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- 72nd Company, Machine Gun Corps during the Great War -


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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

72nd Company, Machine Gun Corps



   The 72nd Machine Gun Company was formed from the Machine Gun Sections of 72nd Brigade, 24th Division on the 14th of March 1916. In 1916 they suffered in the German gas attack at Wulverghem and then moved to The Somme seeing action in The Battle of Delville Wood and The Battle of Guillemont. In 1917 they were in action at The Battle of Vimy Ridge in the Spring, The Battle of Messines in June and Third Battle of Ypres in October before moving south where they were in action during The Cambrai Operations when the Germans counter attacked. On the 5th of March 1918 they joined with other Machine Gun companies of the Division to become the 24th Machine Gun Battalion.

24th Dec 1917 Reorganisation

21st Jan 1918 Course

5th Feb 1918 Course Ends

13th Feb 1918 Personnel

21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation

5th Mar 1918 Reorganisation

If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.





Want to know more about 72nd Company, Machine Gun Corps?


There are:5236 items tagged 72nd Company, Machine Gun Corps available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.


Those known to have served with

72nd Company, Machine Gun Corps

during the Great War 1914-1918.

  • Allen Arthur Hewitt. Lt.
  • Bowler Edward St.Kentigern. Pte. (d.12th Aug 1916)

All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of 72nd Company, Machine Gun Corps from other sources.


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      World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great battalion regiment artillery
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261864

Pte. Edward St.Kentigern Bowler 72nd Coy. Machine Gun Corps (d.12th Aug 1916)

Edward Bowler was my great-uncle, my grandfather's brother. He died of wounds on 12th of August 1916, aged 22. He was one of 14 children, but he didn't have children of his own. His father was a quartermaster. He had lived in Cork, Ireland, but also in Keswick, England.

Rebecca Morris




1929

Lt. Arthur Hewitt Allen 1st Btn. att 72nd MGC. orth Staffordshire Regiment

Arthur Hewitt Allen was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment on the 23rd of July 1915 and joined the battalion in France. During the Battles of the Somme, he was attached to 72nd Company, Machine Gun Corps and commanded of a section of two Vickers machine guns. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 10th January 1917. He served at Arras in April 1917 and at the Battle of Messines Ridge, which opened with massive Mine explosions which rocked the German defenders. Despite early set backs, the Germans staged a vigorous defence of the ridge and the slopes. As Lieutenant Allen led his Machine Gun Company forward in support of 1st North Stafford’s, they came under heavy artillery & machine gun fire. He located and attacked an enemy machine gun that was mowing the men down. He personally killed and captured the crew, then took command of an infantry company whose Officers had all been hit, and was soon joined by the survivors of the whole Battalion. He was awarded the Military Cross which was Gazetted on the 26th of September 1917. His citation reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry & devotion in leading his company in an attack. He directed an attack on an enemy machine gun , which was holding up our advance, captured the gun and killed or captured the crew. Afterwards believing himself to be the only officer surviving in the attacking companies, he directed their fire on enemy machine guns and snipers, moving from shell hole to shell hole with utter disregard of his own personal danger to satisfy himself that the line was being properly maintained. Later, he was knocked down & severely bruised by a shell, but refused to leave his company and directed the carrying of rations to the front line.”

He later fought in the 3rd Battle of Ypres in the Autumn of 1917. Having suffered effects from his close encounter with the shell at Messines and also possibly being further wounded in action, he returned to ‘Blighty’ in 1918 and served for a period with the Ministry of National Service.

B Allen






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