Those who served in both World Wars

Over 2 million Polish troops fought in the ranks of the armies of the Austria, Germany, Russia and France and 450,000 were killed. Many Poles served as professional or reserve officers. They were not only recruits but often volunteers collaborating with all powers and dreaming about autonomy or even independence. Practically all senior military officers of the Polish Army and resistance during WWII were veterans of Great War and/or Polish-Soviet War. For example, Wladyslaw Anders joined the Polish volunteer corps which fought alongside the Russians. In Polish-Soviet War he was CO of one of the cavalry regiments.

 

Stanislaw Sosabowski springs to mind. I believe he served in the Austrian Imperial Army in WW1.

 

Thanks for the replies !

 

Captain JOSEPH AFFORD

M C, D C M

139285, Reconnaissance Corps, R.A.C.
who died age 53
on 16 February 1942
Son of Charles and Jane Afford; husband of Constance Ellen Afford, of Hopwas Staffordshire. Also served in 1914-18 War.
Remembered with honour
OFFORD D'ARCY CEMETERY

 

Both medals awarded during WW1 too according to my books although I don't have 100% faith in my MC book.

 

Private CHARLES BRYANT FOSTER

14232901, Royal Army Ordnance Corps
who died age 43
on 13 March 1946
Son of Jonas and Emily Foster; husband of Anna Mary Foster, of Hammersmith, London. Also served in the 2nd Bn. Scots Guards in the 1914-18 War.
Remembered with honour
EAST FINCHLEY CEMETERY AND ST. MARYLEBONE CREMATORIUM

 

Serjeant GEORGE FRANCIS HARRY DAVEY

Mentioned in Despatches

531816, 3rd King's Own Hussars, Royal Armoured Corps
who died age 51
on 05 June 1946
Son of George Henry and Mary Ann Davey; husband of Ada Frances Davey, of Lower Edmonton. Also served in 1914-18 War.
Remembered with honour
EDMONTON CEMETERY, Middlesex

 

Colonel HAROLD CECIL HARRISON

C B, D S O

Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment)
and, General Staff
who died age 51
on 26 March 1940
Order of the Sacred Treasure of Japan. Son of Edward James Harrison and Laura Harrison; husband of Katie Harrison (nee Deeley), of Box, Wiltshire. Served as Assistant Adjutant, Royal Marine Artillery in the 1914-18 War.
Remembered with honour
EAST FINCHLEY CEMETERY AND ST. MARYLEBONE CREMATORIUM

 

Chief Engineer Officer JACK CLIFFORD GILLING

S.S. Almeda Star (London)., Merchant Navy
who died age 55
on 06 November 1940
Son of Henry Robinson Gilling and Eliza Isabel Gilling; husband of Sylvia Kelley Gilling, of Bedford. Also served in 1914-18 War.
Remembered with honour
BELLS HILL BURIAL GROUND

 

I mentioned this chap in another thread: Ernst Günther Burggaller. Born on March 21st 1896, he joined the German Army on August 4th 1914, serving in the artillery on the Eastern Front. Wounded, he then joined the Fliegerei and after flying training, joined Jasta 10 of the Jagdgeschwader Richthofen in 1917 and was promoted out of the ranks to Offizier.

Between the wars he was a reasonably successful racing driver, but in 1938 he rejoined the Luftwaffe as a pilot. Probably too late to serve in the Kondor Legion, but on September 1st 1939 he was a Major, commanding 4./JG 2, a fighter squadron tasked with home defence against any Polish threat. In October 1939 he took command of II./JG51, based at Eutingen in the south of Germany: the squadron saw little or no action there and Burggaller was their only casualty when his Bf109 crashed near Immenstaad on the north shore of Lake Constance during a low-flying exercise on February 2nd 1940.

Quite a career, all packed into less than 44 years!

 

All,

I have been re-reading a few of my books about the Battle for France as well as Raising Churchill's Army by David French and I have come across quite a few references to Regimental Officers and NCOs who served in both World Wars. It would seem promotion was slow between the wars, but were those who served in both wars prevalent in the regiments of 1940?

Regards

Rusty Buckle

 

Hi Rusty - Its not something I've really thought about and it is a interesting question.

I suspect that many WW1 vets that could may have joined a territorial unit post WW1 or as war drew nearer. This maybe one of the reasons why territorial division faired so well, certainly better than expected IMO. That said I'm not sure how many veterans would have been keen to fight after the hell of Flanders.

Another point of consideration is the labour units-These contained men of a more mature age and I have read on several occasions ages of 40 to 45 being mentioned which would fit with them being in both wars.

There was plenty of Senior Officers who fought in WW1 and starting at the top is Lord Gort who won a VC in WW1.

 

From a quick back-of-the-envelope calculation, well over 50,000 men aged 40 and over (and thus old enough to have served in WWI) enlisted or were called up into the British Army between the outbreak of war and mid-1941.

Best, Alan

 

My grandfather was 40 at around Dunkirk and he joined twice the first time he lied about his age when he went in the RA around late 1917 to be able to fight in early 1918 I believe but I'm researching that, and I know he went to India in the early 1920's as i have a picture of him in the Hockey team with the RA Garrison or Field gun and the second time he joined back up i think its around 1933/34 because he was a bombardier in 1940

 

Rusty, Drew & Allen,

Not wishing to hijack this thread, but it has always interested me in how many may have Boer War/China service through to WW2 with at least 1 campaign star.

I am aware of a few groups floating around 2 in particular,

Captain JL Gray QSA (Inperial Lt horse, WW1 trio Royakl Weslch fusiliers, Pacific Star 4 (HKVDC)

DSM, China, WW1 trio, burma Star 4 all to RN.

Others include NSW Gov't railway employees with Boer War,WW1 & enlisted in AIF serving in Africa earning Africa Star with Railways construction Bn.

I assume there would be more ratings/OR's than officers. Would you guys think a figure of 1000 would be optimitsic?

Regards

Simon

 

There was plenty of Senior Officers who fought in WW1 and starting at the top is Lord Gort who won a VC in WW1.

It certainly is an interesting question. I've just been taking a look through the list of Corps and Divisional Commanders of the BEF in 1940 and it appears every single one served on the Western Front between 1914-1918 winning between them V.C's, M.C's, numerous DSO's and MID's. I wonder how the experiences of that conflict affected, if at all, their decision making processes in 1940?

It will be interesting to see if anyone can contribute with examples of Junior Officers and NCO's who served in both.

Good thread.

JB

 

My father claims he had a uncle who fought in the Boer war, WW1 and WW2 (Dunkirk) I've never been able to prove/disprove the story but suspect its highly unlikely.

 

Quite intrigued by this Chap who due to my lack of knowledge on 1940 I must admit I'd never heard of. I wonder if he ever wrote his autobiography? Going to go and find out.

Dudley Graham Johnson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

My father claims he had a uncle who fought in the Boer war, WW1 and WW2 (Dunkirk) I've never been able to prove/disprove the story but suspect its highly unlikely.

Drew, easy to prove or disprove, next time your down at the NA.

would be an interesting look up

Regards

simon