughout August and early September, cavalry continued to play a vital role in reconnaissance. On September 8th, a party of Scots Greys discovered a sizeable enemy force comfortably eating their breakfasts and were able to steal away and bring down accurate artillery fire on the unfortunate Germans.

By November the trench lines had been formed and the Scots Greys found themselves in the vicinity of Kemmel. It was around here that William Aitken lost his life on 3rd November 1914. His Medal Index Card says "died of wounds" while "Soldiers Died in the Great War - Part 1" lists him as killed in action. He was one of the 34 other ranks who died serving with the Scots Greys in 1914. William is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery (Nord) about seven kilometres from Kemmel Hill and is remembered on the Kirkliston War Memorial.