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28th (1st Artists Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment
28th (The Artists Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment were a unit of the Territorial Force with their HQ at Dukes Road, St Pancras diagonally opposite Euston Station. The Artists Rifles originated in May 1860 as a corps of rifle volunteers, formed by an art student, Edward Sterling, from members of the artistic professions. When the Territorial Force was created in 1908 it became the 28th Battalion, London Regiment. Shortly after the outbreak of the Great War second line and third line battalions were formed, the 2nd/28th an 3rd/28th. The Artists Rifles arrived in France at the end of October 1914 and became an Officers Training Corps (OTC) at Bailleul and in April 1915 it moved to St Omer. In November the 28th and 2nd/28th were merged and the battalion was sent to the front at the end of June 1917, allocated to the 190th Brigade, 63rd (RN) Division.
1st Oct 1914 Training
6th Oct 1914 Training
7th Oct 1914 Transport
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10th Oct 1914 Training
11th Oct 1914 Church Parade
12th Oct 1914 Training
13th Oct 1914 Route March
14th Oct 1914 Training
15th Oct 1914 Preparations
16th Oct 1914 On the March
17th Oct 1914 On the March
18th Oct 1914 Church Parade
19th Oct 1914 Section Training
20th Oct 1914 Training
21st Oct 1914 Training
22nd Oct 1914 Field Day
23rd Oct 1914 Company Training
24th Oct 1914 Orders
25th Oct 1914 Equipment
26th Oct 1914 On the Move
27th Oct 1914 On the Move
28th Oct 1914 Artists Rifles Land
29th Oct 1914 On the Move
30th Oct 1914 Training
31st Oct 1914 Company Training
1st Nov 1914 Church Parade
2nd Nov 1914 Working Parties
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6th Nov 1914 Training
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13th November 1914 Reorganisation
13th Nov 1914 Working Parties
15th Nov 1914 Route March
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19th Nov 1914 Training
Quiet Tonight
20th Nov 1914 Route March
21st Nov 1914 Route March
22nd Nov 1914 Church Parade
23rd Nov 1914 Route March
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26th Nov 1914 Working Parties
27th Nov 1914 Working Parties
28th Nov 1914 Training
29th Nov 1914 Church Parade
30th Nov 1914 Working Parties
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3rd Dec 1914 Working Parties
4th Dec 1914 Trenches
5th Dec 1914 Trenches
6th Dec 1914 Trenches
7th Dec 1914 Trenches
8th Dec 1914 Completely Wrecked
8th Dec 1914 Trenches
9th Dec 1914 Relief Completed
10th Dec 1914 On the March
11th Dec 1914 Working Parties and Training
12th Dec 1914 Working Parties and Training
13th Dec 1914 Church Parade
14th Dec 1914 Training
15th Dec 1914 Training
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17th Dec 1914 Training
18th Dec 1914 Company Training
19th Dec 1914 Training
20th Dec 1914 Church Parade
21st Dec 1914 Training
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24th Dec 1914 Training
25th Dec 1914 Festivities
26th Dec 1914 Training
27th Dec 1914 Church Parade
28th Dec 1914 Training
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31st Dec 1914 Training
1st Jan 1915 Courses
2nd Jan 1915 Training
3rd Jan 1915 Church Parade
4th Jan 1915 Training
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10th Jan 1915 Church Parade
11th Jan 1915 Training
12th Jan 1915 Draft arrives
13th Jan 1915 Tricky Work
13th Jan 1915 Training
14th Jan 1915 Orders Received
15th Jan 1915 Training
16th Jan 1915 Reorganisation
17th Jan 1915 Church Parade
18th Jan 1915 Training
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30th Jan 1915 Draft
31st Jan 1915 Class
19th Nov 1914
10th Dec 1914 Experiences in the Trenches
18th April 1917 Recce
19th April 1917 Reliefs
6th May 1917 Reliefs
23rd Jun 1917 Training
30th Jul 1917 Attachment
31st Jul 1917 Attachment
1st Aug 1917 Reliefs
2nd Aug 1917 Working Parties
3rd Aug 1917 Reliefs
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6th Aug 1917 Working Parties
7th Aug 1917 Reliefs
8th Aug 1917 Training
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10th Aug 1917 Training
11th Aug 1917 Training
12th Aug 1917 Church Parade
13th Aug 1917 Training
14th Aug 1917 Competition
16th Aug 1917 Reliefs
25th Aug 1917 Posting
30th Dec 1917 Counter Attack
13th Feb 1918 Reliefs
24th Mar 1918 In Defence
7th Oct 1918 On the March
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These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with28th (1st Artists Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. - Ancell Horace. L/Cpl. (d.27 Mar 1918)
- Anderson Henry Campbell. Pte. (d.30th Oct 1917)
- Andrews Raymond Gibson. Pte. (d.1st July 1916)
- Bilbrough Arthur Eldon. Rfmn. (d.30th October 1917)
- Bonnett Frederick William Lovell. Lt.
- Brown Francis Arthur Noel. 2nd.Lt. (d.21st July 1916 )
- Clissitt William Cyrus.
- Davison Aylmer Allsworth. Pte. (d.25th June 1918)
- Ellis Guy S.. 2nd Lt. (d.12th Jul 1917)
- Francis William Joseph. 2nd Lt. (d.23rd March 1918)
- Gilbert Ernest Alfred . Pte. (d.25th April 1917)
- Hammond Lionel Gooderham. Pte. (d.30th October 1917)
- Horwood Ernest Bentall.
- Howe Claude Arthur. Capt. (d.30th November 1917)
- Howkins Francis Edward. 2nd Lt.
- Kinsela William Matthew. Rfn. (d.26th Aug 1918)
- Libby MM. Frank Thomas. Sgt. (d.19th April 1918)
- Lucas Ernest Henry Austin. 2nd Lt (d.7th Jun 1917)
- Maxwell MC. George Barton. 2Lt.
- Merrington Arthur Price. Cpl. (d.21st August 1918)
- Moore Reginald Francis. Pte. (d.10th Oct 1917)
- Palmer John Stanley. 2nd Lt. (d.18th Oct 1916)
- Richards Wilfred Arthur. 2nd Lt.
- Sanger Henry Keith. 2nd Lt. (d.13th April 1918)
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of 28th (1st Artists Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment from other sources.
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Sgt. Frank Thomas Libby MM. 5th Btn. London Regiment (d.19th April 1918) Frank Libby was posted to 1st/28th Bn. Artists' Rifles, he died of wounds on the 19th of April 1918, received at Mailly-Maillet on 2nd of April. He is buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery in France.
The Military Medal was awarded for conspicuous Bravery at Passchendaele, on the 20th of September 1917. He was the son of John and Emily Harriet Libby, of Croydon, Surrey.
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Lt. Frederick William Lovell Bonnett Drake Battalion Frederick Bonnett was born on 23rd April 1889 in Long Ditton, Surrey. He enlisted in the Territorial Force on 23rd of March 1909 for 4 years. Serving in the 28th Btn. County of London Regiment (Artists) as 673 Pte. FWL Bonnett. He re-engaged for 1 year on 11th of Feb 1913, and was promoted L/Cpl on 26th of September 1914. Then he transferred to the Royal Naval Division and was promoted Sub Lt. on 7th of October 14. On 1st of March 1915, whilst serving with C Coy, Drake Battalion MEF, he embarked at Avonmouth on the HT Franconia for the Dardanelles. Drake Battalion was landed in Gallipoli on Monday 26 April, at W Beach, and were attached to 87th Brigade for beach duties. On 12th of May 1915 he was severely wounded Abu a gunshot wound to his left thigh. After being evacuated to Malta where he became gravely ill, he was repatriated back to the Royal Naval hospital Plymouth. He was transferred to a convalescence home 28th of May 1915 and after a long period of treatment, he was discharged as no longer fit for service.
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2nd Lt. Wilfred Arthur Richards 28th (1st Artists Rifles) Btn. London Regiment On 31st August 1914, my father Wilfred Richards, who'd been born in South Glamorgan but was now working in London, presented himself at Dukes Road in Euston to sign up to four years’ service in the Territorial Force. He was joining the 28th Battalion of the London Regiment (Artists Rifles) as Private No. 1855. He was 21 years and 8 months old. His profession was recorded as Clerk with Wilson and Sons, and he lived in Hendon. His previous military experience was that he had belonged to the Llandovery School Corps. He had never been rejected as unfit for the Military and he listed himself as ‘Church of England’.
His battalion left for France on 31 December 1914, and he arrived at St. Omer some days later where others from the Artists Rifles joined them in motor omnibuses. He transferred to the 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers in June
The rest of his war story is one of luck. He served on the front with the 1st RWF from June to September 1915, just after the Battalion had suffered severe losses at the Battle of Festubert, and then he was invalided home on the eve of the Battle of Loos. He spent the rest of the war doing light duties at home and finished the war with the 7th York and Lancs Regiment as Captain. He had long recurrences of fever throughout the war.
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William Cyrus Clissitt 28th (Artists Rifles) Battalion London Regiment It was 11th November 1918. Two young English soldiers, William Clissitt and Sydney Berkeley, were at Hare Hall Camp. They were both twenty, William was interested in writing and Sydney in music, so they got on well together. Then the dispatch came : it was the end of the First World War. Overjoyed to hear the news, they put their talents together and wrote a song, "Your Radiant Smile". Of course now, so many years later, the style is rather old fashioned, but it nevertheless expresses their immense happiness.
Subsequently, Sydney Berkeley became a musician. After the war, William Clissitt became a journalist (and, at 24 years old, a very young editor) and today one of his grandsons has followed in his footsteps.
One day, quite by chance, we found this song among the music at home and since then, to perpetuate their memory, we play it on 11th November. To pay tribute to those who died in the 14-18 war and to two young people who were so happy to rediscover life and its radiant smile.
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2Lt. George Barton Maxwell MC. Machine Gun Corps My grandfather, George Maxwell was awarded the Military Cross for action at Sequehart on 1st of October 1918. He initially joined the Artists Rifles, underage I think. He arrived in France for Passchendaele. He served with the Lancashires then joined the Machine Gun Corps.
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Cpl. Arthur Price Merrington Rifle Brigade (d.21st August 1918) Arthur Merrington was serving attached to 1st/28th Btn.
London Regiment when he was killed. He was the son of Joseph and Mary Merrington of 10 Leonard Street, Oakengates, Wellington, Salop.
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Rfmn. Arthur Eldon Bilbrough 1st/28th (Artists Rifles) Btn. London Regiment (d.30th October 1917) I’m afraid we know little about Arthur Bilbrough as he has no living descendants, but would love to find out more about him, as my wife is a distant relation.
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Pte. Ernest Alfred Gilbert 28th (Artists Rifles) Btn. London Regiment (d.25th April 1917) Ernest Gilbert was born in Kensington in 1886, second of three sons to Richard and Susan Gilbert. The 1891 census shows that the family had moved to 13 Sugden Road, Battersea, Richard (11), Ernest (4) and Montague (1). By 1911 the family had moved to 57 Creffield Road, Acton; and Ernest (24) was working as a shipbroker's clerk. Ernest married Dorothy Herapeth on the 19 July 1913 but the marriage was anulled on the 11 January 1915.
Ernest enlisted on the 29th of November 1915 with the 28th (Artists Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment, embarking for France from Southampton on the 21st of April 1916 and arriving in Rouen the next day. He died on the 25th April 1917 aged 30 years. There is a page in his Army record which simply says, "Killed in the field (whilst undergoing Course of Instruction)". He is buried in the Chester Farm Cemetery, Belgium.
His records also show that his personal effects returned to his next of kin were: Letters, Photos, Pocket Case, Religious Medallion, Wrist Watch, Metal Watch, Gold Ring, Cap Badge, Torch, Pipe in Case, Fountain Pen and Metal Mirror. Sadly his father passed away in 1920 and his mother in 1921, so his medals were issued to his brother Montague in 1923.
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2nd.Lt. Francis Arthur Noel Brown 1/7th Btn. Worcestershire Regiment (d.21st July 1916 ) Francis Brown was born on the 26th December 1897 in Twickenham. Son of George Arthur and Else Brown. His father was a solicitor. The 1911 census shows that they had moved to 13 Elmwood Gardens in Acton.
Francis initially enlisted as a Private with the 28th (1st Artists Rifles) London Regiment (Territorial Regiment), rising through the ranks and was commissioned on the 20th September 1915 as Second Lieutenant with the 1/7th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment (Territorial Regiment). He went to France on the 7th March 1916 and was killed on the 21st July 1916 during the fighting for the villages of Ovilliers and La Boiselle, Battle of the Somme. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. He is remembered on the War Memorial, St Mary's Church, Acton, London; and there is a brass plaque to him on the wall about half way down the church. This says that he was killed whilst trying to save a wounded comrade.
Francis had been a sidesman at St Mary's Church, Acton and his father was a churchwarden here. His father died at the age of 67 on the 18 October 1917 while visiting his sisters in Southwold. The note in the parish magazine at the time says he never recovered from the death of his only son.
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Capt. Claude Arthur Howe 1/5th Btn. Loyal North Lancashire Regiment (d.30th November 1917) Captain and Adjutant Claude Arthur Howe served with 5th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. He was born 17th October 1896 in Kent, son of Frank and Annie Howe. He attended St. Albans Grammar School, Bedford Modern School and then onto Leeds University.
He enlisted on 1st of January 1916 with the London Regiment (Artists Rifles), gazetted to Second Lieutenant in July 1916 with The 4th (Denbighshire) Battalion (Territorial) Royal Welsh Fusiliers and in October the same year was attached to 1/5th (Territorial) Battalion, The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. He was reported missing and wounded at Gloucester Road, Epehy on 30 November 1917 and then assumed killed in action on that date. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, France.
His commanding officer wrote "He was a very promising young officer and a great favourite of mine... and was a most popular officer."
A pupil of Bedford Modern School 1912-13, he is commemorated on the School War Memorial, which was unveiled in 1923 and in the Roll of Honour, published in The Eagle, December 1923.
His elder brother, Sapper C. A. Howe served with 483rd Field Coy. Royal Engineers and was killed in action on 13 March 1917. Tragically his parents losing both sons to the War.
Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com
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Pte. Lionel Gooderham Hammond 28th (1st Artists Rifles) Btn. London Regiment (d.30th October 1917) Lionel Hammond was born in 1893 in Stevington, Bedfordshire son of Robert Thomas and Amelia Hammond, of The Bedford Arms Hotel, Woburn, Bedfordshire. He lived in Wembley Hill and enlisted in Shorditch with the 1st/28th (Artists' Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment. He was killed in action on 30th October 1917 aged 25 years during the 2nd Battle of Passcehendaele (3rd Battle of Ypres). The Roll of Honour for the Regiment shows that over 150 men from his Battalion were killed or injured on the same day. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. He is remembered on the War Memorial in Woburn, Bedfordshire which stands next to the hotel his parents were running. A pupil of of Bedford Modern School 1905-08, commemorated on the School War Memorial, which was unveiled in 1923 and in the Roll of Honour, published in The Eagle, December 1923. Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com
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Pte. Raymond Gibson Andrews 1/14th(1st London Scottish) Btn. London Regiment (d.1st July 1916) Raymond Andrews born 1893, son of Gibson & Emma Andrews, Park Street, Woburn, Bedfordshire, Initially served with the 28th (1st Artists Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment then with the 1/14th (1st London Scottish) Battalion London Regiment. He was killed in action on 1st of July 1916 during the first day of the Battle of the Somme and has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. He is remembered on the War Memorial Woburn, Bedfordshire and also on the Processional Cross in St. Marys Parish Church, Woburn which bears the inscription "To the glory of God and in memory of Raymond Andrews and Baron Tanqueray who were the first boys to lead this choir in procession. March 1901. and who died fighting on the Somme July 1916".< His older brother Captain Horace Gibson Andrews served with the 8th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment and was killed in action on 7th June 1917 during the Battle of Messines). Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com
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2nd Lt. John Stanley Palmer Durham Light Infantry (d.18th Oct 1916) Second Lieutenant John Palmer, was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Palmer, of 36 East Sheen Avenue. He was educated at Kings College, Wimbledon, and entered Guys Hospital in 1910. He qualified L.D.S. of the Royal College of Surgeons, Eng., in 1913, and was appointed dental house surgeon.
He served for five years in the Artists Rifles and entered Sandhurst in May 1915 being appointed to the Durham Light Infantry in October 1915. He went to the front in May 1916 and became sniping and intelligence officer, being complimented for his work by Divisional Headquarters.
He was acting adjutant when wounded. He died of his wounds on 18th of October 1916 aged 26. He is buried in Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte. He is listed in the Guy's Hospital Memorial of those members of staff who died during WW1
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2nd Lt. William Joseph Francis 11th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (d.23rd March 1918) William Francis attested 6 June 1916, and was initially in the Artists Rifles (28th London) as a private. In Jan 1917 he applied for a commission, listing his present address as "D 'Coy' Hut no.1, 2nd Artists Rifles OTC, Hare Hall Camp, Romford, Essex." OTC is "Officer Training Corps".
He initially served as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 12th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, but in Jan 1918 this battalion was "rationalized" as part of a move to reduce the number of under-sized battalions, and the men were dispersed to other battalions, Francis ending up in the 11th Battalion.
When the Germans launched their major offensive known as Operation Michael (March 21st 1918), the 11th Battalion found itself under heavy pressure, and made a fighting retreat to take up defensive positions just south of the town of Jussy, behind a canal, reaching their position about 10pm.
At dawn on the 22nd they reported having units of mixed detachments holding their left flank, and the 7th Bedfords on the right, with the 6th Northants in support. The bridges had not been effectively destroyed in the words of the unit diary of the 11th Battalion, and German attacks began at noon. A general assault began at 3pm, and the position held by the Bedfords was briefly taken before a counter attack by the Northants drove back the Germans and reestablished the front by 6pm. (The junction between the 11th Battalion and the Bedfords & Northants was the railway bridge.) The Germans made determined efforts to cross the canal in the night but were beaten back. Although they didn't know it at the time, by dawn the Germans had succeeded in forcing the canal at Jussy on their left flank. At 6am on the 23rd they came under flanking fire from Jussy, forcing them off the canal bank. By 8.30am it became obvious that their left flank had been left completely in the air. An officer scouting on his own reported that the enemy had penetrated to a depth of a mile on their left flank, and held Holnon Wood.
Recorded under the entry for 10am, the unit diary says This retirement from close contact with the enemy who was pressing the Battalion from front and left flank was a very difficult operation. In covering the withdrawal of Bedfords & Northants the right flank also became exposed. The enemy pressing closely in large numbers cut off many of our men and very few were enabled to get back under heavy MG fire from both flanks. Capt. Brookling was here wounded and cut off after behaving with the greatest gallantry throughout the action.
At some point on the 22nd or 23rd March 1918, William Francis lost his life. His body was never recovered, and his military file contains extensive documentation of attempts to determine the date and cause of death. It was initially ruled that he was killed on the 22nd, based on the testimony of a private John J Goodman hospitalized in London, who stated that Francis was his platoon commander and that he had seen the body blown up by artillery, but with the face clearly visible. He is commemorated at the Pozieres War Memorial as having died on the 22nd.
However, subsequent correspondence from Capt Brookling from his POW camp in Germany would cause a reassessment. The German Red Cross Evidence Form contained the following: Date and place of disappearance: 23rd Mar 1918 Jussy. In a shallow trench near the Canal bank at Jussy. Was he killed outright? Yes. And by whom was he buried? The enemy overran the position a few hours after his death consequently he was not buried by British troops at all. Can the witness (state the names) of other witnesses? Several men near must have seen but unfortunately I cannot state any names.
William Francis Snr (Lt. Francis father) then investigated further. Correspondence to the War Office from Francis Snr stated that he had visited Private Goodman in hospital, and after talking with him and showing him a photo of his son, was convinced that Goodman was mistaken about the identity of the officer he'd seen killed. He also stated that he'd spoken with his son's fellow officers in the hospital, and one (not named) stated he'd been sniping with Francis the morning of the 23rd and another (2nd Lt Spence) had spoken to him on the telephone that morning.
Captain Brookling's father would forward a letter from his son to Francis Snr stating I am sorry to say that 2/Lt Francis was killed about 2 hours before I was captured, he was shot through the head; Francis did splendidly that day, he was a fine & gallant officer and I liked him immensely. Give my deepest sympathies to his people.
Based on the above, it appears that William Francis was probably killed on the morning of the 23rd as the battalion tried to extricate itself from close contact with the enemy.
William Francis left a widow (E. Maud) and a baby daughter (Eleanor). On Jan 1st 1919, his elder sister Margaret would marry a New Zealand corporal, and shortly thereafter his entire family would move to New Zealand.
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2nd Lt. Francis Edward Howkins 28th Btn. London Regiment Francis Howkins served with the 253rd Tunnelling Coy Royal Engineers and 28th London Regiment.
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2nd Lt. Henry Keith Sanger 10th Btn. East Yorkshire Regiment (d.13th April 1918) Henry Sanger was born on 11/09/1898, at Knighton Lodge, Rydens Rd, Walton-on-Thames; son of Henry (Wholesale Chemist) and Leila Somers [Thorpe] Sanger; (This was Leila's parents address; her father was a Rtd Lt Col). Herny was Baptised on 16/10/1898 at Oatlands, St Mary while according to the Baptism Record the family were actually living at 35, Ridgemont Gdns, WC.
He grew up at varying addresses as in 1901 the family were living at 14 Horbury Cres, Notting Hill Gate; and in 1901 Henry was at Cholmeley House Boarding School, Eastbourne, Sussex.
Between 1911 and at least 1918 the family were living at Ecclesbourne, Rydens Avenue, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey but again Henry is away at Marlborough College.
Information is scanty but his medal card states that he had been a Private in the 28th London Regiment with a temporary posting to the East Yorkshire Regiment as an officer. Outtersteene was captured by the Germans on 12/04/1918. Henry was listed as missing in action on 12/04/1918 and recorded killed in action 13/04/1918, he was aged 19.
Commonwealth War Grave Commission data states that he left behind his parents, Henry and Leila Somers Sanger of 258 Euston Rd., London.
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Pte. Aylmer Allsworth Davison 1/28th (Artists Rifles) Btn. London Regiment (d.25th June 1918) Aylmer A. Davison was my maternal grandfather. He was the son of Robert & Frances, born Rainham, Kent 1890. Brother to Eliza (b 1882) & George (b 1885). Husband of Ethel Alice (nee Conley). Father of Kathleen, Edith (later West).
Aylmer enlisted at Newington, 1917, aged 26. He was originally posted to 11th (Lewisham) Batn, Royal West Kent Reg, Private G/25239. He served in France then Italy. On 16th March 1917 Batn was disbanded and Aylmer was reposted Private S/48484 1/28th Batn London Reg (Artists Rifles).
He was killed, or died of wounds on 25th June 1918, aged 27, at Albert, France. He is buried in Mailly-Maillet Cemetery, Picardy.
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Rfn. William Matthew Kinsela 1/28th (Artists' Rifles) Btn London Regiment (d.26th Aug 1918) William Kinsela served with the 1/28th Battalion, London Regiment (Artists Rifles) during WW1 and was killed in action on the 26th of August 1918, aged 20. He is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial in France, the son of Walter and Catherine Jane Kinsela, of 10 Morton Mews, Earls Court Gardens, Kensington, London.
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2nd Lt. Guy S. Ellis 57th Squadron (d.12th Jul 1917)  2nd Lt. Guy S Ellis served with 57th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps during WW1 and was killed in action on the 12th July 1917, aged 19. He is buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery in Belgium.
Born in Hull on 24th May 1898, Guy Ellis was studying for his Intermediate Civil Service exam when, on 29th September 1915, he joined the London Regiment (Artists’ Rifles) at Dukes Road W.C. at the age of seventeen years 4 months. The medical showed that he was 5’ 7.5†with a 37†chest. His physical development was described as fair.
Appointed Lance Corporal on 22nd April 1916, Guy had been languishing at Hare Hall Camp in Romford, Essex. He decided to apply for admission to an officer cadet unit with a view to getting a temporary commission for the duration of the war.
Question 3. State in order of preference which branch of the Service...
Guy wrote Flying Corps without hesitation.
His specific qualifications for the R.F.C. were considered by the selection board: Rides a motorcycle (though not a horse); can sketch; slight knowledge of electricity; moderate knowledge of the internal combustion engine; knows the whole process of photography; had map reading course; maths 6 books of Euclid, Mechanics, Trigonometry, Algebra. Sports: first XI cricket and football at school; boxing; running (100 yds., ¼ mile, 220 yds., 120 yds., hurdles and high jump. Speaks French slightly.
Not perfect qualifications for a pilot perhaps, but knowledge of photography would be useful for an observer.
Guy was accepted at No.1 Officer Cadet Battalion at Denham in Bucks on 6th September 1916. From Denham, he was posted to Oxford reporting for duty there on 13th November.
He received his commission on 27th January 1917. The fact was noted in the London Gazette on 3rd February.
Holding the rank of temporary 2nd Lieutenant, he was seconded to 57 squadron stationed near Ypres. Here Guy settled down to the harrowing life of a young flying officer on active service. For most it was a pitifully short life, relieved only by drinking and joking in the mess in between sorties.
In July 1917 a new offensive at Ypres was planned. The aim was twofold; to break through the German lines and reach their submarine bases in Belgium, and to relieve the Russian army in the east.
The RFC was playing a significant role in the build up both in combat and in reconnaissance. On 11th July, some two weeks before the battle began, an allied air offensive involving 700 aircraft began. The following day, Thursday, one of these aircraft took off with Guy Ellis in the rear as observer. When he returned, he would have to think about settling his mess bill, now standing at £1-5-8...
It’s not known whether it was a fighter or ground fire that hit Guy’s plane, but as it plummeted towards earth, the one thing that might have saved him was a parachute. But it was not policy to give airmen parachutes, ...possession of a parachute might impair a pilot’s nerve when in difficulties so that he would make improper use of his parachute…, was the official view.
And so 19 year old Guy was dead. The odds were stacked against him anyway, for by now the life expectancy of a junior officer in a front line squadron was anything from eleven days to three weeks.
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Pte. Henry Campbell Anderson 28th (County of London) Battalion (Artists Rifles) London Regiment (d.30th Oct 1917) Henry Campbell Anderson served with the 28th (County of London) Battalion (Artists Rifles), London Regiment.
He was killed in action on the 30th October 1917 in Flanders.
Henry was born in Dublin and enlisted at Leicester.
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Recomended Reading.Available at discounted prices.
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Artists Rifles: Regimental Roll of Honour and War Record 1914-1919 S.Stagoll Higham
This remarkable book contains a complete record of all whose names have been inscribed in the regiment’s Muster Roll since August 1914, showing commissions obtained, when and in which corps/regiments; honours and decorations awarded with citations where published; and a list of all casualties. There is a total of 15,022 names, that is everyone who at one time or another served in the Regiment in any capacity. 10,256 received commissions, eight VCs were awarded, and the casualties suffered throughout the war numbered 6,071 of whom 2,003 were killed. There are summary tables of awards and of casualties
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