Guest Pete Wood Posted 20 December , 2003 Share Posted 20 December , 2003 We have a medal winner, here...... First the usual info from the CWGC: Name: JEFFERIES Initials: A E Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment: Somerset Light Infantry Unit Text: 8th Bn. Age: 20 Date of Death: 20/12/1915 Service No: 12190 Awards: DCM Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: E. 11. Cemetery: CHAPELLE-D'ARMENTIERES NEW MILITARY CEMETERY Information from SDGW: Name: Arthur Frank Born: North Broom, Somerset Enlisted: Taunton Residence: North Broom, Somerset Looking at the SDGW, there is a steady stream of casualties in December with around 20 men KiA or dying of wounds. Our man is the only one reported as being killed that day, but there are a few more who died (from the same action??) and the CO of the regiment, Lt Col Lewis Charles Howard DSO was killed three days later . Only three months earlier, on the 25/6th September, it too had been a bad day for the West Country lads with around 6 officers and 85 men killed or dying of their wounds. London Gazette dated 22nd January 1916 12190 Private A. F. Jefferies, 8th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. For conspicuous gallantry near Armentieres on the night of 15th-16th December, 1915, when he formed one of a bombing party which raided the German trenches and set a fine example of bravery and resource. He had previously been brought to notice for gallantry near Loos on 26tih September, 1915. On the 16th December, Ptes Cosh, Fish, Hicks, are recorded as KiA. Were they casualties of this raid for which Arthur Jeffries was awarded the DCM. What happened on these three days in 1915 – the 25/26th September, 15/16th December and the 20th December….?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pete Wood Posted 20 December , 2003 Share Posted 20 December , 2003 Did you notice the discrepancy between the initials on CWGC and SDGW/London Gazette...?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 20 December , 2003 Share Posted 20 December , 2003 RTpots CWGC are checking the initials for me. It was a typing error on my part that left the DCM off the 'Remembering Today' entry. Awards do appear on other entries as appropriate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christine liava'a Posted 20 December , 2003 Share Posted 20 December , 2003 A different address obtained from Somerset Light Infantry surnames North Brewham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pete Wood Posted 20 December , 2003 Share Posted 20 December , 2003 Christina, according to my road atlas, your source is correct and the SDGW is wrong. It's the kind of mistake you'd get if the information for SDGW was dictated, isn't it.....?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 5 January , 2004 Share Posted 5 January , 2004 CWGC have come back on the query over initials. All their records show 'A.E.' and not 'A.F.' Even subsequent correspondence with the n-o-k did not raise a correction of the initials and so it looks as though the LG/SDGW are wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christine liava'a Posted 6 January , 2004 Share Posted 6 January , 2004 But this site gives Arthur Frank Somerset Regiments surnames I can't find any Arthur ? Jeffries/ Jefferies/ Jeffery born in Somerset around 1895 on FreeMBD He should be in the 1901 census Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 6 January , 2004 Share Posted 6 January , 2004 Christine The site does not specify from where it obtained its info. Could have been SDGW also. At the moment CWGC won't entertain the thought of a change because of the correspondence with the family not producing a correction. They take the view that the family would know the correct initials. However, if anyone has a copy of his death certificate, the matter could be reopened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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