Sarah
Hawkins Genealogy Site
Newspaper
Articles
Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser Wednesday 09 Jul 1930
Page 03 Column 4 & 5
5TH SOMERSET LI.
TOKEN OF REMEMBRANCE.
GIFT BY PAST AND PRESENT OFFICERS.
PERMANENT RECORD OF BATTALIONS.
An event of much local interest, particularly to past and present members of the 5th Battalions of the Somerset Light Infantry, took place at the Castle Hotel, Taunton, on Saturday evening. The occasion was a reunion of officers of the 1/5th and 2/5th Battalions who served during the Great War, and the officers of the present 5th Battalion.
Lieut.-Colonel W. O. GIBBS, the commanding officer, presided, and there were present:- B.-Col. R.E. GIFFORD, Lieut.-Cols. J. R. PAULL, W. H. SPEKE, C. J. TRASK, F. D. URWICK, D. S. WATSON, Majors G. P. CLARKE, C. H. GOODLAND, E. S. GOODLAND, C. L. RUCK, J. R. WARE, Captains A. H. ARMSTRONG, J. H. BLAKE, T. BOND, TETT, BRADFORD, F. H. F. CALWAY, G. H. COLE, G. H. DICKINSON, J. DUKE, S. H. ELDER, J. FOAKE, A. E. GAWLER, F. G. GOMEZ, J. A. GOULD, R. V. HOBHOUSE, I. HOOD, W. E. HUNT, Sir John MELLOR, Bart., H. L. MILSOM, R. B. MOORE, T. MOORE, C. N. PRICE, T. M. PULMAN, Rev. F. E. SPURWAY, W. Winter GOODE, Lieuts. J. BELL, R. P. BESLEY, E. J. BRUFORD, A. L. CROCKFORD, R.A.M.C., L. S. DANIEL, C. R. DAVIS, H. E. DAVIS, L. P. MARSHALL, R.A.M.C., R. A. H. MITCHELL, L. J. C. MITCHELL, G. POLLARD, F. STOODLY, H. G. YOUNG, and Second-Lieut. R. A. RUSSELL.
The Battalion Band, under Bandmaster J. MITCHELL, was in attendance, and played a programme of music.
TOKEN OF REMEMBRANCE.
During the evening, Lieut.-Col. F. D. URWICK, of Yeovil, handed over to the safe-keeping of the Commanding Officer and officers of the Battalion a token of remembrance, which was the outcome of the desire of the past officers of the Battalions to preserve the memory of their comrades-in-arms, of all ranks, who made the supreme sacrifice and to make a record of the valour and the hardships, the sacrifices and the sufferings of the rank and file. It consisted of a silver five-branch candelabrum bearing the names of the officers who fell, and the inscription:-
“To the memory of the Officers of the 5th Battalions, Somerset Light Infantry, who laid down their lives for their King and Country during the Great War, 1914-1918, that the honour of the Battalions, and the tradition of the Regiment, might be worthily upheld.”
This was accompanied by the Book of Remembrance, containing the Roll of Honour, and a history of the 1/5th and 2/5th Battalions. The ceremony of dedication was performed by Captain the Rev. F. E. SPURWAY, chaplain to the Battalion.
Some 500 copies of the Book of Remembrance have been printed, and they are available to members of the general pubic, <sic> and officers, at 10s 6d each; to past and present N.C.O.'s and men, at 5s each, upon application tot the Adjutant of the Battalion, at the Territorial Hall, Taunton; or at any Company Headquarters.
ROYAL QUARTO VOLUME.
In a description and resume of the contents of the book Mr. GOODLAND said, “It is a Royal Quarto volume printed on hand-made paper, the preliminary section, consisting of a Roll of Honour is printed in gold. The binding is in Cape Levant Morocco, composed of the Regimental colours, with the badge in gold in the centre of the cover, and a full gold border inside. The Roll of Honour covers ten pages and the names of those who made the supreme sacrifice are printed in gold letters, beginning with the private soldiers, and followed by the corporals and sergeants. Last of all come the officers in order of seniority. In each case the rank comes first, then the surname, which is followed by the Christian name, date of death and other particulars. The official records have formed the basis of these lists, and they have been checked with the Battalion records, and the Somerset War Memorial Book, which is kept in Wells Cathedral. Every care has been taken to make the Roll of Honour complete, and it is hoped that no name has been left. To those who served in the Battalions these pages make pathetic reading, even after this lapse of time.
INCEPTION OF THE 5TH BATTALION.
Following was an introductory chapter setting forth the coming into being of the 5th Battalion in April, 1908. Some interesting information was given about those days, and one incident of much interest recorded was the presentation of the colours to the Battalion by King Edward VII, in June, 1909. These colours are still the treasured possession of the Battalion, and it has been decided that the Book of Remembrance be placed with them. As most people knew, soon after the outbreak of the war the Battalion was expanded into two-fifths and later into three-fifths. The history of the first-fifth was written and compiled by the speaker's brother, Major Stanley GOODLAND and his friend, and comrade-in-arms, Captain H. L. MILSOM. It opened with a foreword written by the general officer who commanded the Brigade during the Palestine operations. Lord ROUNDWAY knew the Battalion well, and he has written most generously of its achievements. Chapter I. covers the period of mobilisation and embarkation and describes how the Battalion was under training on Salisbury Plain when war broke out, how it proceeded to Plymouth on August 4th, returned to the Plain a few days later, and received in due course Lord KITCHENER's message conveying the news that “The Wessex Division, being one of the first to volunteer for general service, had been selected for the work of garrisoning India.” On October 9th the Battalion embarked at Southampton. Chapter II. describes the movements of the Battalion in India, where it served for 2½ years, and ater <sic> the sending of a draft to the Mesopotamian theatre of war. The next chapter describes the doings of the drafts sent to Mesopotamia in 1915-16. Chapter IV, is probably the most important chapter for the campaign in Egypt and Palestine, and the engagements which the Battalion fought are here described. Here is set dwn <sic> the splendid fighto <sic> at Mesiniyah in November, followed by hopeless attacks, in which casualties were so heavy that the strength of the Battalion was reduced to half. Those were sad days for Bridgwater, and here it was that Captain A. O. MAJOR and Captain Banes WALKER was killed. Here, too, it was that Geoffrey CLARKE, then a Second-Lieutenant, was wounded, and for his gallantry was awaraded <sic> the M.C. Sergt.-Major WNDOW, who hailed from Taunton, here had to take command of his company, all the officers having been killed or wounded. There must have been many sorrowing hearts in many parts of Somerset when the news came home.
CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES.
Chapter V. dealt with the Armistice, and the return to Taunton in January, 1920. The war history of many Battalions practically concluded with the Armistice and cessation of hostilities, but the 1st/5th Battalion was destined to see more than a year's further service in the East before the return to Taunton early in 1920. As the chapter proceeded, a most interesting and little-known story was unfolded. The part played in restoring order in Upper Egypt after the serious riots in March, 1919. The leave-taking of its beloved Commanding Officer, Lieut.-Colonel COOKE-HURLE, after his six years' tenure, was affectionately recorded. What the Battalion owed to that fine solder only those who served under him can properly tell.
“And so comes to an end the story of the first 5th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry and its record of service in the Great War. For more than five years the Battalion had carried out its innumerable and varied duties in the East honourably and with the greatest credit. In India, in Mesopotamia, in Palestine and Egypt, there remains those officers, N.C.O's and men of the Battalion who laid down their lives for their King and country, and in the cause of right. To these Glorious Dead this book of remembrance will remain a lasting memorial, and may be to those who come after to carry on the traditions of the Battalion a constant inspiration.”
The book would be incomplete without the honours and rewards gained.
The history of the second 5th Battalion was written and completed by several of the old officers working together as a team, with the assistance of others. This history also opened with a foreword written by Major-General Sir Herbert A. RAILT, who commanded the troops in Burma. He knew the Battalion well, and set out in graphic language the part it played. “The men were of fine physique.” he wrote, “and soon made themselves fit in all respects to take their place with credit and distinction on any battle front.” Those were his concluding words. He was glad that record of their services had been completed, and hoped that their fellow countrymen in Somerset would realise the important services they rendered.
Chapter I. was entitled “Formation.” and records the bringing of the second section of the Battalion into being in 1914. Some of them would perhaps remember the overwhelming response to the recruiting appeal of the 5th Battalion at that time. Originally they were termed a Home Service unit, but out of 1,055 of all ranks 970 had volunteered for Imperial service, and it was with the utmost surprise that they found at the end of November that they were to follow on field service comrades to the East. Those who were left behind formed the nucleus of the third-fifth Battalion, which, with Lieut.-Colonel Harry Heathcoat AMORY as Commanding Officer, became a train-
(Continued at foot of next Column.)
(Continued from preceding column.)
ing unit, and provided reinforcements for the overseas Battalions throughout the war.
THE BATTALION IN BURMA.
Chapter II is headed “Burma,” and sets out the embarkation at Southampton on December 12th, 1914, for Bombay. The Battalion eventually found itself stationed in Upper Burma, with a large detachment in Rangoon. Its main duties were concerned with internal security. Sir John MELLOR, who commanded the draft which left Rangoon on August, 1915, to join the 2nd Battalion of the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, has described its doings in a most restrained, yet graphic way. It is interesting to compare it with the drafts of the first 5th Battalion send to the 2nd Dorsets. Both drafts took part in the same engagements and both were shut up in Kut, and the survivors from both suffered the horrors of captivity at the hands of the Turks. It is believed that of this draft nine or ten were taken prisoners of war on the fall of Kut, and that of these only two, Private R. HAWKINS, of Taunton, and Private S. SHOPLAND, of Wiveliscombe, survived to return home.
THE KING'S COLOURS.
In winding up the resume, Mr. GOODLAND said “It can easily be understood that the number of officers and men who went out from the Battalion during these years in one service or another was considerable, and in the narrative an attempt has been made to place such movements and transfers on record. Many saw service in Persia, China, the North-West frontier, and an unusually large numbers of N.C.O.'s became instructors to the newly raised units of Indian Infantry. This resume is nearly through: as it began with the Colours of the 5th Battalion, so it ends with the King's Colour of the second 5th Battalion, which was received in March, 1920, and laid up in Ilminster Church later in the year. And there the Colour rests in the safe keeping of the Vicar and churchwardens – a lasting witness to the existence of the Battalion.”
“A page is set apart for honours and rewards, and lastly the Honorary Colonel of the present 5th Battalion, Colonel J. W. GIFFORD, of Chard, writes an epilogue. In order to link up the future with the past, a roll of officers from 1920 onwards completes the book.”
THE BOOK EXPLAINED.
ADDRESS TO ROTARIANS.
Mr. Harold GOODLAND, the new president of the Taunton Rotary Club, who entered upon his year of office last week, explained the object and aim of the Book of Remembrance to the members of the Club on Friday.
“The Book of Remembrance (said Mr. GOODLAND) is an outcome of the desire of the officers of the 5th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry, who served during the war, to preserve the memory of their comrades-in-arms of all ranks who made the supreme sacrifice, and to make a record of the valour, hardships, sacrifices, and the sufferings of the rank and file. This project has taken some years to come into being (continued Mr. GOODLAND), the preliminary meeting was held three years ago, and a Committee of past and present officers appointed to carry out the scheme. Lieut.-Col. F. D. URWICK, of Yeovil, has been the chairman, with Major Geoffrey CLARKE, as treasurer.
500 COPIES.
Continuing, Mr. GOODLAND said that some 500 copies of the Book of Remembrance have been printed, and they would be available for the public and those who served in the Battalions. This token of remembrance was to be handed to the safekeeping of the commanding officer and officers of the Battalion.
“We who have collaborated in writing the book are most anxious that the news shall be circulated throughout the district (he continued), because we feel that the relatives and friends of those to whose memory it is our token, will be glad to know that it has been done, and because we are sure that there are some hundreds of N.C.O.'s and men who would like to possess a copy of it in memory of their comrades. This record is of your own kith and kin who served in the local Territorial Battalions in the Great War. Taunton was the headquarters – and the area from which the men came extended from Minehead to Bridgwater and Burnham, thence to Langport, Yeovil, Crewkerne, Ilminster, Chard, Wellington, and Wiveliscombe.”