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Archiver > GREATWAR > 2007-03 > 1174914812


From: "Geoff Dare" <>
Subject: Re: [GREATWAR] Westney P E, DCM. MM
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2007 23:13:32 +1000
References: <000001c76f31$fbf470d0$fb01a8c0@wombat><1koe03lduk2s5otcv3e4eifivjk4mm3ke4@4ax.com>
In-Reply-To: <1koe03lduk2s5otcv3e4eifivjk4mm3ke4@4ax.com>


Forrest

Many thanks for your information.

Some time after WW1 two Honour Rolls were engraved in granite to commemorate
those local residents who answered the call to war. These rolls were
eventually placed in the care of the local Returned and Services League of
which I am on the committee. Over the years these memorials have have been
found to be in need of restoration and we are about to undertake that
program.

Westney was obviously a late addition to the memorial with his name being
out of order and his honours also being out of order. An extensive search
through Australian military archives had failed to identify Westney in
Australia and questions were being asked as to whether he really existed.

The past 48 hours, with a new bloodhound on the trail, has revealed all the
evidence I need to ensure that his name remains on the memorial as the most
highly decorated WWI veteran from the district.

To complete the story I think that I will obtain a copy of his service
records. Could you please tell me where I can obtain these? Is it from the
PRO in Kew? It is so long since I have researched this area that I have
forgotten.

Kind regards

Geoff


-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:]
On Behalf Of Forrest Anderson
Sent: Monday, 26 March 2007 5:07 PM
To:
Subject: Re: [GREATWAR] Westney P E, DCM. MM

On Mon, 26 Mar 2007 09:04:45 +1000, "Geoff Dare" <>
wrote:

>I am seeking information on Philip Edward WESTNEY DCM. MM.,

>Westney appears on a 1914-1918 memorial commemorating those who resided and
>enlisted in my local area in Melbourne, Australia.

>His name was last on the memorial, out of alpha order and his honours were
>also reversed (ie MM DCM). If the entry is accurate(?) Westney would have
>been the most highly decorated veteran from the area...

>Was Philip in the British Army and did he receive his honours whilst
serving
>with them?

The answer is yes to both questions - he received both the MM and DCM
whilst serving in the Royal Field Artillery of the British Army in
1916-1917. He was also Mentioned in Despatches.

His MM was announced on page 10932 of the London Gazette of 11 Nov
1916 at
<http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveViewFrameSetup.asp?IssueNumber=2981
9&pageNumber=16&SearchFor=&PageDuplicate=n&selMedalType=&selHonourType=>

-------------
His Majesty the KING has been graciously
pleased to award the Military Medal
for bravery in the field to the undermentioned
Non-Commissioned Officers
and Men:-

29558 Bombr. P. E. Westney, R.F.A.
-------------


He was Mentioned in General Haig's Despatch on page 191 of the London
Gazette of 4 Jan 1917 at
<http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveViewFrameSetup.asp?webtype=0&IssueN
umber=29890&PageDuplicate=n&pageNumber=21&SearchFor=&selMedalType=&selHonour
Type=>

-------------
War Office,
2nd January, 1917.

The following despatch has been received by
the Secretary of State for War from General
Sir Douglas Haig, G.C.B., Commander-in-
Chief of the British Armies in France: -

General Headquarters,
13th November, 1916.

Sir,
I have the honour to submit a list of names
of those officers, ladies, non-commissioned
officers and men, serving, or who have served,
under my command, whose distinguished and
gallant services and devotion to duty I consider
deserving of special mention.

I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,

D. HAIG,

General.
Commander-in-Chief,
The British Armies in France.

ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY.

Westney, No. 29558 Bombr. P. E.
--------------------


His DCM was announced on page 7270 of the London Gazette of 18 Jul,
1917 at
http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveViewFrameSetup.asp?webtype=0&IssueNu
mber=30188&pageNumber=62&SearchFor=&PageDuplicate=n&selMedalType=&selHonourT
ype=

--------------------
His Majesty the KING has been graciously
pleased to approve of the award of the
Distinguished Conduct Medal to the
undermentioned Warrant Officers, Noncommissioned
Officers and Men, for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty
in the Field :-

29558 A./Cpl. P. E. Westney, R.F.A.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty. His battery was subjected to very
heavy shelling, which cut telephonic communication
with the brigade. He patrolled
the line incessantly, and repeatedly repaired
the breakages, and it was entirely due to his
courage and determination that communication
was never lost for more than a few
minutes. His conduct at all times showed
splendid fearlessness of the same nature and
total disregard of personal safety.
------------------------

>A Philip Edward Westney died and was cremated in Melbourne in 1960, aged
74.
>There is no known death memorial.

It is quite likely that this is the same man. Perhaps he went to live
in Australia sometime after WW1, and in view of his gallantry in WW1,
the local officials decided to add him to the war memorial when he
died. There are no hard and fast rules as to who should be included on
a war memorial.

If you search for his Medal Index Card at
<http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/browse-refine.asp?CatID=
10&searchType=browserefine&pagenumber=1&query=*&queryType=1>
you should find four images you can download (although one is for R E
Westney):

Medal card of Westney, Philip E
Corps: Royal Field Artillery
Regiment No: 29558
Rank: Gunner...
1914-1920 WO 372/21

Medal card of Westney, R E
Corps: Royal Field Artillery
Regiment No: 29558
Rank: Bombardier
1914-1920 WO 372/24

Medal card of Westney, P E
Corps: Royal Field Artillery
Regiment No: 29558
Rank: Bombardier
1914-1920 WO 372/23

Medal card of Westney, P E
Corps: Royal Field Artillery
Regiment No: 29558
Rank: Acting Corporal
1914-1920 WO 372/23

The one with reference WO 372/21 will tell you which campaign medals
he was awarded, and may perhaps have other details. See
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/medals.asp for a
guide.

The one ending /24 will give the edition of the London Gazette that
announced his Mention in Despatches. The two ending with /23 will give
the edition of the London Gazette that announced his DCM and MM.

Although you now know the London Gazette references from above, it is
likely that one of these cards will give his unit (eg Brigade/Battery)
within the Royal Field Artillery at the time of the award, although he
may have served with several other units during his time in the RFA.

Forrest


--
Forrest Anderson, Edinburgh, Scotland.
E-mail:
Website: www.military-researcher.com
Forrestdale Research - Military Genealogical Researcher



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