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236th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery 236th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery The Siege Batteries were deployed behind the front line, tasked with destroying enemy artillery, supply routes, railways and stores. The batteries were equipped with heavy Howitzer guns firing large calibre 6, 8 or 9.2 inch shells in a high trajectory. Announcements Do you have any friends or relatives who are over 95 years old? Please could you ask them if they have any recollections of childhood during The Great War or in the years immediatley after the war? We would like to preserve these memories before it is too late. We are also looking for recollections from the previous generation, please do ask elderly relatives if they recall any tales of life during the Great War told to them by older family members or friends and enter their recollections so that they can be preserved in our archive. Looking for help with Family History Research?      Please read our Family History FAQ's Thanks to everyone who attended our event We are now on Facebook. Like this page to receive our updates, add a comment or ask a question. If you have a general question please post it on our Facebook page. April 2012     Please note we currently have a large backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great Those known to have served with 236th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery during the Great War 1914-1918. Select a story link or scroll down to browse those stories hosted on this site. The 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 get in touch. 1 Sjt Mjr John Errol Tompkins Northumberland Fusiliers I am trying to find information about paternal grandfather John Errol Tompkins. He was born in Cullercoats and became a Sergeant Major. My mother said he was severely injured in WW1 and served in the Northumberland Fusiliers. 2 Pte Frederick John Leadbeater DCM 1/6th Btn. North Staffordshire Regiment I have recently carried out a research on Private Leadbeater's family, he is the father of my brother-in-law. Private 241201 Frederick John Leadbeater served with the 1/6th North Staffordshire Regiment during the First World War in France and on the 29th September 1918 was awarded the D.C.M. I give below the details of his action on the 29th September 1918. 241201 Pte F Leadbeater, 1/6th Bn., North Staffs. Regiment Private Leadbeater was awarded the D.C.M for conspicuous courage and initiative, Near Bellenglise, during the advance over the St. Quentin Canal on the 29th September,1918 he dashed over a footbridge which he found on the canal, and was fired on from behind by an enemy who came out of cover with the obvious intention of destroying the bridge. He at once rushed and killed the enemy and remained on guard on the bridge until others had crossed. His initiative and coolness were most marked throughout the advance. My sister and brother in law have this year been over to France to see exactly where this incident took place and they were very moved when they saw the St Quentin Canal and the various memorials which have be erected in honour of the events of W.W.1. 4 Pte. Joseph Bainton 1st btn Lincolnshire Regt My father served in the Great war with the Lincolnshire Regt. He was Pte J. Bainton 9540 1/Lincs.He was wounded in his arm and leg.The wounds got him home where he recovered in Royal Victoria Boscombe hospital,Bournemouth.He liked Bournemouth so much that after the war Mum & Dad moved here from Scunthorpe. We have a photo of Dad in a basket wheel chair near the beach at Boscombe. The whole family would like to know which battle Dad was wounded.He never spoke of the war at all. 6 Pte. William Henry Ball London Regt. Middlesex Regt. North Staffordshire (d.27th Aug 1918) Pte William Henry Ball from Rugely, enlisted with the North Staffordshire Regiment, he also served with the Middlesex Regiment and the 7th London egiment. He was killed in action on the 27th August 1918 14 Cpl. John Bellringer 1/5th Btn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (d.12th Jul 1915) Corporal John Bellringer. no: 1326. of 'C'Coy. 1st/5th Bn. Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, died on Monday 12th July 1915, aged 23 years. He was the son of Edward & Jane Bellringer of Clune Brae, Port Glasgow, a reserve player for Ayr United. He is commemmorated on the Helles Memorial, panel 183 & 184, on the tip of the Gallipoli Peninsulain Turkey along with 20,000 men who fell in the Dardenelles campaign. 299 Sjt. Joseph Heron 9th Btn. Durham Light Infantry Sjt. Joseph Heron played the clarinet in the band of the 9th Battalion. 271 Alexander Lawrie 3rd Btn. Seaforth Highlanders I would love to find out some information on my Grandfather Alexander Lawrie whom I know served in the 3rd Batt of the Seaforth Highlanders. I know he was there in 1917 as it is stated on his marriage certificate. Can you help? 104 John Miller Durham Light Infantry This is a picture of my Grandfather, John Miller, and some comrades who served with the DLI during WW1. The photograph, I believe, was taken in a POW camp, somewhere in France. 105 Robert Edward Meek Durham Light Infantry I am trying to trace my family tree. I was informed by my father that his father, Robert Edward Meek was in the DLI in the Great War. I have tried to find out to no luck. can anyone help me? I have no other information about him not even his service number. It seems a complete mystery. I believe he was born in Middlesbrough and lived in the South moor, Stanley area. 106 Robert Brown Durham Light Infantry I am seeking information about my uncle, Robert Brown (DLI) who joined up when he was only 14/15yrs old and was taken prisoner arround 1916. His parents were originaly told he had died but later found he was still alive. It led to their seperation. I believe that his return may have featured in the local (Sunderland?) newspapers. 107 Sjt Mjr Joseph Turnbull 3rd Btn. Durham Light Infantry I am trying to find any info about my Grandfather's Service record. He was Joseph Turnbull of the 3rd battalion D.L.I. Prior to WW1, he was serving I believe in Cork, Ireland. He was a sergeant major instructor around 1917. He was wounded in France and I have a copy of his medal card. He had the Victory,British and 14 Star medals. Any help any one? 108 James William Robson 12th Btn. Durham Light Infantry I'm trying to find any imfo on my great granddad James William Robson who I'm told served in the 12th DLI in the first world war his number was 17090. Can anyone give me any information? 109 William Albert Rose 11th Btn. Durham Light Infantry I am researching my grandfathers service within the DLI during WW1 and would love to hear from anyone who may be connected in any way. Details of my grandfather are as follows: Name: William Albert Rose Born: 12 August 1895 Add: Possibly 35 Crossgate, Durham. Served in World War One 1914-1918 Durham Light Infantry. Army number and battalion: 25757 Sgn. 11th Durham L I. Rank: Pte. 11 DLI was a Pioneer battalion raised at Newcastle in September 1914. 406 Capt. J. McNiff Royal Army Medical Corps. Captain McNiff of the RAMC was attached to the 8th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry. 517 Lt. J. A. Stenhouse Royal Army Medical Corps. Lt J A Stenhouse of teh RAMC was attached to the 8th battalion of the Durham Light Infantry. 636 Lt Cmdr. Fraser HMS Doon Lt Cmdr Fraser was the Captain of HMS Doon. On the morning of the 16th of December 1914 whilst on a coastal patrol from Hartlepool, he sighted three enemy ships and lead an attack. Doon suffered a number of hits with the loss of one life and 8 injuries. The ship floundered, the enemy took her to be sinking and turned their fire back to the coast. On board the Doon, repairs were made and she returned to port. 635 Stoker 1st Class James Fraser Hms Doon (d.16th Dec 1914) James Fraser was killed on the 16th of December 1914 aboard HMS Doon when she engaged the enemy during the Bombardment of the Hartlepools. The ship along with Waveney, May and Test had been patroling the coast when the enemy was sighted by Doon's Captain Lt Cdr Fraser and ordered the attack. Doon closed to 5000 yards and was hit several times before she flounded. 8 men were wounded and Stoker Fraser was killed. 633 Able Seaman. Ernest Charles Cummings HMS Patrol Ernest Cummings aged 20, from Brixton in London, lost his life when he was lost overboard from HMS Patrol when she was hit by a shell as she left Victoria Dock Hartlepool to engage the enemy during the Bombardment of the Hartlepools. He is buried in Holy Trinity Church Yard, Seaton Carew. 630 Ldg Seaman. R. W. Hook HMS Patrol (d.16th Dec 1914) Ldg Seaman Hook was killed when an 11inch round struck HMS Patrol was she was leaving Victoria Dock in Hartlepool on the morning of the 16th of December 1914 during the Bombardment of the Hartlepools. HMS Patrol ran aground just outside the mouth of the harbour having been hit again by a 8.2 inch shell from the German ship Bulcher. 628 Acting Bombardier J. J. Hope MM. Durham. Royal Garrison Artillery Acting Bombardier Hope was awarded the Military Medal on the 16th of December 1914 during the Bombardment of the Hartlepools when he was manning the guns at Heugh Battery. 626 Sjt. T. Douthwaite DCM. Durham. Royal Garrison Artillery Sjt Douthwaite was awarded the DCM for his swift action in removing a live cartridge from the Lighthouse gun at Heugh Battery on the 16th of December 1914 during the bombardment of the Hartlepools. The gun had misfired on the fourth shell, one of the leads carrying the electrical charge to fire the cartridge had become detached. The drill was that the cartridge should be left in the barrel for 10 minutes until it cooled. This would mean the gun being out of action. As they were under fire from the German ships. Sjt Douthwaite ordered his men away from the gun emplacement, and at great risk of the cartiridge exploding, withdrew it from teh gun and placed it in a bucket of water. The gun was then switched to percussion firing. 623 Gnr. Robert Spence Durham. Royal Garrison Artillery (d.16th Dec 1914) Gnr. Spence was killed by a German shell at Heugh Battery whilst acting as a stretcher barer along with Gnr Houston, attempting to rescue those men wounded by the first shell of the Bombardment. 622 Gnr. William Houston Durham. Royal Garrison Artillery (d.16th Dec 1914) Gnr. Houston was killed by a German shell at Heugh Battery whilst acting as a stretcher barer along with Gnr Spence, attempting to rescue those men wounded by the first shell of the Bombardment. 619 Gnr. Harry Tyson Durham Royal Garrison Artillery Gunner Tyson was serving at the Heugh Battery on the 16th December 1914 when the Bombardment of the Hartlepools took place. The men were billeted at the Borough Hall and at 7.30 that morning, they marched to the battery singing 'Tipperary'. Each man was issued with 250 rounds of .303 for their Lee Enfield rifles, at this time there was a shortage of webbing so the ammunition had to be carried in the pockets of their Greatcoats. Harry Tyson and Jack Wilkinson were assigned to look out duty and whilst most of their fellow gunners retired to the shelters, they marched back and firth btween the Heugh guns with bayonets fixed. As dawn broke the German raiderswere spotted by the gunners aty South Gare on the southern bank of Teesmouth, and Heugh Battery was alerted by telephone,though at this stage the ships were beleived to be British as they were flying the White Ensign and had responded to the signal. There was a British ship in the area, HMS Doon, whose Captain was aware of the true nationality of the newcommers but was out of range of his guns. He led HMS Moy, Test and Waveney as they closed the range and began firing. At Heugh Captain Trenchman ordered the gun crews to man the guns, Tyson and Wilkinson took up their posts at No. 1 gun as Number 2 and Loading number respectivley. The rangefinder crew took the barings and the guns were laid on the inavders. "Then all of a sudden the three ships gave us a broadside and Captain Trenchmann called 'Action'" The first of the shells began to fall and the men at the Maxin machine gun post were wounded. Shells also fell on the houses behind the Battery. The elctrical firing mechanism of No 1 Gun failed after firing two shots and it too several minutes to change to percussio firing whilst No 2 gun continued to get off 30 rounds. The German fire was very accurate, the shells hitting the concrete and bouncing over the Battery to explode on the houses and in the field behind. One shell landed next to the doors of teh ammunition locker but fortunatley did not explode. Teh German ships continued to fire on the Battery and the town for about 15 minutes before repossitioning and aiming at the docks and West Hartlepool. The ceasefire was ordered at 8.53, after 38 minutes in action, as the German ships retreated into the mist. Gunner Tyson noted in Ward's book "Dawn raid" "I would like to say a word of praise to our cooks, Billy Sanderson and Arthur Hall. They must have been making tea all the time we were in action. As soon as we stopped firing out came buckets of hot tea." Later that afternoon a group photograph of the gunners was taken 617 Capt. Oscar Trenchmann Durham. Royal Garrison Artillery Capt Trenchman was the Battery Commader at Heugh Battery during the Bombardment of the Hartlepools on the 16th December 1914. He left the battery in 1915 with many of the gunners who had served with him, to join 41st Seige Battery RGA in France, returning to Hartlepool to become fire commander in 1918. His brother Richard also served at Heugh Battery. 615 Pte. G. J. Wandless 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry Pte Wandless was wounded during the Bombardment whilst serving at Heugh Battery on the 16th of December 1914. 613 L/Cpl. Henry Arthur Scott Durham Light Infantry Lance Corporal Scott was one of those wounded at Heugh Battery during the Bombardment on the 16th December 1914. 612 Pte. Thomas Rutherford 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry Pte Rutherford was wounded on the 16th of December 1914 whilst serving at the Heugh Battery during the Bombardment. 611 Pte. Walter Rogers 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.16th Dec 1914) Pte Rogers was killed during the Bombardment of the Hartlepools whilst serving at Heugh Battery on the 16th of December 1914. He was 25 years old. 609 Lt. G. K. Raine 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.2nd Jul 1916) Lt Raine was killed on the 2nd of July 1916 he was 19 years old. Next Page    Last Page

Recomended Reading. Available at discounted prices.

Dawn Raid: Bombardment of the Hartlepools J M Ward An excellent account of the naval bombardment on the 16th of December 1914. More information on: Dawn Raid: Bombardment of the Hartlepools

Guns of the Northeast: Coastal Defences from the Tyne to the Humber Joe Foster A detailed study of the coastal defences of North East England, including accounts of the bombardment of the East coast in 1914, with many excellent photgraphs and diagrams. More information on: Guns of the Northeast: Coastal Defences from the Tyne to the Humber

Bombardment: The Day the East Coast Bled Mark Marsay A well researched book with many personal accounts of the events of the 16th of December 1914 More information on: Bombardment: The Day the East Coast Bled

Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did your relative live through the Great War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? If so please let us know. Do you know the location of a Great War "Roll of Honour?" We are very keen to track down these often forgotten documents and obtain photographs and transcriptions of the names recorded so that they will be available for all to remember. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Great War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.

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