The Durhams in Korea
The Queens Korean war medal is a somewhat unique award as the young Queen Elizabeth the second was not on the throne when the Korean War started in 1953.
It was originally intended that her father King George the V1 would appear on the obverse side of the medal, but as he died on the 6th of February 1952 it was decided that her uncrowned head would appear on the medal, as per custom for reigning monarchs prior to their coronation.
The Queen’s Korea Medal awarded to servicemembers from Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand was made from Cupra-nickel, while the medals given to Canadian servicemembers were produced using 800 fine silver.
South Africa who also participated in the war produced her own medals to award to her servicemen.
The Queens Korea medal was designed by Edward Carter Preston, and on its reverse side Hercules is portrayed wrestling the 9 headed Hydra which was meant to represent Communism.
The Queens Korea medal was issued with 3 types of obverse wording.
1st Type + Elizabeth. 11. Dei. Gra: Britt Omn Regina F:D
2nd Type + Elizabeth. 11. Dei. Gratia. Regina F:D.
3rd Type + Elizabeth. 11. Dei. Gratia. Regina. Canada.
The naming on the British issued medals were impressed in small sans serif capitals, like that of the GSM 1918-62 medals.
The British issued medals also included the number rank and name plus the unit of the recipient.
However, the Canadian and Australian issues were impressed in taller sans serif capitals, with no unit or rank shown on the rim of the medal.
The Korean war was the first event wherein the world Nations (UN) took on a combat role in suppressing aggression.
Apart from the 20 UN member states that participated in the war, together with the Republic of South Korea, Italy also sent troops.
The medal was also a very well-earned award to the vast ranks of Great Britain’s young national servicemen who made up the best part of her fighting forces joined also by her Commonwealth allies.
The young national servicemen were to give a very good account of themselves in this war. The following details of some of them, will I hope to show the conditions they endured and fought in, for which the Queens Korean war medal together with the United Nations medal bearing the bar Korea was awarded to them for their service there.
At the end of the decade and after the defeat of the Japanese at the end of WW2 the island of Korea found itself split into two separate governing bodies. In the south the democratically elected President Syngman Rhee (1875-1965) ruled with the reluctant support of the American government, although his election was seen as democratic, he was a dictator.
In the north however the communist dictator Kim 11 Sung (1912-1994) ruled his country with an iron grip and enjoyed the slightly more enthusiastic support of soviet Russia. But he also enjoyed the close support of Mao Ze Dong as he was known then being the leader of communist China.
Neither of these dictators were content to remain on his side of the border which was termed as the 38th parallel a line that had been drawn up to split the island in half after the Japanese had left.
The result was constant friction between the two sides, and border skirmishes were common. Nearly 10,000 north and South Korean soldiers were killed in battle before the war even began. The Americans were convinced that the north would not invade over the 38th parallel as their intelligence had advised.
However, Kim 11 Sung sought to rule all Korea, and with secret talks with Mao he was given his blessing to invade South Korea. Mao and Stalin had also made a secret pact that they would fully support the north in its venture. Both sides promising resources, with Stalin adding that he would also supply planes and munitions, and that he would also send as well as China military advisors to help North Korea.
On the 14th of November 1947 the United Nations passed a resolution to remove all troops from South Korea after the national elections.
On the 8th of April 1948 President Truman withdrew US troops from South Korea. On the 1st of June 1950 the strength of the North Korean army was recorded as 135,000 men with seven assault divisions backed by 150 T34 Soviet built tanks.
When North Korea finally invaded the South on the 25th of June 1950, they faced weak resistance from an army that preferred to retreat rather than fight. President Truman alarmed at the invasion immediately sent troops to Korea from Japan. He appointed General Douglas Macarthur as supreme commander and ordered him to push the communists back. The United States were totally unprepared to fight an infantry war at this time anywhere in the world.
President Truman then turned to the UN for support, and he very quickly got it, with Great Britain and its commonwealth allies sending many of its forces to help.
The Durham light Infantry was one such regiment that was sent to Korea. Some of its ranks had already been seconded to other infantry regiments, but it was then decided that the 1st Battalion would be brought back from its posting in Germany, and then sent to Korea. On arrival back home the Battalion were granted leave. On their return to the regiment however they underwent vigorous training to prepare them for Korea. The Battalion left Brancepeth station on the 28th of July 1952, on two special trains which were to take them to their embarkation port which was Southampton. The Battalion embarked in the HMT Empire Trooper that night. The next day at noon the ship moved slowly out into the Solent, and the Regimental band struck up the Blaydon races among others.
The light infantry regiments operated an excellent secondment system, where regiments were able to call on reserves from other regiments to bring their battalions up to full strength. The 1st Battalion the Durham Light Infantry in turn were able to call on reserves from other light infantry battalions to bring them up to full strength.
Michael James Fussell, and his mate Tony Sheppard were two of them. They were mates in civilian life and when they received their national service call up papers they enlisted into the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry together.
They did their basic training at Bordon camp in Hampshire, in September 1951.
In January 1952 they found themselves in Strensall camp in Yorkshire. They then left for Hong Kong on the Dunera and six weeks later they arrived there and were billeted in Fanling camp New Territories, on the border overlooking communist China. They both left together on the M. V. Fowey to Kure in Japan. It was from here they left for Korea and in June 1952, they found themselves seconded to the 1st Battalion the Durham Light Infantry and were based at point 355 Little Gibraltar as it became fondly known by the soldiers, which was a position in the mountainous Hook range of mountains.
As Tony explained to me, “we were suddenly serving with soldiers with a very strange accent which to us at times was very hard to make out. The Geordies though were a great bunch of Lads cheerful very good company, and as hard as nails, we found ourselves in good hands”.
Within 24 hours Mike and I had mastered the Geordie dialect and were quickly accepted by them.
When the Durhams arrived in Korea they found themselves based at point 355 in conditions very similar to WW1. Both sides had constructed well defended hillside defences with deep trenches with well constructed deep sandbagged walls which helped to absorb a lot of the mortar and shell fire that was sent over on a regular basis.
However vigorous patrolling was carried out on a regular basis by both sides in no man’s land at the base of the mountains. Both sides sought to seek out the others weakness and try to penetrate their lines. Both sides would organise ambush parties and on many occasions patrols would clash often with the result that heavy fighting took place.
It was on one such patrol on the night of the 5th of May 1953 that Mike Fussell and Tony Sheppard whilst serving in A company found themselves in such a situation. As Tony explained to me what happened. “We were spread out when we came under fire from an enemy patrol. I was a Bren gunner and i immediately returned fire, but my Bren suddenly jammed. I quickly freed it however and carried on firing at the enemy. His mate Michael however was not so lucky. An enemy grenade was thrown at his section, and exploded with the result that he was wounded in the back with grenade splinters”.
A Durham lad who was to serve in Korea was a soldier by the name of Ronnie Ducker. When he received his call up papers at 18 years old, he was serving his apprenticeship as a joiner. I asked him why he did not defer his call up till after he finished his apprenticeship? as this was his right to do so, as he would have missed serving in Korea. His answer to that was I wanted to get the Army out of the way first. His decision was to cost him dearly as fate had a cruel surprise in store for him.
Ronnie was a Washington lad bred and born from County Durham. As he explained there were 18 of us from Washington who joined the Durhams we were all mates, and we all went with the 1st Battalion together to Korea.
It was whilst travelling over on the HMT Empire Trooper that Ronnie celebrated his 19th birthday. The Empire Trooper was an ex German passenger liner, that was captured in 1939 by HMS Belfast. It was then renamed and put into service as a troopship. Ronnie with the rest of his mates found themselves at point 355, and he was assigned to C company 9th platoon.
The young national service officer who oversaw C company 9th platoon was Second Lieutenant Geoffrey David Dunn. Like Tony and Mike, Geoffrey had originally served in the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry. He had won an exhibition to Cambridge. He however opted to complete his national service first, and was enlisted into the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry, serving at Bordon camp for basic training. He was selected for Eaton Hall Officer Cadet School and commissioned into the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry on the 8th of March 1952. He was however posted to the 1st Battalion the Durham Light Infantry in Berlin. He was appointed Officer in command of 9th platoon C company on the 29th of April 1952.
He returned with the Battalion to Brancepeth Castle and after training and refitting and some ceremonial duties, he embarked for Korea on the 29th of July 1952.
On the night of the 13th of April 1953 Ronnie was part of a patrol which was being led by Lieutenant Dunn below point 355 in no man’s land.
As Geoff then explained to me what happened that night. “It was pretty obvious that we were under fire from the enemy, and I dived flat hugging the ground for cover”.
“However there was one part of me that was not low enough, a Chinese mortar bomb landed and exploded and i received shrapnel wounds in the buttocks and legs”.
When I asked Ronnie if he could recall the events of that night, he told me what had happened. “My patrol came under enemy fire, and the last thing that I could recall was lifting my rifle to my shoulder. There was a blinding flash, and I was knocked off my feet, and knocked unconscious. When i came to I was on my back and still holding my rifle, but all that remained of it was a piece of the wooden stock. My face felt wet and lifting my hand to it i felt blood running from a wound in my face. I did not realise at first that it was not my face but my right side and arm that were to be the serious wounds. A Chinese mortar shell had landed near him and a piece of shrapnel had literally sliced a piece of his side and arm away at the same time that it had blown his rifle apart”.
“As I was lying there mortar bombs were landing all over the place, the enemy had our range and they were really letting us have it. I was aware of the stretcher bearers dashing through all of the explosions in order to reach the wounded. They eventually managed to get to me, and the stretcher I was put on was later put across the front of a jeep, and they drove it to a landing point to meet an American helicopter (MASH) mobile army surgical hospital. I was then successfully evacuated to an American field hospital”.
It was here that Ronnie underwent several operations that were not only to save his life but also his right arm that had suffered terribly from the mortar blast. He was later informed by the hospital staff that he had been unconscious for 3 days as he underwent the operations, at one point having to cut off the blood supply to his right side while they worked on trying to repair him.
He was as he said to me full of praise then, and still is to the Americans for everything they did for me. It was whilst he was recovering in an American hospital that he had a very amusing experience. One day they had a very distinguished visitor. A high ranking American army officer who was covered in gold braid and medal ribbons entered the ward where i was lying which was full of wounded American soldiers. He was accompanied by an orderly who was carrying a tray. I thought what’s going on here.? The officer started to stop and talk with the wounded soldiers and shake their hands soldiers and he then turned to his orderly who was carrying the tray, who then handed the officer a medal which he then duly pinned it on the wounded soldier’s pyjamas.
It was not long before I tumbled, that what he was awarding them was the purple heart for wounds sustained in action. I watched all of this with great amusement and wondered what would happen when he got to my bed?
When he eventually arrived at my bed he turned out to be very nice indeed. He started by saying how proud his country and also he was of me for what i had went through. He then turned to his orderly for a purple heart to pin on me. At this point i was literally bursting and thinking what are the rest of the lads and the folks back home going to make of all of this? However it was not to be i remember the orderly was red faced and said you cannot give him one sir he is British. The officer then said damn i am sorry son you deserve one but i am not allowed to give you one of these. Nevertheless he thanked Ronnie wished him well and shook his hand before moving on to the next bed. So as Ronnie said if i had received it, i would have been the only DLI lad to get it, now that would have been really something.
The Durham Light Infantry suffered 113 soldiers wounded during the Korean War. They also lost a total of 25 KIA and died of wounds plus 2 Katcoms (Korean Attached commonwealth soldiers) who were attached to the battalion.
One of the soldiers who was wounded on the 2nd of May 1953 was a young national service soldier from Banbury in Oxfordshire, by the name of Private Barry Frank Gardiner, who had originally enlisted into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, but he had been seconded to the DLI. He had already been wounded once in Korea whilst out on patrol, which was reported in his local paper back home. He was later returning to his base at Yong Dong from a patrol in a lorry with other soldiers on Friday the 17th of July 1953. When pulling up at the parade ground 2 enemy shells landed near the lorry and exploded. The result of which was to cause several casualties to the soldiers in the lorry, one of these who was wounded in the head by shrapnel, was Private Stanley Rhodes who had originally enlisted into the Somerset Light Infantry but had also been seconded to the DLI. Private Gardiner and Private Peter Million were the most seriously ones wounded. A mash helicopter was called in, but as Gardiner was being lifted into it on a stretcher, he died from his wounds. Private Million was airlifted but he also later died of his wounds. A vivid account of this action was related to me by a soldier who was there at the time, and who also gave me a handwritten account of the events that day when he and others rushed over to try and help the wounded. These were the last 2 soldiers from the battalion to be killed in action, as 10 days later on the 27th of July 1953 the armistice was signed.
The decorations that were won by the Regiment are as follows, and the list includes men who were seconded to the DLI.
Bar to Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Lieutenant Colonel P.J. Jeffreys DSO, OBE.
Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Major R.G. Atkinson MC (& Bar)
Military Cross (MC)
2/Lieutenant J.C.H. Cunningham (KOYLI)
2/Lieutenant R.B. Macgregor – Oakford
Captain J. G. Pearce (KSLI)
Major R.E.G. Scott
Military Medal (MM)
Corporal R. Lofthouse (KOYLI)
Corporal R.A. Moore
Private D. Rawlings
L/Corporal R.J. Stockton (KOYLI)
Member of the British Empire (MBE)
W.O.2 G.A. Calvert
W.O.2 C.H. Gibbens
Captain J.B. Tonkinson
British Empire Medal (BEM)
Sergeant J.R.Coxon
Mentioned in Despatches (MID)
Corporal T.G. Allen
Private A.H. Ball
W.O.2 L. Beirne
Captain E.B. Burini
W.0.2 F.A. Elliott (KSLI)
2/Lieutenant S.H. Hall (KOYLI)
Captain P.S. Hayes (OX & Bucks)
Corporal J. G. Murray
Lieutenant W.J. Nott-Bower
2/Lieutenant B.D. Perrott
L/Corporal D.A.H. Rosevear
2/Lieutenant E.H.F. Sawbridge
Major R.E.G. Scott
Corporal R. Shannon
Corporal D. Stokes
Sources
The National Archives
The Men themselves.
Faithful
I suppose that what greets many members of the public when they pass through the door of the new Story Museum in Durham City is the regiments participation in the two world wars, being the Great war and the second world war. These were indeed two very bloody conflicts.
However, the DLI and its predecessor the old 68th Durham regiment of foot does indeed have a very rich history and one that to me is often overlooked. It is my hope that the following story may help the reader to appreciate its history more and delve into the many stories that revolve around it.
The County Regiment the Durham Light Infantry, which sadly like many other famous Regiments exists no more, and the former 68th foot, the following story is about a soldier who served in it.
The motto Faithful being the Regimental motto of the Durham Light Infantry, was upheld by many of the soldiers who were to serve in the Regiment, the following soldier is but one of them.
John Reed was born in Winchester in Hampshire on the 10th of April 1784. He was the son of a serving soldier in the 68th foot, his father was also named John and he had worked his way up through the ranks from private to Sergeant Major, and then on the 11th of March 1795 he was commissioned as an ensign, Lieutenant and captain on the 13th of December 1801, and then made Major on the 4th of June 1813, and retired by sale on the 6th of May 1817. He also served as a captain in the 4th West India Regiment on the 25th of September 1804. He was to serve as an Adjutant in the 68th foot from the 14th of July 1798 to the 25th of September 1802, and was to serve with the 68th foot in the West Indies from 1795 till 1796, and was appointed the Town Major of St Pierre Martinique in 1796.
Being born into a Military family it was not surprising that John junior should wish to follow in his Father’s footsteps, and make the Army his career also. On the 26th of March 1799 at the age of 15 years old his Father purchased a commission for him as an ensign into his Regiment the 68th Foot, and on his appointment he joined his Regiment in Ireland. He then embarked with the 68th Foot in November 1800 and served in the Islands of Martinique Barbados and St Lucia St Vincent and Antigua, until the return of the Regiment to England in September 1806
In July 1809 he embarked with his Regiment and the forces under the Earl of Chatham on the expedition to the Scheldt, in Holland. He served at the siege of Flushing on the 1st 3rd and 5th of August 1809, and also in the Islands of Beveland and Walcheren, where the troops suffered and died in large numbers from disease. He survived to return home but his Regiment was decimated by what it had gone through.
The Regiment soon started to rebuild its strength however with recruits from local Militia units and also large numbers of recruits coming over from its depot in Ireland, where it always had a steady stream of volunteers, as well as Scotland and England.
John Reed was soon to see action once more, when he was sent with his Regiment and the forces under the Duke of Wellington to the Peninsula, to combat the threat of Napoleon Bonaparte who had invaded Portugal and Spain. Napoleon not only saw himself as master of Europe, but also of England if he was given the chance, and thus Wellington was determined to stop him at all costs.
John Reed had been promoted to Lieutenant without purchase on the 21st of March 1800, and then Captain without purchase on the 12th of May 1808. When the 68th foot arrived in the Peninsula it got off to a bad start, as due to an inspection report at the time it was described as having a reputation for bad behaviour the men were not too clean, and that the men had committed several acts of looting since it had been in the country, and also the fact that the Regiment had no colours.
However on the 20th of June 1812 during the preliminary operations before Salamanca the 68th distinguished itself by ejecting a strong French force from the village of Morisco. The 68th was eventually obliged to retire due to extreme pressure from the enemy, which resulted in some very bitter hand to hand fighting in which Captain Reed was involved. During the fighting one of his fellow officers being Captain Mackay received 22 bayonet wounds and several blows from the butt of a musket, but miraculously survived and after recovering from his wounds continued to serve in the Regiment.
The 68th were attached to the 7th Division which played a part in the Battle of Salamanca on the 22nd of July 1812, where one of its officers Major Miller was mortally wounded. The 68th pushed on to Madrid where it was the first Regiment to enter the city, and where the soldiers soon made use of the large number of clothes left behind by the French, and soon had new shirts socks and shoes. The men were also alleged to have eaten the goldfish from the fountains of the Retiro gardens.
The Regiment was back on the Portuguese border by the end of the year following the retreat from Burgos, which put 247 of its ranks in hospital. By the spring of 1813 the 68th were ready for the advance back into Spain, and on June the 21st 1813 it covered itself with glory at the battle of Vittoria where it sustained heavy losses 24 killed and 100 wounded, including Colonel Johnson. It was at Vittoria where Captain Reed was severely wounded in the right shoulder, which due to his wound restricted him from taking part in any further actions.
At the siege of San Sebastian in August 1813 the 68th provided several volunteers for the storming party and soon after the Regiment as a whole saw action during the battle of the Pyrenees. At Sorauren on the 30th of July 1814 the 68th broke two French Regiments which moved Wellington to call it the finest thing that he ever witnessed. During the crossing of the Nivelle the 68th took three strong redoubts, but at a very heavy cost, and at the end of the operation it was reduced to just 197 fit men. The war pushed on into France and on the 23rd of February the 68th captured the important bridge over the river Adour.
It was at the village of Oeyregave that Captain Leith of the 68th was killed during the successful attack. The last battle of the war for the 68th was fought on the 27th of February at Orthes, as part of the 7th division it was sent forward after an attack made by the 4th division had floundered, however the 68th were successful which ended in an allied victory.
The Regiment did not take part in the battle for Toulouse, which was totally unnecessary as by this time the French were well and truly beat and the battle only resulted in unnecessary casualties. The 68th remained in France until July 1814 when it embarked for Ireland. The total loss to the 68th during their time in the Peninsula war was a total of 364 men of all ranks killed in action and died of wounds or sickness.
John Reed was promoted to Major on the 2nd of June 1825 without purchase. He later commanded the 68th foot from the 20th of July 1830 till the 31st of January 1831. He served in upper and lower Canada with his Regiment until ordered home on promotion in 1825, where he was to join the four company’s depot of the Regiment. He remained in command of the reserve companies until April 1829 when he embarked to join the Regiment in Canada, returning with it to Ireland in the following November.
He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on the 20th of July 1830, and joined the 54th Regiment (the West Yorkshire Regiment) in Madras in 1831 and served in India until its return to England in 1840 during the greater part of which he commanded the Regiment. He was then placed on half pay as 2nd Lieutenant Colonel, and promoted to Colonel on the 9th of November 1846, and finally on the 20th of June 1854 he was promoted to Major General.
A vivid account of the Peninsula war was written by a soldier who served as a private in the 68th foot. His name was John Green and fortunately for the Regiments history he learned to read and write through a Major Thompson whom he was a servant to. The Major had lost his right arm at the siege of Flushing whilst serving there with the 68th foot in July 1809.
John Green was to suffer terrible from bouts which he referred to as Flushing sickness, but nevertheless went on to serve at the many major actions in the Peninsula, and later applied and claimed his Military General Service medal which bore 4 clasps being Salamanca Vitoria Pyrenees and San Sebastian the last clasp being quite rare to the Regiment.
John Green ran away from home to join the Regiment at the age of 16 years, and was enlisted on the 24th of October 1806, being formally an apprentice carpet weaver from Nottingham. He made notes of his service in the Peninsula and had a book published in 1827 titled the Vicissitudes of a soldier’s life. He was a servant to Captain Reed whilst in the Peninsula, and Reed commanded his company.
He mentions Reed several times in his book and he would appear to have been a very well liked and respected officer, in one amusing chapter on page 162 in his book he mentions that it was his turn to carry the camp kettle of the mess, but it having no bottom in it I requested Captain Reed to allow me to throw it away. After much hesitation he gave me leave and I immediately threw it away pleased enough to get rid of such a useless piece of lumber.
It would appear however that not all the officers were held in the same esteem as Reed. In fact Green mentions that some were very cruel to the men and junior officers alike. He then goes on to mention the relief felt by himself and his fellow comrades when they heard that one of their Majors had been killed by a musket ball to the throat, as he was described as a very cruel man.
Green himself was wounded severely at the siege of San Sebastian on the 31st of August 1813, when he describes being hit by a ball which entered his left side, a little below his heart. When he put his hand against his side he found the bump occasioned by the ball to be nearly the size of a hen’s egg.
On Reeds discharge papers dated the 29th of October 1847 when he was aged 63 years old it is noted that he was perfectly able and ready to serve when ever called upon, surely indeed the sign of a faithful soldier.
Major General Reed now retired took up residence at no 41 Fawcett Street Bishopwearmouth in Sunderland County Durham. He was very much liked and respected by the citizens of the town in which he lived, and on the 24th of March 1859 aged 75 years old he passed away at his residence. The cause of death being disease of the heart, with his brother Colonel Matthew Benjamin George Reed who was recorded by his side.
An interesting obituary appeared in the Sunderland and Durham County Herald on the 1st of April 1859 which mentions the death of Major General John Reed, and details his military service with mention to him being wounded at the Battle of Vittoria during the Peninsula war, and for his services there he was awarded a medal with 2 clasps, and that General Reed was greatly esteemed by those among whom he moved in this town.
Today John Reeds tomb can be seen in the old part of Bishopwearmouth cemetery in Sunderland, where he is at rest with his Sister Ann and Brother Matthew. There is also a very fine oil painting of Reed painted when he was serving as a Major in the 68th foot this was purchased many years ago by the officer’s mess, and it is presently held in the Story Museum in Durham City.
It was not till a general order dated the 1st of June 1847 authorizing a silver medal to those who had served in the Peninsula war was authorized. This was some thirty four years after the last battle that it commemorates. The medal was for some reason first opposed to by Wellington who felt that a medal had already been awarded in recognition for the defeat of Napoleon being the Waterloo medal that was issued to all ranks who served at the battle of Waterloo on the 18th of June 1815.
The medal that was authorized to recognize the many actions that took place prior to Waterloo was also brought out to cover the actions in Egypt and America. The medal was to be called the Military General Service Medal, and it was obviously necessary to cover the participation in the earlier actions. It seems that Wellington relented and was somewhat consoled by the fact that his image is shown on the reverse of the medal where he is kneeling before Queen Victoria as she is about to place a laurel wreath on his head.
Survivors had to apply for this medal and furnish proof to show that they had been present at the various battles to qualify for the appropriate clasp or clasps. There were 29 clasps awarded 15 being the most to any recipient of the medal, there were 25.650 applications for the medal which could be awarded to the next of kin of those who applied for it, but who died before the medal was issued. The medal is unusual as it shows the young diademed head of Queen Victoria, who of course was not on the throne at the time that these actions, took place.
There is some considerable scarcity in this series of medals as some Regiments got a lot less than others. A lot of this was due to survivors being too illiterate to apply for them, dying short of the medal being authorised etc, or even some not even knowing of the existence of the medal. The 68th foot were awarded a total of 151 medals with the maximum amount of bars that could be awarded to any one medal being six. These being for Salamanca Vittoria Pyrenees San Sebastian Nivelle and Orthes. There were only 12 medals awarded to officers and 139 awarded to other ranks.
John Reeds Military General Service medal which bears the two battle bars for Salamanca and Vittoria, is officially impressed shows his rank as Captain in the 68th foot this being his recorded rank at the time that he participated in these two actions. It was due to him being severely wounded in his right shoulder at the battle of Vittoria, that restricted him from engaging in any further actions. I already knew some details about Reed but as I continued my research into his life many other fascinating details were to emerge about him when I applied and was successful in obtaining a copy of his will which disclosed some very interesting details about him, and so helped me to build up a picture of his life, and the man behind the medal, as I believe he was a very important officer of the Regiment, and he is well recorded and mentioned in the Regimental history.
Bibliography
Malcolm McGregor Regular Officers of the Durham Light Infantry 1794-1968.
National Archives.
Sunderland Local History Society.
Portraits of officers reproduced by kind permission of “The Story” in Durham City.
The Lost Diary
The Durham Light Infantry and its predecessor, the old 68th regiment of foot, certainly had some very interesting characters who were to pass through their ranks. In researching these many individuals some very interesting stories were to emerge about them.
The following story is about one such research project that I undertook. Of all the research I have done in the past this quest did indeed give me the most satisfaction and pleasure as to what I was to uncover.
Frederick Stukeley Savage was born in Somerset in 1827, to his parents being Major Thomas Savage D.L. JP. For Somerset, and late of the 14th Foot. And Lady Elizabeth Ann Savage, of Norton House Midsomer Norton near Bath. Frederick was later to be educated at Eton College where he entered in 1840 aged 12 years old. After completing his education his father obtained an ensigncy for him in the 68th Regiment, which he joined on the 30th of January 1846. When I started to research the group of medals that were awarded to Frederick Stukeley Savage of the 68th Regiment, I did know something about him, and I had also done some research regarding his life and career.
A very good friend of mine being the late John Bilcliffe, whom for many years I had been in touch with regarding research into the 68th Regiment, wrote a very excellent book titled Well Done The 68th. This book relates to the regiment’s involvement in the Crimean and New Zealand wars. In my opinion, this is an excellent book that truly deserves to be on the bookshelf of anyone who is interested in military history, especially those who are interested in the 68th regiment and the Durham Light Infantry.
When John was writing his book, he mentions in it several diaries that the trustees of the DLI collection had kindly made available to him during his background research. These diaries had belonged to former various officers of the 68th regiment, who had recorded their experiences in them with regards to these above two conflicts.
In his book one such diary that he used extensively to refer to is that of Captain Frederick S Savage, John refers and quotes whilst writing about the regiment’s participation in the Crimean war, and that Savage’s diary covered the best part of 1855.
One interesting entry for the 19th of May mentions the following:
‘Parade at 11 o’clock. Afterwards we went over to General Bosquets headquarters to have themselves photographed by Mr. Fenton. Started after them on Somerville’s horse (Brevet Major Thomas Somerville who was later awarded a Crimean war medal with 4 clasps) but went in the wrong direction and did not get there until they had departed. Saw the pictures and thought them very good, the writer then concludes in his entry for the above date, day dreadfully hot.’
The photo which Roger Fenton took is quite a famous one with regards to the regiments time in the Crimea. It shows 7 officers, all of them named. The officer standing third from the left in the back row with his hand on his sword is Captain Thomas De Courcy Hamilton who was a very early recipient of the newly created Victoria Cross, which he won 8 days before the photo being taken for his courage during the siege ‘of Sebastopol. The writer of the diary mentions Hamilton several times within it. So obviously if the writer of the diary had made it on time to the photo shoot there would have been 8 officers in that photo, and it would have made verifying the diary’s owner a lot easier.
It was whilst I was studying the entries in the diary that for some reason the writer to me seemed a bit of an author. I then came across my first breakthrough in the entry for the 1st of July 1855 the entry below reads:
‘Birthday. I celebrated with plum pudding which arrived yesterday just in time.’
I now had to verify Savages exact date of birth a simple task, so I thought. However, there is no mention of this on his tomb where he is laid to rest with his father Thomas in the old Bath abbey cemetery. His date of birth is also not recorded on his death certificate or his will both of which I obtained copies of. I also had no luck with the parish records where I thought that I would surely find an entry for him.
I then remembered that he had attended Eton College. I contacted their archivist in the hope that I could get a date for his birth. This certainly paid a dividend as the archivist not only sent me a full copy of his entry into the college, but also a copy page where he is listed in the headmaster’s entry book, where next to his name is listed his date of birth being the 1st of July 1827. I now knew that I had my man and that he was indeed the author of this diary. The diary mentions many people he met, also he mentions visiting Mrs. Secole who was I believe truly loved by the troops for all the work and devotion she showed to them.
Prior to the author’s birthday entry in his diary there was also a very other notable entry, which pointed to Savage as the owner of the diary. This is recorded for the 9th of June 1855. The writer records that he dined with Finch (Captain Daniel Finch who was later awarded the Crimean war medal with 3 claps, being Alma Inkermann & Sebastopol) he records that they both drank Floreat Etona, this was a popular toast with old Etonians. Both Savage and Finch had attended Eton, whilst Croft was schooled at Sand Hurst military college.
My belief that the writer of the diary was a bit of an author was later confirmed. When he later travelled with his regiment on the long voyage to Rangoon on the SS Argo, he obtained 2 printing presses. He decided that it would be a good idea and to help the men with their boredom during the long trip by producing a magazine on board the ship with the various events that they were all involved in. The magazine was to be called the ‘Argo’ after the ship which they were travelling on. The first edition was published on board on the 28th of December 1857, and it became immediately popular with all the regiment. This very first regimental magazine whom Savage was the first editor of was to be carried on and was the forerunner of what would later become the Bugle the regimental magazine of the Durham Light Infantry.
He did not later travel with his regiment and take part in the Māori wars in New Zealand, as he transferred to the 86th regiment on the 23rd of April 1861 serving in it as a Major, after exchanging with Major Joshua Kirby. It was whilst he was stationed with his regiment in Gibraltar that he returned home on ‘home leave’ because of ill health, and he was to die at the early age of 39 years at 17 Pultney Street Bath on the 31st of March 1866. The cause of death being a malignant tumor. He never married and his will was proven on the 2nd of May 1866 with his mother Elizabeth Ann Savage being the executrix.
Fredericks mother was devastated at his early death so much so that she decided to have a very attractive memorial built to him. The memorial was erected in the grounds of Norton house which has long since been demolished near the boundary close to Midsomer Norton’s town Centre. The memorial itself consists of a tall obelisk column on which are mounted draped flags and swords together with 2 marble plaques. Upon these plaques are recorded the details of his 2 regiments, and mention that he served in the Crimean war, and records the medals that he earned. The monument was also placed near St Chads well which was used by many years by the towns people to obtain fresh water. The decision to place his memorial here stemmed from the many letters that he wrote home from the Crimea in which he highlighted the problems that the soldiers had in gaining access to clean water, which was the cause of many deaths through waterborne diseases
The author Arthur Waugh in his book One Man’s Road, which is a story of a passing generation, writes that his Grandfather Alexander Waugh was the doctor in the town. And he mentions that the distraught Mrs. Savage visited the memorial daily. Here in the evenings the pathetic and wizened Mrs. Savage was conducted in her wheelchair attended by her faithful henchman Jonah Shearn. The path to the well was set with shrubs, if any weed had grown between their stems the wheelchair was stopped before the offending vegetable and Jonah trowel in hand would dig it up, and cast it into the stream that babbled by. Then she would pause and read the inscription on the memorial with a faraway look in her eyes. It was her tribute to an only child. The monument still survives and can be seen to this day.
For Savages service during the Crimean war, he was awarded the Queens Crimean war medal with 4 clasps also, the Turkish Order of the Medjidie 5th class and the Turkish Crimean war medal with the British obverse. These are mounted on a silver buckle brooch bar in order that he wore them.
Because of my research the DCRO has now kindly altered their records which now credit Savage as the owner of the diary. After doing my own bit of detective work, I believe that I have now helped to put the record right.
Credit goes to the Story for allowing me to publish the attached documents and photos from their archives.
They fight like Devils.
In this issue of the centurion, I would like to introduce you the reader to a very fascinating former officer who served in the 2nd Bombay European Light infantry and later the 106th Foot, which the 2nd European Light Infantry was later integrated into. These 2 regiments would be the forbearers which was later to become the 2nd Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry, which received that title in 1881.
To explain how all of this came about, I will start here.
The (HEIC) the Honourable East India Company has its origins dating back to 1600 when wealthy English merchants received a Royal Charter. These Elizabethan merchants with their wealth of skills and contacts made the company into the largest trading organisation the world has ever seen. At its peak it covered half of the universe. The HEIC lasted for over 200 years and ended just after the end of the Indian Mutiny.
Naturally being a very wealthy concern, it came to the attention of pirates on the high seas, and middle eastern marauders amongst many others. It quickly became apparent that to protect their interests that the merchants would need protection. They then went about this in a very skilful manner which included enlisting Europeans and natives to form their own private army. They also formed their own navy. They did this very successfully enlisting men in their own private army from ex-soldiers of the crown and would be cadet officers whom they trained at their own colleges. The promise of good wages and prospects encouraged men from all over England to enlist, and very soon the company built up a very professional fighting force in which to deter the would-be aggressors.
Now enter Edmund Arthur Guerin. Edmund was the son of the Reverend Joseph Guerin who was the rector of west Bagborough in Somerset. Edmund was Baptised by his father at West Bagborough on the 22nd of April 1804.
Edmund’s mother being Maria Lucy Eliza came from a very titled family in Dunmanway County Cork Ireland, and her father was called Arthur Lemual Shouldham.
In India Edmund met Louisa Jane Gilbert who would later become his wife. Louisa was the fifth daughter of Joseph Gilbert of Tweed -Lymington Hants, and Edmund and Louisa were married at Belgaum on the 20th of September 1836.
Before his marriage Edmund had qualified from being an officer cadet with the HEIC, and on the 7th of December 1824 he was serving as an Ensign in the 14th Bombay Native Infantry. He was though a very ambitious young officer and quickly rose through the ranks. He was next promoted to a Lieutenant on the 9th of May 1827. On the 8th of October 1839 he was transferred into the 2nd Bombay European Regiment then on the 7th of December 1839 he was promoted to a Brevet Captain, and finally Captain on the 22nd of February 1844. He was next promoted to Brevet Major on the11th of November 1851 and then Major on the 27th of March 1855. His next promotion was to the rank of Brevet Lieutenant- Colonel on the 24th of October 1858. He was then next promoted to the rank of Lieutenant- Colonel of the 2nd Bombay European Regiment on the 29th of September 1860.
It was with the 2nd Bombay European Regiment that Edmund would experience his first taste of action during the Persian War. (also known as the Anglo-Iranian-War 1856-1857)
Tensions had been rising between Great Britain and Persia for some time, and there were a lot of issues between them. However Great Britain’s biggest fear was that Russia may attempt to Invade India through Afghanistan. This became more apparent as Russia had sponsored Persia in its conquest by taking the fort of Herat in Afghanistan, on the 25th of October 1856. Great Britain’s answer to this was swift and they in turn declared war on Persia on the 1st of November 1856.
The British had been preparing for war with Persia for some time and they were very well prepared for it. On the 4th of December 1856 Major Guerin with the 2nd Bombay Europeans and other regiments landed at Reshire near Bushire and they faced virtually no opposition from the Persians. The force was led by Major General F Stalker and by the 9th of December General Stalker felt strong enough to take the initiative.
The target that General Stalker set his sights on was the old Dutch fort at Reshire. He was to use the 2nd Bombay European Light Infantry which was under the command of Lt Colonel-J S Ramsey. The 2nd Europeans consisted of 22 officers, and 907 others ranks and Major Guerin’ was to be second in command in this action. They were to attack Reshire together with the 64th Foot which was under command of Lt Colonel-J Draper, and the 64th Foot comprised of 27 officers and 934 other ranks. They would also be assisted in this action by the 20th Native Infantry.
On the morning of the 9th of December when the British moved to attack the Persians, they found that they were up against some very heavy opposition. The enemy had taken up very strong defensive positions in the old, ruined houses and behind garden walls that surrounded the old Dutch fort at Reshire. However, after some very smart skirmishing the British attacked by jumping into the ravines and charged side by side with the 64th Foot and the 20th Native infantry, and at the point of the bayonet drove the Persians back into the old Dutch fort at Reshire many of the enemy fled in panic from the British in a headlong retreat and many of the Persians met their deaths at the point of the bayonet whilst trying to flee in the ravines surrounding the old fort. It was here at the fort that the British faced heavy resistance, but eventually they forced their way in, and the day was won. In this action the 2nd Europeans had two men killed and six wounded. Though two of the three officers who were wounded being Lieutenant M C Utterson and Lieutenant W B Warren later died of their wounds.
It was fortunate that the Persian war had been a short campaign and thus resulted in so few lives being lost. But startling news had reached Outram, that there was serious discontentment in the Bengal army.
The troops who had just been awarded their recent campaign medal the (IGSM) the Indian General Service Medal which bore upon it the clasp for Persia, were soon to be thrown into the bloody battles of the Indian Mutiny.
The regimental history of the 2nd Bombay European light Infantry was not quite yet finished with Guerin.
We are all probably aware of the origins of the Indian Mutiny, being the greased cartridge. The greased paper powder cartridge which contained the .577 bullet plus powder which was issued with the new Enfield rifle were rumoured to be coated with cows’ fat which helped to lubricate the rifles barrel. The method for loading the rifle entailed putting the cartridge in the mouth and biting the end of it then reversing the cartridge and ramming down the rifles barrel. As a result of these rumours this could not be accepted by the native soldiers, as the cow was regarded as a religious symbol. However, the sepoys had been using these paper cartridges for some time. Then on the 5th of May 1857 eighty-five men of the 3rd native infantry cavalry regiment refused to take the cartridges. The men were arrested and brought before a court martial which consisted of native officers not British officers. They were found guilty and then sentenced to terms of six to ten years hard labour. These men were later to be sprung from jail by other mutineers whose ranks they quickly joined.
The tactics what these mutineers adopted seemed to be a universal one. They did their best to murder as many British officers as possible and soldiers that crossed their paths together with the soldier’s wives and children before heading for the city of Delhi where many others mutinous native regiments were entrenched there after murdering all its British officers and any Europeans that they could find in the city.
As a result, Major Guerin once more found himself in the thick of it, with the 2nd Europeans. News started to reach the British about the massacres and atrocities that had taken place so much so that the soldiers felt they had a score to settle. They were in fact encouraged by their officers to show no mercy when they came across the mutineers and close with the traitors and use their bayonets. The term They Fight Like Devils was not a reference to the mutineers. It was a reference as to how the mutineers viewed the British soldier and the way they fought against them.
Guerin now received orders to proceed to the heavily fortified fort at Kolhapur with his second Europeans. Their orders were to arrest and disarm the mutineers of the 27th Native Infantry. On reaching the cantonment’s outside of the fort of Kolhapur, Guerin was joined there by his wife Louisa Guerin. She was left with a trusty non-commissioned officer and 20 men, and they were ordered to defend their post to the last. As Guerin was leaving to attack the fort his wife on hearing the instructions given to the troops cried out, I can trust our men we will never surrender.
After a powder charge placed at the gateway of the fort successfully made an opening in which the troops could then enter a lot of heavy fighting took place. The mutineers at times made brave charges against the 2nd Europeans but they were swiftly shot down. When their surrender came justice was very swift. Guerin and his men marched into the Palace square, and the disarmament of the 27th Native Infantry commenced. He then had a large drum covered by a flag being placed in the centre. The prisoners were then taken in front of Guerin and then tried by drumhead court-martial. After a quick trial the first thirty-six of the mutineers were found guilty and sentenced to death. They were then lined up against the wall of the Palace and shot. However, to try and make examples and so deter any future treason by the sepoys, Guerin borrowed four of the Rajahs cannons and had all the troops assembled to witness the execution of more of the mutineers. He had eight of them strapped across the muzzles of the cannons and they were blown away. He then had two hung and he had a further eleven of the mutineers shot by musketry. You cannot help but wonder, looking at the photos of Guerin taken in later life as a gentle looking old man how he could be capable of acts like this.
However, time was marching on for Major Guerin he had come a long way from being the son of a country Parson and then seeking fame fortune and adventure with his regiment. But new blood would be required to take his regiment to its next stage on the formation of the 106th foot which the 2nd Europeans would form into, and eventually in 1881 with the army reforms it would then be known as the 2nd Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry.
Guerin as senior Major was to take over command of the 2nd European Regiment for the last months, before it became the 106th regiment of light Infantry on the 30th of July 1862. He was to retire with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel with a pension of £200 a year on the 31st of December 1861. He retired to Bishopsteignton in Devon, and it was there that he spent his remaining years living in a grand house there which was called Delamore House. The house has a very rich history, and it is a listed building and still stands today.
After a long and very adventurous life it was here that he was to die on the 26th of February 1895 aged 91 years.
I always try to research my subject from cradle to grave. I did successfully trace the last resting place of E A Guerin where he is resting in a small church yard in Devon. I recorded the details on his tombstone which reads as follows.
Loving and Grateful Memory
Of
Edmund Arthur Guerin
Colonel Late 2nd European HMI
Son of the Late
Rev Joseph Guerin
Rec of Bagborough
And Newton Fitzwarren
Somerset
Born April 22nd 1804
Died February 26th 1895
Also
Fanny Augusta Matilda Mackworth
Niece of the Above
Born October 25th 1833
Died January 2nd 1926
Till The Day Dawn
The Centurion.
Sources
Faithful by SGP Ward.
The National Archives.
British Newspaper Archives.
India House Archives.
The History of Delamore house (Bishopsteignton).
Righting the Wrong
Bugle Major John Gibbons
It is we know difficult to contradict events that happened in the regiment some 170 years ago now. However, we hope the following story may help exonerate a very brave former Sergeant Major of the 68th Foot, and the slur that was cast against him.
A starting point here is mention of Bugle Major John Gibbons in the Regimental history being Faithful by S.G.P. Ward. It is a very good basic read of the regiment’s history, but like many other regimental histories it does have its faults.
In Faithful, The Story of the Durham Light Infantry, which was published in 1962, reference is made in chapter VIII, page 252 which mentions the following. In dealing with the links with the Militia the Regimental history states that Bugle Major Gibbons for instance who was formerly a Sergeant Major of the 68th Foot, and had acted as Bugle Major of the North Durham Militia from 1855 to1861 had been discharged for misconduct. We hope that the following will help to correct this.
The service papers do not survive for John Gibbons as the system back there in Queen Victorias reign was when a soldier died or was killed in action his service papers were then destroyed. There have been a few occurrences where this did not happen but as a rule this was the standard practice. However thankfully the muster rolls have survived and from these we can then build up the background to Gibbon’s service in the regiment.
John Gibbons enlisted into the 68th circa 1844. He was noted as a very good soldier who rose steadily through the ranks and eventually was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major. In this rank he replaced Sergeant Major John Legget who had been commissioned into the 1st Regiment. (The Royal Scots). Sergeant Major Gibbons was to see much action with his regiment, notably during the Crimean war which lasted from 1854-1856. One notable battle which the 68th participated in was the Battle of Inkermann which took place on the 5th of November 1854. This is often referred to as the soldiers’ battle and it became one of the regiments battle honours, and it is also celebrated every year in the form of the Inkerman dinner. The battle was fought in very thick fog on the morning of the 5th of November 1854. The records that were left by many of the soldiers who described the battle mentions that it was very difficult to make out the enemy who were at times just some 6 feet away from them.
After discharging their weapons both sides relied on their bayonets and their rifles which they proceeded to use as clubs. In desperation soldiers of both sides even picked up rocks to throw at their adversaries. The casualties for the 68th Foot in this battle was very heavy, apart from many men being wounded the regiment lost 4 officers, and 49 men. Other British regiments who participated with the 68th in this battle suffered a lot more.
In total the British suffered a total of 2,357 casualties.
The French (who for once were our allies in this war) suffered a total of 929 casualties.
However, it was the Russians who were to suffer the most with a total of 12,000 casualties.
Lt Colonel Henry Smyth who was in command of the 68th wrote in his letter home which was dated the 7th of May 1856. I have been employed all this morning in selecting 7 men for the French Military Medal. It has an Eagle and Napolean III on one side and Valeur et Discipline on the other.
On the 12th of May 1856 he wrote, I mentioned having received the 7 French Military Medals for my Regiment. Your friend Sims (the bandsman) will get one the other man is a thief, though very brave. The seven men awarded the Medaille Militaire were as follows.
2196 Sergeant Major John Gibbons. Struck in the chest by grapeshot at Inkermann, and a bullet passed through his cap. He was particularly distinguished for discipline.
2652 Sergeant Peter Dalaney was wounded twice at Inkermann and did not go to the rear. He came back with a draft from Scutari, directly after his wounds were well and went to his duty.
2629 Sergeant Thomas Walsh. For gallantry on the 11th of May 1855 during a sortie.
3256 Private William Ferris for gallantry on the 11th of May 1855 during a sortie.
2691 Private Patrick Finn. Particularly distinguished himself at Inkermann two musket balls through the jaw, he never went into hospital, and he did his duty in the trenches throughout the siege.
2758 Private Charles Ross. On the 11th of May,1855 during a sortie he was wounded but volunteered to leave hospital on the 18th of June.
2401 Private James Sims. On the 22nd of November 1854, in broad daylight he volunteered under heavy fire to bring in a wounded rifleman from the pits. For his gallantry Sims was recommended for the newly created Victoria Cross, but this was not allowed.
On the regiments return to England in September 1857, a small festival was held at the Crystal Palace which was given by the officers for the NCOS and men. This was reported in the Illustrated London News, which stated that at a close of the dinner Sergeant Major Gibbons proposed a toast for the health of the Colonel of the Regiment being Colonel Henry Smyth, CB (Companion of the order of the Bath). This was drunk by the men with a round of deafening cheers.
John Gibbons went to Burma with the Regiment in November 1857 but died at Poonamallee on the 29th of October 1861. This is confirmed in the Madras Ecclesiastical returns for that year. He suffered from heart disease, and this may have been the reason for Colour Sergeant Henry Sladden being promoted over him as Quartermaster in May of 1860, in place of Quartermaster Tunk having taken his retirement.
Since Gibson died in service there are no service papers for him. Soldiers had to have an unblemished record and complete the required length of 20 years’ service in order to be awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct medal.
As Gibbons only served for about 17 years, he fell short of the required length of service.
He most certainly was not discharged for misconduct, and we as the DLI friends sincerely hope that after reading this story, you will agree with us.
The DLI Friends research Group.
Sources
The National Archives.
Faithful by SGP Ward.
Well done the 68th by John Bilcliffe.
