Sheffield Scouts and the Great War (RoH Additional Information)
Henry Burrows Gallimore - Scout Master - 45th (Ryegate)
Extract from the Sheffield Daily Telegraph
26th May 1917: "D" Battery 312th Brigade Royal Field Artillery Catches Fire
The camouflage covering one of the howitzers of "D" Battery 312th Brigade Royal Field Artillery catches fire.
Captain Henry Burrows Gallimore, Second Lieutenant Geoffrey Hardy, Gunner John Boyd, Sergeant J H Jenkins, Driver John Kemplay, Sergeant E J H Knight, Corporal Bertram Jowett Pepper, Gunner H Stott and Gunner N Vaughan are all killed as they are attempting to extinguish the flames before they reach the ammunition which they fail to accomplish.
"On the 26th May a sad disaster occurred in D/312 Howitzer Battery. The camouflage over one of the howitzers caught fire and blazed up. It was merely a question of a few moments when the flames should reach the ammunition and cause a terrible explosion, but there was a slight chance of the fire being put out in time, and Capt. H B Gallimore, who was temporarily commanding the battery, with Lieut. G. Hardy and a party of N.C.O.s and men, made a gallant attempt to extinguish the flames. Unfortunately their efforts were in vain, and there was a tremendous explosion. Poor Gallimore was killed, and also ten others (including all six "Numbers One" of the battery), while Hardy was dangerously wounded, and also five gunner more or less severely. The loss of two such officers and six of the most valuable N.C.O.s was a very serious blow to D/312, but the splendid act of devotion, in which they sacrificed their brave young lives, conferred a lustre not only on their own battery, but on the whole of the Divisional Artillery, and will not soon be forgotten. Hardy, unhappily, died of his wounds on the 28th."
A G J Jenkin - Scout Master - 16th (Westbourne)
Extensive research has been carried out to try and identify "A G J Jenkin". The original record is the 16th Westbourne's own Roll of Honour. A search of Sheffield's Lord Mayor's List and all Sheffield War Memorials have failed to show anything.
The 16th's Roll of Honour has the acronym "BEAR" next to his name.
It is believed that he may have been:
Lance Corporal Arthur George Jenkin
Service Number L/12417
Died 25/04/1915 Aged 26
2nd Battalion,
Royal Fusiliers
Helles Memorial
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Jenkin, of 8, Spondon Rd., Broad Lane, South Tottenham, London.
The Helles Memorial commemorates those killed a Gallipoli. The Gallipoli Association are unable to help with the identification of B.E.A.R - any suggestions would be gratefully received.
E Y Priestman - Scout Master - 16th Westbourne
Extract from the Sheffield Daily Telegraph, February 5th 1919
SHEFFIELD SCOUTMASTER'S GALLANT STAND
A thrilling account has come to hand of a gallant stand made recently at Suvla Bay by a party of the 6th (Service) Battalion
York and Lancaster Regiment, under the command of Second Lieutenant E Y Priestman. This will be of interest locally, as a very large percentage of the recruits for this Battalion were residents of Sheffield and district. Lieutenant Priestman was a Sheffield Scoutmaster.
The account says: "Our trenches ran along the coast, near Jeffson's Post
, and orders had been received for us to workalong the furthermost sap to enable us to gain a portion of higher ground on the left of our sap. In order to do this, it was necessary to leave out trenches at night, run forward with sandbags to the place marked, and dig in as rapidly as possible. On this particular night, Lieutenant Priestman and about 30 NCOs and men were dertailed to make good this position. Leaving the trenches at about 1am, they gained the position without incident, and commenced to dig in as quietly as possible.
"Shortly afterwards the Turks rushed the position.
Lieutenant Priestman did not retire, but opened a rapid fire, which kept the enemy at bay for a while, but coming on again with a combined rus, they decimated the whole of the gallant little band. Lieutenant Priestman fell, fighting till the last, and Regimental Sergeant Warr was also killed whilst taking up a message to him.
"We attacked the position agin in larger force next night, and succeeded in holding it. The bodies of Lieutenant Priestman and several men were discovered, all the wounded having been removed by the enemy.
The captured position was named 'Priestman's Post' by Headquarters, to commemorate the gallantry of this young officer, who was respected by all who knew him."
Captain Harold Steel - Vice President
Whilst Captain (later Major) Harold Steel is listed in the Order of Service for the Sheffield Scouts Roll of Honour Memorial Service which took place in December 1918, extensive research has identified that he did not die in WWI.
Reference to him is on the Tapton Hall Masonic Roll of Honour which names all Sheffield Masons who saw action during WWI. Over 80 are listed with the five that fell identified. His name is not identified. His name is not listed on "Freemasons and Lewis's Roll of Honour" in Sheffield Cathedral either.
The Masonic records
show that he was involved in the War from September 1914 and returned to attend a meeting in March 1919. The listing at "Sheffield Soldiers of The Great War" is incorrect in that it lists all names on the Masonic Roll of Honour as "Killed in Action".
E Watson - Ex-Scout - Troop Unknown
E Watson was listed in the 1919 Sheffield Scouts' Roll of Honour. However, as he is described as an "Ex-Scout", for consistency he is not listed in the Official Roll of Honour.
Rank: Private
Service No: 12798
Died: 18 May 1916
Age: 19
Military Unit: 2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment
Memorial: Essex Farm Cemetery
Further Details: Son of Alice Watson, of 45, Darwen Rd., Hillsborough, Sheffield, and the late Edward Watson