Trench Lincs 29th March 2026

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Good Morning,

Welcome to this week’s edition of Trench Lincs. I am safely returned from Tallinn, and you can read my initial thoughts about Tallinn below.

It is good to be popular and I came home to over 40 emails sitting in the Trench Lincs inbox. I think I have replied to everyone, even if they are just holding emails, so please bear with me whilst I catch up.

Ray Sellers wrote a very kind note to me, he commented; ‘Many thanks, as usual for including my input last Sunday. Your write up on The German Spring Offensive is superb! [Thank you Ray – Ed]. I too have visited most of the Churches you mentioned, when open of course, on your recent route to Bourne. So much history and heritage on our very doorsteps. It beggars belief, however, about the unscrupulous individuals who are scrapping war medals for their silver content. They should be hung for treason. Enjoy Tallinn, and I hope you made it to some of the places I recommended?’

Your recommendations were excellent Ray. Thank you.

Jo Stacey was also incensed about the scrapping of medals and makes a number of good points, she writes; 'Just a thought about war medals and the current action of melting them down, due to the high price of precious metals. What a sad thought, there is surely only one reason these medals are precious? I don't even like to see them in antique shops, as it makes me think about the fact they have been separated from their family and descendents... just a sentimental view, I know! [But a very valid one - Ed]

My great grandfather John Pont's medals were buried with him, in the early 60s. Although the family sadly did not have the funds to give him a headstone, I wonder if they struggled with the thought of selling the medals to buy a stone? Would they have had much value at this time? [Sadly not - Ed]

I do hope this trend of medal melting can be stopped, it would, as you say, be a disaster for them to be lost.

Another superb read this week, and a great meeting in Spalding, listening to John Chester's Honour and Tradition.' [Thank you for your kind words Jo - Ed]

Bill Pinfold was also quick off the mark with a family connection to my recent visit to Londonthorpe.

Bill notes; ‘Another excellent edition of TL, thank you.

I am pleased to see that you managed to get in to see the memorial in Londonthorpe Church. The door has always been locked when I have tried to visit in the past, so alas I have yet to see first-hand my great uncle's name on the memorial.

William Harby died at Gavrelle on the 3rd May 1917, his story is told at this link https://www.bottesfordhistory.org.uk/content/people/village-families/lincolnshire-harbys-in-bottesford-and-muston/ernie-nellie-pinfold-relatives-lost-great-war

Hope you have had a great time in Estonia?’

We did indeed have a good time in the very historic city of Tallinn. I can recommend a visit. If you do go, download the Tallinn App on your phone and buy a Tallinn card. It cost €76 for a 72-hour pass and gives you ‘free’ entry to all of the museums, free travel on all public transport and 10% discount in many shops and restaurants.

We visited many museums, churches, bars, cafés and restaurants, as well as using the bus service to ride out of town to the Soviet era TV Tower and to one of Tallinn’s beaches. At a quick count up, we would have spent well over €150 in museum entry fees alone, so the card is a must have.

The café on the 22nd floor of this 1980 built tower has stunning views over the surrounding area and back towards the city. Next door to the tower is the nation’s Botanical Gardens and so you can visit both sites with a 30 - minute journey on the number 34 bus, and both attractions are ‘free’ with the Tallinn card. What’s not to like?

The glass house at the Botanical Gardens.

You will find more about the 20th century military history of Estonia below.

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FORTHCOMING EVENTS.

Next event - Lincoln & North Lincolnshire Branch, WFA - Monday, April 27th 2026 - Doors open 7.00pm for 7.30pm start - Royal Naval Association Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG.

April 27th - Brian Riley presents "The Shimmering Blue; Lincolnshire Aviation in World War One".

More details to follow.

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Next Meeting - Spalding & South Lincolnshire Branch, WFA – Thursday 23rd April, 2026 - Doors open 7.00pm for 7.30 pm start - Spalding Baptist Church, Swan Street, Spalding, PE11 1BT.

April 23rd - Chris Finn presents "Aviation in the Dardanelles and Gallipoli Campaigns".

In this evening's talk, Chris will examine how the British, French and Turkish forces' developed their application of airpower in a complex campaign, fought in a hostile environment, and with meagre resources when compared to the Western Front.  He will be discussing not only the technology and tactics, but also the environment, enemy and command personalities and cultures in a talk which first saw the light of day when Chris presented a brief introduction to air power at Gallipoli as a "stand" during the highly successful Lincoln Branch battlefield tour of Gallipoli in 2022 led by our good friend Dudley Giles. 

The aircraft available were very early machines such as the Wight Pusher, Short 135 and Sopwith 807 floatplanes along with BE2c, Maurice Farman and Breguet B2 landplanes which were flown with great skill by characters such as Commander Charles Rumney Samson RN, Commodore Roger Keys RN and Wing Captain Frederick Sykes RNAS who did a remarkable job of undertaking photographic reconnaissance flights over Gallipoli.  The Turks were flying even more primitive types; witness Flt Lt Cemal Bey flying a Bleriot XI-2 during the campaign! [See my note about the Short sea plane below – Ed]

Christopher Finn joined the RAF in 1972 as a navigator. He flew predominantly the Buccaneer and was an electronic warfare, weapons and tactics specialist.  During Operation GRANBY he was, as a newly promoted Wing Cdr, the UK’s “SO1 Bucc” in the Coalition Air HQ in Riyadh.  His final flying tour was as the Officer Commanding the Navigator and Airman Aircrew School.  A graduate of the Joint Services’ Defence College he gained an MPhil in International Relations at Cambridge University in 1999 and went on to be the Director of Defence Studies (RAF).  From his retirement in 2005 to 2015 he was a Senior Lecturer in Air Power Studies at the RAF College Cranwell.  Chris is an Accredited Battlefield Guide, specialising in airpower and combined operations.  He lectures extensively on RAF and airpower history, but can turn his hand to most military history subjects, and is also a volunteer guide at the BBMF and both a guide and lecturer for the CWGC.

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The East Midlands (Nottingham) WFA branch will hold their next speaker event on Friday 10th April 2026 at 7.30pm. The branch meets at St. Peter’s Church Hall, Church Street, Ruddington, NG11 6HA.

The speaker on this night is Phil Drabble, and his talk is – “Travels With A Tiger – The Western Front.”

I assume this is regarding a man in the Leicestershire Regiment.

Everyone welcome.

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The Leadenham Military History Group’s next meeting will be on Tuesday 28th April at 7.30pm at Leadenham village hall.

James Handley presents – “Storm Over Yorkshire - The battle of Marston Moor in 1644.”

James will also bring some weapons and armour by way of illustration.

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The Friends of the Lincoln Tank Group continue their 2026 season in April. The venue, as usual, will be the Royal Naval Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG with a 7.30pm start. Entry is £5, and everyone is welcome.

Thursday April 30th -  Jo Costin will talk about “The Cambridge Kitcheners”

A look at the men of Cambridgeshire who volunteered for the New Army following Lord Kitchener’s famous recruiting campaign.

The Royal Naval Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln. Doors will open at 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start. An entry charge of £5 is payable on the door. Refreshments will be available at the bar and we will have our usual raffle. There is ample car parking available on site.

Don't forget, you do not have to be a member of FoLT to attend. Everyone, old, young, male, female will be welcomed. Just pop down on the night. I do hope you can make it and I will see you on the night.

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A third group who meet at the Royal Naval Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG, is the Lincolnshire Aviation Society. The next meeting of LAS will be held on Thursday 16th April 2026 with a start time of 7.30pm.

The speaker on this occasion is John Steel, who will speak about ‘Bristol Fighters – Built by Marshalls of Gainsborough.’

Guests always welcome - £3.00 entry for none LAS Members.

Bristol F2B

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The Peterborough Military History Group meets at the Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery in Priestgate, Peterborough, PE1 1LF, on the second Wednesday of every month, 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

Everyone welcome, especially new faces.

April 8th Andy Stuart

'Tales from the Great War.' The story of Arthur Walton, my grandad.

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Steve Williams has recently been at the Royal Fusiliers museum at the Tower of London where he came across the medal set, including a Victoria Cross, that was awarded posthumously to Lieutenant Maurice James Dease.

There were five VC’s awarded for the fighting at Mons on 23rd August 1914, and arguably, Dease’s award is the first of the Great War.

Dease and his company were defending the Nimy Bridge across the Mons-Conde canal and had set up one of the battalion’s machine guns. The enemy fire was intense and Dease received several gun- shot wounds during the course of the action. Despite losing virtually all of his team of men, he gallantly stayed at his post until he died of his wounds.

Private Sidney Godley, took over firing the machine gun and held the Germans up for another two hours until he was overwhelmed, wounded and taken prisoner. Godley too received the Victoria Cross and survived as a POW until the end of the war.

Dease’s Victoria Cross citation records: “On 23rd August 1914 at Mons, Belgium, Nimy Bridge was being defended by a single company of Royal Fusiliers and a machine gun section with Lieutenant Dease in command.  The gunfire was intense, and the casualties were heavy, but the Lieutenant went on firing in spite of his wounds, until he was hit for the 5th time and was carried away to a place of safety where he died.  A private (S F Godley) of the same Battalion who had been assisting the Lieutenant while he was still able to operate the guns, took over, and alone he used the gun to such a good effect that he covered the retreat of his comrades.” 

Maurice Dease lies in St. Symphorien cemetery in Belgium. There is a plaque commemorating him and his bravery at the Nimy Bridge and a plaque in Westminster Cathedral, together with a memorial to him at his old school, Wimbledon College.

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Starting with the tale of a Victoria Cross, allows me to bring you news of Lord Ashcroft’s collection of George and Victoria Crosses.

You will recall that before Christmas, I reported that the Imperial War Museum had decided not to renew their 15-year agreement with Lord Ashcroft to display his collection, despite Lord Ashcroft having personally funded the erection of the hall in which they are displayed.

This caused Lord Ashcroft considerable angst and there was even talk of his collection going overseas, with Canada mentioned. However, I am very pleased to report that Lord Ashcroft has reached an agreement with the National Army Museum in Chelsea, and it is expected that the collection will be fully on display at some point in the next two years.

The statement from the NAM reads as follows: “Lord Ashcroft's collection of Victoria Crosses and George Crosses is to have a new home at the National Army Museum in London. 

The collection is the largest of its kind in the world. It has been built up by Lord Ashcroft over the past 40 years and includes nearly 250 VCs and a smaller number of GCs. It was previously housed at the Imperial War Museum, London, which closed the Lord Ashcroft Gallery in September last year after 15 years.

Lord Ashcroft spoke today of his delight at the news:

'I am thrilled to have found such a superb location for this unique collection of gallantry medals. I am so pleased that these VCs and GCs, spanning many major wars and conflicts of the past two centuries, will now be enjoyed by the public once again. The National Army Museum shares my passion for the decorations themselves and also to tell the incredible stories of bravery that go with them. I look forward to a long and happy partnership with the Museum for many years to come.'

Justin Maciejewski, the Director of the National Army Museum, said:

'We are honoured to be entrusted with these VCs and GCs from the Lord Ashcroft Medal Collection. We are grateful to Lord Ashcroft for his continued generosity and commitment in championing these stories of extraordinary courage. The National Army Museum shares the history and heritage of our soldiers across the globe and down the centuries. Within that wider narrative, these medals, and the individual acts of extraordinary bravery and valour they represent, form a powerful part of the Army’s story.'

Chris Finney GC, a Council Member of the National Army Museum and the Chairman of the VC and GC Association, said: 

'This rare and expansive collection spans centuries of military service, sacrifice, and extraordinary bravery across the Armed Forces. We are privileged to be given the opportunity to share these medals, and the inspiring personal stories they represent, with visitors, and online for the wider public, where they can continue to inspire people of all ages for generations to come.'

Lord Ashcroft began his collection of VCs in 1986 with the purchase of a single medal group at auction. The VC, instituted by Queen Victoria in 1856, is Britain and the Commonwealth’s most prestigious decoration for valour in the presence of the enemy. The GC, created by George VI in 1940, is Britain and the Commonwealth’s most prestigious decoration for gallantry not in the presence of the enemy and it has been awarded to several civilians for acts of valour.

Lord Ashcroft’s VCs and GCs are part of the wider Lord Ashcroft Medal Collection, which includes Special Forces decorations and medals for valour in the skies and at sea. Lord Ashcroft’s long passion for gallantry awards was initially inspired by his late father, Eric, who as a young officer took part in the D-Day Landings on 6 June 1944. 

Lord Ashcroft’s collection of VCs includes one of just three VCs and Bars – the equivalent of two VCs – that have been awarded over the past 170 years. This is the medal group awarded to Captain Noel Chavasse VC & Bar, MC, a medical officer who served and was killed during the Great War.

Following the closure of the previous gallery, Lord Ashcroft has made his collection accessible digitally through his website. This new partnership with the National Army Museum will allow the public to visit the collection and be inspired by the remarkable stories they represent.

The VC and GC collection will go on display at the National Army Museum within the next two years. In the meantime, from July onwards some of Lord Ashcroft’s medals will go on display at the museum, including pop-up exhibitions.

As the home of the Army’s history and heritage, the National Army Museum will be displaying items from the Lord Ashcroft Medal Collection alongside its existing collections of objects, archives and artworks, telling the stories of soldiers and their service – including the origins of the Victoria Cross in the Crimean War.

Lord Ashcroft’s VCs and GCs will be shared on a long-term loan with the National Army Museum. Alongside their display, the Museum is planning a programme of exhibitions, educational resources, talks, tours and digital content exploring the human stories of courage behind the decorations.

Further details of the new partnership between Lord Ashcroft and the National Army Museum relating to the display of his VC and GC collection will be released over the coming months.

The NAM.

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Another reader who has been on his travels is Mark Graham, who was in Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day.

Whilst in the vicinity of the Curragh, home of the infamous incident in the run up to the Great War, where Unionist army officers made it clear that they would resign their commissions rather than have to inflict Home Rule on the Unionist population, Mark visited the nearby St. Brigid’s cathedral.

Here he found four Commonwealth War Graves, not surprisingly, all four were cavalrymen, given that the Curragh was the cavalry’s home base at the time. Two of the men served in the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry, a Territorial regiment that is little written about or spoken of in 2026.

Formed in 1803 as the Montgomeryshire Imperial Yeomanry, the regiment was disbanded, but formed four squadrons for service in the Boer War, before being re-formed as the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry in the creation of the 1908 Territorial Force.

The regiment’s HQ was at Welshpool with four squadrons based as follows:

A Squadron: Llanfyllin (and drill stations at Meifod, Llanrhaiadr, Llanfihangel, Llangewyn, Trefonen, Llanfair and Llansiantffraid)

B Squadron: Welshpool (Guilsfield, Castle Ceireinion, Four Crosses, Chirbury, Berriew, Trewern and Forden)

C Squadron: Newtown (Church Stoke, Caersws, New Mills, Llanbrynmair, Montgomery, Trefeglwys, Bettws, Cemmaes Road, Dolfor and Llangurig)

D Squadron: Llandrindod Wells (LLanidloes, Builth Wells, Rhayader, Llanbister, Knighton and Hay on Wye).

The First Line Regiment, numbered the 1st/1st Montgomeryshire Yeomanry (MY), was stationed on coastal defence duties in Norfolk at the outbreak of war, before shipping overseas to Egypt in March 1916.

The Second Line Regiment, the 2nd/1st MY, stayed in the UK as a training regiment and did not see overseas service.

In June 1915, a Third Line training unit was formed and titled the 3rd/1st MY. These men went to Ireland and were based at the Curragh, Kildare and at Marlborough Barracks, Dublin, where they participated in the fighting against the Irish nationalist uprising of Easter 1916. It is from this unit that two men died and are buried in St. Brigid’s churchyard.

Here is a selection of Mark’s photos.

St. Brigid's cathedral.

Private Walker, Montgomeryshire Yeomanry.

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My youngest son, Will, spotted a new memorial recently that stands in the Nottingham suburb of Gedling, so being well trained! He stopped and took a snap which he sent to me.

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I didn’t expect my recent book review about Lt. John Glubb’s diaries as a young man on the Western Front to be of such interest.

When I first mentioned this book, I noted that Glubb named a lot of his comrades in the 7th Field Company, Royal Engineers and I mentioned that it would be a good project to research some of the names mentioned. When I wrote those words, I had no idea that David Moore has already done a lot of the work and often uses Glubb’s diaries as the basis for his tours to France and Flanders.

A couple of examples that David has provided are laid out below.

David writes; ‘Another man I tried to find, mentioned on page 71, is Sgt (29566 George R) Collings, wounded in stomach.

The next couple are Chaplin and Penson (along with 7 other sappers killed on 22nd April near Wancourt).

They are now either buried (4) or commemorated (5) at London Cemetery near Neuville Vitasse. Memorial panel No1. See photos below.

I have the original burials plotted, it is on the site of the old mill near Neuville Vitasse.

2nd Lt. Roland Edward Ernest Chaplin has info and photo here:

https://www.winchestercollegeatwar.com/RollofHonour.aspx?RecID=600&TableName=ta_wwifactfile 

Sapper 65092 Charles Robert Penson.

Penson was a Lincoln lad and then Bingham and West Bridgford, so covers both our patches when it comes to remembering the fallen.

The reason I followed their route was mainly due to his Nottinghamshire connection in this book. All his info can be found here.

World War I  Bingham Heritage web site.’

David continues; ‘On Page 168 Glubb mentions Major George Bremner DSO MC former commander now with 80th RE. Subsequently killed on 23/3/1918.

Buried in Chauny Communal Cemetery British Extension, Aisne. Age 25.

You’ll find his story here.  https://www.greatwardundee.com/entry/bremner-george/

2nd Lt. Charles Wm Stephen Littlewood MC, often mentioned affectionately as ‘fat boy’ by Glubb,

was killed on 10 July 1917.

A story worth telling and such a young man, aged just 19. 

If you have the book Arras, by Peter Barton you’ll find a good detailed story about his exploits at Wancourt Tower.’

David sent me this biography of Littlewood from the Downside Archives, his old school.

‘Second Lieutenant Charles William Stephen Littlewood MC Royal Engineers.

Only son of Mr. W. Littlewood, of Cairo, Egypt, was born in 1897, came to Downside in January 1910, and left in July 1915.

He was a fine type of English boy, straightforward, fearless, and self-restrained. Though naturally of a quiet and unassuming disposition, his all-round ability and the strength and charm of his character secured for him a prominent position in the school. After taking part with success in various Junior teams, he became a member of the Football Fifteen in 1914 and played for his House (Caverel) at cricket, football, and hockey. He was also successful at tennis, boxing, and aquatic sports, and won the High Jump in the House Sports Competition in 1915.

During his last year at Downside, he was a sergeant in the O.T.C., a School Prefect and Head of his House. He was also on the committees of the Petre Library and the Scientific Society.

He passed the Higher Certificate in 1913 and 1914, and in July 1915, he gained the thirty-second place in the Entrance Exam into Woolwich. On passing out from the R.M.A., he was gazetted Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers in February, 1916, and in the following October went to the Western Front, where he saw a good deal of fighting and was regarded as a very capable and successful officer.

In April 1917, he was awarded the Military Cross.

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He carried out the strengthening

of a brick bridge under hostile barrage. His coolness and example enabled the work to be completed without cessation, despite casualties."

On the night of July 10 1917, whilst engaged in military operations, he was hit in the head and killed instantaneously by a fragment of a field gun shell which burst just in front of him.

 The circumstances are thus described by an officer in the same Field Company. [From Glubb’s book – Ed]

“…On the night of his death he was in charge of two bridges being made across some of our trenches, about half a mile apart between the front line and the reserve line.

There was a good deal of desultory firing with field guns and trench mortars that night, but in spite of this, he insisted on walking about in the open from one job to another quite alone.

He had just left one job and was going over to the other when he must have been hit directly by a shell in the head… He had shown a fine example to the men that night by his utter disregard of danger, as they were working on top and were in a condition to need every encouragement.”

Memorial Panel at Wancourt Cemetery.

Sapper Gladwell is mentioned in Glubb's book.

This is just a small example of the work that David has done tracing the stories of the men who appear across the pages of Glubb’s book. If you enjoy this sort of work, it really is amazing as to what can be uncovered. It is so important that we do not forget these men.

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

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Walking to meet my old mate, Marcus Dunbar, in Lincoln recently, I noticed that the ancient church of St. Mary Magdalene next to the White Hart Hotel was open for visitors. I am told that the origins of this church pre-date the cathedral and having never been in before, I stopped for a quick look.

I found two war memorials inside the church. The first is a wooden board with folding doors, commemorating three parishoners who worshipped at the church and who fell in the Great War.

There was also a stone tablet engraved with many more names of men who died in the 1914-18 conflict, and when I enquired about this memorial, I was told that it had been placed in St. Mary Magdalene, after a nearby church was closed – although the chap didn’t know the name of the church. Perhaps an old Lincolnian will know? Please let me know.

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Last week I wrote about the German Spring Offensive that started on March 21st 1918, but another significant event of March, but this time 1917, was the fall of Baghdad, when British and Indian troops under the command of General Maude, avenged the defeat at Kut and captured Baghdad.

British forces captured Baghdad during the Mesopotamian campaign of the First World War, marking a significant turning point in the struggle against the Ottoman Empire. After earlier setbacks, including the humiliating surrender at Kut in 1916, the British reorganized their strategy under General Sir Frederick Maude. With better planning, improved supply lines, and stronger troop coordination, they advanced steadily up the Tigris River toward Baghdad.

The campaign was methodical and cautious, reflecting lessons learned from earlier failures. British and Indian troops recaptured Kut in February 1917 before continuing their push northward. Ottoman forces, weakened by prior engagements and logistical difficulties, were unable to mount an effective defence. As British forces approached Baghdad, the Ottomans withdrew rather than risk encirclement.

On March 11th, 1917, British troops entered Baghdad with relatively little resistance. The capture of the city was both strategically and symbolically important. Baghdad was a key administrative and cultural centre of the Ottoman Empire in the region, and its loss dealt a blow to Ottoman prestige. For the British, it secured control over much of Mesopotamia and helped protect vital oil interests in the Persian Gulf.

General Maude issued a proclamation emphasising that British forces came not as conquerors but as liberators, attempting to win local support. However, despite initial British rule, they would later face resistance and contribute to long-term political tensions in the region. The capture of Baghdad thus stands as a pivotal moment with lasting consequences beyond the war itself.

Indian Troops enter Baghdad.

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I return now to Tallinn, capital of Estonia. A much troubled and defiant country during the 20th century which has now enjoyed 35 years of peaceful independence since 1991, and the break-up of the Soviet Union.

Since 1900, Estonia’s history has been shaped by war, occupation, and the struggle for independence. At the start of the 20th century, Estonia was part of the Russian Czarist Empire. Growing national awareness led to demands for autonomy, especially during the upheavals of the 1905 Revolution.

After World War I and the collapse of the Russian Empire, Estonia declared independence in 1918. [Hands up if you thought WWI ended in November 1918! – Ed] This was followed by the Estonian War of Independence (1918–1920), in which Estonian forces secured sovereignty against Soviet Bolshevism, backed by British Naval assistance and military aid, including tanks. The interwar period saw the establishment of a democratic republic, though political instability eventually led to an authoritarian regime in the 1930s.

On Ray Seller's recommendation, I visited the church of the Holy Spirit where I found a number of British Naval Memorials hanging on the wall.

In 1940, Estonia was occupied and annexed by the Soviet Union under the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. This was followed by Nazi German occupation from 1941 to 1944, and then a return to Soviet control. The Soviet era brought repression, deportations, the KGB, and forced collectivisation, but also industrialisation and urban growth.

In the late 1980s, as the Soviet Union weakened, Estonia led a peaceful movement for independence known as the “Singing Revolution.” In 1991, Estonia restored its independence.

I found strong pro-Ukrainian support in Estonia and witnessed a substantial demonstration against the Russians, although I also came across a street memorial to Boris Yeltsin, and his help as the first president of post-Soviet Russia in securing Estonian independence.

There's no love for the Russians in Estonia.

Plaque to Boris Yeltsin who paved the way for Estonian independence.

Since then, Estonia has rapidly transformed into a modern democratic state. It joined the European Union and NATO in 2004 and has become known for its advanced digital society, strong economy, and commitment to democratic values. Today, Estonia is recognized as one of the most technologically innovative and forward-looking countries in Europe, but it is always conscious of its geographical relationship with Russia.

The Estonian story is well told, as is their desire for independent freedom, in several of the splendid museums on offer. You will find a Freedom Museum, two Maritime Museums, an Estonian History Museum and a War Museum all available to visit. Unfortunately, I did not visit the war museum as it was shut on Mondays and Tuesdays at this time of year.

However, the history museum and a small private war museum (entry €7) both told the stories of the first and second world wars and the war of independence against the Red Army. It was in this small museum, that the proprietor showed me a collection of photos of British tanks in 1919, and allowed me to photograph his photos.

Maybe, the experts from FoLT can add some more information on these machines?

French Renault FT 17 Tanks.

In the Seaplane and Maritime museum on the sea front, I came across reference to Estonia buying Short Brothers seaplanes and that a Short seaplane had carried out a torpedo attack from the air in the Dardanelles. Did Chris Finn touch on this moment in his talk last week?

The KGB prison cells museum is a sight worth visiting. It makes your flesh creep today to see the cells, torture chair and solitary confinement box, and you just wonder at the evilry that was carried on there in the name of repressive communism.

The solitarity confinement box. You could not stand up or sit down in it, and you were often left there for days on end.

I will give other aspects of life in Tallinn a few thoughts this next week and pen a few more words next Sunday.

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We finish as usual with a colourised photograph and biography courtesy of Chris at Colour by CJS.

Death of a Music Hall Star

Captain Basil Hallam Radford

Basil was born in Brighton, East Sussex in 1888, where his father was a successful shipping and insurance broker.

Basil was educated at Charterhouse School in Godalming, Surrey, and whilst at school, he developed a love of theatre and decided to try and make a career in that world, eventually becoming a very successful theatre and music hall performer.

Basil performed as a comedian in various provincial and touring productions enabling him to hone his skills in sketches and singing, and by 1914 he had gained recognition within theatrical circles for his comedic timing and stage presence.

His big breakthrough came in the revue “The Passing Show” which opened at the Palace Theatre in London in April 1914, where his role as “Gilbert the Filbert” brought him stardom and widespread acclaim.

This led to Basil recording a number of songs and his gramophone records sold very well.

On the outbreak of war, he tried to enlist but was rejected on medical grounds. Sadly, like many men who were old enough to serve but were not in uniform, he began to receive abusive letters, postcards and telegrams accusing him of cowardice.

Those slurs on his honour spurred him to make further attempts to enlist, and eventually he was successful and was accepted for motor transport duties.

Basil, as an educated man, was granted a commission and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in September 1915, and in March 1916 he was serving in France with No.3 Army Kite Balloon Section.

In June 1916 he was promoted to Captain and transferred to No.1 Army Kite Balloon Section. On 20th August 1916, during the Battle of the Somme, in the company of two other officers, he ascended in an observation balloon near Couin to direct artillery fire. Unfortunately, in high winds the balloon cable broke and the men found themselves gaining height rapidly and drifting towards enemy territory.

All three occupants abandoned the balloon and Basil’s companions were saved by their parachutes. However, according to contemporary newspaper reports Basil’s parachute failed to open and he fell to his death, and is today, buried in Couin British Cemetery.

Basil Radford was 28 years old.

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In Memoriam the Lincolnshire Regiment 29th March.

1915

7741 Private A Newman, 1st Battalion. Buried in Lincoln Newport Cemetery, UK.

1281 Corporal Henry Procter Clark, 5th Battalion. Buried in Lancashire Cottage Cemetery, Belgium.

1916

8276 Private Sidney Mackey, Depot, aged 19. Buried in Grimsby Scartho Cemetery, UK.

1917

49179 Private Thomas William Wilkie, Depot, aged 41. Buried in Tynemouth Cemetery, UK.

40362 Private T G Woods, 2nd Battalion. Buried in Bray Military Cemetery, France.

201965 Private W H Shaw, 4th Battalion, aged 22. Buried in Heilly Station Cemetery, France.

1512 Private Chas Robinson, 10th Battalion, aged 20. Buried in Calais Southern Cemetery, France.

1918

30716 Private M Stoker, 1st Battalion, aged 28. Buried in Ribemont Communal Cemetery, France.

51395 Private H Smith, 1st Battalion. Buried in Sevain Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

42843 Private E H Summerfield, 1st Battalion. Buried at Le Cateau Military Cemetery, France.

43176 Private William Taylor, 7th Battalion, aged 25. Buried in Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

1919

3894 Private C G Bird, 3rd/5th Battalion. Buried in Grimsby Scartho Cemetery, UK.

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

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I look forward to hearing from you.

Until next week,

All best wishes

Jonathan

www.jonathandhooghe.co.uk

e: trenchlincs@gmail.com

© Jonathan D’Hooghe