Memorial_rwf_arboretum

[Vic Hughes 53]

Gents

I received a phone call today (01 Oct) from Maj (Padre)A Latifa RAChD (former Padre 1 R WELSH) inquiring about a couple of names he came across on a visit of his today, to the Arboretum in Stafford.

Pte William Jones RWF aged U/K Shot 25 Oct 1917

Pte Albert Troughton RWF aged 22 Shot 22 April 1915

Both soldiers were shot at dawn, reasons U/K. The Padre and I are keen to lay a wreath and to say a prayer in remembrance on the morning of the 25 Oct (end of this month) which will coincide with the 96th anniversary of Pte Jones' death, in order that due respects and remembrance are paid to these two former RWF soldiers.

It would be of benefit if I could have some details on these individuals if only to brief the Padre on their service with the Royal Welch Fusiliers.

Many thanks in anticipation

Vic Hughes 53
RSM 3 R WELSH

[Baconwallah]

All I can find, Vic:

Jones, William, 15954 Pte
Landed 19/07/1915, 9/RWF
Reported missing 26/09/1917
Shot 25/10/1917, age unknown, for Desertion
Locre Hospice Cemetery, I.C.4

Troughton, Albert, 10853 Pte
Son of Nathaniel Troughton, of 14, Ash Grove, Stoney Station Rd., Coventry.
Landed 07/10/1914, 1/RWF
Reported missing 30/10/1914
Shot 22/04/1915, age 22, for Desertion
Estaires Communal Cemetery and Extension, Joint grave III.D.6.


Hope this helps.

John

[Clive Hughes]

You don't mention these two who were also executed:

10958 Pte. Major Penn 1st RWF age 21, who was shot at the same time and place as Troughton, for desertion. Same grave reference too. Yes, Major was his name!

15437 Pte. Charles William Knight 10th RWF age 28, shot on 15 November 1915 for the murder of Pte. Alfred Edwards. Buried Le Grand Hasard Military Cemetery, Morbecque, France Grave Ref. 3.B.9 His mother was resident in Fulham, London.

If it's Andy Latifa ex-St.Davids Diocese, Church in Wales please pass on my regards!

Clive Hughes

[ivor43]

hi.
whenever i hear about this i find it quite distressing.
Would it be possible for the Forum to contribute to the cost of the Wreath,i would be quite happy to make a reasonable donation ( Min £5) towards it.

The sun has set many, many times since those days , and has risen again each new day. It Does not matter how many times

'' At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning. WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.''



Ivor

[Blairy]

Extract from my book .Fighting with the Royal Welsh
Private Albert Troughton 10853 1^st Bn. RWF Born c1892 Foleshill Coventry son of coalminer Nathaniel and Ann E. Troughton of Stoney Stanton Road Coventry. Albert had four brothers and two sisters according to the 1901 census; George 13, William 11, James 7, Percy 5, Annie 2, Florence 1; Albert Troughton enlisted in the RWF in 1911 when the Great War started he was in Malta soon to be with the BEF that landed in France on 4^th Oct.1914. Soon the regiment would be fighting for its very existence on that terrible day 29^th Oct during the Battle of Gheluvelt where 270 Royal Welsh Fusiliers died in less than 30 minute around the village of Zandvoorde Ypres. Albert was Posted missing on 30th Oct.1914. The night of 21^st April 1915 saw Private Albert Troughton penning his last letter home it says much of him that his army jailors risked charges by smuggling the letter to his family in Coventry after his execution. His last message was, “I am dying tomorrow, please clear my name”. Dear Mother, and father, sisters and brothers, Just a few lines to let your know I am in the best of health and hope you are mother. I am sorry to have to tell you that I am to be shot tomorrow at 7 o’clock in the morning the 22^nd April. I hope you will take it in good part and not upset yourself. I shall die like a soldier, so goodbye mother, father, sisters and brothers, if any left. Remember me to Mr. Kendell and them who knew me. Mother I am very sorry nothing happened to me at Ypres, I should not have went away and then I might have stood a good chance of being still alive, but I think that they are paying the debt at the full rate. I thought the most they would give me would be about ten years. It is worse than waiting to be hung. I hope you got my letters; which I sent you while waiting for my court martial. It seems that something told me I would be shot, so I think the time has come for me to die… I am only a common soldier and all civilians should know that I have fought for my country in hail, sleet and snow. To the trenches we have to go. All my comrades have been slaughtered which I think everyone should know. When our regiment was captured, the Colonel loudly strained “Everyone for himself”, but on and on I fought and got clear of the German trenches. This is the punishment I get for getting clear of the Germans. I have wrote my last letter to you all at home, so mother don’t be angry with me because I have gone to rest, and pray for me, and I will pray for you. Remember me to Mr. Newbold and tell him about it, I have been silly to go away but if you knew how worried I was, and almost off my head. Think how we had been slaughtered at the beginning of the war… You think they would have a bit of pity for those who are living for their country. Goodbye to all at home. Goodbye, Goodbye. From your Son, Albert. Albert Troughton was shot by a firing squad on 22^th April 1915. at the same time as Private M.Penn 10958. The condemned men, both privates are buried together in Estaires Communal Cemetery, Belgium. Both men had their medals forfeited. James Troughton S946 10^th Service Bn Rifle Brigade. Enlisted 1^st Sept. 1914 in Warwick he lived at Ash Grove, Stoney Stanton Road Coventry. Served 5 years 212 days. Gassed, wounded twice awarded the Military Medal 12^th Dec.1917. MM, 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medal. James was Albert’s brother. Below an Extract from Belfast News-Letter Thursday April 29^th 1920. In the House of Lords yesterday, Lord Southborough called attention to the different types of hysteria and shell shock from which many soldiers suffered during the war, and referred to the death penalty inflicted upon men by court-martial on the charge of cowardice. Lord Howe said he could confidently state that latterly if there was any suspicion that a crime had been committed might have been caused by any of the forms of hysteria, sentence was not confirmed until the accused had been under the observation of the medical authorities, or detained for a time to enable those in authority to arrive at a decision as to whether him mental balance had been affected. Viscount Haldane suggested that in earlier days of the war certain cases of injustice might have occurred owing to our lack of knowledge. Viscount Peel said during the late war immense trouble was taken to see that no person was condemned to death unless for the very gravest reason, and both at the court-martial and afterwards every possible enquiry was made in respect of those who were able to plead some form of mental damage or shell shock. Lord Southbourogh said that many of the nervous and mental conditions involved were entirely new, and it would be most useful that they should be fully investigated. For cases of cowardice 18 death sentences, and for cases of desertion 266 death sentences were carried out.

[Vic Hughes 53]

Clive

Many thanks for your response. I only mentioned those 2 names as that was the info that was passed onto me. However, now that I am aware it is something I can look at when I go to visit their at the end of the month.

Regards

Vic 53