44510 A. CPL. Stanley.Gilbert .Gordon. VINCE - MANC.R

[1954gladiator]

Hi

Can anyone help with information about the Battalion that my grandfather served in?  44510 A. CPL. Stanley.Gilbert .Gordon. VINCE - MANC.R

I was told by my grandmother that he fought at the Somme & finally in Italy in 1917.  He was invalided out following a heart attack aged only 22!   Captain Robert Bonner MA (Retd) Chairman of the Museum of Manchester Regiment suggested in 2004 that it could be either the 20th, 21st or 22nd Battalions but it would be great to confirm which or even another.  Once I know the Battalion I can then research my grandfathers theatre of war more extensively.

My grandfather's full story can be seen on www.bbc.co.uk/remembrance/wall - type Vince & Search All Regiments.  The stories of his 2 brothers, Sydney & Alfonso Vince are both there too.  Both killed during WW1 in 1917 & 1915.

At the end of Feb all my grandfathers Medals, Medal Card (which gives very little info), Photo's etc. will be given to the Museum of Manchester Regiment for keepsake & display.

[tisgrannie]

Hello and welcome to the site. I am unable to help you with this query, someone will be along and help I am sure.
Thank you so much for sharing your fantastic pics and the link to the BBc. It is a generous gesture to donate the items to the Museum so that all can share in the Regts Soldiers history. Thank you very much.
kind regards
tisgrannie

[1954gladiator]

Hi tisgrannie

Thanks for the welcome etc.

[mack]

welcome to the forum
roy should be able to find his battalion for you
the medal roll is H/1/104 BZZ

mack

[tonyrod]

hi ,greatgreenbags,   and welcome,  a great gesture and story. tonyrod

[1954gladiator]

Hi mack

Thanks for the info - I have seen this on his medal card & now understand what it is.

[1954gladiator]

Thanks tonyrod.

Thought you might like to see the attached image of my grandfather (when he was a tailor in Saville Row before the war) alongside my grandmother who he married after WW1 - circa 1914.   The actual post card of him has a 'love' message on the back - see also attached. 

[tonyrod]

 SIDNEY  VINCE  ABLE SEAMAN R/608  ANSON BN RN    THIS IS WERE I THINK  HE DIED  Varlet Farm
Varlet Farm is located south-east of Poelcapelle, about midway between it and Passchendaele. It is well-signposted with yellow Information signs. It was marked on trench-maps during the war, and was taken by the Anson Battalion of the Royal Naval Division at 7.20 a.m. on the 26th of October 1917. A plaque was recently unveiled at the farm to commemorate this.

POELCAPELLE  PHOTO AND INFO  CARE OFF , http://www.ww1battlefields.co.uk/flanders/poelcapelle.html
every chance sidney is buired here in one of the unknown graves , of 7500 , 6321 are unidentified

[1954gladiator]

Fantastic tonyrod! 

Thanks so much for this information about Sydney Vince & the action by the Anson Battalion at Varlet Farm - it certainly ties in with his medal card & what I have found out & posted on the bbc remembrance wall already.  Would you please be kind enough to add what you have sent me to Sydney's story (as an additional memory) there shortly?  I hope you will be happy to do this but if not I can do it.   Please let me know if you will or should do it.  Thanks.   

If you haven't seen these links on the bbc remembrance wall already I hope you will do so: www.cwgc.org/search/certificate.aspx?casualty=825461 (shows Tyne Cot memorial where Sydney is remembered with honour .  Although Sydney has no known grave his personal effects were returned to his mother & father.  Included was a photo post card of Stanley with a bullet hole in it  - evidently it was in a wallet in his breast pocket over his heart!  The original photo post card along with story will be given to the Museum & the story with image will be added by me (as an additional memory) to the bbc remembrance wall.

www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=53300&mode=1  (this gives details of Tyne Cot cemetery & the theatre of war around it but not Varlet Farm)

I really hadn't expected so much to happen following my postings so quickly!

[1954gladiator]

Hi tonyrod

I wondered why Sydney Vince Anson Battalion, RNVR was killed on land!  The RN Museum in Portsmouth told me that there were not enough ships in WW1 for all seamen who enrolled to join!  Lots therefore fought on land, evidently in naval uniform.  They want Sydney's medal, medal card & story to compliment Stanley's at the Museum of Manchester Regiment.  If there had been any uniform badges, buttons etc, with his personal effects they would have probably wanted them as such things are evidently rare or very rare & valuable.  Did you know this?

[tonyrod]

hi greatgreenbags ,i was aware of this, and regarding  the wall  my computer skills are limited so i would prefer you  adding the info,   it would have been a honour but i would hate to mess it  up, Sydney was a able seaman so he must have spent time at sea, also  quote,   his personal effects were returned to his mother & father.  Included was a photo post card of Stanley with a bullet hole in it  - evidently it was in a wallet in his breast pocket over his heart!
this tells me [i could be wrong ]that Sydney was buried in a known grave and the grave lost due to shell fire at a later date  Varlet Farm is located south-east of Poelcapelle, about midway between it and Passchendaele  map with thanks    http://www.ww1battlefields.co.uk/flanders/tynecot.html
i hope this helps you out, i will try and fine info on alfonso. tonyrod

[1954gladiator]

Hi tonyrod

Thanks for even more info about Sydney  

All your hard work on my behalf will really help enhance his wall story when I put it on now!  From what you have sent through the forum already leaves me in no doubt you could have posted it there for me very well - probably even better than me!!  Thanks again & as soon as it is there I will send you a message so you can see it.

One day soon I intend to visit Varlet Farm & if I discover that Sydney's does have a known grave wouldn't that be a fantastic find!?  I suspect that you are right however that his original resting place was destroyed by shell explosions during later fighting - hence no known grave on the Tyne Cot Mermorial.   

[tonyrod]

hi , i have just noticed  i have been calling you greatgreenbags ,thats what i am on about 
check these out you can also post sydney's info on  ,
Anson Battalion
Nil Desperandum (Despair of nothing)
8th Bn. 2nd RN Brigade, RND 1914.

Gallipoli, MEF (Dardanelles) April 1915 - Jan.1916.
MEF (Mudros & Stavros, Salonica) Jan.-May 1916
Served with 2nd Brigade, RND at Stavros, Salonika, Feb.-April 1916.
BEF (France & Belgium) May 1916-May 1919
188th Brigade, 63rd (RN) Division 19/7/1916-May 1919.


http://www.cwgc.co.uk/RNDplaquesI-K.htm
http://freespace.virgin.net/jack.clegg/RND.htm

regarding his grave, if you have time go round poelcapelle and tyne cot, look at them all  i am sure he will be in one of the unknown graves, 
 at the end of the day you have gone out to find the info and you have ,i am only happy to help as are every one else on the site .   thank you tonyrod

[1954gladiator]

Hi tonyrod

Thanks for the Anson Battalion badges to put on the wall & the other things to check out.

Do you have or can you please find & send images of the cap badge & shoulder badge for the 1st Bn Suffolk Regiment  - Alfonso Vince's Regiment
Also, same for the 20th Battalion Manchester Regiment - my grandad Stanley's Regiment.

If you can send these they will go on the wall as well.  All the material will also go to the Museum & it will be great to see how they exhibit it eventually!  I am sure they will show my image, my mothers, my 2 children & 3 grandchildren as is his survivors to date.

I'm not the pictured English Springer Spaniel by the way - he is my fantastic & versatile working dog that I bred a few years ago.  greatbeanbags relates to www.full-of-beans.com - check it out if you like.

I look forward to more contact soon perhaps.
 

[tonyrod]

enjoy, on general discussion  , what happened in blackpool tony ,, the chelsea pensioner  was in the 1st suffolks ww2 my old pal bob, i posted something else on the suffolk ww2 ,need to search the site. tonyrod