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[BlueLancer]

Hi, Thank you very much for the add to the Forum, I am researching Capt Fred Wilson MC DCM who was commissioned into the Manchester Regiment 22nd Battalion on the or about the  8th Jan 1917. He was KIA on the 25th Oct 1917 and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial. He was a Pte from the 17th Lancers attached to the 2nd Life Guards, he received his DCM with them as a Cpl, and promoted eventually to Sgt. I am trying to obtain a picture of him a copy of his MC citation and the action report of his death, any help would be much appreciated.

[charlie]

Hello BlueLancer and welcome to the forum.

The Gazette entry for his MC can be found here:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30036/supplement/3938

Charlie

[BlueLancer]

Many thanks Charlie.

[Wendi]

Hi BlueLancer and Welcome to our Forum

As an officer, his service record should be at The National Archives in Kew, and, if the citation exists, it should be with his record.

Wendi

[BlueLancer]

Thanks Wendy, Charlie kindly found it for me, all I need to do now is find out which Platoon or section he lead and the action report for his death. A picture would be the icing on the cake. I have found the names of a further 3 ex 17th Lancers who were commissioned into the Manchesters as well. Very little details on them but will post what I have later.

[mhargreaves]

these citations never fail to impress

"he rallied his men and dug in close to the enemy trenches, where he maintained his position throughout the day under heavy fire'

Would his mc or death be recored in a newspaper? mcr chronicle? other? a long shot?

Have you read Cowan 22nd history? attack on ghevelt just east of ypres. pretty graphic extract from war diary " the ground was wetter and muddier to leave the duck boards tracks men were even more likely to be swallowed up in some bottomless pit of mud filled shell hole..."

"on night of 25/26 oct A and B companies to Canada tunnel.... c and d to dugouts in Lascar wood."

just re read chapter in lyn macdonald's "they called it Passchendale " lots of first hand accounts. p229 has the account of a Canadian in tyne cot field ambulance (i have only just read thats a place not a vehicle!) his account of 26th oct is graphic and gripping i can't do it justice here. he says the line is 1000m away. This account is from a Canadian.  Would all troops have gone to a Candian Field ambulance? don't know?

i'm sure its common for ambulance sites to become cemetery sites?

btw  no need to repeat the gore but his account ends " hell was never like that...."

"this was to be the battalions last fight in France" All quotes from Cowan History from day Capt Wilson died.

there might be maps of this area? trench maps?

[BlueLancer]

Much appreciated Matthew thanks for the pointers.