Great War Survivors
 

Greetings

Not strictly badge orientated I know, BUT he did wear a badge.

I don’t know if any of you watched this evening’s episode of Antiques Road show.

Ted Dexter, the great England Cricket Captain, appeared on it, in regards to the history of his father.

If I heard correctly; his father J.M Dexter, MC, was the only officer, to survive the duration of WW1; i.e. enlisting in 1914 and surviving until 1918.

He served in the Royal Field Artillery and for his actions whilst taking up a forward observation/spotting role, was awarded The Military Cross; which has sadly been stolen from the family.

The “antique expert” showed a book with the names of those who did survive the entire war; there were probably less than a dozen names on the list, J.M. Dexter being one of them.

An extraordinary fact, in my opinion.

I’ve had a trawl through t’internet, to try and find his history, which I imagine would be a fascinating read, but can’t find any reference for this, not that I doubt that it is true.

Please can anybody point me in the right direction as to where I might find anything in relation to those who were Great War survivors?........how many did survive the entire War; how many were there?
Regards
Brian.

P.S. For some reason, my computer won’t let me join The Great war Forum

Hi Brian,

89% of those who served during the Great War came home - 60% of the total without a scratch. 11% were killed or died of wounds.

Many units had a tiny handful of men who had gone all the way through from start to finish. I have the medals of cartoonist Ronald Searle's Father, 'Buller' Searle, who went to France with 2/Suffolk in August 1914 and was one of a handful of men who were still serving with 2/Suffolk at the time of the Armistice.

Many of those who were not killed were either sent home wounded or were given jobs behind the lines. Many wounded men were medically downgraded and went on to serve with the Labour Corps or other units behind the lines.

The "antique expert" reeled off the usual spiel about the first day on the Somme and the lack of progress due to German artillery and machine gun fire and he was obviously oblivious to the fact that 54 Brigade (that Dexter belonged to) was part of the 18th Division which successfully captured all its objectives on the first day of the battle...

(Someone has just told me that it was 84 Brigade, not 54 Brigade, on the cover of the memoir - excuse my dodgy eyesight! If it was 84 Brigade they were in Salonika, not France, during the fighting on the Somme).

Cheers,

Taff

There was a Capt RM Dexter RFA (and RHA) decorated for gallantry. I half heard his unit and think he mentioned a lettered Battery in something something Field Brigade, so that may narrow the area of search a bit.
Mike

MAJOR - Alwyn Holberton SQUARE (MC for gallantry) star WW1 with HAC as 2sd Ltd -at the end of WW1 acting major - Major during WW2 - retired 1948

I found his SWORD. Its is marked with:

the name of is owner ( A H SQUARE ), and the regiment (RFA)

the maker S.J.PILLIN – 31 GERRARD St – LONDON.W

after some search,
Major Alwyn Holberton Square of The RFA was awarded the Military Cross in the London Gazette on 7th November 1918
"for conspicuous gallantry with his battery in action, under heavy barragefire".
http://www.edinburgh-gazette.co.uk/i.../4145/page.pdf

from the national archives:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/d...resultcount=14


SQUARE, sons of Dr. W.H. Square, Bridge House :-
Alwyn Holberton ; Major, M.C.; 1914, Hon. Artillery Company; 1914, Dec., Lieut.,
Royal Field Artillery; 1916, Captain; 1917, Major; 1915, To France; Mentioned in Despatches; 1918, Military Cross.

http://www.leighton-linslade.com/wars/lb_roll_s.html



i have continued research on this gentleman

after all my research, i have found this


1/I have buy his medal cards
in France the 29 Jan 1915
living 28 BOLTON STREET LONDON

I do not understand any abbreviations on it.
(if some body can help me ....:-)....)

2/ I have found the army list for the royal artillery from 1914 to 1918
1916 – row 540a
Royal Horse and Royal Field ARTILLERY – Contd
temp lieuts – condt : SQUARE A.H - 2 MAY 16
1917 – Row 540a
Royal Horse and Royal field ARTILLERY – condt
temp & acting lieuts condt – SQUARE A.H (acting major 28feb 17) – 2 MAY 16
1918 – Row 538g
Royal Horse and Royal Field ARTILLERY- condt
temp & acting captains- condt – SQUARE A.H. M.C (acting major 28 FEB 17) 9 FEB 18

3/ the LONDON GAZETTE (11 entries)
REGULAR FORCES ROYAL REGIMENT of ARTILLERY

LG 26 JAN 15
to be undermentionned temp second lieut : Alwyn Holberton SQUARE (23 jan 15)
LG 21 JULY 16
to be temps lieut : A . H SQUARE (2 may 16)
LG 1 DEC 1916
to be acting capts whilst condt Lt A.H SQUARE (20 JULY 16)
LG 17 MAY 17
to be acting major temp lt A. H SQUARE (28 FEB 17)
LG 14 DEC 17 (despatch 7 nov 17)
SQUARE A.H , Lt (acting major) (11 dec 17)
LG 8 FEB 1918
to be temp capt ( acting major) A.H SQUARE A.H , MC (9 feb 18)
supplement LG 7 nov 18
AWARDED THE MILITARY CROSS
supplement LG 17 MAR 19
temp cap A.H SQUARE, M.C (acting major) 26 JAN 19
supplement LG 1 MAR 1921
temp cap A.H SQUARE MC granted the rank of major (23 feb 19)
supplement LG 12 DEC 39
maj A. H SQUARE MC from ( A.O.E.R) late RA, to be maj 24 AUG 39
supplement LG 9 JULY 48
maj A.H.SQUARE MC having exceeded age limit (10 JULY 48)

I DREAM TO FOUND HIS UNIT ................

Jean, if you post this exact same detail in the Soldiers section of the Great War Forum (you will need to join), I have no doubt that you will get your answers: http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/fo...hp?showforum=1

Also his wife:

May Isobel SQUARE (Nee RUDGE). She was born in Jun 1898 in Evesham, co. Worcester and baptized on 30 Aug 1898 at St. Lawrence, Evesham, co. Worcester. She died on 14 Apr 1971 and was buried in Evesham, co. Worcester.

On 7 Aug 1924 May Isobel married Major Alwyn Holberton SQUARE M. C., R.F.A., elder son of Dr. William Holberton SQUARE J. P. of Leighton Buzzard. They had two sons and one daughter.

Taff, you beat me to it! Some units took an horrendous hammering whilst others had a different sort of a war. Reading more and more of the lesser known biographies and autobiographies, thankfully published by the Naval and Military Press casts a somewhat different light on the story of WWI.
Matti

J M Dexter MC was the only officer in his RFA Battery to have joined in 1914 and survive to 1918. The book shown was the Battery history and the list was of the one officer (Dexter) and about 13 soldiers including a farrier who also served throughout and survived.

Tim

Very many thanks to all who have responded to this post.

It has certainly enlightened me, because to be honest, my knowledge of The Great War is, shamefully, somewhat limited.............however I am learning and intend to expand my knowledge.

Also, it shows that in future I must pay more attention to what is being said on the telly.:o:o:)

Regards

Brian

thank you for your help Toby

i will make the request (i wait after the autorisation to post..)

i have do it : http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/fo...owtopic=188391

i have make a request on the RUDGE family forum some month ago ;)

identify his unit and perhaps a picture of this Gentleman will be a great victory for me

( i apologize for me very bad english....:o )

best regards from France

JP

Taff,

I dont think your eyesight was wrong. The diary mentioned Caterpillar Wood so 54th would be right!

TRT