CORRESPONDENCE.
The Ypres Times.
165
BARS TO WAR MEDALS.
10, Gordon Place,
Ellon, Aberdeenshire.
January 16th, 1925.
To the Editor of The Ypres Times.
Dear Sir,In The Ypres Times of April,
1924, it was stated that the War Office has
already decided to do this (i.e. issue bars to the
British War Medal). That announcement gave
me great pleasure, but, so far, I have never heard
anything more about this issue of bars. Can you
tell me if the War Office has really decided to issue
bars or if the matter is only under (protracted)
consideration Personally, I regret very much
that bars for actions are not to be issued, but I
can well understand that to issue these with
fairness would be an almost impossible task. Still
I shall never cease to regret that some way of
issuing these action bars could not be found.
I am, Yours sincerely,
J. S. White.
[We understand that the question of bars is
still under consideration. No decision of any sort
has yet been come to, so that our correspondent
may yet have his wish. In a.ny case the difficulties
and the expense are both very great.Ed., Y.T.]
FIRST TERRITORIALS IN ACTION.
Kenton Post Office,
Newcastle-on-Tyne.
January 2nd, 1925.
To the Editor of The Ypres Times.
Sir,I notice that in quoting from The Times
in your issue of January, 1925, you still perpetuate
the old story that the London Scottish and the
Oxfordshire Hussars were the first Territorials in
action. This has been corrected dozens of times
since 1914.
When the War broke out in 1914 the Northum
berland Hussars were the only Imperial Service
Yeomanry in the Kingdom. On the 6th October
they landed at Bruges as Divisional Cavalry to the
7th Division, and were in action on the 12th, and
on several other occasions before any other
Territorials. Yours faithfully,
W. J* HaningTON,
ex-S.S.M. 12th R. Lancers.
R.S.S.M. Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry.
M.G.C.
56, Park Lane, Norwich.
To the Editor of The Ypres Times.
Dear Sir,Having purchased a copy of Mr.
Russell's book. With the Machine Gun Corps, I
should like to give my opinion of the same. I was
in the M.G.C. nearly three years, joining in April,
1916, and being demobilised in March, 1919, so
can truly say that I know a little bit about their
work during the War. I have read the book right
through and found it packed full of interest to
all old Emma G." men. In fact I stayed up
late one night to finish reading it as I couldn't
leave off. It gives a clear insight into the work
performed by the M.G.C., and also does away
with that old fallacy that the M G.C. had a
cushy time, as lots of people thought. It was
a dangerous job and also a very responsible one,
especially when doing barrage fire for an infantry
attack. I am, Yours sincerely,
A. Mickeeburgh,
(late 42141 L.-Cpl., M.G.C., 113 Coy.
OLD COMRADES.
205 E La Platte,
Butte, Mont., U.S.A.
February 16th, 1925.
To the Editor of The Ypres Times.
Sir,Will you kindly send me particulars of
the Ypres League as published weekly in News of
the World, as I should very much like, as one who
served in the Salient, to join if it is open to ex-
Service men non-resident in England. I was with
12th Siege Battery, R.G.A., at Voormeezeele and
at Zillebeke. Possibly others of my old battery
are amongst your numbers so it may be a means
whereby I could get in touch with some of my old
pals.
My regimental rank and number were75548
Sig. W. R. Norman. Sincerely,
Wieeiam R. Norman.
22, Carlton Vale,
Maida Vale, Middlesex.
December 14th, 1924.
To the Editor of The Ypres Times.
Dear Sir,I should be glad to hear from any
men who were in the 17th Corps Heavy Trench
Mortar Battery, as I should like to correspond
with them. Thanking you in anticipation.
Yours very truly, S. Chapman.
Mrs. Thompson (Holkham Hall, Wells,
Norfolk) would be grateful for any information of
Pte. Harry Vass, Northumberland Fusiliers, killed
between Fleurs and Le Sars, November 7th, 1926.
His numbers were 6148, 7th N.F.'s, late 5374,
5th N.F.'s. The numbers on the official notice of
his death were 6057, late 5394. All that was known
of him at the time was that he was called to go
and help the stretcher bearers of the 9th Durhams.
Mrs. Doyle, Ternsallagh, Ferns, Co. Wexford,
would be grateful to receive any information
concerning her son, No. 3965 Pte. Patrick Doyle,
2nd Bn. Royal Irish Regiment, reported missing
August, 1914.
Carisbrooke," Westbury Drive,
Brentwood, Essex.
December 7th, 1924.
To the Editor of The Ypres Times.
Dear Sir,I wonder if any member of The
Ypres League could provide the following
information
The calibre of the guns of the 104th Siege
Battery, R.G.A., which was in the vicinity of
Belgian Battery Corner on July 31st, 1917, and
any information as to the subsequent itinerary
and experiences of the unit.
Yours faithfully,
E. Grahame Stone, Captain.
