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Messages - MartynRIR

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World War One / Re: Mercantile Marine War Medal
« on: Thursday 20 August 20 22:07 BST (UK)  »
Thanks ShaunJ and HMac, that's very helpful.
I can understand the "torpedoed" story. Alfred's elder brother was Harry Hamblin (my Gt Grandfather), a master mariner who owned and captained the Ermenilda of Bridgwater. That was sunk by a German submarine on 4th August 1916 in the English channel. The crew were set adrift in a small boat, and a time fuse bomb sunk the ship. Fortunately they were picked up by a Russian steamer and taken to Weymouth.  Undeterred, Harry continued to sail to France on the Otto, and the Ada, to Cherbourg and Morlaix. All detailed in his French issued Carte D'Identite, with his photograph and fingerprints.

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World War One / Mercantile Marine War Medal
« on: Thursday 20 August 20 17:39 BST (UK)  »
I'm trying to determine whether my Great Grt Uncle, Alfred John Hamblin, b.1873 Bridgwater, was entitled to a Mercantile Marine War Medal. He died at sea (presumed drowned), 13 June 1917, whilst serving on S.S. Red Tail. Details of him appear on the Mercantile Marine Mem. Part III. That's the Tower Hill memorial presumably.  I've searched the Nat Archives BT351 Index of First World War Mercantile Marine Medals but no joy. Two other Hamblins are there, but not him. He was a career mariner, so probably met the medal criteria I would have thought. Any other suggestions would be appreciated....

Also, am I able to find out exactly where the SS Red Tail was (log books perhaps?), on 13th June 1917.    Many thanks,  MartynRIR

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World War One / Re: WW1 Prisoner of war exchanges
« on: Tuesday 04 August 20 16:42 BST (UK)  »
Thanks all for the responses, especially MaxD and ShaunJ for the newspaper articles.

MaxD  - was that "Shields" Daily News you were referring to?

thanks again

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World War One / WW1 Prisoner of war exchanges
« on: Monday 03 August 20 22:47 BST (UK)  »
Can anyone point me in the right direction to find any details (if they exist) on one of the first POW exchanges between Britain and Germany?
My Grt Grt Uncle, Francis Henry Stockham, 1st Bttn Somerset Light Infantry, reg no. 7537, was taken prisoner late 1914. He lost his right arm, and was repatriated (per Red Cross records) on 17th Feb 1915. According to a Bridgwater Mercury newspaper article in 1960, the Germans took him prisoner when the BEF retreated from Mons, but he was one of the first British pow's to benefit from an exchange with the Germans - presumably because of his wounds. No service record survives unfortunately, but I have info on Pension and medal rolls for him.
many thanks

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World War One / Re: WW1 maps of the Battle fields.
« on: Thursday 20 December 18 18:14 GMT (UK)  »
Jim1 - a belated thanks. I agree, the rectangular building above Big Bull Cottage looks a firm favourite for McBride's Mansions. Following your NZEF headquarters comment, I did find an entry for McBride's Mansions on Page 167 of a book by A.E. Byrne titled "Official History of the Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F. in the Great War 1914-1918".
 
 

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World War One / Re: WW1 maps of the Battle fields.
« on: Thursday 13 December 18 19:16 GMT (UK)  »
Viktoria. Thanks for the reply. I've been to Wulverghem to visit the St Quentin war cemetery. It's actually West of Mesen/Messines. The NL of Scotland map 28.SW is the one I reviewed, excellent in it's detail, just no sign of McBrides Mansions. Virtually every other building of that time (Feb 1917) has an Anglicised name on the map.

Jim1 -  Yes, the event (skirmish and capture) happened on 14th February 1917, all recorded in the war diary of 13th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. Kortykyp Camp ( south of Wulverghem) is mentioned on 13th Feb, which is where the 13th Batt travelled from to relieve the 11th Batt RIR in the trenches. On the 15th Feb Surrey Lane (can't find on map), Boyles Farm (is on the map), and McBrides Mansions all mentioned.

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World War One / Re: WW1 maps of the Battle fields.
« on: Thursday 13 December 18 16:36 GMT (UK)  »
I've been poring over these WW1 maps in the last couple of days, for Wulverghem, Belgium to be exact. I was hoping to pin down the exact location my Grandfather (a Rifleman in 13th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles) was taken prisoner during a front line night skirmish. The War Diary is very helpful as it records the exact events, names my Grandfather as "Missing from raid",  and states the location as McBrides Mansions. But I can't find it on the map. I'm thinking it's one of the front line trenches on the road between Wulverghem and Messines, close to Boyle's Farm, because that's mentioned the following day, and is named on the map.
Does anyone know of other maps, or a possible way to pin this location down?
Many thanks....

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