Finney brothers in WWI

[fnney]

I am looking for more info on my maternal grandfather's 2 brothers who served with the RWF in the Great War. I have recently become interested in the war afer finding a July 8 1916 letter from my a great uncle on my maternal grandmother's side describing the first day on the Somme from the perspective of a private in the 3rd Salford Pals. I would like to get a full picture of the family's service.

1. Clement Finney 55341 was killed in action as a private with 14 Service Bn on 28 Aug 1918 near Longueville I believe. I have a decent copy of his MIC and his original death plaque. He is remembered on the Arras Memorial. I was hoping to know more about the circumstances of his death. I have read the 14 Bn war diary for this period but it does not refer to OR casualties by circumstance or even by number. Using Google, I found a posting on GWF that referred to the action in which he was killed but wen I followed the link it had been lost in site maintenance before I could access it.

2. I have a blurry copy of the MIC for Wilfred Seymour Finney and he also served in RWF. I am not sure which Bn but his MIC shows 2b Balkans and entry into theatre as 8.8.15. The MIC also shows three regimental numbers including what looks like 840, 290148, and a third blurry unreadable number. I believe the 2b is likely Galipolli service but I'm not sure. He was awarded the 1915 star trio. If anyone could provide a better copy of his MIC, confirmation of Bn or any other details I would appreciate it. Wilfred survived the war to serve in 7 Bn RWF TA.

3. My grandfather was Alick Hayden Finney. He served in RNAS and was transferred into RAF on its first day of existence. He went on to join the fire service where he rose to command the Staffs Fire Service. He was awarded the King's Police & Fire Medal and an OBE. He was heavily involved in the 1940 air attack on Coventry.

If any of the members can add to my knowledge re. Clement and Wilfred (particulalrly the latter), I would very much appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.

Colin Fraser
Oakville, Ontario
Canada

[LarsA]

The 290001-315000 series is for the 7th btn, which landed at Suvla, Gallipoli as part of the 53rd Welsh Division in august 1915. His 3rd number, 4181350 is a post 1920number for the RWF, and apart from the 1914-15trio he was awarded the Territorial Efficiency Medal in 1924.

The actions of the 14th in august 1918 are well described in "Regimental Records of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, part III" by Dudley Ward,

ATB,
Lars

[Baconwallah]

I had a look for service and/or pension records, but no such luck. The two MICs I attach to this post.

Of Clement (born Forden, Montgomery) all I can say is that he only received the VM and BWM and therefore landed after 31 Dec 1915. My guess would be the last quarter of 1916. He was renumbered after landing. The original number is on the low side, and the 55xxx numbers were generally given to Territorials transferred to the Regular Army. He was therefore originally in the TF, and since he enlisted in Newtown it must have been the 7th Bn.

Wilfred Seymour landed in Gallipoli, having embarked 8 Aug 1915. Considering his later service with 7 RWF I think he was already serving with 7 RWF during the war. It would explain the low number (recruiting for the 7th was slow). He was renumbered with effect from 1 Mar 1918, when all TF men were renumbered in six-digit series. The first three digits, 291, indicate 7th RWF. Post-war he remained in service and in 1920 was renumbered 4181350. He received the 1915 Star, VM and BWM, and in 1924 also the Territorial Efficiency Medal.

For more information on the RWF battalions in the Great War, see the Regimental Records of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, vols III (France) and IV (Balkans, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Italy). They are available from the Regimental Museum (http://www.rwfmuseum.org.uk/). You can also try to get your local library to find you copies, or try Antiqbook (http://www.antiqbook.nl/index.php?l=en&o=) for second hand copies.

Hope this helps.

John

Finney C 2938 & 55341.jpgFinney WS 840 & 290148 & 4181350.jpg

[fnney]

Thanks for the quick and very useful replies. Lots of new info to work with here. Thanks also for the clear Wilfred MIC.

Colin

[fnney]

BTW - found the text of Regimental Records of the Royal Welch Fusiliers online - badly scanned by an OCR and horribly formatted but it will do for now. See http://www.archive.org/stream/regime...4dudl_djvu.txt

Colin

[Baconwallah]

There is a download link to a better version somewhere in the threads of this research section, posted by Gwilwil.

Alternatively, on the page you linked to, click [other formats] and then the pdf link that will appear.

Mind you, both your discovery and the download link are Vol IV only.

John

[fnney]

Figured it wasn't news but thanks for the pdf hint.

Colin