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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: Ibbo2000 on Thursday 08 November 18 15:01 GMT (UK)
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Hi,
I am researching my great uncle George Sharp Allen of the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and noticed he was awarded the Military Medal, Ancestry records indicate he was mentioned in despatches. Is there any records I could look at that may indicate why he was awarded the medal. Would it be mentioned in the war diaries for the regiment? if so is there anyway of finding the date of the mention (would save a lot of time as as far as I can see the diary runs for approx 700 pages) or is there any other possible record sources?
I know he died on 14/7/1916 and is buried at Departement de la Somme.
Many thanks
Kev.
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The MM London Gazette entry is here:
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/12997/page/1833
More in a moment.
MaxD
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The MID is here:
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29200/supplement/5991
More later
MaxD
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Also according to 'The Genealogist' website - there was an entry in the London Gazette for his mention in despatches on 22 June 1915.
Experience has taught me that this date is not always accurate!
You can join the Gazette website -- it is free to search, but a bit complicated!
Looks like George was shown as G.S. Allen and his number was 3321.
(I see that Max beat me to it -- and the date on the Genealogist site was not accurate again!)
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In each case you should look from about three months earlier than the award date. Unfortunately, citations for the MM are only rarely to be found, the date of his MM suggests some time during the July/September period in the Somme battles. The MID in 1915 suggest 2nd Ypres in April/May. In each case look for (exceptionally) his name or more likely an account of some particular action where the battalion excelled itself. May be able to add more.
MaxD
Pennines - the publication date was 18 Jun 1915 although the supplement was 22 June, pays your money takes your choice!
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Hello MaxD and Pennines
Many thanks for the info and gazette links. Tried searching on the Gazette site earlier and found absolutely nothing (searching his name brought up a few hits but opening the page I couldn't see his name).
Will have a look at the diaries later, for the time period mentioned, at least it narrows down the number of pages to search.
Many thanks again for your help
Kev.
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This page is the beginning of the list of names that were the "Mentions" in the CinC's despatch of 31 May 1915:
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29200/supplement/5991
That refers back to his main despatch which covers operations since 2 Feb 1915:
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29128/supplement/3678
That narrows down the MID dates to Feb/May 1915.
maxD
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Max -- I never fail to be amazed at your depth of military knowledge. You always seem to come up with the goods.
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You are too kind I just join the dots.
Some of the other Northumberland Fusiliers in the same MM list as Pte Allen were presented with their medals by GOC 9 Brigade on 23 Oct 1916 (in the diary). There are others mentioned in September specifically mentioning the action on 14 July. Given that Pte Allen was killed on 17 July, I'd go for the 14th being the action for which he was awarded the MM.
MaxD
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I too am amazed at how quick you could find the information, I thought i was useful at carrying out searches but was stumped by the Gazette.
Many thanks for narrowing the 'window' to search for me.
Kev.
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Just noting that 3321 Pte G S Allen was hospitalised at No 3 CCS in late February 1915 suffering from the effects of cold feet (along with many other soldiers).
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=S2/GBM/MH106/MH106-287/0024&parentid=GBM/MH106/239119
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Hi ShaunJ
thanks for the link, will keep it in mind for when I rejoin Findmypast.
Kev.
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Hello again,
After a few more searches, I notice on the Somme Roll of honour website, would i be correct in believing that George was part of the 1st Battalion, 9th Brigade, 3 Division. If so he was likely killed on the 14/7/1916 during the attack and capture of Bazentin-le-Grand.
Am I understanding this correctly or totally mistaken?
I only started this again today as although being a member of Ancestry they are now offering free access to Fold3 for a few days (and trying to remember who I was researching months ago when I couldn't access Fold3) - needless to say it wasn't George.
Regards
Kev.
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That's exactly the action I referred to earlier in which a number of other men were also awarded MMs. 1st Northumberland Fusiliers was indeed in 9 Brigade in Division (hence GOC 9 Brigade presenting medals I referred to before).
You haven't read the diary yet?
MaxD
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There's another record on FindMyPast which may be of interest. It has the dates of his various promotions and demotions (presumably taken from the regimental paper, the St George’s Gazette). It appears that he was a pre-war volunteer.
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBM/NORTHUMFUSILIERS/046232
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And to keep the info flowing, his service number indicates joining in 1911 which would add up with his first Good Conduct badge Jan 1914.
MaxD
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Thanks again for even more info, surprised that he joined in 1911, he would have been very young at the time ~16 (born 23/7/1895).
Now off to the War diaries (if I have the correct one)
Thanks
Kev.
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One clarification from your first post on the thread. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial to the missing:
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/773226/allen,-george-sharp/
More reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bazentin_Ridge
MaxD
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Thanks MaxD, for spotting that, I took the 'burial record' from findagrave which listed Department de la Somme, should have clicked through further and spotted it was the Thiepval Memorial.
Cheers
Kev.
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Thanks MaxD for the Wiki link, have now read that along with the War diaries, both very interesting reading.
And also thanks ShaunJ - have now viewed the findmypast links (theres free access this weekend).
Kev.