Phaleristics

[Variantealta]

Got to ask whats your hobby?

[Unknownsoldier]

Phaleristics.

Tom

[Variantealta]

which is the study of...dare i ask

[Unknownsoldier]

ODM (Ok, I'll put you out of your misery, Orders Decorations and Medals and the men behind them, hence everyone is an Unknownsoldier, until researched).

ATB,
Tom

[Variantealta]

That's very cool...it must be a really interesting hobby....

I feel a bit guilty having made light of your name above....sorry my friend.....

I have to ask have you ever studied Muttley and his medal obssession?

[Unknownsoldier]

No worries VA, I'm glad some one finds it interesting (most people think I'm rather boring ).

I think it's interesting, you get a bit of silver with just a name, and then if you dig hard enoguh you can find the guys whole life, from where he was born, to where he met his maker (sadly often in some foreign field). I bought a gong recently, a Royal Victorian Medal to one of the Guards Pall bearers at Edward the VII's funeral, with a bit of digging, I found:

I'll post the bit from my showcase (if a mod wants to split this off to another bit I'll understand, it is totally off topic afterall ):

IN MEMORY OF:
13789 Pte Harry Ward 1st Bn Grenadier Guards RVM MM
May his memory live, as he had no chance too.
Harry was born in 275 Fereston (?) road, Radford Nottinghamshire around 1896, he had 3 older brothers, and 2 sisters (1 aged 15 and 1 aged 1).


When he was old enough, it would seem, that Harry joined the Army, the Grenadier Guards, 1st Bn, in 1910, along with 11 other Grenadier Guardsmen, he formed part of the honour Guard to march besides the coffin of Edward the Seventh. For this service Harry was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal in Bronze.



RVM (EdVII) Bronze: 7 June 1910
WARD, Harry. Pte King's Coy. 1st Bn Grenadier Guards: HM Funeral






[http://www.thamesweb.co.uk/windsor/w...Ifuneral.html]

2nd Bn Grenadier Guards:
4.8.14 Chelsea: 4th (Guards) Bde. 2nd Div. 15.8.14 Landed at Havr 20.8.15 to 1st Guards Bde. Guards Div.
On the 25th September 1917, 13789 Lcpl H.Ward of the 2nd Bn Grenadier Guards was awarded an MM for Bravery in the Field (hopefully the war diary will help to confirm what his actions were that lead to the award).
On the 1st December 1917 the 1st Guards division was at Cambrai, unfortunately Harry lost his life this day.

Name: WARD, HARRY
Initials: H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Serjeant
Regiment/Service: Grenadier Guards
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Date of Death: 01/12/1917
Born In: Radford, Notts
Service No: 13789
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 2.
Memorial: CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL

The Plan:
An attack on Cambrai using tanks was initially proposed by J.F.C. Fuller in June 1917 and almost simultaneously by Henry Hugh Tudor. Both plans were taken up by Julian Byng, Commander of the Third Army. Douglas Haig approved the plan as 'Operation GY' in September 1917, following another failure at Ypres. The Somme region was chosen for several reasons, one in particular for the tanks - the hope that the flatter, chalk terrain would be better for tanks than the deep clay slurry found by this time, on the Flanders Front.

The initial scope of the battle by Fuller, as reported by Liddell Hart, was for a raid "to destroy...demoralize and disorganize...and not to capture ground" taking eight to twelve hours with 9 battalions of tanks and at most three divisions of infantry or cavalry. Byng took the idea to Haig but the idea stalled initially with the focus on the battle at Ypres. By the time the focus shifted the raid had become a full-sized assault.
The plan was quite complex, but basically the German line would be broken by a concentrated attack across a narrow front (around five miles) between the Canal du Nord and St Quentin canal and then Cambrai would be encircled and Bourlon Ridge captured. Certain newly developed tactics would be employed, including the use of air interdiction and mixed infantry and tank formations. Cavalry was also included in the plan, expanding through a 'cavalry gap' towards the River Sensée. The assault was assigned to the divisions of the British Fourth Army; of these no fewer than ten were still recovering from the slaughter at Third Ypres. Their commander, Byng, was much more optimistic of the potential success than Haig. The defending force was part of the German Second Army under General Georg von der Marwitz, designated Gruppe Caudry (or XIII Corps) it initially consisted of the 20th, 54th, 9th Reserve and 183rd divisions.
The divisions of the British III and IV Corps were to lead the attack. III Corps would attack in the south (right) between Crèvecoeur and Bonavis, with cavalry divisions waiting to exploit the bridgehead to be formed around Marcoing and Masnières. IV Corps was to advance in the north (left), capturing Havrincourt, Flesquières, Graincourt and Cantaing before allowing reserve and cavalry divisions to take Bourlon and the significant ridge. V Corp was assigned to follow up these successes to take the ground up to the River Sensée and secure crossings. The Tank Corps (soon to be renamed the Royal Tank Regiment) under Brigadier Hugh Elles provided its entire strength, over 350 fighting Mark IV tanks for the first day of the battle, 476 in all over the course of the battle. There were 216 tanks in the initial advance with 96 in reserve. A certain few of the tanks were equipped with massive wood fascines to aid trench crossing or special 'grapnels' to aid wire removal. The first advances were mixed tank and infantry in 'Tank Battle Drill', with a leading tank echelon and then 50 yards back infantry platoons in two files, assigned as eight platoons per tank as either trench cleaners or trench 'stop'. Fourteen Royal Flying Corps squadrons were assigned to the battle, to provide trench strafing and to cover the noise of the tanks' advance.

The Attack:
The battle began at 0600 on 20 November. It opened with a carefully prepared and predicted but unregistered fire barrage by 1,003 guns on key German defences followed by smoke and a creeping barrage at 300 yards ahead to cover the first advances. Despite efforts to preserve secrecy, the German forces had received sufficient intelligence to be on moderate alert: an attack on Havrincourt was anticipated, as was the use of tanks.
Initially there was considerable success in most areas, and it seemed as if a great victory was within reach; the Hindenburg Line had been successfully penetrated with advances of up to 8 km achieved. On the right, the 12th (Eastern) Division advanced as far as Lateau Wood before digging in was ordered; the 20th (Light) Division forced a way through La Vacquerie and then advanced to capture a key bridge across the St Quentin canal at Masnières. The fate of the bridge is unclear. It was certainly destroyed but that was either by German demolition or by the weight of tanks attempting to pass over it. Whatever the cause it halted the hopes for advance there. In the centre the British captured Ribécourt and Marcoing, but when the cavalry passed through, late, they were dealt a sharp blow and fell back from Noyelles.
In the centre the 51st (Highland) Division was stalled at its first objective, Flesquières, and left the advances around it exposed. It is believed that the commander of the 51st, G.M. Harper, substituted his own tank drill for the standard one and that an excessive space between the tanks and the infantry contributed to the failure. Flesquières was also one of the strongest points in the German line and was flanked by other strong points. Its defenders under Major Krebs also acquitted themselves well against the tanks, engaging them aggressively. Almost forty tanks were knocked out by the Flesquières artillery, including sixteen by a single gun manned by a lone gunner.[citation needed] Despite this the Germans were forced to abandon Flesquières during the night.

British tank crossing a trenchOn the left the 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division swept all the way through Havrincourt and Graincourt to within reach of the woods on Bourlon Ridge and the 36th (Ulster) Division on their left reached the Bapaume-Cambrai road. Of the tanks 180 were out of action after the first day, although only 65 had been destroyed. Of the remainder 71 had suffered mechanical failure and 43 had been 'ditched'. The British had suffered around 4,000 casualties and had taken 4,200 prisoners, a casualty rate half that of Third Ypres (Passchendaele), and a greater advance in six hours than in three months there.
However the British had failed to reach the heights of Bourlon Ridge. The German command was quick to send up reinforcements overnight and was relieved that the British did not manage to fully exploit their early gains. When the battle was renewed on the 21st the pace of British advance was greatly slowed. The abandoned Flesquières and then Cantaing were captured in the very early morning but in general the British took to reinforcing their gains rather than expanding. The efforts of III Corps were officially halted and attention was turned to IV Corps.
The continuing effort was aimed at the ridge. Fighting was fierce around Bourlon and at Anneux, just before the woods, was very costly. German counters squeezed the British out of Moeuvres (21st) and Fontaine (22nd). Even when Anneux was taken the 62nd found themselves unable to even enter Bourlon Woods. The British were left exposed in a salient. Haig still wanted Bourlon Ridge and the exhausted 62nd Division was replaced by the 40th Division under John Ponsonby on the 23rd. Supported by almost a hundred tanks and 430 guns the 40th attacked into the woods of Bourlon Ridge on the morning of the 23rd. They made little progress. The Germans had put two divisions of Gruppe Arras on the ridge with another two in reserve, Gruppe Caudry was reinforced and to challenge the RFC the squadrons under the Red Baron were assigned. The British 40th did reach the crest of the ridge but were held there and suffered over 4,000 casualties for their efforts in three days.
More British troops were pushed in to move beyond the woods to Fointaine. But the British reserves were rapidly depleted and the Germans were still sending in more reinforcements. The final British effort was on the 27th by the 62nd Division aided by thirty tanks. Early success was soon reversed by a German counterattack. The British now held a salient roughly 11 km by 9.5 km with its front along the crest of the ridge. On the 28th the offensive was officially ended and the British troops were ordered to lay wire and dig in. The Germans were quick to concentrate their artillery on the new British positions. On the 28th over 16,000 rounds were fired into the wood.

Counter Attack:
As the British used up their strength to take the ridge the Germans were reinforcing the area more generally. As early as the 23rd the German command felt that a British breakthrough would not occur and began to consider a counter-offensive. 20 divisions were arrayed in the Cambrai area. The Germans intended to retake the Bourlon salient and also to attack around Havrincourt while diversionary attacks would hold IV Corps. Overall it was hoped to at least reach the old positions on the Hindenburg Line. The Germans intended to employ the new tactics of a short, intense period of shelling followed by a rapid assault using Hutier infiltration tactics, leading elements attacking in groups rather than waves and bypassing strong opposition. For the initial assault at Bourlon three divisions of Gruppe Arras under Otto von Moser were assigned.
The German attack began at 0700 on 30 November. Almost immediately the majority of III Corps divisions were heavily engaged. Gruppe Caudry attacked from Bantouzelle to Rumilly and aimed for Marcoing. Gruppe Busogny was targeted from Banteux. The initial speed of the German infantry's advance was completely unexpected by the British. The commands of 29th and 12th divisions were almost captured, with Brigadier-General Vincent having to fight free from his own encircled headquarters and then grab men from any retreating units to try to halt the Germans. In the south the German advance spread across eight miles and came within a few miles of the vital village of Metz and its link to Bourlon. At Bourlon itself the men under Moser met with stiffer resistance. The British had assigned eight divisions worth of fire support to the ridge and the Germans suffered heavy casualties. Despite this the Germans closed and there was fierce fighting. British units displayed reckless determination - one group of eight British machine guns fired over 70,000 rounds in their efforts to stem the German advance around Bourlon.
The concentration of British effort to hold the ridge was impressive but allowed the German advance elsewhere greater opportunities. Only the fortunate arrival of British tanks and the fall of night allowed some form of line to be held. By the following day the impetus of the German advance was lost, but continued pressure on 3 December led to the German capture of La Vacquerie and the withdrawal of the British from the east of the St Quentin canal. The Germans had reached a line looping from the ridge at Quentin to near Marcoing. Their capture of Bonvais ridge made the British hold on Bourlon precarious.

Ahhh, Muttley;

That snickering hound,
He always wants medals that are not be found,
But to win these things that glitter with gold,
He has to do what is asked, what he is repeatedly told.........
THAT IS TO......STOP THE PIGEON.....

ATB,
Tom

[Jack The Lad.]

Tom, I should link you up with my Son In Law.
He must be well on his way to having read every book going regarding the 1st & 2 World Wars.
He goes to France, Italy, to look at war graves and has spent hours up in the London archives, tracing his Great Grandfather's efforts in the great war.
He's reading up on Monti Casino now.

[Unknownsoldier]

Cool, let me know if he needs any help, my researcher is always up there for me (and I do loads online, believe me the NA, have no idea how to file things away properly):

Interesting part of the war, I prefer Anzio, but I am biased of course Heres a couple that might interest him (and maybe a couple of other people):

899429 Bmbr Barnes MM R.A. (64th Field Regiment)


MM for Anzio:
On 18th february 44' All attempts at maintenance of the forward post with ration and wireless batteries had failed owing to enemy to enemy fire. Bmbr Barnes volunteered to take batteries to the post, although fully aware of the hazardous nature of the enterprise. Under constant shell-fire, mortar fire and sniping from small arms, bmdr barnes accompanied by l/bdr Hughes reached the bn HQ and delivered the sorely needed batteries. By his bravery and determination communications were upheld. Upon his return to the bty OP which was 400x in rear of bn HQ, bdr Barnes reported his ission completed to the OP officer , and then helped to defend the OP which was being attacked by the enemy armed flame throwers(!!!!) Bdr Barnes continued to use his TSMG. In defence of the OP until wounded and the party was ordered to withdraw. By his great determination and bravery in delivering batteries to his battery commander hen sorely need and his subsequent defence of the OP until wounded, Bdr Barnes showed a splendid example and it was largely due to his efforts that continuous support by the Artillery was maintained on the front of the 7th Btn Oxford and Buckinghamshire L.I."
This was one of only 4 MMs for Anzio awarded to the RA.
No. 899429 Bombardier Eric Jaberth Barnes, Royal
Regiment of Artillery (Rye, Sussex).


S992 Sjt J.P.Dobson MBE, DCM**, MM, ED: York & Lancs'


MM; 11/11/1916
Around this time the 9th Btn Y&L, I believe, were at the Somme.
DCM; 25/NOV/1916
Around this time the 9th Btn Y&L, I believe, were at the Somme.
S992 Sjt. J. P. Dobson, 9th Btn York & Lanc. R.
For conspicuous gallantry in action. He organised and led a bombing party and repulsed an enemy counter-attack. He assumed command of his company, displaying great courage and initiative. Later, although wounded, he greatly assisted in repulsing an enemy bombing attack.
DCM 1st bar; 17/Apr/1917
Around this time the 9th Btn Y&L, I believe, were at Arras.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He consistantly did magnificient work throughout the operations. When a shell burst in the trench and buried two NCO's, he was the first to go to their assistance, and, under heavy fire, dug them out, thereby saving the life of one of them. His splendid example did much to reassure the men under very trying conditions.
DCM 2nd Bar; 19/NOV/1918
Around this time the 9th Btn Y&L, I believe, were at Piave/Sacile.
8992 C/S/M J.P.Dobson, DCM, MM , 9th Bn, Y&L Regt (Snaith) (ITALY)
For conspicuous gallantry and daring on the 30th-31st October 1918, in the Piave battle. He commanded a patrol in front of of our line, and in face of machine gun fire and rifle fire gained valuable information. On 31st October, during the attack on Sacile he led his men, under heavy fire from the houses, right down the main street, capturing it and taking many machine guns and prisoners.
Al Valore Militaire (Italy); 25/MAY/1917
MBE: 2nd June 1943;
Major John Pearson Dobson Y&L Regt'[/b]


Sergeant Thomas James Sevier MM MSM 2/3rd South Midland Field Ambulance R.A.M.C. (T.F.)


MM February 1917,
MSM awarded for:
"This N.C.O has performed meritous service in the DVINA force. Practically the whole time he has been the senior N.C.O. in the forward hospital at TOULGAS. On one occasion when the hospital was captured by the enemy, by his presence of mind, in remaining with the patients, he protected them when threatened, and pursuaded the enemy to sit downto tea, until the the village was recaptured."


SC.6603 CORPORAL K.E.FOWLER ROYAL CANADIAN REGIMENT,
Gazette Website: PDF Navigator=


Citation:

Lt Gardner received the Military Cross for his part in this recce.

Last one I promise;




Obituary for: Brigadier Tristram Lyon-Smith CBE DSO, Late RA (Retd)
Brigadier Tristram Lyon-Smith died at the Winchester Clinic on 29th November 1982, aged 87 years. Known as Tiger to all Gunners he was born in 1895, was educated at Uppingham and the RMA Woolwich and commissioned into the Royal Artillery in September 1914.
He served in FRance and Belgium almost the entire war, was promoted to Captain in 1917, was wounded and mentioned in Despatches.
These years made a lasting impression on him and undoubtedly affected his subsequent attitude towards discipline and training.
Inthe inter-war years he served in England, Egypt and twice in India [21/3/1923 - 20/1/1927] ; Got his 'Jacket' as Battery Captain of The Rocket Troop and commanded Eagle troop. His interest in Sport, particularly Cricket and Horses, formed an important part of his life.
In 1940 he commanded a regiment in the BEF returning through Dunkirk. A year later he was a Brigadier commanding The Support Group in the newly formed 6th Armoured Division.
Here his early experience in the First War and his many years as regimental officer gave him the opportunity to form and train, most successfully, a Support Group consisting of four Gunner regiments and one infantry battalion.
As one of his CO's at the time writes 'His energy , enthusiasm and refusal to accept anything but the best, judged by his own high standards was a spur and an inspiration. Also a penance to the less dedicated, who he soon weeded out.'
He was a man of very direct character who faced any problem head on and was not deflected by difficulties. If at times he was rather outspoken with his contemporaries and seniors, his juniors such as Battery Commanders and NCO's learnt to take heed of what he taught and his appearance on muddy positions or at OPs with words of encouragement, advice and occasionally praise, was welcomed in the battles of North Africa and Italy.
With the advent of Radio he was one of the first to realise that massed artillery fire could be controlled from an OP quickly and efficiently.
He left 6th Armoured Division in Italy in 1943 to become CRA 7th Armoured Division for the normandy Landings and the advance across France into Germany in 1944 and 1945.
He was sadly to lose two wives, Phil in 1947 and Mabs in 1972. He leaves a daughter, Antonia Hunt; to her we offer our deepest sympathy.
Despatches WW1 + WW2: [7/719 + 9/8/45] (If anyone can come up with actions for these dates I would love to know)
His CBE citation (for around Argenta Gap) [11/10/45]:

His DSO Citation [8/7/43]:

Y Division was formed on 17th February 1943 and disbanded on (at least in existence till 15th March) ?
It's commanding officer was (intially Brigadier Lyon Smith, an artillery officer)
Its main definative formations were:
38th (Irish) Infantry Brigade (CO Brigadier N Russell)
:- 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers
:- 6th Inniskilling
:- 2nd London Irish Rifles
1st Parachute Brigade (Brigadier E W C Flavell)
:- 1st Parachute Btn
:- 2nd Parachute Btn
:- 3rd Parachute Btn
:- 1st Parachute Sqn RE
:- 16th Parachute Field Ambulance
:- J Section 2 Company Airborne Divisional Signals
Those units in Italics were officially attached to the Brigade between 23/09/42 & 06/05/43. Though wheather they stayed with the Brigade during Y's existence can't be confirmed 100% it seems likely they were.
Units likely within its make up were:
:- Sqn Derbyshire Yeomanry
:- Sqn 142 RAC (Churchills)
:- 152nd Field Regt RA
:- A French Infantry Regiment or Battalion
Units that have been identified as operating with Y, but may not have been officially Y OoB
:- 1st Guards Brigade (CO Brigadier F A V Copland-Griffiths)
:- 3rd Grenadier Guards
:- 2nd Coldstream Guards
:- 2nd Hampshire Regt (18th Feb'43 to 22nd Feb)
:- 3rd Welsh Guards (from 1st March'43)
:- 9th Welch Regt (from 9th March'43
*** It seems that from March 9th this Brigade had 4 Btn's under its control
:- American RCT
:- British Tank Regt (Churchills)
:- AT-TK unit(?)
Others
No 6 Commando

ATB,
Tom

[Jack The Lad.]

Their internet is off at the moment, as they are in the process of moving .
He will be interested, when I show your post to him, when they next come over for a meal.
Last time he was at the archives, he mentioned too, that the staff were a bit laid back. (To say the least).