The Wolds Waggoners - page 9
Image details
| Corps | RPC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Books |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | The Wolds Waggoners |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1988 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | Yes |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1908 |
| Late date | 1983 |
| Transcription |
A prizewinner in a wagon belonging to John Nea! of Covvlam. Some men were brought in by farmers, in some instances their employers - indeed, Sir Mark had envisaged that farmers would nominate their wagoners to join. For example, Roadmaster William Megginson of Towthorpe Manor Farm (regimental number 1) recruited a farther fifteen men, including six other farmers, within the first week, and a further twenty-eight, all from around Wetwang and Cowlam, over the next few months. His total was exceeded by, amongst others, Frederick Sykes (likewise no relation of Sir Mark), a fanner from Wharram-le-Street, and himself recruited by William Megginson. Sykes brought in a total of seventy-five men, all from ^ e a r e a of Wharram-le-Street, Settrington and Driffield. The men who were appointed as Roadmasters were mostly farmers - Sir Mark hoped they would be farmers' sons, of 'good address and intelligence' - William Megginson, Frederick Sj'kes, Franic Hodsman of Eddlethorpe, Dewsbury Megginson of Fimber, Claude Megginson of Towthorpe, Frank Dee of Woodhill Farm, Sledmere, Ernest Byass of Butterwick, Charles Pinckney of Malton and Robert Byass of Centre House Farm, North Dalton. Only William Beswick of Langtoft, John Holdridge and Arthur Smith of Waiter, and Richard Beswick of Flixton were not farmers, appearing in the Wagoners' nominal roll simply as 'carter'. Sykes, Claude Megginson and Holdridge all received commissions as lieutenants in the Army Service Corps during the War, Megginson reaching the rank of Captain. Most men, particularly those who joined in the early days of the recruitment drive, were likewise carters. Others were appointed to specialist positions such as saddler, groom, wheelwright or blacksmith, presumably on the basis of their particular trade - men such as Foreman 131 Thomas Fell of Fridaythorpe, and Wagoner 429 Ernest Scott of Sledmere, wheelwright and blacksmith respectively (the Scotts were the Sledmere village blacksmiths). There were in total two wheelwrights, five blacksmiths, three saddlers and four grooms. One other man, Foreman 625 Matthew Hobson of Hutton Cranswick, was also a traction engine driver - a rare skill indeed on pre-war Wolds farms. As 1914 progressed, however, more farm servants were recruited. Often known on the farms as 'Tommy Owts', since they had to be able to do 'owt', these men tended to be all-rounders who might know something about horses and be experienced in working with them, but were not specialist horselads or wagoners. . Altogether, there were 1,127 men on the Wagoners' roll by August 1914. Most were born in the East Riding, in Wolds villages from Hessle to Hunmanby; there was also a considerable contingent from the North Riding, particularly from the towns and villages of the Derwent valley and the Vale of York. Judging by their names, some may have been brothers - relatives, almost certainly. Some men, working at the same farm, joined up together. By no means all those recruited, however, were Yorkshiremen. The |
| Book number | R0398 |