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Two Wheels to War. A tale of twelve bright young men who volunteered own motorcycles for the British Expeditionary Force 1914 at War
My only experience of motor-cycling is as pillion passenger on a trip to Ypres 20 years ago. Since, as a mode of travel, it was uncomfortable, boring and slightly worrying, I was bemused when I received a book about motorcyclists to review. Nothing daunted, I sat down and set to. I need not have worried. In essence, this is a reprint of Adventures…
Major 'Alastair' Soutar, M.C.
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One of the well known 'classic' accounts of the First World War is 'Twelve Days' published in 1933 (and more recently republished as 'Twelve Days on the Somme') by Sidney Rogerson, an officer on the staff of 23 Infantry Brigade (part of the 8th Division). Less well known is his second book, about his experiences in May 1918 on the Aisne. This accou…
14 January 1917: 2nd Lieut. George Allan Exley
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He was the only son of John Exley of Farr Road, a pharmaceutical chemist, and his wife Mary Elizabeth. George was living on Cemetery Road, Holbeck (1901 Census) and then at the 1911 Census, on Farr Royd, Burley-in-Wharfedale. George went to Ilkley Grammar School, and was a student at the London College of Pharmacy, Clapham at the outbreak of …
The Contemptible Little Army, 1914 -1918
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By Alex Saunt (Major Alex Saunt MBE served with the Light Infantry and with the SAS in Libya, Borneo, Northern Ireland, Germany and Denmark. He was awarded an MBE for his courage). The story of the expansion and development of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) 1914-1918 and how the Contemptible Little Army became a huge, effective machine. B…
25 March 1915 : Lieut. Eric Robert Meade Odling, Royal Engineers
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Eric's parents were Charles and Alice (née Meade). His father Charles Odling was the chief engineer for the India Public Works Department. At the 1901 Census, age 7, Eric was living with his parents, older sister Winifred and a domestic servent in Frimley, Surrey. At the 1911 Census, age 17, Eric was a boarder at school in Cheltenham Colleg…
5 July 1918 : Brevet Lt Col William Bovet, Royal Engineers
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He was the second son and eldest child of five children of Frederick Bovet of London and Shanghai, China Merchant and Mary Love (née Haden). Educated at Grosvenor School and University College School, Gower Street, London and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, Gazetted 25 July 1893, 1895 Bombay Sappers, Commander, Royal Engineers, Mekran Ope…
'A Grant to Buy a Drum' what Acting-Sergeant Jesse Byford's Pension Card Reveals
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Acting-Sergeant Jesse Byford was given a pension when he was discharged on the 31st October 1917, as “no longer physically fit for War Service”. He was 44 years old and with the Road Troops Depot of the Royal Engineers, although he had been a regular soldier for many years before the war. Prior to enlisting in February 1917, he had worked for two y…
Football in the First World War
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For the the 2021/2022 season, Saturday 14 May marks the playing of the FA Cup final, 150 years on from the first ever final between the Wanderers and the Royal Engineers. Above: The Wanderers v Royal Engineers match programme - 1872 The result of the game will be important, not only to the supporters of Chelsea and Liverpool, but for millions o…