A Soldier’s Story
Albert William Penny Army No. 7860
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Contents Page
UK Census of 1881.……………………………………..
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Marriage Registration……………………………………….. 5 Service record …………………………………………......... 6 Medals Issued………………………………………….……. 8 Remembered with Honor………………………………....... 9 History of the Wiltshire Regiment……................................. 13 WWI Battle Honor’s
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1st Battalion Timeline for going to War................................. 19 Battle of Messines………………….................................
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1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment War Diaries…………....
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References …………………………………………………. 24
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Penny Family listing on the UK Census of 1881
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Marriage Registration.
Name:
Albert Penny
Year of Registration:
1903
Quarter of Registration:
Oct-Nov-Dec
District:
Bradford Upon Avon
County:
Somerset, Wiltshire
Volume:
5a
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Service Record.
Name:
Albert William Penny
Birth Place:
Bradford-On-Avon, Wilts
Residence:
Devizes, Wilts
Death Date:
23 Oct 1914
Enlistment Location:
Dublin
Rank:
L/Corporal
Regiment:
Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire Regiment)
Battalion:
1st Battalion.
Number:
7860
Type of Casualty:
Killed in action
Theater of War:
Aldershot
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Medals Issued.
The 1914-1915 Star.
The British War Medal 1914/20
The Victory Medal
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In Memory of Lance Corporal ALBERT WILLIAM PENNY
7860, 1st Bn, Wiltshire Regiment who died on 23 October 1914
Remembered with honour LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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Historical Information. The Memorial in Le Touret Military Cemetery, Richebourg-l'Avoue, is one of those erected by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to record the names of the officers and men who fell in the Great War and whose graves are not known.
It serves the area enclosed on the North by the river Lys and a line drawn from Estaires to Fournes, and on the South by the old Southern boundary of the First Army about Grenay; and it covers the period from the arrival of the II Corps in Flanders in 1914 to the eve of the Battle of Loos. It does not include the names of officers and men of Canadian or Indian regiments; they are found on the Memorials at Vimy and Neuve-Chapelle.
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The names of those commemorated are listed on panels set into the walls of the court and the gallery, arranged by Regiment, Rank and alphabetically by surname within the rank. Over 13,000 names are listed on the memorial of men who fell in this area before 25 September 1915 and who have no known grave. The memorial was designed by J.R. Truelove and unveiled by Lord Tyrrell on 22 March 1930.
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THE WILTSHIRE REGIMENT (Duke of Edinburgh’s)
In October 1756, an unwanted military bustle stirred the sleepy cathedral town of Exeter. Drafts of soldiers arrived, and through the narrow, cobbled streets red-coated recruiting parties moved about the taverns and market places. Spreading further into the country, to the villages and hamlets, these persistent recruiters with the beat of drum were searching for recruits to form a second battalion to the 4th Regiment of Foot which was to have its Headquarters in Exeter on its return from Minorca. The reason for raising this battalion was the frantic strengthening of the Army at the start of the Seven Years War with France.
In January 1758 four companies of the 2/4th Regiment embarked at Plymouth as Marines under Major T Hardy in five ships of Admiral Boscawin's fleet. The fleet sailed for Halifax, Nova Scotia, the mounting base for a seaborne attack on French Canada. However, on April 21st, when these four companies were with the Fleet on passage across the Atlantic and Battalion Headquarters and the remaining companies served on at Plymouth, the Royal Horse Guards (the name of the headquarters of the British Army, and not to be confused with the Cavalry Regiment of that name) decreed that the new second battalions throughout the Army would be numbered as separate Regiments. 13
Under this re-organization the 2nd/4th Regiment became the 62nd Regiment of Foot.
Throughout the campaign the 62nd continued to serve as Marines, provided landing parties, manned ships boats, put Artillery pieces ashore and provided local protection for them.
The 62nd had won their first battle Honors ‘Louisburg’, but it was not awarded until 150 years later. To commemorate their service as Marines the 62nd were permitted to play ‘Rule Britannia’ after the Regimental March.
Early in 1782, the Commander in Chief laid down that County titles be given to Regiments of the Line, to encourage recruiting; the 62nd taking the name of Wiltshire and henceforth became known as the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment.
A second battalion of the 62nd was formed in 1799. Both battalions were ordered to Holland, but the British Forces there returned home before this could be put into effect. The second battalion was disbanded in 1802. In 1803, Napoleon threatened invasion with his army encamped at Boulogne, as a result of which recruits flocked to enlist and the 2nd/62nd was reformed at Devizes in 1804. The battalions joined Wellington’s Army in the Peninsula in 1809 and were awarded the Battle Honors of ‘Peninsula’ and ‘Nive’. This battalion was disbanded in 1817.
In 1845 the 62nd Regiment was stationed in Madras and Bengal and took the field against the Sikhs in the first war against that nation.
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In the first battle, that of Ferozeshah, the Regiment played a noble part, losing more than half its effectives in killed and wounded, its losses being more than those of any other Regiment engaged. The Battle of Ferozeshah - 21/22 The battle ended in one of the most
December 1845
brilliant victories standing to the credit of the British Army, 35,000 of the enemy with more than 100 guns and a strongly entrenched position, being attacked and routed by a British Force of under 18,000 with 63 guns. The battle was not commenced until late in the afternoon, and just as the British succeeded, after sustaining great losses, in reaching the enemy’s position, night came down and put an end to the fighting. Both forces stood off a little and bivouacked on the field of battle and renewed the fight with unabated vigour with the earliest light of dawn. The enemy was defeated with great slaughter and all his guns were captured or destroyed.
The 62nd led the attack on the main position, defended by the greater portion of the enemy’s guns, which mowed great gaps in the ranks of the advancing Regiment. They went on, losing eighteen officers out of twenty three, and 281 Rank and File out of 560. Most of the Companies were commanded by Sergeants when the battle was resumed next morning. The gallantry of the Regiment was witnessed by Sir Hugh Gough, the General in Command, and he personally complimented the survivors on their determined attack and for their steady and devoted gallantry under a storm of fire.
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Under the Cardwell reforms of 1881, the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment was linked with the 99th (Duke of Edinburgh’s) Regiment becoming respectively the 1st and 2nd Battalion of the (Duke of Edinburgh’s) Wiltshire Regiment. In 1920, the title of the Regiment was altered to:
The Wiltshire Regiment(Duke of Edinburgh’s) 99th Foot. In March 1824, Major General Gage John Hall, who had recently acted as Governor of Mauritius, received a letter from Lord Palmerston at the War Office, stating that the King had been pleased to order a Regiment of Infantry to be raised forthwith for general service under his command and that the number was to be the 99th. The Regiment was raised in Glasgow. In 1832 the 99th receive permission from Her Majesty to be styled "The Lanarkshire Regiment".
The 99th were stationed in Aldershot in 1858 and were extremely prominent. Very smart in drill and dress, they were always chosen to find the guard on the Royal Pavilion, and were in consequence nicknamed "The Queen’s Pets". Also their officers wore more than the usual amount of gold lace on their uniforms. The 99th’s sartorial perfection at this time is said to have given rise to the expression "Dressed to the Nines", and the other Regiments in Aldershot were constantly trying to achieve the same standard.
His Royal Highness Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the second son of Queen Victoria, had shown great interest in the 99th. His interest started in Cape Town in 1868 when, as Commander in Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet, he inspected them at his own request. He continued to show this interest up to the time of his death in 1890. In 1870 at Aldershot he presented them with their new Colours. 16
In 1874 permission was received for the Regiment to be styled "The 99th (Duke of Edinburgh’s) Regiment", omitting the County title, and to bear the Duke’s cypher and Coronet on their Colours. It still maintained its association as a Lowland Regiment, and wore a diced border on its Shako and Forage caps until 1886.
In 1881, under the Cardwell reforms the 99th (Duke of Edinburgh’s) Regiment was joined with the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment.
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Battle Honors WWI 12 Battalions—‘Mons’ ‘Le Cateau’ ‘Retreat from Mons’ ‘Marne 1914’ ‘Aisne 1914, 1918’ ‘La Bassee 1914’ ‘Messines 1914, 1917, 1918’ ‘Armentieres 1914’ ‘Ypres 1914, 1917’ ‘Langemarck 1914’ ‘NonneBosschen’ ‘Neuve Chapelle’ ‘Aubers’ ‘Festubert 1915’ ‘Loos’‘Somme 1916, 1918’ ‘Albert 1916, 1918’ ‘Bazentin’ ‘Pozieres’ ‘LeTransloy’ ‘Ancre Heights’ ‘Ancre 1916’ ‘Arras 1917’ ‘Scarpe 1917’ ‘Arleux’ ‘Pilkem’ ‘’Menin Road’ ‘’Polygon Wood’ ‘Broodseinde’ ‘Poelcappelle’ ‘Passchendaele’ ‘St Quentin’ ‘Lys’ ‘Bailleul’ ‘Kemmel’ ‘Scherpenberg’ ‘Bapaume 1918’ ‘Hindenburg Line’ ‘Epehy’ ‘ Canal du Nord’ ‘St Quentin Canal’ ‘Beaurevoir’ ‘Cambrai 1918’ ‘Selle’ ‘Sambre’ ‘France and Flanders 1914 –1918’ ‘Dorian 1917, 1918’ ‘Macedonia 1915 1918’ ‘Sulva’ ‘Saria Bair’‘Gallipoli’ 1915 -1916‘ ‘Gaza’ ‘Nebi Samwil’ ‘Jeruslem’ ‘Megiddo’ ‘Sharon’ ‘Palestine 1917 –1918’ ‘Tigris 1916’ ‘Kut al Amara 1917’ ‘Baghdad’ ‘Mesopotamia 1916 –1918’
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1st Wiltshire Timeline for Going to War. 62nd Regiment / 1st Wiltshire
14 July 1914
On 14 July 1914, England, Tidworth. Battalion marched to Grovely Wood and bivouaced at 4.30p.m. The next day it exercised in wood fighting with 2nd Royal Irish Rifles at Grovely Wood 62nd Regiment / 1st Wiltshire
27 July 1914
On 27 July 1914, England, Grovely Wood. Four Officers and 100 Other Ranks transported by motor lorry to garrison Marchwood Magazine 62nd Regiment / 1st Wiltshire
30 July 1914
On 30 July 1914, England, Tidworth. Battalion medically inspected for active service. All ranks on leave recalled 62nd Regiment / 1st Wiltshire
4 August 1914
On 4 Aug 1914, England, Tidworth. Mobilization orders received 62nd Regiment / 1st Wiltshire
5 August 1914
On 5 Aug 1914, England, Tidworth. Mobilization commenced. Battalion inoculated against Typhoid 5/6th 62nd Regiment / 1st Wiltshire
8 August 1914
On 8 Aug 1914, England, Tidworth. Mobilization completed 62nd Regiment / 1st Wiltshire
13 August 1914
On 13 Aug 1914, England, Tidworth. Battalion transported by train to Southampton en-route to join BEF in France
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Battle of Messines, 12 October-2 November 1914
The battle of Messines, 12 October-2 November 1914, was part of the Race to the Sea, the series of battles that decided the line of the western front. In the aftermath of the first battle of the Marne, it was decided to move the BEF back north to Flanders, to shorten its supply lines back to the channel ports. The battle of Messines was the official name for the fighting between the river Douve and the Comines-Ypres canal, but it merged into the battle of Armentières to the south and the first battle of Ypres to the north. Sir John French believed that there were only weak German forces in front of the BEF, and so planned a general advance to the north east of Lille. The Cavalry Corps was to guard the left flank of the advance of III corps, and join up with the troops already taking up position around Ypres. The battle officially began on 12 October, when the Cavalry Corps was pushed forward to make room for the advance of III corps. The corps ran into German troops on the high ground at Mont des Cats and Flêtre, and captured Mont des Cats. The advance continued on 13 October. The British advance forced the Germans to evacuate their most forward positions, in Armentières On 14 October the German Sixth Army, in front of the advancing Cavalry Corps, was ordered to stand on the defensive while the Fourth Army carried out an offensive against the entire allied line from Menin to the coast. On the same day the Cavalry Corps advancing from the west met up with the 3rd Cavalry Division south of Ypres, closing the last gap in the allied lines. The cavalry corps advanced over the next few days, until by the night of 17/18 October it had reached the line it would hold until the crisis of 30-31 20
October. That line ran north east from Messines to Hollebeke. For most of the intervening period the British were opposed by six cavalry divisions, lacking heavy artillery and short of ammunition. The Cavalry Corps was reinforced on 22-23rd October by the Ferozepore Brigade of the Lahore Division, 1/ Connaught Rangers and 57th Wilde’s Rifles. The major crisis of the battle came on 30-31 October, during the battle of Gheluvelt. This saw the German Army Group Fabeck attack at Gheluvelt and Messines. On 30 October the Cavalry Corps was forced out of Hollebeke, at the north of the line, although the attack on Messines failed. The main line was forced back onto Messines Ridge. 31 October saw the main crisis at Gheluvelt. It also saw the Germans capture part of Messines, and push the Cavalry Corp line back even further. By the end of the day, the British line had been reinforced by French troops. Even so, the German advance continued for some days. Messines was abandoned on 1 November, and in the fighting after the official end of the battle Messines ridge was lost, but the line itself held.
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1st Wiltshire War Diaries Oct 22nd to Oct 25th 1914 Oct 18th (Sunday) Endeavoured to make ground to the front, but, enemy appeared to have been strongly reinforced, only succeeded in making about 200 to 300 yards. Germans shelled trenches and village, made another effort to get forward at dusk . Heavy firing continued till 10.30p.m. but little progress made. Enemy employed guns, search light and star shells, they also fired hay ricks. Casualties 2nd Lieut Gee dangerously wounded, 2nd Lieut Gaskell slightly wounded, other ranks 3 killed, 21 wounded.
Oct 19th (Monday) A & B Coys made a little ground but, shell and rifle fire very heavy. 2nd Lieut Lloyd succeeded in making a lodgement with one platoon of D Coy in the outskirts of ILLIES and was joined by 2nd Lieut Rose with his platoon. At dusk, enemy fired a rick close to B Coy line which prevented wounded and dead being brought in till late. Rain helped keep the fire down. Enemy used heavy guns during the afternoon. 2nd Lieuts Lloyd and Rose withdrew as their effectual support impossible. Casualties 12 killed and 21 wounded. Capt Stoddart granted the CROIX DE CHEVALIER and ORQMS Warwick the MEDAILLES MILITAIRES of the LEGION OF HONOUR. Special orders of the day received.
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Oct 20th (Tuesday) Situation remained unchanged. A & B Coys heavily sniped from the factory enclosure.
Oct 21st No attack was made but a heavy artillery fire on support trenches which were occupied by half of 'D' Coy under Capt Henslow, continued at intervals until dusk. During the night supports took up position on extreme left of Battalion.
Oct 22nd
(Thursday) Enemy re-attacked fiercely about 2.30 a.m. and, surrounded our right (D Coy), the latter still held on. Attack beaten off about 3.30a.m. At 4.10a.m. the Battn withdrew and took up a new position SE from HAPLEGARDE. Got into position just after daylight. Trenches very heavily shelled all day. The Germans lit ricks in rear of our line and prevented our putting up wire entanglements.
Oct 23rd (Friday) Battn marched at midnight, C Coy as rearguard moved into position W of NEUVE CHAPELLE partially prepared by RE. Dug and made bombproof until sniping got too bad, had to knock off until dusk, continued entrenching and strengthening the works after dark. Casualties 2 killed & 3 wounded. Albert Penny may have been one of those killed on this day.
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References. 1) UK Census of 1881. http://www.ancestry.co.uk/ 2) Marriage Registration.. http://www.ancestry.co.uk/ 3) Service Record. http://www.ancestry.co.uk/ 4) Medals Issued. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/militaryhistory/medals/?militarylink=ww 1-medals 5) Remembered with Honor. http://www.cwgc.org/ 6) 1st Wiltshire Reference Material and War Diaries. https://www.thewardrobe.org.uk/index.php 7) Battle of Messines. http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_messines1914.html
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