Old Front Line
WW1 Podcast with Paul Reed
Podcast Questions & Answers Ep 5
In this latest Questions & Answers bonus episode, we look at questions about the Regular Army and the 1914 Star, the Canadians in WW1 as ‘Shock Troops’, discuss the men from the Southdowns Battalions from Sussex and ask do we have enough memorials along The Old Front Line?
Got a question about this episode or any others? Drop your question into the Old Front Line Discord Server or email the podcast.
5 Comments on “Podcast Questions & Answers Ep 5”
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The last question about memorials is something anyone who has an interest in the Great War should think about and yes, perhaps something different from physical representations is required to honour those who were involved. A widespread teaching resource available to all schools and colleges might be a starting point considering how badly many young people are educated about history in general.
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A really good idea there, thank you.
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Good morning Paul and thank you for a very interesting Q & A Podcast. Unerringly I can associate myself with at least three of the topics raised. 1. The Regular Army of 1914 that went across in the August. Namely, The 1st Battalion of The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment which included my Great Uncle L/ Cpl L/ 7403 Frederick Hanmore of D Company. The 1st Battalion took up their positions in the area of Tertre St Ghislain in Belgium holding part of the Mons Gonde Canal. A Company being deployed at a cross roads in Tertre. Later on into the War Frederick was wounded near High Wood on the Somme, transferred down the lines of communications to the Base Hospital at Rouen where he died of his wounds on the 24th of July 1916. He is buried at St Sever C.W.G.C. Returning to the action at Tertre 1914. In 2012/13 a Living History Group approached the Council of St Ghislain to ask if it was at all possible to build a memorial to the Q.O.R.W.K.Regiment on the exact position A Company first made contact with 12th Brandenburg Grenadiers. The Mayor, Mr Daniel Olivier agreed that we could. With a huge amount of help from him, the Council and their many members of the Council Work Force plus a Company here in the UK Dignity Funerals who funded the building final building of the Memorial and on top of that, members of The Q.O.R.W.K. Regiment Living History Group supported by The Regimental Association, we had the memorial ready for a dry run Commemoration for August 2013. This Memorial is the only one on the entire Western Front in memory of The Regiment. Of course there are Divisional Memorials to The 18th Division but ours is the only Regimental Memorial. The plot of land has now become a Memorial Garden as the memorial itself includes an extract from the diary of the Officer explaining the story. There is an explanation board also telling the short history of The RWK`s The Memorial and the garden are now on the Guide Tour Map telling the story of The Battle around Mons. So in my humble opinion a relative New Memorial adds to our knowledge of the early events in late August 1914 and is a big plus in that respect. The final part of my little story involves another Great Uncle from back then. Private Ernest Hanmore S/12871 12th Battalion Royal Sussex. { Ernest was from Kent as was his brother Frederick and my own Grandfather Stanley Hanmore Private S/9134. 7th Battalion R.W.K. I think that Ernest must have been a conscripted replacement sent to the 12th Battalion Royal Sussex. He was in his mid to late 30`s when Conscripted. Ernest was mortally wounded on or just before the 3rd of August 1917. His date of Death is the 3rd. He is buried at Du Hallow CWGC just on the outskirts of Ypres. So in one Q & A Podcast Paul, between us we have much of what has been discussed. May I also say that there is an open Invitation to go and Recce The Memorial Garden at Tertre. I know the Mayor would make you most welcome It is his last term in Office this year. His 3rd 6 year term. He retires this year. He is the most remarkable man and everyone connected to the Memorial at Tertre owe him a massive thank you for all of his support to us these past 11 years. I am honoured to call him my dear friend because of what he and his Council Members and Staff have done to help Commemorated The Q.O.R.W.K. Regiment
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Thanks – really interesting! I was at the memorial in March for a new tour and hope to feature it in the podcast sometime soon!
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Paul, thanks for an excellent Q and A. As a Northerner weaned on the exploits of the Pals Battalions of the Northern industrial towns and cities, I am always drawn to your accounts of Lowther’s Lambs. Their story is especially poignant given that the Boars Head action took place in an area that is regarded by some as the “forgotten front”. Not forgotten by those in Sussex though.
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