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Armed Forces / Percy Smith 5th Battalion Wiltshires Mesopotamia 1916
« on: Tuesday 18 March 25 14:55 GMT (UK) »
Good afternoon all, I’m researching my great-grandfather, Percy Fredrick Smith, who served in the 5th (Service) Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment during World War I. According to army records, he was born in 1895, but family records state 1896. He enlisted on 4th September 1914 at just 17 years old and had never left London before joining the army.
Military Service:
Trained in England at Tidworth, Cirencester, and Woking.
Landed at Gallipoli on 17th July 1915 (V Beach, Cape Helles).
Fought at Suvla Bay and in the Battle of Scimitar Hill (10th August 1915), where his battalion suffered heavy losses.
Potentially wounded or fell ill at Gallipoli, as he has two wound markers on his medal card, but this is uncertain.
Evacuated from Gallipoli in January 1916, part of the general withdrawal.
Deployed to Mesopotamia (February 1916) to assist in the relief of Kut-al-Amara.
Wounded on 5th April 1916 at Fallahiya/Sannaiyat, where the 5th Wiltshires took heavy casualties.
Appeared in The Times Casualty List (2nd May 1916) and The Evening Swindon Advertiser (2nd May 1916), confirming his wounding.
Likely received treatment at Amara or Basra before being admitted to 21st General Hospital, Alexandria (4th June 1916).
Discharged on 8th August 1916, marked as no longer fit for military service.
Silver War Badge Roll entry (C/124) confirms his discharge.
Had a man-to-man blood transfusion, which his daughter only discovered after experiencing the same procedure herself decades later.
Documented Sources & Records:
Medal Index Card (MIC) – Confirms service, theatre entry, and Silver War Badge reference.
Silver War Badge Roll (C/124) – Confirms his honourable discharge.
The Times Casualty List (2nd May 1916) – Lists him as wounded.
The Evening Swindon Advertiser (2nd May 1916) – Also lists him as wounded.
5th Wiltshires War Diaries (TNA, WO 95/5161/2 & WO 95/5161/3) – Confirmed the most likely point of wounding (attacking Fallahyia 5th April 1916- ties into the wounded and dead from the Wiltshires where he was mention in the Times)
Post-War Life:
Worked for the Post Office and raised a family.
Never spoke about the war, making it difficult to piece together his full service.
Died on Valentine’s Day, 1977.
I’m trying to place him as accurately as possible in the Gallipoli and Mesopotamian campaigns. Due to the destruction of many WWI records in the Blitz and the lack of detailed sources on Mesopotamia, research has been difficult.
Any additional insights on the 5th Wiltshires, field hospitals in Mesopotamia, or service records would be greatly appreciated!
I have attached all the images and information that I have found including notes made by my grandmother many years ago (Medal Record courtesy of Ancestry.com, Newspaper courtesy of Times digital Archive, Maps found online (longlongtrail) Trench maps from 5th Battalion war diary) any other photos and documents from family collection) https://photos.app.goo.gl/x5LgzRkWFSRjhXjz6
One of the things I am struggling to establish is what side of the river the Wilts were on in the attack, Maps place the 13th Division on the right side but trench map implies the left side of the bank (as is also mentioned in Paula Perrys book) and War Diaries mention none of this or any compass details which is remarkably unhelpful
Military Service:
Trained in England at Tidworth, Cirencester, and Woking.
Landed at Gallipoli on 17th July 1915 (V Beach, Cape Helles).
Fought at Suvla Bay and in the Battle of Scimitar Hill (10th August 1915), where his battalion suffered heavy losses.
Potentially wounded or fell ill at Gallipoli, as he has two wound markers on his medal card, but this is uncertain.
Evacuated from Gallipoli in January 1916, part of the general withdrawal.
Deployed to Mesopotamia (February 1916) to assist in the relief of Kut-al-Amara.
Wounded on 5th April 1916 at Fallahiya/Sannaiyat, where the 5th Wiltshires took heavy casualties.
Appeared in The Times Casualty List (2nd May 1916) and The Evening Swindon Advertiser (2nd May 1916), confirming his wounding.
Likely received treatment at Amara or Basra before being admitted to 21st General Hospital, Alexandria (4th June 1916).
Discharged on 8th August 1916, marked as no longer fit for military service.
Silver War Badge Roll entry (C/124) confirms his discharge.
Had a man-to-man blood transfusion, which his daughter only discovered after experiencing the same procedure herself decades later.
Documented Sources & Records:
Medal Index Card (MIC) – Confirms service, theatre entry, and Silver War Badge reference.
Silver War Badge Roll (C/124) – Confirms his honourable discharge.
The Times Casualty List (2nd May 1916) – Lists him as wounded.
The Evening Swindon Advertiser (2nd May 1916) – Also lists him as wounded.
5th Wiltshires War Diaries (TNA, WO 95/5161/2 & WO 95/5161/3) – Confirmed the most likely point of wounding (attacking Fallahyia 5th April 1916- ties into the wounded and dead from the Wiltshires where he was mention in the Times)
Post-War Life:
Worked for the Post Office and raised a family.
Never spoke about the war, making it difficult to piece together his full service.
Died on Valentine’s Day, 1977.
I’m trying to place him as accurately as possible in the Gallipoli and Mesopotamian campaigns. Due to the destruction of many WWI records in the Blitz and the lack of detailed sources on Mesopotamia, research has been difficult.
Any additional insights on the 5th Wiltshires, field hospitals in Mesopotamia, or service records would be greatly appreciated!
I have attached all the images and information that I have found including notes made by my grandmother many years ago (Medal Record courtesy of Ancestry.com, Newspaper courtesy of Times digital Archive, Maps found online (longlongtrail) Trench maps from 5th Battalion war diary) any other photos and documents from family collection) https://photos.app.goo.gl/x5LgzRkWFSRjhXjz6
One of the things I am struggling to establish is what side of the river the Wilts were on in the attack, Maps place the 13th Division on the right side but trench map implies the left side of the bank (as is also mentioned in Paula Perrys book) and War Diaries mention none of this or any compass details which is remarkably unhelpful