I've found that my late grandfather received the DCM during his service in Tournai on the 7th November 1918. Does anyone have any information about Tournai? I must confess I know nothing of the place and have never heard it mentioned before. He was serving with the 1/5th battalion South Lancashire Regiment. I'd be pleased to have any information which would 'flesh out' my knowledge of his war service. thanks Audrey
My grandfather too served in 1/5 South Lancs. The South Lancs were a Territorial Battalion based in St.Helens. They went to France in February 1915 and served throughout the war on the Western Front. the battalion was all but wiped out in 1917. 1/5th Battalion August 1914 : in Warrington. Part of South Lancashire Brigade in West Lancashire Division. 13 February 1915 : left the Brigade and landed at Le Havre. Attached on arrival to 12th Brigade in 4th Division. 4 November 1915 : Brigade was attached to 36th (Ulster) Division. 6 January 1916 : transferred to 166th Brigade in 55th (West Lancashire) Division. Further information can be obtained from three sources a) The National Records office at Kew, London which holds the Battalion War Diaries b) St Helens Library Archive Services c) The Lancaster Regiment Museum in Preston, Lancashire
Thanks very much for the information. Didn't know they'd been all but wiped out, so our grandfathers were the lucky ones. Though that's always a relative term, as they still had a couple more years of war to get through and for my grandfather, who then lost his wife to Spanish Flu in 1918, it would have been a very bitter period of his life.
I will post more information for you when I get time. However you tell me your grandfathers name I might be able to find out more about him for you. At present I am researching the story of the 1/5th war and have access to a lot of information. Best Wishes.
His name was Thomas Joseph Andrews, though he didn't often use the Joseph. He was born in 1893 in Salford. If you could get me more information I'd be delighted. Thanks very much for the offer. Regards, Audrey
So far I can only find ONE Thomas Joseph Andrews born between April - June 1893 in Lancashire and he was born in Chorlton-cum-Hardy then a village on the edge of Manchester. Might that fit ?
That's the very man. On the birth certificate it's got the sub district as Ardwick and he was born on the 7th May 1893. Incidentally, my mother told me, that she'd been told he would have got the VC instead of the DCM but that he struck an officer. But since she was only 6 when he got the award it's just what she'd been told. He'd gone to war when she was 2.
Found him and his citation for DCM but the site will not let me download it so i will have to copy it out for you tomorrow as i have to go out tonight. Your family story may well be right.
3381 Pte. T. Andrews, 1/5th Bn., S.Lan. R., T.T. (Manchester) (LG 2 Dec 1919) For marked gallantry and fearless leadership near Tournai on 7th November, 1918. When his platoon was attacking a series of enemy posts round an occupied house, he dashed ahead of his section to the first post and bombed the dug out, killing one of the enemy. Though wounded he continued to go ahead of his section to the house, and threw two bombs down the cellar. On leaving the house he was heavily fired at by a neighbouring post; but his own rapid fire greatly assisted in overcoming the enemy fire. Source 1/5 Battalion South Lancashire Regiment: Records.
I also have a Great Uncle, Rifleman William Tinsley that fought in the 1/5 South Lancs. I know little of what they were doing while he was over on the Western Front between 27/06/15 - 11/12/15. He was deemed medically unfit to serve in 1916 due to his flat feet. He died in Oct 1918 with a CWGC headstone in St Helens. Any info on what activities he would have undertaken while over in France would be appreciated. http://www.sthelensrollsofhonour.co.uk/casualty-1309-William_Tinsley.html
Can't help you with that I'm afraid. My grandfather was one of the lucky ones who survived. He died in 1975, after having hopefully, a happy life with his second wife and new family. I have no idea what was happening on the Western Front. Though I've tried, I've found no details re the service and what it actually entailed of my grandfather. Can anyone help with that?
Can't help you with that unfortunately. Know nothing of what the battalion were involved in. Hopefully someone else has more information
55th Territorial (West Lancashire) Division : http://lib.militaryarchive.co.uk/library/divisional-histories/library/The-Story-of-the-55th-West Lancashire-Division-1916-1919/HTML/index.asp#/1/
The National Archives a ast Kew (london) hold both War Dairies of the 1/5 ( the second volume is mow available online. The St.Helens Library has the local Newspapers from the time on microfich The Museum of the Queens Lancashire Regiment at Fulwood Barracks, Preston, hold further records. My own research has been helped by contact with Birmingham University where at least two MA thesis were written on the 1/5
