WW1 Salvage Officer, France - how to identify?

[Tgapitbull]

Following is the link to a newspaper article entitled "First in Le Quesnoy".  This is about the liberation of Le Quesnoy, France on 4 November 1918.

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19190523.2.23?phrase=2&query=winiata+topihana&snippet=true

This article mentions a Winiata Topihana [Tapihana/Tapsell] who was in the NZ Maori Pioneer Battalion.
It also refers to a "salvage officer".  I understand that during WW1 each Brigade was required to have a "Salvage Officer".
I have viewed Private Winiata Tapsell's military record on Archway.
My question:
Is it possible to identify who this "Salvage Officer" might have been, and how might I go about this?
TPB

[spades]

Hi TPB,

The first thing is that the individual would have been an officer, not a ’other rank’ e.g. private soldier or Sergeant.

Can you find a list of the unit’s officers anywhere? He was probably a Lieutenant, I suspect.

Spades

[Tgapitbull]

Thanks Spades for the suggestion.
I have found a list of some of the Officers on nzetc.victoria (Le Quesnoy).
I will check these names against their military file on Archway and see what comes up.
TPB.

[Tgapitbull]

The Book "Le Quesnoy New Zealand's Last Battle 1918" by Christopher Pugsley, Pg 47
"Company Quartermaster Sergeant Harold Green [18926] is a 30yr old cabinetmaker from Petone, Wellington.  As CQMS he was up early in the morning at 1am to supervise a hot breakfast to his company, C Company, 3 Rifles, in the assembly of which as he notes that even before the attack begins, "only 83 were left".  Green is wounded by artillery shrapnel in the right forearm, which fortunately misses the bone.  "Got the wound fixed with a field dressing and walked back to the dressing station where I got aboard a horse ambulance."  Green is shuttled down the line, being moved on from the near casualty clearing stations that are full of more serious cases.  He is eventually evacuated back to 'Blighty' arriving at New End Military Hospital, Hampstead, on Thursday 7 November 1918."
His Military Record 18926 records that he was wounded "G S W forearm R wounded Nov 4 18 near Le Quesnoy".
Could this soldier be the "Salvage Officer" referred to in the newspaper article?
Any thoughts?
TPB

[spades]

Hi TPB,

Firstly, what was the role of a Salvage Officer?

I wonder if they had the responsibility to collect and secure  enemy weapons etc during an advance.

Not sure if CQS GREEN was a candidate. He sounds like the C Company commander in lieu of any officers being available.

Spades

[Whenu]

Think the Salvage Officer would have been from the Divisional Engineers.

[Tgapitbull]

Thanks Spades - it looks like the C Company Commander was 2nd/Lt Percival Beattie 38797 who was killed in the advance.

Thanks Whenu for your posting - I will research this angle.

TPB

[Crumblie]

Hi TPB,

Firstly, what was the role of a Salvage Officer?

I wonder if they had the responsibility to collect and secure  enemy weapons etc during an advance.

Not sure if CQS GREEN was a candidate. He sounds like the C Company commander in lieu of any officers being available.

Spades

The salvage officer was responsible for, amongst other things, the collection of used shells etc. which were sent back for recycling, it just shows being green was even around in WW1.

[Tgapitbull]

I found this explanation:
New  Zealand’s first experience of Salvage units was during the 1914-18 war. Each British formation (including Dominion forces) was required as part of an army salvage plan to appoint a Salvage Officer for each brigade, and a Division Salvage Company, which in turn was supported a Corps Salvage Company.  Formed on 5 May 1916 the NZ Divisional Salvage Company was under the command of Lieutenant  Macrae, NZAOC. The duties of the NZ Divisional Salvage Company were:

The care and custody of packs of troops engaged in offensive operations.
The care of tents and canvas of the Division.
The salvage of Government property, and also enemy property, wherever found.
The sorting of the stuff salved, and dispatch thereof to base.

I haven't been able to find any reference in Pugsley's book to a NZ Divisional Salvage Company so will look at the Engineers.
Crumblie, yes, interesting that recycling was around in WW1!.
TPB