Walter Herbert Hammond RWF - 1920/30's

My father's. service with the RWF is my reason for joining the forum.

He was Walter Herbert Hammond and he joined the RWF on the 22nd September 1926.

He was posted to the 2nd Battalion on the 5/07/1927 and then the 1st Battalion on the 7/02/1928.

His record shows him in service in India between 7/03/1928 and the 19/12/1930 (2 years 288 days)

The only other mention of this service was on the 27/03/1930 he was awarded a 2nd class cert, Quetta (now part of Pakistan)

Next entry is service in the Sudan between 20/12/1930 and 12/12/1931 (358 days)


In 1931, Fusilier Hammond was sent a telegram to the ship he was on board which was moored at Port Said, Egypt. The ship was H.M.T. Lancashire (His Majesty’s Troopship) which was possibly on it’s way to England. The telegram had been sent from Atbara in the Sudan, a town which is next to the River Nile. The message on the telegram was short “ Bon Voyage George”.

He was "home" 13/12/1931 to 21/09/1933 (1 year 283 days).

On the 19/03/1932 he obtained a "pass" qualification for a course which he attended at the Royal Tank Corps for Vehicle Driving and Maintenance.

Does anyone know what the units in India and Sudan were doing at these relevant times?

I have sent off for a copy of E.O.Skaife's book "A Short History of the Royal Welch Fusiliers - more later about my fathers close connection with E.O.Skaife

Sylfan

A warm welcome Sylfan.

You may be interested to learn that the 1st Bn, at least until the merger in 2006, still played an inter-company rugby competition called the "Skaife Cup". Brigadier Skaife who was CO of the 1st Bn from 1930-1933 was seriously injured in a car accident in Sept 1939. Effectively curtailing his active service.

Pre 1925 involved in the Waziristan operations.
1925 - Naisirabad
1928 - Moved to Quetta
1930 Limit of foreign tour, sails for the Sudan. Based in Khartoum
21st April 1932. The battalion arrived at Southampton.

They remained in the UK until 1939, where they deployed with the BEF in France and Belgium. Only several hundred of them made it back from the beaches of Dunkirk in May 1940.

AP1

thanks for your reply.

I said on my first entry that there was more to follow with a connection between my father and E.O.Skaife

I know about Skaife's accident as my father was driving!

He broke his leg when the car which had been commandeered for military service and which was in poor condition crashed. Skaife ordered my father to make sure he was not to stay in hospital but was to make sure he was taken home. Where presumably he could carry on running things. As far active service was concerned he had already retired from the army in 1937, he was born in 1884.

My father as I stated passed his driving course at the Royal Tank Corp in 1932.

At sometime my father became Skaife's batman/ driver (not sure if he was his batman before he became his driver as I have no dates for this post or any entry in his records).

In August of 1932 he drove Skaife to Bunce Court in Kent. This was the home of Lady Olga Manning and her widowed Mrs Sefton-Jones.

Bunce Court is famous as it became a school for children escaping from Nazi oppression and funding for it's set up was partly by Quakers, the Mannings were Quaker's.

http://www.northdowns.plus.com/otterden/bunce.html

see also entries in Wikipedia.

While Skaife was above stairs my father was below stairs getting acquainted with Lady Mannings parlor maid and who in time became Walter's wife.

When they had married in 1933 my father left the army and was put on the 5 year reserve list.

In 1937 Skaife, who had been Military Attache in Russia sent a letter to my father addressing him as "My Dear Hammond" and offering him and my mother positions at his new residence to be in his adopted Wales. He finished stating "All my failings you any rate know" (I still have the letter).
On the day war was declared Skaife and my father reenlisted and my father became for the time being anyway his driver.

Sylfan

I am not sure when Skaife's accident occurred I note AP1 states 1939 but I think it did not stop his military service.

on 2/1/1941 I believe Skaife entertained Sir General Alan Brooke, commander home forces at the officers club at Hoylake, Cheshire according to my mother's diary as she fed Alan Brooke's driver a F.A.N.Y driver (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry).

On the 11/2/1941 my father noted " Said goodbye to the Colonel who goes to London, out of the army.

According to Who Was Who Skaife was -

Brigade District Commander and Brigade Commander 1940-1941.

Foreign Office, Research Dept 1941-1944

The National Archives have records of notes of lectures that Skaife gave in 1944 which covered the subject of the Soviet Union they are –
AIR 69/974 August 1944
AIR 69/1120 February 1944
AIR 69/1310 September 1944
AIR 69/1431 December 1944
AIR 69/ 1432 December 1944

An interesting tale Sylfan. In 1939 Brig Skaife was commander 158(RWF) Brigade. Although a TA Brigade, it was mobilised at the onset of War and stood by to move to Northern Ireland, a few short days later the accident occurred (13th Sept). Within a few months the brigade supplied an independent company that fought in Norway. His place was taken by Brigadier Duke.

(Source: The Red Dragon)

Thank you AP1 for that information. I can now update my records. I have a photograph of the nurse who came regularly into Skaife to attend his injuries. She is standing next to Skaifes MG which is painted with the white panels to help distinguish a vehicle in the blackout conditions. My father would have driven her to and from Crogen Hall, Llandrillo.

My father was posted to the 12th Battalion RWF until 1/01/1942.

His military record for this period -

Posted to 12th Battlion on the 26/08/1940 from the 9th Battalion.

24/02/1941, attached to H.Q 215 Infantry Brigade w.e.f (with immediate effect) 20/02/1941 – for all purposes, Whitby, 12th Battalion. R.W.F

24/02/1941, granted higher rate of ration allowance from 1/02/1941 to 11/02/1941 (215 Inf.Bde Pt 11 order dated 21/02/1941), Whitby, 12^th Battalion

14/04/1941, ceased to be attached to 215 Infantry Brigade 12/04/1941. Transferred to “C” Coy. same date.

21/05/1941, attached to 224 Infantry Brigade for all purposes w.e.f. 20/05/1941, Redcar 12^th Battalion. R.W.F.

27/05/1941, granted leave from 27/05/1941 to 2/06/1941, Yarmouth, 12^th Battalion. R.W.F.


3/06/1941, granted extension to leave form 03/06/1941 to 9/06/1941, Redcar ? 12^th Battalion R.W.F.

29/07/1941, transferred to H.Q Coy. Yarmouth, 12^th Battalion R.W.F.

18/08/1941, declares former service in R.W.F as follows – enlisted 22/09/1926, discharged 21/09/1938 on completion of norm. Reg. Army engagement of 7 years with colours and 5 years Reserve Service ??? for increments of pay 7 years. Granted 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd year increments of pay 25/07/1941 (Application for arrears to 02/09/1939 has been forwarded to High Authority in accordance .Yarmouth, 12^th Battalion. R.W.F.

19/8/1941, granted 28 days agricultural leave, Yarmouth, 12^th R.W.F

20/08/1941, granted L/S and G.C. Pay 20/08/1941. Application for arrears to 01/09/1940 will be submitted to R. Paymaster, Shrewsbury.

15/09/1941, granted extension of agricultural leave until the 29/09/1941, Yarmouth, 12^th Battalion, R.W.F.
Granted arrears of increment of pay for the periods as stated below –
1^st year increment @ 3d per day 3/09/1939 to 1/09/1940
2^nd year incr. @ 3d per day 3/09/1939 to 24/07/1941
3^rd year incr. @ 6d per day 3/09/1941 to 24/07/1941

16/09/1941, amend dates for 3^rd year incr. @ 6d per day to read – 3/09/1939 to 24/07/1941

07/10/1941, transferred to “A” Coy. 3/10/1941, Yarmouth,

18/11/1941, granted leave from 18/11/1941 to 25/11/1941(WFW), Scarborough, 12^th Battalion, R.W.F.

2/12/1941, ??? grant of ??? pay to rear w.e.f. 2/09/1940, Scarborough.

2/12/1941, attached to 70^th Battalion. W. Yorks ??? w.e.f. 2/12/1941, Scarborough.

3/12/1941, granted ??? w.e.f. 1/12/1941, Scarborough, 12^th Battalion, R.W.F.

10/12/1941, ?? to 70^th Battalion W. Yorks. Scarborough.

I presume the 12th Battalion would have been on home defence duties on the East Coast but can anyone put some detail as my fathers record really only covers leave requests etc.

Also does anyone know if the late Brigadier Skaifes personal records i.e. diaries etc. are in the RWF archives? I was told he left a large part of his estate to the RWF which had made up a large part of his life. I can remember his dog "Ianto" being passed into the care of the RWF, maybe he was looked after with the goat!

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Originally Posted by Sylfan

I presume the 12th Battalion would have been on home defence duties on the East Coast but can anyone put some detail as my fathers record really only covers leave requests etc.

Also does anyone know if the late Brigadier Skaifes personal records i.e. diaries etc. are in the RWF archives? I was told he left a large part of his estate to the RWF which had made up a large part of his life. I can remember his dog "Ianto" being passed into the care of the RWF, maybe he was looked after with the goat!

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The 12th Bn was a Home Defence Bn formed in July 1940. By Sept it was based at Hoylake. It was part of 215 Infantry Bde, commanded by Brig Skaife. It moved over to the east coast in early 1941. It later in 1942 it re-roled into a Royal Artillery Anti Aircraft Regiment designated - 116th(RW) Light AA Regiment RA. On the 23 June 1944, it landed at Normandy alongside your fathers old brigade the 158th.

Regarding Skaifes personal papers, I would suggest approaching the Museum at Caernarfon, although queries are taking a considerable time. We are hopeful that the archive of the RWF will shortly be available at Wrexham Museum.

I'm aware that he did leave a considerable sum of money to the 1st Bn, to support sporting activities and outdoor pursuits for the soldiers. Known as the Skaife Fund.

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Originally Posted by ap1

I would suggest approaching the Museum at Caernarfon, although queries are taking a considerable time.

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The service has now officially been suspended, I hear.

John

Dear Sylfan,I would be interested to learn if you have been successfully in your request for Brigadier E O Skaife’s book “Short History of The Royal Welch Fusiliers” If not I have a copy and I would be happy to lend you the book.
Glyn

Interestingly in 1939 when Skaife was commanding 158 Brigade, his brigade major was Maj Hughie Stockwell. He later became Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe in the early 1960's. His biographer Gen Jon Riley tells me that Skaife was still serving at the onset of the war, as a regular officer in command of a TA Brigade. He'd never left. It's very possible your father re-joined in order to assist him.

The book "The Life And Campaigns of General Hughie Stockwell" is well worth a read. Stockwell joined the regiment in 1923 and had a fascinating career. I have reviewed it under the recommend a book category.

Your father with close access to Skaife would certainly have spent time with Maj Stockwell.

Skaifes papers are at the RWF Archive, which is in the long drawn out process of being moved into the Wrexham Museum

Glyn


Thank you for your kind offer of a lone of your book it was much appreciated however my copy of the book arrived this morning.

AP1


You may be right about Skaife being still in the regular army. I am not sure, Who Was Who states " Comdr 158,Roy. Welch Inf. Bde. T.A. 1937-1939"

Before my mother passed on I took some notes about her life and looking back she seems to have implied Skaife had left the army. I have in my notes "Skaife was at this time retired but was asked to run the T.A's in the area, he held the rank of colonel.At the outbreak of the Second World War Walter and Skaife both joined the regular army. Skaife was given the task of setting up camp for new recruits." She then goes on to describe the car accident in which Skaife sustained a broken leg. She then describes being asked to cook for officers at Coed Helen and after and then moving after 3 months to Hoylake, Cheshire in a property called "Tors" in Meols Drive.

My father's Attestation form dated 1st September 1939 and shows posted 4th Battalion RWF, I believe this was a T.A. unit

Yes the 4th Bn were TA. I think your father joining them was purely an exercise in administration, i'm assuming as soon as he was attested he quickly joined up with Skaife at Brigade HQ. Its a fascinating link with the regiment. He was in a unique position. No doubt highly trusted by Skaife, he would have been privy to many of his private thoughts and would have been present in the car when Skaife was in conversation with other officers, including Stockwell.

AP1


I have ordered the book you mentioned about Gen.Stockwell through my local library.

I look forward to reading Skaifes papers when they are made available in due course at Wrexham Museum.

I have a copy of Skaifes Will and as you say he wished a fund to be set up and as Skaife states "as a token of my gratitude to the Regiment for the happy years I have spent with it during my life.

My mother and father stayed in Skaifes service until his death in 1956.

Can you help me ? How do I upload a photograph to a thread so that I can refer to it?

Click on the "Insert Image" which is on the top bar of the message box, when you post a message. Then select "Computor" and then add the image file…..Then click Upload.

Attachment 3164

This photograph shows my father Walter Hammond, back row, 2nd from left. He was in the 12th Batt. RWF but was transferred to the 116th LAA RA from the 1/01/1942.

He was a driver/mechanic. The men appear to me to be wearing different berret badges which if I am right means they are of different regiments.

Does anyone have any comments?

Written on the back of the photograph " soldier on left of Walter the father of Whippet Quick". Anyone know who was Whippet Quick, was he an actor who prformed on radio maybe?

Great picture Sylfan, is it named? So what happened to your Father after this picture was taken, did he stay with them and deploy into France?

The guy front right is wearing a Royal Artillery badge, not unusual as they would have need experienced gunners brought in quickly to assist in the conversion. Red Dragon notes "They continued to think of themselves as Royal Welchmen - The officers retained in service dress the Flash and Regimental badges, thought it not known on whose authority". This was retained until the end.

Your picture are in the gallery Sylfan, under "Regiment by Decades" 1920's

Attachment 3165


This photograph shows Walter Hammond on the left and I am sure it is the same male from my previous picture on his right who was titled "father of Whippet Quick" in that photograph.

They are standing next to a 40mm Bofors LAA gun and looking at the architecture behind it,s somewhere in Northern Europe.

My father's record shows him being transferred from the 12th Batt. RWF to the 116th LAA RA on the 1/01/1942.

His record only mentions him being posted to one Battery that of the 30/01/1942, Aberystwyth.

He embarked for Normandy 21/06/1944.

Transferred to 108th LAA RA 20/12/1944.

The towing tractor behind them has small letters "GT" and below number "3" . I believe the next towing tractor carries "GT" and number "4".

Could "GT" stand for "G" troop and the "3" for gun number? From the war diary of the 116th it states "G" troop as part of 382 Battery.

I have been told the emblem on the other side of the tractor - a shield with what appears possibly a white cross diagonally is that of The Lowland Division which the 108th were part of.

If that is so would they have kept their original troop markings form the 108th?

Where ever they are, they seem very relaxed which implies they were not expecting any trouble.

As far as the soldier I refer to as the father of Whippet Quick. I have found out there was a character in the Charlie Chester Stand Easy Show. Whippit Kwik was the phantom robber who would pass through the radio’s studio every once in awhile. He didn’t have anything to say, so there was no actual person. But in the staged show, there had to be live representation of this character, so that’s when they hired Sid (Slick) Snelling to play the part.

I am wondering if there was a Snelling who was in the 12th RWF who transferred to the 116th LAA?

My fathers army record from 1/1/1942-

1/1/1942, transferred to Royal Artillery, 116 Lt. A.A (Light Anti Aircraft Regiment).
Attached to 233 L.A.A Trg. Regt. R.A. for all purposes w.e.f. 1/01/1942, gunner, Scarborough.

30/01/1942, posted to 382 Battery , Aberystwyth

28/03/1942, posted to R.H.Q. w.e.f. 28/03/1942, gunner, Field.

28/04/1942, admitted to Knapp Hill Military Hospital 28/04/1942 (complaint not yet diagnosed), gunner, Field. NOTE- THE MAIN BLOCK OF BROOKWOOD HOSPITAL AN ASYLUM, KNAPHILL, SURREY BECAME THE CONNAUGHT MILITARY HOSPITAL.

18/05/1942, posted to “Y” list (R.A. Lt. A.A.) 18/05/1942, gunner, Field.

20/06/1942, posted to 116^th Lt. A.A. regiment R.A. gunner, UK.

11/08/1942, granted agricultural leave without pay from 11/08/1942 to 10/09/1942, gunner, Field, 116^th Lt. A.A. R.A.

11/09/1942, granted extension of agricultural leave without pay from 11/09/1942 to 24/09/1942, gunner, Field. 116^th Lt. A.A. R.A.


26/01/1944, passed Driver/Mechanic 11D test. Number 4 (Canterbury) Tech. Trg. Group, gunner. UK. 116^th Lt. A.A. R.A.

29/04/1944, awarded 7 days C.B. by O.C. Battalion and forfeits 1 days pay by R.W. for WOAS (1) failing to comply with an order (2) AWOL from 2259hrs 24/04/1944 until 0630hrs 25/04/1944 (about 7 hours 31 mins)
Date of offence 24/04/1944
Date charged 29/04/1944
In open arrest awaiting disposal.
Gunner, UK. 116^th Lt. A.A. R.A.

01/05/1944, mustered as Driver/ Mechanic Gp “D” ? 11, gunner, UK, 116^th Lt. A.A. R.A.

21/06/1944, embarked UK.

20/12/1944, posted to “X” list 31 R.H.Q. 108 Lt. A.A. R.A. gunner, North West Europe.

21/09/1945, medical exam, medical category A1, North West Europe. Gunner, 108 Lt. A.A. R.A.

4/10/1945, posted to “X” a list for class A release. North West Europe. Gunner, 108 Lt. A.A. RA.

6/10/1945, embarked North West Europe for UK.

Another great picture. I would say that it was taken in Holland. You'll be aware they were involved in the liberation of s'Hertogenbosch. Indeed one officer was recommended for a VC! The unit was broken up in Dec 1944, as effectively the german airpower no longer posed a serious threat. Many of the guys(220) were sent to infantry units, however looking at your fathers record, he went to 108 LT AA.

I think you should get yourself a 2nd hand copy of "The Red Dragon" by Kemp & Graves. Its the account of the RWF in WW2, and a few pages are dedicated to your fathers unit, especially their war fighting. The book was published in 1960 and it's been out of print since. Its a worthy companion to all the detail you have about your father. You can pick up a decent copy from www.abebooks.com for about £20-30.

Best

Incidentally here is a link to one of our members webpage "Swiper" about the 53rd Welsh Division and in particular your fathers unit the 116th. A really good read.

http://jonathanhware.weebly.com/116-...-regiment.html

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Originally Posted by Sylfan

Attachment 3165


This photograph shows Walter Hammond on the left and I am sure it is the same male from my previous picture on his right who was titled "father of Whippet Quick" in that photograph.

They are standing next to a 40mm Bofors LAA gun and looking at the architecture behind it,s somewhere in Northern Europe.


I have been told the emblem on the other side of the tractor - a shield with what appears possibly a white cross diagonally is that of The Lowland Division which the 108th were part of.

If that is so would they have kept their original troop markings form the 108th?

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Because of the markings, we have to assume this picture was taken after Dec 1944. 116th had been disbanded and your father was now serving with 108 LT AA.

http://www.zoominto.com/zoomapi/ZoomButt.gif

Members may be interested to know that one of our members Gyn Hughes tends to EO SKaifes grave 3 or 4 times per year, on behalf of the regiment.

Attachment 3177

AP1


Thank you for recommending "General Hughie Stockwell" by Jonathon Riley it makes good reading. A number of campaign's Stockwell had been involved I must admit I had almost forgotten about and it was good to revisit them and learn a lot more. I found his career fascinating and by the time I came to his death I was quite moved at reading about his funeral.

From a non military persons point of view I found the large number of abbreviations which you would expect in a military book to find a bit difficult as unfortunately the Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations was a bit wanting.

As far as the report of the car accident mentioned involving Colonel Skaife and my father, I was surprised to read that my father was driving a Humber staff car. My mother always maintained he was driving a vehicle which had been commandeered and was in poor mechanical order, but a Humber staff car sounds it was a proper military vehicle.

I have just started reading "The Red Dragon" and have just covered the 1st Battalion before the outbreak of the Second World War. I have been trying to fit the events and places described in the book with my fathers joining the Battalion in 1928 in India. Moving to the Sudan, possibly to Atbara as he received a telegram from Atbara, as a mate wished him "bon voyage". The telegram was addressed to HMT Lancashire , at Port Said, Egypt and I believe was on his way back to England.

He is shown in England by December 1931 which seems to be ahead of the Battalion as "The Red Dragon states the 1st Battalion landed at Southampton on the 21st April 1932.

Could he have come home early as possibly Colonel Skaife may have come ahead of the Battalion to make arrangements for it's arrival and possibly my father was his batman by this time and accompanied him?

Sylfan

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sylfan

AP1

He is shown in England by December 1931 which seems to be ahead of the Battalion as "The Red Dragon states the 1st Battalion landed at Southampton on the 21st April 1932.

Could he have come home early as possibly Colonel Skaife may have come ahead of the Battalion to make arrangements for it's arrival and possibly my father was his batman by this time and accompanied him?

Sylfan

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I would think that was entirely possible, they would normally have an advance party. The CO on a ship with the main body heading back to the UK would not actually be able to achieve anything in terms of planning etc. Additionally there would have been stewards on board, so your father quite possibly may even have travelled ahead of him.