30th Division Cyclists

[Tim Bell]

Does anyone have records of how many men left the City Battalions and when this was?  I'm aware the Cyclists arrived France on 8th November 1915.  Was it August 1915?
Thanks
Tim

[mack]

hiya tim
the cyclist company consisted of 8 officers and 193 men,who were transferred from their battalions on 18th august 1915,their CQMS was one of your lads[9044 percy,james mckellen],the company was made up of 6 platoons,all under the command of capt Maurice,henry Russell patey,2nd in command was capt godfrey William seys

A.coy 2/Lt William,frederick Clarke
B.coy 2/Lt George,frederick ward
C.coy 2/Lt George grant
D.coy 2/Lt frank,seymour scrutton
E.coy 2/Lt Percival,hugh browne
F.coy 2/Lt Frederic,william lee

mack

[sphinx]

I have a note they were formed at Grantham on 4.9.1915.

regards

[Tim Bell]

That's brilliant Mack,
I'll have a look through the XIII Corps ACC Bttn War Diary and report back on some of these men.
I've been researching an Officer, posted from the 5/E Yorks, for a bloke I grew up with.  It's very strange how the overlap happens in these histories.  Percy Murch of 17th Bttn III Pln was one of the 193 men.

Sphinx,

Thanks for the alternative date.  I wonder if this relates to the formal transfer of the men to 30th Division instrtead of the earlier date that the Company was formed up?

Where did you both find this info?  I didn't know where to start!

Tim

[sphinx]

Mine is from the Order of Battle for Divisions in WW1

regards

[Tim Bell]

22nd May 1916 XIII Corps ACC Battalion formed under GHQ Order of 2/5/1916 by Captain Seys who arranged matters on behalf of 30th Division Cyclist Company.  Lieutenant Blight arranged matters for 18th Division Cyclist Company. Captain Maurice Henry Russell Patey of Manchester Regiment, who was transferred to ACC 14/9/1915 is not mentioned and also served in Royal Welch Fusiliers.  Personnel and equipment.
18th Div Coy.    6 Officers   153 Other Ranks
30th Div Coy   8 Officers   154 Other Ranks
Temporary arrangements
Captain Seys          Command the Battalion (30th)
Lt Blight          Adjutant (18th)
CQMS 9121 McKellan P J    Quartermaster (30th) Formerly 2nd Volunteer Bttn and Accountant Enlisted  8/9/1914 9044 E Company, 17th Manchesters. CQMS Jan 1915. Home 23/12/1916. Discharged CQMS  4/6/1917.
A Company
Company Commander
Lt Morris (18th) or 2/Lt Norfolks T/Capt 22/5/1916.
 
Platoon Commanders
Lt Booty (18th) I Pln
2/Lt P H Browne (30th) Commissioned South Lancs 24th August 1915 (LG 26/8/1915) Gazetted T/Lieut 16/2/1916 Awarded MC in New Year Honours (LG 1/1/1918) for action at Oppy in May / June 1917.
Lt A A Gray (18th) III Pln by 23/10/1916. Appointed Special Reserve of Royal Scots seconded ACC 24/10/1916.
B Company
Company Commander
Lt F W Clarke (30th) Gazetted T/Capt effective 16/2/1916. Who was promoted to Lieutenant in Manchesters OC XI Pln C Coy of 16th Bttn and  Transferred to ACC 14/9/1915. A/CO 30/12/1916. Att III Army as Provist Cleaner 15/1/1917. Awarded Cavalier Order of the Crown of Italy (LG 11/03/1919).

Platoon Commanders
Lt J Grant (30th) Commissioned Kings Liverpools Transferred to ACC 14/9/1915. IV Pln Coy.16/101/1916. 
2/Lt A H Hawkins (18th) V Pln 23/10/1916
2/Lt F S Scrutton (30th) commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in 21st Battalion on 6th April 1915. (LG 17/04/1915) OC XII Pln C  Coy of 21st Bttn. Transferred to ACC 14/9/1915.  VI Pln by 18/11/1916.  22/12/1916 Appointed to A Batt Heavy Section MG Corps on probation



Company Commander
Lt F W Lee (30th) Not City Bttn. T/Capt 12/9/1916  Admitted to hospital Elincourt 15/10/1918. Relinquished command of C Coy  on return to England 25/10/1918.
Platoon Commanders
2/Lt G Wright (18th) Poss Waight? 2T/Lt  22/5/1916
2/Lt G F  Ward (30th) Commissioned 25th September 1914 with other City Battalion Officers noted in LG 30/10/1914.  23rd Bttn in Book of Honour. Transferred from Manchester Regiment to ACC 14/9/1915. Attached to RFC by 17/6/1916.  Struck off ACC strength 3/8/1916. During the afternoon of the 3rd September 1917, Lt Ward was piloting a RE8 type aircraft No. A4651 of No. 4 Squadron RFC over the Salient, accompanied by 77451 Sgt. W. Studholme MM carrying out a photographic patrol.     Around 3 p.m. they were attacked by three enemy machines and during the resultant combat they were shot down, crashing near "Stirling Castle".

The report, not unexpectedly, describes Lt Ward as "shaken", but Sgt. Studholme had been seriously wounded during the action and died from his wounds two days later.  He is buried in Godewaersvelde British Cemetery.

It is unclear who shot down the RE8, claims being made by two German pilots, one from Jasta 4 and the other from Jasta 36.
2/Lt E C Ruck (30th)  IX Pln by 28/11/1916
NCOs
Sergeant Major   CSM Taylor (18th)  A/RSM  22/5/1916
Batt QMS   CQMS Jater (18th)
CSMs
A Brown (18th)
B Dunkerley (30th)
C Thorp (18th)
CQMS
A Read (18th)
B Oldham (30th) Commissioned by 23/11/1916.
C Turner (18th)

[Tim Bell]

War Diary references to men transferred from City Battalions:-
Capt G K Oliver (2nd Queens R West Surrey) became Bttn CO at Vaux on 17/6/1916. Capt Seys became C Coy OC. Lt Lee took over Lt Ward’s Platoon who was attached to RFC.
1st July 1916 involved with prisoner cages and traffic. Lt Grant & 2/Lt Scrutton 3rd / 5th July Battlefield clearance and burials for 55th Brigade line between Carnoy & Montauban. (As former 30th Div Officers, I wonder if they chose this area?)

17/6/1917 Pte Frank Adams awarded MM for gallantry in the field.  Formerly 10335 in X Pln C Coy 18th Bttn. Killed in Action 10/11/1917. Son of John and Hannah Adams, of 37, Finchley Rd., Altrincham. COXYDE MILITARY CEMETERY
19/11/1917 Pte 7078 Hector John Brock, Pte 9375 Stanley Cragg (30th) and one other receive MM for action at Nieuport on night 10/11th November.  Stanley was probably 10532 S Cragg in IX Pln C Coy of 18th Bttn. Discharged Class Z 2/3/1919.
11/1/1918 Cpl 9543 John Burletson Diaper MID for good work in the Corps Observation Service - LG 24/12/1917. Awarded MM as Sgt  for action 7th October -11th November and Belgium Croix de Guerre 3/2/1918 dated 1/2/1918.  Originally served in III Pln A Coy 20th Bttn. Discharged Class Z 9/3/1919.
7/6/1918 Sergt 9157 Albert Coyle awarded DCM for good work…during October to November 1917. LG 21/6/1918.  Albert had been a member of 30th Division and was probably Pte A Coyle in XI Pln, C Coy of 18th Bttn. Discharged Class Z 16/2/1919.
21/6/1918 Pte 9296 A E Morris awarded MSM for good work…since 1914.  Not Manchesters.
Cpl 9088 John William Chapman was Section Commander on 18/7/1918. Later Sgt and discharged Class Z 2/3/1919. Probably 6726 J W Chapman in X Pln C Coy 16th Bttn.
9170 Fred Ratcliffe  (30th) was awarded MM for action 7th October -11th November. This may have been 10702 F Ratcliffe of XIV Pln D Coy 18th Bttn.