991954 John Parry HALL of 11th RHA who was captured 21/1/42 in the German Counter Offensive around El Agheira
Morton George Phillips 2909 (later 200917) of 2/1st London Regiment who was taking POW 21/4/18 at Villers - I'm not certain of his Battalion as there seems to have been a bit of restructuring and by the time he was captured 2/1st doesn't seem to have existed which makes it difficult to find the correct War Diary that covers him
UK, Silver War Badge Records, 1914-1920 Name: Morton G. Phillips Rank: CSM Military Year: 1920 Regiment: London Regiment Regimental Number: 200917 Discharge Unit: London Discharge Regiment: 1st Ldn Rgt. Badge Number: 473582 Piece: 3176 List Number: TP 5201-5500 Record Group: WO Record Class: 329 UK, World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920 Name: Morton George Phillips Military Year: 1914-1920 Rank: Company Sergeant Major Unit: 1st (City of London) Battalion (Royal Fusiliers) Company: WO 329 Regiment or Corps: London Regiment Regiment Number: 200917 Medal Awarded: British War Medal and Victory Medal These all seem to refer to 1st (City of London) Battalion
If you look at London Regiment - The Long, Long Trail (longlongtrail.co.uk) there isn't a straightforward 1st Battalion, at the top of the 1st page his unit is given as 2/1st and 8/3/16 he signs his will off as 2/1st - a couple of months later 2/1st was disbanded so not sure where he went then - his POW records from the Red Cross again say 1st London's but there isn't a 1st and lots of 1/... Battalions. I guess I should check the WD's for the disbandment in case it has a list of postings
Those battalions are a minefield 1/1st (City of London) Battalion (Royal Fusiliers) 6 February 1918 : absorbed the disbanded 2/1st Bn and renamed 1st Bn
Cheers for that, I managed not to see the wood for the trees - however while that does tie in with the records it adds more confusion as at that time they were out the line (and in a different place) they were providing work parties but no casualties (1 wounded the next day) with this gent being a CSM if he was missing/captured on a quiet day I'd expect a mention. I think the search goes on unfortunately
I guess its narrowed it down to about 3 months, do you info saying what the 1st were doing in April 1918? Would assume he was captured during the Ludendorff offensive or German spring offensive - Ludendorff offensive, was a series of German attacks along the Western Front during the First World War Date 21 March – 18 July 1918 German spring offensive - Wikipedia
As mentioned the 1st were doing work parties so basically assisting in rear areas and around Arras (which is about 20 miles from Villers). The Germans attacked Villers early April but were held up but attacked again on the 24th April - the 2 Red Cross Docs mention 21st, but I wonder if it may have been the 24th, on the medal roll you posted it has him with the London's until 24/4/18 so I'd say thats the point the Army considers him off their strength. If he was captured at the 2nd Battle of Villers Bretonneux it would probably be 173rd Brigade although I need to check the makeup of the Brigade
Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux - Wikipedia Date 24–25 April 1918 173rd Brigade of British 58th Division
B720 Rifleman John E Fitzgerald, 8th Rifle Brigade - captured probably March - April 1918, at some point he also suffered a shrapnel wound I think to the leg - nice of him to have what is basically a "Business Card" showing exact details of his unit. I've had CSM Phillips AB64 for years and this one for about a year and had no idea either were POW's but every now and again going back over records can turn things up, so always worth revisiting bits you thought you had taken to their limits just in case - the WW1 casualty lists available through the National Library of Scotland website and covering late war turned up Fitzgerald as missing (Red Cross website confirmed him as a POW) and also revealed that about 10 other men whose paybooks I have were wounded where previously I thought they had made it through unscathed.
UK, British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 Name: John E Fitzgerald Military Date: 1914-1920 Military Place: England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, United Kingdom Regiment or Corps: Rifle Brigade Regimental Number: B720 UK, World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920 Name: John Edward Fitzgerald Military Year: 1914-1920 Rank: Private Company: WO 329 Regiment or Corps: Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort´s Own) Regiment Number: B/720 Medal Awarded: British War Medal and Victory Medal
Hi Alastair, You may not be aware that Red Cross digitised their WW1 records in time for the 2014 centenary and created an internet searchable database. You may well find quality information on his unit at the time of his capture via that avenue of enquiry. From posts on GWF I know that it is a database that is sometimes difficult to navigate (rather like London Gazette) but I’ll try and find a link for you and add it in this post by an edit. Steve EDIT TO ADD I’ve copied and posted this link from GWF - just change the name field to your man. Good Luck Steve Prisoners of the First World War | International Committee of the Red Cross - Specify your search criteria Further edit to add that having now read your Fitzgerald post above I suspect you may already be aware of the Red Cross database.
Hi Steve, Yup I've been using the Red Cross website to check my WW1 POW's, you don't get much but it tends to give the date and place of capture as well as a note if they were wounded which is very useful - sometimes you also get a bit about them being freed - unfortunately for Fitzgerald he just has the index card and a list saying he has been freed
40586 Pryce Percy Sewell of 2nd Northamptonshire Regiment, he was captured 27/5/18 during Operation Blucher part of the Spring Offensive, his Battalion suffered a heavy barrage including gas after which attacks were launched on their right flank which resulted in them becoming isolated and overrun - 2 of the earlier books on the thread Tandy & Wood were also captured the same day with their Battalions 2-3 miles to the North West
3247673 Philip BURTON of 2nd Cameronians, he was captured 18/5/44, I believe at Anzio although I'm not sure, if anyone has the Battalion War diary can they please have a check, cheers