Grandfather's Pre 1st WW service

[GeoffEllis058]

I have copies of my grandfather's service records and am interested in his earlier service from February 1896 to January 1904. Initially he was with the 2nd Battalion RWF, possible Regiment No 6969, and was involved with the campaign 'Occupation of Crete 1896 - 1897' and also received the medal for 'China 1900'.
It is these two campaigns that I am attempting to 'look into'. Is anybody able to assist me with this family project, or steer me in the correct direction to carry out my own research.

[Aled Roberts]

I have copies of my grandfather's service records and am interested in his earlier service from February 1896 to January 1904. Initially he was with the 2nd Battalion RWF, possible Regiment No 6969, and was involved with the campaign 'Occupation of Crete 1896 - 1897' and also received the medal for 'China 1900'.
It is these two campaigns that I am attempting to 'look into'. Is anybody able to assist me with this family project, or steer me in the correct direction to carry out my own research.

Hi Geoff

Coincidentally I am just doing some in depth research in this area right now. That number is too high for the China war medal, can you share the name?

2/RWF were heavily engaged in China, Crete was less involved for the Battalion - but they had to go twice, either side of a trip to Egypt.

Some background here for Crete :

http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/balk...e18971908.html

Richard

[Jerry B]

There is a bit on the RWF's involvement in China and the Boxer's in this book.

http://www.rwf-forum.co.uk/vBulletin...-to-Armageddon

The Road to Armageddon – the Life and Letters of Lt-Col Henry Cadogan, RWF, 1868–1914

The Road to Armageddon follows the career of one man, Henry Cadogan, the personification of an infantry officer of the late-nineteenth century. Commissioned in 1888, he was trained for the imperial wars of the closing years of Queen Victoria’s reign and saw active service on the North-West Frontier and in China. The son of a clergyman, he hailed from a large family with whom he regularly corresponded over the many years that he served abroad. These letters form the basis of his history, illustrating the everyday life of a young officer stationed far from home defending an empire of which he, and every other soldier and sailor, was immensely proud. As he rose to eventually command the 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh Fusiliers during the peaceful Edwardian years, he played a part in numerous ceremonial and social events which marked that period when the army underwent wholesale changes to prepare it for conflict in the twentieth century.

When Europe was plunged into war in August 1914, Hal Cadogan brought his battalion back from garrison duties on Malta and endeavoured to prepare it for the conflict. After a very short period of training,his battalion was posted to Belgium as part of 7 Division, the last division of the ‘Old Contemptibles’ to go overseas. Although the British Expeditionary Force was regarded as the best-trained force to ever sail from Britain, it was ill-prepared for what awaited it on the continent. Fighting the last of the Victorian-style campaigns of movement, it acquitted itself with great distinction against an enemy whose sheer weight of numbers seemed to guarantee him victory. The BEF halted the German Army long enough to deny it victory in 1914, but for Hal Cadogan and the men under his command the price paid was high indeed, as the battalion was effectively wiped out. But they, and others like them, prevented the British and French allies losing the war in the opening rounds and thereby laid the first paving on what was to be a long road to eventual victory.Fully illustrated, maps, nominal roll 1RWF (October 1914), index.

[Baconwallah]

Welcome to our Forum, Geoff.

The time of 2 RWF in China was described by Frank Richards in his book Old Soldier Sahib. It is still in print.

Col Nick Lock's article on the Boxer Rebellion is in the Vault. A donation will get you in there.

John

[GeoffEllis058]

Hi Geoff

Coincidentally I am just doing some in depth research in this area right now. That number is too high for the China war medal, can you share the name?

2/RWF were heavily engaged in China, Crete was less involved for the Battalion - but they had to go twice, either side of a trip to Egypt.

Some background here for Crete :

http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/balk...e18971908.html

Richard

Thanks Richard
My grandfathers name was Joseph Edwards, born in Wrexham on 8th July 1879, and enlisted in the 2nd Battalion on 28th February 1896 & transferred to the Reserve on 26th January 1904. He attested in to the Territorial Force (4th Battalion RWF) on the 26th March 1912. From the various 'paperwork' I have there appear to be 3 regimental numbers - 4932; 6969; 200286. He was eventualy discharged on 29th August 1917.
JE Attest 4Btn.pdfJE Uniform.pdf
All assistance is appreciated
Regards
Geoff

[GeoffEllis058]

Thanks John, as you will guess, I am a novice at 'forums'. Firstly, does the 'Old Soldier Sahib' have an ISBN number; and secondly, what would be an acceptable 'donation'?

Regards
Geoff

[LarsA]

I think you will find that his number with the 2nd RWF was 4932. That sounds about right for an 1896 enlistment.

ATB,

Lars

[Jerry B]

From what I remember Old soldier Sahib only has a short chapter on the boxer rebellion and is anecdotal with the author recounting tales told by others.

[Aled Roberts]

Geoff

You have actually helped me more than I can help you in this case! 4932 Edwards was one of the men who had been causing me a headache. The later numbers you posted have allowed me to pick him up and pull the papers. **Edit - I am assuming you have these from findmypast if not let me know and I will email them over to you**

This should help paint a picture for you.

http://www.royalwelsh.org.uk/downloa...ellion1900.pdf

Richard

[jungle1810]

Hello Geoff Ellis,
The reprint of O S S has an I S B N number it is 0-9547252-1-2, there are several different publishers of this story. The first was printed by Faber & |Faber in September (MCMXXXIII Or in layman's terms 1933. The 2nd 3rd were also printed in 1933, the 4th impression was printed in May MCMXXXIV1934. O S S was the second book Frank wrote.Other I S B N numbers are No 10 0907746276. I have also seen an advert for O S N D and it is listed as having two authors ie Robert Graves & Frank Richards. This error probably stems from a bit if Welsh mythology in which some members of the public believed that Robert did have a some what large input which is not true.The truth is that Frank sent his M S to Deya for R Graves to give his opinion and to help getting it published because Robert was an established author and well in with Faber and Faber.But Robert was of the opinion that Frank's output was written in a typical infantry man's language and style, so much so that Robert did very little to the original M S.To summarise Frank gave Robert 30% of his royalties on both books as a mark of Frank's appreciation for all the help Robert gave to Frank. There are a positive multitude of Publisher's of Franks work. In conclusion I can highly recommend both books to all and sundry.
Regards R B D aka jungle1810