Sgt E Troman

[A T Marshall]

I am trying to research the history of this S/NCO. He served in the 2nd Bn RWF in the First World War from the very beginning and survived.. He was from the Birmingham area.

[Aled Roberts]

Hi AT

What do you know already so we do not try and re-invent the wheel. Smile

Regimental number 9826 ? DCM MM winner ?

Richard

[A T Marshall]

Sgt Troman won his MM as a Cpl in 2nd RWF& his DCM as a SGT in the same Bn. The DCM was awarded for commanding his company for 9 months in the latter part of the war. I am trying to find out if he was a pre war soldier;and if he stayed in the army after the war.and also why his gallantry awards were forfeited in about 1922.. Both the awards were well earned so something must have gone badly wrong for Ernest Troman after the war.

[Aled Roberts]

Ernest Troman's number would indicate a 1907 \ 1908 enlistment. He was the son of the late Mr S Troman who formerly lived in Bishopsgate St, Birmingham. He was educated at the Sir Josiah Mason Orphanage and lived with his brother, Mr S Troman, himself an old soldier, at 102 Belibarn Rd.

He was 29 years of age when he was awarded the MM for his bravery in action at Polygon Wood on the 26th\26th September 1918.

His DCM shortly after. The clincher in the award of the DCM in addition to the seven months of exceptional good work as platoon sgt was when on the night of the 23rd\24th August 1918 he led his platoon against an enemy machine gun post with great skill and determination, and succeeded in capturing the post.

I have no record of him serving post war, nor his forfeiture. Have you tried locating his service papers at the NA ?

Richard

[Aled Roberts]

Sorry. Forgot to check the 1914 roll . . .

He is listed as having his medals being forfeited under KR 392 xiii

This meaning having been sentenced to be discharged with ignomony from the army. This was on the 2nd October 1920.

Richard

[A T Marshall]

Hello Richard, Many thanks for your help in filling in some more lines in Sgt Troman,s story. It sounds to me as if he was subject to a court martial. I did try some years ago in the PRO, but the court martial records were a series of blank pages, Now I'm retired & have time I will be able to do a lot on line once I've learned to drive this computer that is! I take it that these records are more accessable to research now? I also tried to contact the RWF museum but their Email address isn't recognisable or so this hi tec marvel tells me.Thanks again alex.

[Aled Roberts]

Hi Alex

I'm pretty sure you are correct about the Court Martial. I've got my feelers out to see what else we can find out.

Incidently - do you have a picture of Troman ? If not send me your email address.

Regards

Richard

[A T Marshall]

Hello Richard, No I'm afraid I don't have any photos of Sgt Troman, in fact that was why I was trying to contact the regimental museum to see if they had any of him,& also to try and find out which company (s) he was in. The only photos I've seen of 2RWF returnees at the end of the war is in endpiece 1 of 'Duty Done' which unfortunately only has the names of the five officers in the second row.In closing the other bit of information I have on Sgt Troman is that his middle initial was C ie E.C.Troman. You can email me at alexandermarshall60@yahoo.co.uk Thanks again Alex

[Aled Roberts]

Hi Alex

The author of Duty Done is a friend of mine. I have dropped him a query to see if he has any further info, as 2/RWF is his specialist subject.

I have just fired you off a picture of Troman that was supplied to me by Graham Knight. His son is a member of the forum so may pick up on this message. Maybe Graham might also be able to enlighten us ?

Regards

Richard

[A T Marshall]

Hello Richard Once more thank you for the information, the photo was particularly interesting it makes the research that bit more personal. I'll try the Birmingham newspapers just in case they published a photo of him later when he got his DCM.Thanks again. Alex