Major GEORGE FOSTER GRETTON. The 7th Hariana Lancers
George was born on the 11th April 1878, first commissioned on the 24th June 1898, promoted to Major on the 1st of September 1915 and retired from service on the 6th of October 1918. The 7th Hariana Lancers arrived in Mesopotamia (Modern day Iraq) on 9th March 1915. They were present at the first capture of Kut el Amara (The only cavalry there), and went on to Ctesiphon. During George’s time in Mesopotamia he was to be put forward for a non-military award namely the Royal Humane society bronze medal.
His citation reads; ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY BRONZE MEDALS CITATIONS (1916)* Gretton, G.F. Captain Hariana Lancers. Case 42221 “On the 15th September 1915, two women, in order to avoid meeting the soldiers, went into the Tigris, in Mesopotamia, and were swept away. Gretton went in and brought them out one at a time.”
The Royal Humane society awards are for acts of saving life not for Military action.
Indian Cavalry(RFA). T D Ellison.
Australian Labour Battalion. P R Cook.
Australian Imperial Force (AIF). G Durnford (11th Battalion) and W G Garlick.
4435 Private WILLIAM GEORGE GARLICK.
28th Battalion Australian Infantry Force
William was attested on the 24th of February 1916 at B,B Hill Western Australia giving his trade as Farmhand. He listed his Next of kin as Elen Geo Garlick (Mother), Purton, Swindon, England. William declared previous service totaling 9 months with the Light Horse, On joining up was attached to the 28th Battalion AIF
Brief service details
2nd June 1916, Embarked Alexandria.
12th June 1916, Arrived Plymouth.
11th September 1916, Etaples, France.
24th September 1916, Marched out to unit & taken on strength.
6th November 1916, Wounded, France. Shell fragment in left thigh.
10th November 1916, Assessed in hospital in Rouen.
19th November 1916, admitted to hospital Etaples.
27th November 1916, Rejoined Battalion.
24th February 1917, Awarded 7 days Field Punishment No 2 for being “Absent from fatigues whilst in foreword area” (On the 18th February.).
14th April 1917, Sick in Hospital.
24th April 1917, admitted to Hospital in Rouen.
27th April 1917, England, Eastleigh Hospital , Southampton “Trench foot”.
5th June 1917, Deducted 2 days pay.
22nd November 1917, Proceeded to rejoin Battalion, France.
26th April 1918, Requests to return to ranks from L/Cpl.
11th May 1918, admitted Hospital with “Trench fever”.
13th May 1918, admitted Rouen Hospital.
6th June 1918, Rejoined Battalion.
3rd October 1918, wounded in action and admitted 50th CCS.
4th October 1918, admitted to Hospital in Rouen.
10th October 1918, admitted to Buchy.
22nd November 1918, rejoined Battalion.
22nd December 1918, granted leave to UK.
30th December 1918, rejoined from Leave.
19th February 1919, awarded 28 days Field Punishment No 2 “For conduct prejudice to good order and military discipline in that he deserted his post whilst on guard” 16th February.*
7th September 1919, proceeded to return Australia on SS Ommonde.
William’s military service was a steady mix of combat action, hospital admittance and military discipline. Poor health in the trenches was not uncommon and just after the war in 1918 an outbreak of influenza killed somewhere between 20 and 30 million people in a pandemic, ironically more than were killed in the Great War itself.
It is worth noting that had William deserted his post whilst on guard and War still been declared he may have faced either field punishment No1 or even execution.
• Field Punishment Number 1 consisted of the convicted man being shackled in irons and secured to a fixed object, often a gun wheel or similar. He could only be thus fixed for up to 2 hours in 24, and not for more than 3 days in 4, or for more than 21 days in his sentence. This punishment was often known as 'crucifixion' and due to its humiliating nature was viewed by many soldiers as unfair.
• Field Punishment Number 2 was similar except the man was shackled but not fixed to anything.
Royal Australian Navy (RAN). P J Barnes.
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). F P Bathe, H J Bathe, W S Bathe,(All 116th Btn) and M Prower (8th Btn).
745918, WILLIAM STANLEY BATHE.
746184, FRANCIS PERCY BATHE.
746327, HERBERT JOHN BATHE.
All 3 brothers were attested & placed into the 116th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force; the service numbers that they held has confirmed this. The brothers arrived in France on the 13th February 1917. Herbert Bathe was S.O.S. of the 116th on Feb. 21, 1917 due to illness.
William Bathe was S.O.S. of the 116th on Nov. 19, 1917 also due to illness. Francis Bathe was wounded during Vimy Ridge assault and struck off the strength of the 116th on Apr. 12, 1917. He later re-joined the 116th on Sep. 14, 1917, S.O.S. to the 116th on Mar. 17, 1919 to Canada for demobilization. The 3 brothers were born to Josia and Emily Bathe who had a total of 5 sons. According to the 1901 Census they resided at No 3 the Fox, in the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary’s, in the Civil Parish of Purton.
Canadian Machine Gun Corp. J Painter.
James was attested in Canada on the 27th March 1916, giving his trade on enlistment as that of a Police Constable. He listed his next of kin as Meshack Painter (Father), Pavenhill, Purton, Wiltshire.
On joining up was attached to the Canadian Expeditionary Force, eventually moving into the Canadian Machine Gun Corps.
Canadian Mechanical Transport Corps. F Woolford.
Fred was attested at Valcartier camp, Canada on the 19th September 1914, giving his tade on enlistment as that of a Fitter. He listed his Next of kin as Vera Emily Woolford, 2 the Villas, Purton, Wiltshire
American Expeditionary Force (AEF). A J Selby (127th Infantry).
The following list is that for villagers who served in British Regiments and returned safely home after the War. The list is taken from the book of remembrance inside St Mary’s church as well as further research I have carried out; all 3 branches of the military were served by villagers including the fledgling Royal Flying Corps. During further research some of those named below were found to give their residential details outside of Purton, they have been included as they are listed in the book of remembrance. I have listed them in order of seniority of service, the Royal navy followed by the Army and then The Royal Air Force. I havn`t however listed the Army list in order of Regimental seniority. If I have omitted anyone I apologize, I can swiftly amend this as well as any other detail held if you contact me. If they recieved awards I have included the distinction in brackets after their name.
ROYAL NAVY
Royal Navy. W Rawlinson, A H Walsh, S Willoughy.
Royal Marines. A J P Salter, C Strange.
Royal Marine Light Infantry. B G Brown, E W Burgess
Royal Marine Artillery. L L Mills.
H.M.S Hind. L Bunce.
H.M.S Cambrian. W G Cotterill.
H.M.S Audacious . V H Phelps.
H.M.S Cornwall. E R Holder.
Royal Naval Air Service. S L Kibblewhite.
ARMY
Grenadier Guards
P W Bowden, T Telling
Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry
H G A Compton, E C Garret, HWMatthews, W Matthews, E Richardson, H M H Robson,H Ward (Mentioned In dispatches).
Wiltshire Regiment
G B Bowen, E J Compton, A N Cook, W Coward, B Curtiss, J Curtiss, E F Cutts, F G Fisher, A Greenaway, F C Greenaway, A J Gunter, A H Gough, W Hedges, E R Hewer, H J Hunt, H E Huntly, A Jefferies, F Keen, A T King, C W Large, D Law, J Linsell, J Linsell, B Mills, F Morse, W F Nethercote, A Ockwell (Distinguished Conduct Medal ), H Piff, A Purnell, W Read, W J Selwood, A Shailes, E Shailes, W Shailes, H Stone, W Titcombe, H Woodward.
Hampshire Regiment
E J Bunce, S A Green, A F Hedges, A J King.
Gloucester Regiment
J H Back, J Davies, J H Timbrell, A L Woolford.
Dorsetshire Regiment
W J Hunt.
Royal Berkshire Regiment
C Griffin, S E Kennett, F E Parsons, L J Smith, C Woolford, C Griffin.
Devonshire Regiment
E C Rumming.
Bedfordshire Regiment
E Holder
Warwickshire Regiment
M Bunce, R O Cook.
Lancashire Fusiliers
C Gough.
East Lancashire Regiment
A T Brown, C Reeve, W Selwood.
Kings Liverpool Regiment
R M Woolford.
Manchester Regiment
W E Cook.
London territorial Regiment
C J Kibblewhite.
Royal West Kent Regiment
C R King.
East Surrey Regiment
A T Brown
Suffolk Regiment
A P Richardson.
Hussars
A W Barrington –Foote.
Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
P W Barrington-Foote, J Titcombe.
Rifle Brigade
J New.
Lincolnshire Regiment
H W Phelps.
West Somerset Yeomanry
M kempster.
North Somerset Yeomanry
R Shailes.
South Staffordshire Regiment
J Greenaway
Royal Engineers
E Brewer, F Eatwell, S Holder, W Slade, W Telling, F Titcombe, F Saunders, R C Iles (RFC, RAF).
Royal Artillery
P W Bowden, A G Curtis, R C Barrington-Foote (Military Cross), T Hale, M Iles, P Packer,E E Page, A L Trollope.
Royal Field Artillery
S G back, W Cook, W W Cowdry, G A P Evans, J C A Evans, M R V Evans, F G Garlick, R B Harrison, F Hayes, E R Hewer, V J Hunt, A P Jefferies, J Giles, A Martin, A H Martin, L A Martin,T Martin, A E Ovens, J Saunders, E Selby, L V Selby, J H Smith, W H Smith, R L Stephens, H Titcombe, W Woodward, F G Garlick,, L W Gough, E Ponting (Military Medal).
Royal Garrison Artillery
J Birchell, D T Bunce, J Hale M H Price, E Saunders, W Tidmarsh, G E Woolford,G Brown (Anti Aircraft)
CORPS
Labour Corps
R J Alison, P Gleed, H Huntley.
Tank Corps
A H Hedges.
Royal Rifle Corps
B Woodward
Royal army Veterinary Corps
C Dodson, CC Grist, B R M Robson
Machine Gun Corps
A J Mussell (Meritorious Service Medal), F J Price, F Selwood, W F Selwood, C H Staley, H Tuck.
Royal Army Medical Corps
L W Mussell, A F Ovens, D Woodward, E L Woolford.
Royal Army Service Corps
H W Bartlett, W G Bridgeman, W Harvey, C Kinnet, F Newman, A G Shailes (RFC), A Tidmarsh, E J Gardner, G D Gardner, G H C Mills, C Morse, A E Young
Royal Flying Corps
F Leach, R Shailes.
Royal Irish Regiment
B Plummer.
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
A G Harris .
Royal Welch Fusiliers
A K Richardson.
South Wales Borderers
G Collier.
A Canning,
H E J Compton
A H Gough
Royal Air Force
Sgt Leonard Ovens (Croix de Guerre avec Palme)