The Wolds Waggoners - page 21
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 |
These were men of lower physical standards, initially deemed unfit for front line duties. Major McDougall, the CO. of 2nd Park, knew exactly what he was losing with the departure of fifty of his wagoners, This is a great loss to the Park. Many of these men came out with the Parks in 1914, and are 1st class drivers and horsemasters.' Through no fault of their own, the new arrivals were not up to the same standards. In 2nd Park, fifteen of the first fifty Category B men were found to be unfit to serve at the Front. After one hundred and forty had arrived, fifty-six were hospitalised immediately. As the Major noted, They do not have the strength as a rule to strap a horse down properly*. It was the same elsewhere. Harry Sykes, now a major in command of 3rd Park, noted ruefully, '[the Category B men were] of very poor stamp and remarkable numbers with poor ^ight. Only twenty-one [out of fifty] with previous experience of horses.' The men who had been posted to the two Bridging Trains in 1914 had a similar war in many ways. The Trains, renamed 1st and 2nd Pontoon Parks early in the War, tended to stay in one place much longer than the men of the Reserve Parks, and functioned as a depot for the supply of bridging pontoons for that particular part of the Front. But as the War became static, they too found themselves loaned out as transport to other Royal Engineer units. Both Pontoon Parks spent most of the War in or near the Ypres Salient, the 1st at Molinghem, the 2nd at Steenwerck and Vlamertinghe. By the end of the War, the men of the Wagoners' Special Reserve had done and seen more than any of them could have imagined when they were taking part in the driving competitions in Fimber Field. Thanks to a succession of transfers and drafts, wagoners had served (and were buried) on every major front of the war - not only France and Flanders, but also Italy, Salonika and the Middle East A number of Wagoners were honoured for gallantry during the conflict - Wagoners William Thomson, 1086 Richard Davison, 227 Thomas Bulmer and 161 David Sheldrick were all awarded the Military Medal. Foreman 1105 David Nicholson was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. Corporal 241 William Day was also Mentioned in Despatches. Wagoner 453 George Nellist was awarded the French Croix de Guerre. |
| Book number | R0398 |