HI, I'm new to this and it may not be the right forum BUT my grandfather was transferred after Galipolli from the Heavy Machine gun corps into the 1st RTR for the battle of the Somme. He was a mechanic [aged 17] in the tanks. I am looking a writing a book centred around this. I would like to know: where to find crew records; how many crew were in a tank [10?]and their positions; where did the tank commander fit - inside or above as more recently; and what was the purpose of the wheels as he was sniped while attending to them - so what would be a likely reason for them needing attention? I read that one had them shot off and withdrew - were they crucial? What was the reason that suddenly the grenade covers became urgent? I figure that with only 50 tanks in heatre and only 32 going forward - rapidly depleted by mechanical failure - info could be around. Thanks
presumably Arthur Thomas Slocombe as there is no other Slocombe listed for the Tanks. His number is shown as 70133 and his pension record exists on Ancestry (although it is not complete and is also mixed up with another Slocombe - Charles herny)
He enlisted at Greenwich in November 1915 into the Army Cycle Corps; he deployed to France (possibly with the 11th Division Cycle Company) and received gun shot wounds on 5th August 1916, He later transfered to the HB of the MGC on 18 November 1916. He appears to have joined E Bn on its formation; this probably means he had to return to the UK as a result of his wounds in August. Sadly there is no evidence to show he was at the first tank actions
Hi, you have found the correct record; the family history is fuzzy but there is talk of him enlisting in the Navy [we have a Merchant marine and Royal Marine background] but having his eye damaged by the lace of a boxing glove and so not meeting the required physical presumably re enlisted.
The story of dumping [fold up] bicycles over the side as the company approached Gallipoli - understandably - so that ties in with being part of the bicycle corps but it sounds as though that is hearsay regimental rather than personal history. [Did they deploy there - the evacuation was in December 1915?] I know that he was a Lewis gunner and later a mechanic which he was training to be[or later became, having been in tanks] with the Gas company in London in 1914. He stayed with them until retiring in 1963 when he visited us for 6 months [I was only 10] and I didn't see him again until I travelled to the UK in 1976 for a couple of months and that was the only physical contact.
He suffered a gunshot wound thru his arm which is probably the one you mention; then shrapnel wounds to his wrist and was later shot thru his chest and was the first to survive a new operation of having his lung flooded -presumably to cleanse it. Apparently his mother couldn't recognise him at this time and he was only 17. Is there any evidence of when/how this happened?
It was said that this happened dealing with mechanical problem with the tank and took him out of the war.
He also suffered deafness as a result of his time in them. I know that is wounds troubled him all his life [ his "bally wrist"] which was about 65 years longer than was expected in 1916.
It sounds as though he may have been in the reinforcements once tank production increased. I never got to talk to him about this and so it came down thru my father. I'll need to find some money to put aside to approach the archives for his records.
I looked at your website and will go thru the info more thoroughly. Judging by the medals won there were safer places to be. The attrition rates seems quite high.
Thanks, I'll use your site forum for further contact. Kent
