Please can you help ...??? .... I've been searching for some time now to find any details about the last whereabouts of my Uncle :
Private Ernest Wood - 60252 - 40th Coy, Machine Gun Corps ( Infantry ). Formerly 45510 - Cheshire Regiment
Died 21st March 1918.
Remembered at Arras Memorial.
I have this info via CWGC and have already visited Arras to pay my respects, last year.
I understand that there is tremendous confusion as to records of the Machine Gun Corps due to the re-organisation in about 1916 and also the subsequent destruction during WW2 Blitz of Military records, but I can trace no more information as to the final days / location of this unit and him
Any assistance will be welcomed.
Topper
Results 1 to 8 of 8
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29-08-2014, 1:23 PM #1
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- Aug 2014
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The missing Machine Gun Corps unit
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29-08-2014, 2:02 PM #2
The Long Long Trail lists hundred of MGC Companies, but not 38, 39 or 40. However, Google Books turned up one of their frustrating snippet views from a book called "The Machine Gun Corps in Mesopotamia, 1914-1918" by Paul Knight which lists all 3 of them as being part of the 13th (Western) Division: GOC Major Gen Sir Stanley Maude.
The 40th were part of the 40th brigade together with Battalions from the Royal Welch, Cheshires, South Wales Borderers, Wiltshires and Supply & Transport.
There's accounts of their activities in Mesopotamia, but being a snippet, I can't read far enough to find out when they were moved back to Europe (as they must have been if he's on the Arras Memorial. I don't suppose you noticed if there were others from 40th?).
If this Link HERE doesn't take you there, Google Book search on the title I gave you.
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29-08-2014, 2:47 PM #3
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- Aug 2014
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- Cheshire
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Lesley ; Thanks for that and for the prompt attention .... yes, it's a mystery trying to find these movements ...
..............from the photographs we took at Arras memorial, and from memory, we're pretty sure that names were listed A-Z and the plaque with E Wood's name is obviously to the end of some 3 - 4 columns, but it is / we are, unclear as to whether it is under a heading " Machine Gun Corps " However, below this list, starts another list, headed " Machine Gun Corps ( Cavalry )" so that is possible. This is in Bay 10.
To help you locate the position of 40th MCG, I have discovered that on 25th March, 1918 ( about the same time as the death of E. Wood ) a Victoria Cross was awarded to Pte A H Cross ( died 23.11.1965 - buried in Sth London Cemetery ) - V C & M M - 40th Bttn M G C Infantry at Evillers, which obviously confirms the location.
Thanks for you help so far and I will be delighted to hear if you can further.
Regards Topper
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29-08-2014, 3:18 PM #4
Have you looked for the Company War Diary on The National Archives Site? I think that should be your next step. They might have kept the 40th Brigade together, so that might also be worth looking for.
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29-08-2014, 3:21 PM #5
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- Aug 2014
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- Cheshire
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Lesley :
Thanks again for that .. will keep you posted.
Regards Topper
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29-08-2014, 3:29 PM #6
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- Oct 2004
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- Kent
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Is this page any help?
https://www.1914-1918.net/40div.htm
Here is the war diary (WO 95/2601/5 ) ...
https://discovery.nationalarchives.go...ils/r/C7354263
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29-08-2014, 3:54 PM #7
- Join Date
- Aug 2014
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- Cheshire
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Peter ;
Looks like you've the same idea as Lesley .. see above ... and thanks for the extra detail ... I'm going to download items shortly.
Regards and thanks again - Topper
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16-10-2014, 12:23 PM #8
- Join Date
- Aug 2014
- Location
- Cheshire
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Lesley & Peter
As promised, I downloaded the information you have advised ... many thanks ... distressing to discover the true horror of my Uncle's final days from those reports, but at the same time, a relief to know what actually happened .. it's difficult to comprehend what it must have been like.
My Uncle's youngest brother, my father, then aged 9, never ever knew Pte E Wood's fate, or even that of his other brother, Harold, who died 3/4 weeks later some 40 miles away with the Cheshire Regiment, aged 20........I'm still working on his history although I visited his grave in Caix some 3/4 weeks ago.
Thanks again ... Topper
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