John Garfield, WW1 medal card COMPLETED

[giraffe]

Medal card for info please
giraffe

[giraffe]

Sorry, will try to send image rather than attachment
giraffe

[giraffe]

Details of above-named: From National Archives (internet) Medal Card: - Pte 241036, Victory Medal 7/107 Roll B21 p2400, ditto British Medal.
From Index to War Deaths 1914-1921 Army (other ranks): - Pte 241036  S Staffs 1918 VolI.49 p 145
From Soldiers died in Great War:- John Henry Garfield South Staff Regt. 4th Special Reserve Battalion , born Wolverhampton, enlisted Wolverhampton Pte 241036 died 10th April 1918 killed in action Theatre of War France and Flanders. I have looked in a history of the South Staffs Regt., but could find no reference to the 4th Special Reserve Btn. Can anyone help please?
I have posted an image of his Scroll of Honour on the WW1 board for interest.

[forester]

Hello giraffe,

I suspect that it may be 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion.

Click on this link and then on 25th Division in the 4th Battalion section. The Battle of Estaires, (just below the map showing locations on 26 March 1918) is probably what you are looking for.

http://www.1914-1918.net/sstaffs.htm

Phil

[giraffe]

Thanks Phil,
It definitely said 4th Special Reserve on the findmypast.com Soldiers died . . . and I have in my head that someone at home mentioned Messines Ridge.
However, I will look up the link and see what I can find.
giraffe

[forester]

Giraffe,

I think you are right about Messines. There appears to be a typo (10th May) that I didn't spot.

Phil

[giraffe]

Phil, I have just started reading about the 25th Div. but there is so much I have bookmarked the link. Where is the typo please?
giraffe

[forester]

The map I referred to is the third map down the page. The paragraph immediately below it begins...."On 30 and 31 March...."
Below that is the Battle of Estaires.
Below that is the Battle of Messines 1918........in the middle of that paragraph you will find a reference to 10 May, but a few sentences later it refers to 12 April.

Does that help? 

Phil

[giraffe]

Found it! Yes Phil, since he died on 10th April 1918, plus the fact that there is mention of 'catacombs' there. The story  (unsubstantiated so far) is that they were trying to tunnel under the hill to come out behind the enemy lines, and that many of them were blown up in the attempt.
I get very confused with Divisions, Brigades and Battalions, can you enlighten me at all please?
giraffe