Ian_Kel Posted January 31, 2022 Share Posted January 31, 2022 Is it okay if I start a thread as a place to deposit info regarding the guys of 16th Highland Light Infantry, 2nd Glasgow, or Boys Brigade Btn. who took, or possibly took part in the defence of Frankfurt Trench, 18-25th November, 1916? 15105. L/Sgt. Harry J. Lamb, D Company, 16th HLI. Taken Prisoner of War, 25/11/16*, shrapnel wound shoulder. From Aberdeen. Awarded Military Medal for the defence of Frankfurt Trench, London Gazette, 30 Jan, 1920. P.S. The photo postcard of Harry J. Lamb was taken and printed in Dulmen Prisoner of War Camp when Harry was an interned POW, it came from a collection of similar printed and signed postcards from the deceased estate of another Dulman POW, a guy from the Manchester Regiment. It's a cracking photo. I "think" it shows Harry in a German(?) issued Prisoner of War tunic, dyed dark blue/black, perhaps with the sown-in light brown POW identification arm band. Harry's kept and attached his as issued HLI collar badges and Sgt. stripes. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_Kel Posted January 31, 2022 Author Share Posted January 31, 2022 Awards to the 16th HLI for the eight day defence of Frankfurt Trench, 18 - 25 Nov, 1916 (some say it was the greatest "last stand" action of WW1). In all, two posthumous Mention in Dispatches (both downgraded Victoria Crosses), one Distinguished Service Order, 2 Military Crosses, 11 Distinguished Conduct Medals and 22 Military Medals. Announced mostly in The London Gazette, 30 Jan, 1920, under Army Order 193. Mention in Dispatches (downgraded V.C.'s) 15154 Sergt. G. A. Lee 14545 L/Cpl. J. Veitch Distinguished Service Order Lieut.John Stewart Military Cross Lieut. Malcolm M. Lyon Lieut. Frank Scott Distinguished Conduct Medal 14952 Cpl. P. E. Browne 14811 Sergt. J. M. Buchan 3579 L/Cpl. J. Eastop 14661 L/Cpl. A. C. Fletcher 43183 Pte. I. Fraser 26203 L/Cpl. G. McArthur 14493 Pte. J. McLay 27274 Pte. R. K. Mansen 43155 Pte. D. Millar 14388 Pte. J. Mitchell 43163 Pte.J.Smart Military Medal 27252 Pte. G. Cairns 3563 Pte.J. Duncanson 28779 Pte. G. Grant 9345 Pte. W. Gunning 40546 Pte. A. Hay 43144 Pte. J. Hughes 15105 Cpl. (A/L. Sgt.) H.J. Lamb 32681 L/Cpl.J. McAllister 24571 Pte. R. McBride 27250 Pte. J.W.M. McGregor 14823 Pte. J. McGrottie 30325 Pte. R. McKinley 1451 Pte. H. McInnes 3524 Pte. A. McPhee 27270 Pte. J. F. Manson 14398 Cpl.J. Reid 43181 Pte. R. Shaw 43161 Pte.J. Smart 14287 Pte. A. Smith 30306 Pte. J. Stevenson 40542 Pte. T. G. Steward 43165 Pte. D. Whittet 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted February 1, 2022 Share Posted February 1, 2022 Hi Ian, sure that is no problem, should be a good thread 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_Kel Posted February 3, 2022 Author Share Posted February 3, 2022 The medal groups from the above list which are known to still survive, either in family possession or private collections: Memorial Plaque, 1914-15 Trio with posthumous MID awarded to the family of 14545 L/Cpl. J. Veitch, 16/HLI. (Private collection?). Distinguished Service Order, WW1 pair with MID awarded to Lieut. John Stewart, attached 16/HLI. (Private collection). Distinguished Conduct Medal, WW1 pair awarded to 43183 Pte. I. Fraser, 16/HLI. (Private collection). Distinguished Conduct Medal, WW1 pair awarded to 26203 L/Cpl. G. McArthur, 16/HLI. (Private collection). Military Medal, WW1 pair awarded to 27252 Pte. G. Cairns, 16/HLI. (Private collection). Military Medal, awarded to 40546 Pte. A. Hay, 16/HLI. (Spink auctions, sold 28 Jan, 2022). Military Medal, 1914-15 Trio awarded to 1451 Pte. H. McInnes, 16/HLI. (Family). Military Medal, WW1 pair awarded to 27270 Pte. J. F. Manson, 16/HLI. (Private collection). They'll be other Frankfurt Trench medal groups out there. Below, the MM group awarded to 27252 Pte. G. Cairns along with his private purchase miniature group and ribbon bar. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_Kel Posted February 3, 2022 Author Share Posted February 3, 2022 It's been stated that at the end of the eight day defence and after being taken POW, two of the defenders died in captivity, one being shot by a German guard for dropping out of line to accept a loaf of bread from a Frenchwoman. This can be confirmed, as can the name of the man shot for accepting the piece of bread; 43133, Lance-Corporal David Young, C Company, 16th HLI. Taken POW 25th Nov, 1916, died 27th April. Buried Honnechy Cemetery. Confirmation in WO 161/100/628, Prisoner of war typed transcript from 3579, Lance-Corporal, James S. Eastop, 16th HLI, cross referenced with International Red Cross POW cards & Commonwealth War Grave Commission. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_Kel Posted February 3, 2022 Author Share Posted February 3, 2022 Part of Lance-Corporal, James S. Eastop's typed POW testimony attached below, also a snipit from "The Mustard Tin Messages", an interview recorded in 1920 with ex-POW, H. Rennie of the 1st Gordon Highlanders who refers to the story as heard from Pte. Smart, 16/HLI. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_Kel Posted February 3, 2022 Author Share Posted February 3, 2022 The second Frankfurt Trench defender to die in captivity was most likely 3574, Pte. Neil Fletcher, D Company, 16/HLI. Died 29 March, 1917, POW camp lazarett Dulman, buried Cologne Southern Cemetery. Pte. Fletcher's recorded in the International Red Cross records as being taken POW on 25th Nov, 1916 so "probably" a trench defender (the International Red Cross POW records are full of inconsistencies and conflicting dates for when guys were taken POW so "probably" is probably as good as you'll get". The Pte. Buchanan, 16th HLI referred to in James S. Eastop's typed POW testimony as having being ill and died of exposure after the journey between Vendhuile and Maretz POW camps is most likely to be 33407, Pte. J.R. Buchannan, B Coy, 16th HLI. Probably not a Frankfurt Trench defender but "probably" taken POW on 18th November after the initial assault. International Red Cross has his date of capture as the 13th Nov. but that must be a mistake, B Coy was back in billets on that date. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissMonroe Posted June 12, 2023 Share Posted June 12, 2023 Hi Ian, I have info on Pte Ian Fraser 43183 16 HLI He was my other half’s grandfather. Wanted to ask a few questions though, can I message or contact you directly? 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted June 15, 2023 Share Posted June 15, 2023 Let me know when contact is made Ian and I'll delete these last two posts, never a good idea posting your email address on a forum much better to use the messenger 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_Kel Posted June 25, 2023 Author Share Posted June 25, 2023 Thanks for that Kenny, I actually hadn't noticed the messenger function which would have been a more secure option. Feel free to delete my original message (and thanks for giving that option). Thank you. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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