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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: PENCAN on Monday 26 April 10 23:30 BST (UK)
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Hello all,
I have been trying to find out what happened to my great granddad in WW1. He was in the 2nd Battalion Hampshire Regt. His death certificate states he died at sea on 13th august 1915 and gives the SS Royal Edward as the ship that he was on. My mum [his daughter] had always been told that he had been killed at Gallipoli. The Imperial War Museum have said that it is possible that he was fatally wounded on the Gallipoli peninsular, where the 2nd Btn. The Hampshire Regt were serving in august 1915, perhaps during the Battle of Gulley Ravine on the 6th, and that later he died on a hospital ship on route to somewhere such as Alexandria. Other members of the family have since found out that he was only entitled to a British War Medal and not the Victory Medal as well, that means that he hadn't actually entered the theatre of war. The SS Royal Edward was torpedoed on 13th august 1915 by a German sub and there had been a hospital ship in the area at the time. The troops of the Hampshire Regt onboard the Royal Edward were all reinforcements from the 3rd & 13th Battalions. I'm confused because firstly the 2nd battalion were already out in Gallipoli fighting, and also my great granddads name is on the Helles Memorial. Would his name have been put on it if he hadn't actually landed on the Gallipoli peninsular? Was the SS Royal Edward on it's way to Gallipoli? Could anyone help please, thanks.
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can you post his name....sounds strange to me if he was at gallipoli he would be entitled to more than a Brit War Medal
Just had a google..207 Hampshires were Killed on their way TO Gallipoli from Avonmouth when it was torpedoed...Thats probably why he only got a BWM he never actually got ashore :(
Ady
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Hello mmm45,
It's probably as you suggest, that my great granddad hadn't actually reached Gallipoli, but in that case is he remembered on the Helles Memorial because he died and was lost at sea? His name was Private William John Osborne 15871, 2nd Bn., Hampshire Regt. Thanks for your help.
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Hi,my grandfather`s brother also went down with the Royal Edward, and as he has no known grave and was lost at sea, is remembered on the Helles Memorial.
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Just joined roots chat today specifically to reply to this message, details of which I recently read on google. As a new member I don't believe I can send a private message to PENCAN as yet, but I am hoping you will see this reply message. Private William John Osborne, your grandfather, was my grandfather's elder brother. I have only recently discovered this and it would be helpful to exchange any further information you may have on William, his children, siblings or indeed their parents Philip and Susan Osborne. If you are able to reply by private message that would be great. Thanks in anticipation.
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Hello GRFK,
Sorry, I've been trying to reply to your private email, but I'd forgotten my password and am having trouble contacting you [think I've explained before that me and computers don't always run smoothly!!] If someone could help me it would be much appreciated. It's good to hear from you anyway, and hopefully we can fill in any gaps we both have. What was your granddads name? I can't remember off hand my granddads' family, but will get back to you.
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Hello PENCAN. Thank you for your reply. Perhaps now I have posted two messages (this being the second) I may be able to send you a private message, but I have to work out how to do that on this forum first. Then it may be easier for you to reply. Hopefully we can exchange information and it would probably be better off board as there may be a lot of detail. My grandad was William's brother Ernest. Look forward to hearing from you. I'll try to send the private message later.
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You need 3 posts to be able to PM people....so if you reply to this that will be three!
Milly
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Hello Milly,
Many thanks. I will try to send a PM after this one.
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Hello Steve,
Apologies for not thanking you for your info back in april. I have been having a rest from family genealogy for a while and was surprised to get the latest message from a relative, it has got me interested again!
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You may be interested to know that a case is being put together, to press for all 3 medals for those who died on the Royal Edward, paticularly the 1915 Star. It's been reported this week in the Scottish Herald, Wetern Morning News and the local Portsmouth paper. Many on board who died received all 3 medals, but many more did not. If sufficient public/press and political interest can be generated, this would help a great deal with the case. Would anyone be interested in supporting? The case follows some painstaking research into who died on board and what medals they were awarded.