The Life and Times of a Survivor
in the Great War.
Pte William Purchase S4 144085 (ASC) 44877 (KRRC)
30/1/1887 - 12/3/1974
Englishman - New Zealander
Introduction
William Purchase was born in England, the son of a Locksmith. Birthplace was the Parish of Willenhall, Staffordshire in 1887. He married on 6th August 1912. He and his wife eventually had 3 sons & 3 daughters. He was a pastry cook by trade before and after the Great War. He survived a war that was totally awful by today's standards and so deserves recognition. In those days no one could obtain a Lance Corporal's stripe without a "3rd class education certificate" so never received a commission. He was said to be wounded twice. The first was a non-serious wound (no recorded date or place) but the second almost killed him.
He regarded WW1 as 'a war caused by politicians who never saw action or the ravages of trench conditions'. And said there was 'no glory it at all, but shear madness'. He spoke of young soldiers swapping rations, cigarettes and singing carols. As a young child I recall visiting his home in Pt Chevalier, Auckland, New Zealand where he retired. He and his wife were always kind. He said, (I've never forgotten) "You can lead men, but you can't push them". Clearly a lesson of 1917 when men were tired of futile sacrifice and their officers. Those were awful days to live through, so I set-out to find out more about his experiences of those days (1)
Medals
While the Military Cross was only awarded to officers or Warrant Officers, the Military Medal (MM) was for other ranks. The MM should be listed in the London Gazette although WW1 soldiers don't have citations for MM's. Of the search done regarding these medals, no mention was found in the index cards of some awards. But they are not complete. Historians say these details and cards "may lack 5-10%, nobody really knows for sure". Also nothing found in the Despatches. It is also not shown on the Campaign Medal index card. Again most are, but a few are missing. The London Gazette still requires a good search. The Silver War Badge was not only awarded to those wounded in battle, but also to "men honourably discharged from service."
Medal Card
The qualifying date of the 1914-1915 Star is 18/12/15. The card is incomplete, all soldiers were awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. The qualifying date for the Star is only two months after enlisting 25th Oct. 1915. The mention of "15" next to the star indicates this medal was awarded with qualifications different from the other Star. The "15" Star was "authorized in 1918 (it) was awarded to those individuals who saw service in France and Flanders from 23 Nov 1914 to 31 Dec 1915, and to those individuals who saw service in any other operational theatre from 5 Aug 1914 to 31 Dec 1915." This places him in the theater of combat on 18/12/15 in order to qualify. The asterisk seems to indicate medals awarded relating to the Army Service Corps (ASC).
The regimental number 44877 applies to the KRRC. And the number S4/144083 would become temporary. The "S" stands for the Service Corps. If the number was MT/144083 it would mean a 'Motorized Transport' battalion. If HT/144083 it would be a "Horse Transport" battalion. William was a 'baker' by trade so this is probably why he was serving in the ASC. The Army Form indicates his unit was one of "Supply". But as the demand for combat soldiers rose steadily, this is probably why he was transferred to the 1/KRRC on or about the 20th August 1916.
The service battalions are the unsung heroes of the British Army in the Great War. The men who operated the transport, fed, bandaged and supplied the soldiers. Troops can't fight without food, equipment and ammunition. The ASC performed prodigious feats of logistics and part of the great organization by which the war was won. They were organized into companies each specializing as one of various reserves, depots etc. By Royal Warrant, the Army Service Corps added Royal to it's title in late 1918.
Enlisting
William's home address was "122 Herld Grove Manchester". He enlisted aged 28 and 9 months, on 25th Oct 1915 in Manchester. Appearance - 5ft 2½ in., complexion 'fresh', eyes 'blue', hair 'dark brown'.
He originally joined the Army Service Corps. Before this he had not served in 'any branch of his Majesty's Service' and so took the oath to King George the Fifth before an officer of the KRRC on the 25th Oct 1915. When signing up he was "willing to be enlisted for General Service" and for "the duration of the War". But the 'Descriptive report on Enlistment" form records that he was originally in the "service forwards limited engagement" And this "reckons from 25.10.15". But that would change, when transferred to the 1/KRRC (2)
When he returned to England wounded (in 1918) he came under the authority of the 5/KRRC. Explained in the foot notes (3) Because the qualifying date of the 1914-1915 Star is 18/12/15 this is "the official date upon which the subject (William Purchase) landed abroad". And it was with the Army Service Corps. At peak, the ASC numbered an incredible 10,547 officers and 315,334 men. In addition were tens of thousands of Indian, Egyptian, Chinese and other native laborers, carriers and stores men, under orders of the ASC. Yet this vast, sprawling organization merits just four mentions in the Official History of the war. Continued - Part 2
Footnotes
(1) When this study first went
on the internet I was astonished at the numbers who read it. So I started ask
questions - were my facts correct? Was there proof? What really happened? What
if....? Well, new information made corrections
necessary and likely more will follow. So this revised
edition of events is a more critical approach. Any
reconstruction must be based on factual records and stand questioning. There was
always a small chance of finding official records, as many were destroyed in the
Second World War, so it's not an easy task to find out what really happened.
I'm grateful for the help of Phyl Purchase, Lorraine & the late Ken Purchase.
Information from Colin and Russell Purchase, encouragement from Bryan Purchase,
advice from Rebecca Purchase. And helpful advisers Irv Mortenson in Washington
(expert and authority on the King's Royal Rifles Corps (KRRC) and Roger E Nixon
in London (www.pro-search.co.uk Military Historian and Researcher).
(2) The "Statement of the Services" under the "Descriptive Report On Enlistment" indicate the 1/KRRC. The vast majority of the regiments effort was devoted to the western front, where it gained 8 VC’s, 2128 other decorations. In the Great War 57% of the KRRC were killed and 60 Officers. "The 1st and 2nd battalions fought in Belgium all through the war. 14 Battalions fought at the Somme, 1916, sustaining 4,200 casualties all ranks". A foot soldier was paid 1 shilling per day.
(3) Phyl Purchase mentioned William was "transferred". Indeed, from the ASC to the 1/KRRC. The "Certificate of Identity, Protection Cert." mentions the 5/KRR. That was not the 'transfer'. Absent from the front all soldiers remain under military authority. If their battalion was under orders and they were absent it can be a serious offence So during hospitalization in 1918 William was assigned to the 5/KRR. A home battalion stationed in the UK. The "5th and 6th (Reserve) Battalions in August 1914 were in Winchester [and] remained in UK throughout the war". Eg., Rifleman H. Trevetic, (1st KRR) after combat in France also returned home wounded and was assigned to the "5th Battalion K.R.R.C. at Fort Grain, Isle of Grain, Kent". www.cwgc.co.uk/Trevetic.htm Hopefully after regaining health, one would rejoin their original battalion (at the front).
Medical Discharge Cert. 14 Dec 1918 [partly restored] Discharge Cert. War Office 15th Dec 1918
Enlistment & Service (faded). Attestation and oath 25 Oct 1915
Medical Pension
