Deal Battalion

[Bryn]

Can anybody tell me whether a war diary exists for the Deal Battalion during its time at Gallipoli? I searched in the Archives while I was in London last year (I live in Japan) but ran out of time trying to find that on top of all the other stuff I was looking for.

Is there a unit history?

I'm specifically trying to find information on the odd circumstances surrounding the death of the CO, Lieut-Colonel Bendyshe, and whether an enquiry was ever held.

Thanks very much.

[Jonathan Saunders]

I have looked for this also and I can tell you I havent found anything. The nearest is a War Diary for the Chatham Bttn between Feb and mid-July 1915. However I have not been in contact with the RM Museum - which was going to be my next port of call.

Joe Murray of the Hood was in the vicinity of the Deal Bttns and his book GALLIPOLI AS I SAW IT might help if you want general every day knowledge of the area leading up to Bendyshe death. (I cant now remember what Joe wrote).

Are you aware Bendyshe was a Great nephew of Nelson? He had retired in 1910 as a Major, called up in 1914 from the reserve. Temp Lt-Col I think but wouldnt swear to it.

Do you have much, generally, on the RM Bttns?

[michaeldr]

Bryn,

From the private letters of Sir Archibald Paris GOC., RND

“5th May 1915

……………….A sad accident the other day. Lieutenant Colonel Bendyshe when visiting the trenches was shot by one of his own men, as if our casualties weren’t heavy enough without adding to them. Men get jumpy and fire at anything, especially these very young men…………………”

per Len Sellers’ magazine ‘RND’ Issue No. 16., March 2001

From the ‘War Diary of the Royal Marine Brigade’ NA ref WO95/4291

“1st May 1915

………………P.M: Lieutenant Colonel R. N. Bendyshe (Res.) R.M.L.I. was killed during the night. (Note:- This formed the subject of a Court of Inquiry presided over by Colonel C. McN. Parsons R.M.L.I. The proceedings were forwarded to R.N.D.)”

per Len Sellers’ magazine ‘RND’ issue No.23., December 2002

As you may have seen from Signals’ post on another thread, we are hoping that Len will soon be in a position to republish his 24 issue magazine, probably in disc format; for anyone with an interest in the RND it really is an invaluable source of information and a great credit to Len (our modern-day Jerrold!)

Regards

Michael D.R.

[Jonathan Saunders]

Source: de Ruvigny's Roll of Honour

BENDYSHE, RICHARD NELSON, Major and Brevet Lt-Col., RMLI.

Eldest son of the late Nelson Bendyshe, by his wife: Charlotte, youngest daughter of Capt Henry Brodrick, 29th Regt, and of John Bendyshe of Barrington Hall, Cambridge, JP, Lt., RN, by his wife Catherine, eldest daughter of George Matcham of Ashfield Lodge, Sussex and Catherine, his wife, sister of the great Lord Nelson.

Born Woodstock, Ontario, 18 Jan 1866. Educated King's School, Canterbury.

Joined the Royal Marines: became Lt 1 Sept 1885, Capt 1 April 1895, Major 1 Feb 1903, Brevet Lt Col 1 Feb 1910.

Asst Instructor of Musketry, Chatham Division Royal Marines in 1895. Adjutant to Plymouth Division 1896-1901. Staff Officer Chatham Division 1902-06. Retired 1 July 1910

At outbreak of war Major Bendyshe took charge of the wireless station at ?, but applied to join the Royal Marines Brigade; was appointed to the Deal Bttn, and went to Antwerp at the time of the siege.

He was killed in action, 1 May 1915, in the Dardanelles at Gebe Tepe whilst in command of the Deal Bttn.

He married at Bekesbourne, Canterbury, 15 Aug 1893, Eleanor Margaret (Barrington Hall, Cambridge), daughter of the Rev. Henry John Wardell, vicar of Bekesbourne, and had two children: John Nelson, Lt., Worcester Rgmt b 29 July 1894; and Margaret Charlotte b 1 Nov 1900.

In Sept 1914 Major Bendyshe succeeded his uncle in Barrington Hall estate, which has been the seat of the family since the reign of Edward III, and was succeeded in possession of it by his only son.

I hope this is useful.

Michael - I had an exchange of emails with Len this evening - there are still some copyright issues to be resolved before relaunching RND in CD format.

All the best,

Jon

[Bryn]

Thanks very much, guys.

I didn't know much about Bendyshe at all, so that's all been very interesting. I don't have much generally on the RM Battalions, and found it difficult to locate much in the Archives.

Following is an extract from an article that gives an account of the death of Lieut. Col. Bendyshe:

"While the battalion [6th Battalion, AIF] was packing away its mess tin, the C.O. (Col. McNicoll) went up to the line and got the Deal's C.O. (Col. Bendyshe) to go through the trenches with him. ...

Bendyshe and McNicoll - the latter accompanied by a 'runner' named Ward - squatted on their haunches in front of a group of men while the Australian pointed out the necessity of saving ammunition and firing only at a definite target. The two C.O.'s then moved along to another group, and the advice was being repeated when one of the Deal men began to stare hard at McNicoll, whose tanned skin, unshaven chin, and dirty, torn tunic were rather a contrast to the tidy English officer beside him. Bendyshe spoke to the man, who by now had started to straighten himself up. 'Don’t stand up, man, your head will be over the parapet.'

He answered, 'Yes sir,' then raised his rifle, aimed at McNicoll, fired and missed, but his bullet shot Colonel Bendyshe dead.

Pandemonium broke loose. Men ran from both directions along the trench towards the spot, firing wildly. An English sergeant-major and two other men were shot. McNicoll caught one bayonet in his hand and deflected it so that it passed through his tunic - in at the button and out at the shoulder -only grazing the skin. Another bayonet left a triangular hole in his left sleeve.

A loud-voice sergeant at last took charge, and ordered the men back to the parapet. They knocked McNicoll down on to the bottom of the trench on his back, and the sergeant told one man to 'Put your bayonet in his chest, and if he speaks a word press your trigger.' Silence was golden. They searched their 'spy' prisoner, taking his notebooks, revolver, etc.; then got him on his feet, tied his hands behind, blindfolded him, and marched him out under armed escort through a communication trench.

The first man this party met was the 6th Battalion's Adjutant, whose language when he recognised his C.O. maintained the highest traditions of the A.I.F. The Medical Officer (Dr. Black) pumped some morphia into McNicoll's arm, and took him down to a Field Ambulance on the beach, where he received the best of attention from Royal Naval Division surgeons."

‘Marsova’ [pseudonym]. ‘ “Nerves” : A Gallipoli Panic’ in Reveille. RSS&AILA, NSW Branch, Sydney. 31 Mar 1931, p58.

[michaeldr]

Bryn,

Fair exchange - Many thanks for your extra details

Regards

Michael D.R.

[Jonathan Saunders]

Bryn,

I am in your debt for sharing that account with us. I am hoping to get a view of the rare Blumberg's "Sea Soldiers" this weekend, which should comment on Bendyshe's death and will report on level of info available with regard to the Deal Bttn.

Jon

[Andrew Hesketh]

I've researched a 'Deal' man who died of dysentry at Gallipoli and I've failed to unearth anything official as well. I could be wrong, but I've formed the impression that the Deal battalion presence in Gallipoli was mainly the Deal Medical Unit, and I've got several men who served there with that unit.

Was your man medical?

Does anyone know if my impression is tosh?

[Jonathan Saunders]

I've researched a 'Deal' man who died of dysentry at Gallipoli and I've failed to unearth anything official as well. I could be wrong, but I've formed the impression that the Deal battalion presence in Gallipoli was mainly the Deal Medical Unit, and I've got several men who served there with that unit.

Was your man medical?

Does anyone know if my impression is tosh?

From notes that I have taken from RND issue 2, 29 officers and 904 ORs of the Deal Bttn left Avonmouth on "Alnwich Castle" on 27/28 Feb 1915 bound, eventually, for Gallipoli.

When Lt-Col Bendyshe was accidently shot and killed by a man of his own battalion - when in, or close to, the Front line trenches, the Deal Bttn were supporting in the battlezone, with other RND Bttns, the ANZAC forces around Lone Pine.

Interesting you have several men serving with the Deal Bttn that were medics - but this was a fighting Bttn. I was been under the impression that the medics did not expressly belong to a Bttn but were attached from a central unit within the Divisional Train.

[michaeldr]

I've researched a 'Deal' man who died of dysentry at Gallipoli and I've failed to unearth anything official as well. I could be wrong, but I've formed the impression that the Deal battalion presence in Gallipoli was mainly the Deal Medical Unit, and I've got several men who served there with that unit.

Was your man medical?

Does anyone know if my impression is tosh?

Andrew,

It is difficult to follow the tracks of the various RND battalions at Gallipoli because they suffered such losses and received no adequate reinforcements that the Division had to reorganised time after time

The following info is from the War Diary of the Royal Marine Brigade [WO95/4291]

as published by Len Sellers in his magazine ‘RND’

22nd June 1915: Plymouth, Portsmouth and Chatham Battalions all receive one company each from Deal

27th July 1915: Reorganization of RM Brigade in 2 battalions

Portsmouth/Plymouth

Chatham/Deal

2nd August 1915: RM Brigade and 2nd Naval Brigade amalgamate to form

The 2nd Brigade RN Division, whose four battalions were

Chatham/Deal

Portsmouth/Plymouth

Howe

Anson

Len gives the sad last line for this day thus

“End of the Diary of Brigade of Royal Marines.

C. F. Jerram,

Brigade Major 2/8/15”

Regards

Michael D.R.

[michaeldr]

2nd August 1915: RM Brigade and 2nd Naval Brigade amalgamate to form

The 2nd Brigade RN Division, whose four battalions were

Chatham/Deal

Portsmouth/Plymouth

Howe

Anson

One further change worth noting for the record is that,

per John Morcombe’s book about Jack Clegg – “If you’re alive speak, if dead don’t bother”

on 12 Aug 1915 the two RM Battalions were re-named

Chatham/Deal became 1st RMs

and Portsmouth/Plymouth became 2nd RMs

Regards

Michael D.R

[Andrew Hesketh]

Michael / Sigs

That's valuable info and very useful to me. Thanks to you both.

I have 4 men who served in the Deal Medical Unit from one Derbyshire village, which has always struck me as odd. 2 didn't come home.

[michaeldr]

Andrew,

Your Deal man who died of dysentery at Gallipoli was almost certainly (?) part of the Deal Battalion which evolved as outlined above, finally becoming 1st RM’s ‘C’ & ‘D’ Companies.

After Gallipoli I have to admit to being somewhat in a fog

If we have to consider the service in F & F of men who have a Deal number then

there does indeed seem to be something in what you say about them appearing to be mainly specialists.

For example looking at John Morcombe’s book mentioned above

He lists 13 pages of the RND’s deaths at the Battle of the Ancre 13-15 Nov ‘16

ALL of the 19 ORs in the RM Medical Unit have Deal numbers

ALL of the 12 ORs in the Divisional Engineers have Deal Numbers

John also lists the decorations awarded after that battle

ALL of the 13 MMs issued to the RM Medical Unit have Deal numbers

I am still looking for an explanation for this; when/why/how?

Perhaps because the Deal Battalion itself was no longer extant, then the Deal Depot number was a convenient ledger on which to place these men

As I said, still looking

Regards

Michael D.R.

[michaeldr]

Andrew,

My remark yesterday about being in a fog may be an understatement and I may even be guilty of spreading some of that same fog – so I think it worth trying to clarify/correct my last post

You are researching a ‘Deal’ man who died of dysentery at Gallipoli

By that, do you mean that he was a member of the Deal Battalion

or is it that he was a man with a ‘Deal’ prefix to his number?

Using an example earlier than Gallipoli; there was a Deal Detachment (not a battalion) of about 130 men listed in Fevyer & Wilson’s ‘The 1914 Star to the RN & RM.’ Practically all of these men had Plymouth numbers – and none had Deal numbers

My post giving the evolution of the RM brigades at Gallipoli, including the Deal Battalion, was correct in detail

However

It would have be misleading if it was interpreted as implying that a man with a Deal prefix must have been in the infantry battalion of the same name

Like the man in the hole, I think that I had better stop digging at this point. Apologies for being less than clear previously

Regards

Michael D.R.