RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: Katharine F on Tuesday 26 May 20 14:41 BST (UK)
-
Hi, I have a Royal Engineer ancestor awarded a medal at Chatham for his fieldwork, Would this be the Haynes medal and what would he actually have done to get it?
Also he invented a noiseless turntable for working underground. For that he was made a corporal. Would this be recorded anywhere?
Hope someone can help,
Thanks
Katharine
-
It was a "best student" award on a recruits course http://www.reubique.com/haynes.htm according to the History of the Royal Engineers.. That said, it appears that the medal was awarded to different categories, I've seen reference to a "best instructor" award, at different times https://beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=249882&subid=1
The RE Museum (when it opens again) would I think be the best place to enquire about the turntable. Is there anything in his record?
MaxD
-
Thank you for your quick reply MaxD,
Just had a look at another bit of information I have on him and it says he was offered a stripe to stay in England as an instructor for a further 5 months but he elected to go to France. It doesn't say instructor in what. He was later made Sergeant and survived to come home from the war.
-
Do you have his name and number?
MaxD
-
Hi Max D,
His name was Edwin Hawkins and his number was 12130. When in France he was with the 254th Tunneling Co. I do have some of his records from the National Archives.
He was my great uncle and one of 6 brothers serving in various regiments. Another brother was awarded the Military Medal. I have a newspaper cutting about the family. All the brothers survived but sadly their mother died in 1918.
Katharine
-
I think you mistyped his number which was 121301.
Only his medal record seems to have survived is it the Tunnelling Company war diaries you have?
MaxD
-
Oh yes, I mis-typed.
I haven't seen the actual war diaries but the information I have I did get from the National Archives, the Military Hospitals and Admissions and Discharge Registers WW1 and from family.
Katharine
-
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/43aec1900b5c4ba8be49efdc1caab87d
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/fc29dc0c81de4530a06d1dbfa7abc220
The above are the war diaries (although much is missing). These can be downloaded for free at the moment, you just have to register. As he was a senior NCO he may well be mentioned by name and may be the turntable will get a mention!
MaxD
-
Thank You MaxD
Katharine