Archibald Wavell and irregular soldiers - Harley Fox-Davies

Quite a bit of work this year on Wavell and Allenby as part of on going studies/course, that lead to an essay on Wavell.

Wavell credits his grandfather as having been an irregular soldier who he seems to have thought highly of. He appears to have enjoyed working with and encouraging soldiers with thoughts on irregular warfare. The minor story of one soldier caught my eye as he would later serve in the Western Desert..

Harley Fox-Davies is an officer Wavell alludes to when discussing Bernard Fergusson in the foreword to Fergusson's book "Beyond the Chindwin" but does not give his name.

Fox-Davies is mentioned by name in Fergusson's book "Wavell. Portrait of a Soldier"

Gott and Wavell appear to have signed off on a Military Cross for Fox-Davies following a raid on Sallum (Sollum) on the 14/15th April 1941, probably against an infantry element of the newly arrived 15th Panzer Division (Gruppe Knabe) who reported an attack at Solum at 5:30am on 15th April 1941, noting the attack was initially unseen and about company strength.

Fox-Davies would be killed shortly afterwards and later buried in Sollum.

Radley College appears to have a photo of Fox-Davies and a write up that seems to suggest he wrote an unpublished book called "Guerilla". I can't help but think this may have been the paper Fox-Davies presented to Fergusson to pass to Wavell.

Fox-Davies is listed as being involved with 50 and 52 Middle East Commando and to have led one LRDG patrol. I've not come across Fox-Davies yet in any of the LRDG books I have or archives viewed to date.

https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/fox-davies-harley-edmond-fitzroy.852/

https://www.commandoveterans.org/HalfayaSollum

As an aside, Robert Pipon, a Royal Fusiliers officer approached alongside Gordon Shephard to crew the Asgard in 1914 but who turned down the venture, appears in Victoria Schofield's excellent book re Wavell.

Wavell was working in London for Henry Wilson at the time of the Curragh Mutiny.

Sudan Defence Force Armoured Vehicles and a Vickers Apprentice to a REME Brigadier

One of the pictures that grabbed my attention when looking in the UK official Abyssinian Campaign publication was a picture of an armoured vehicle with an odd registration number, a structure above an open turret, and a radiator cover that looked a bit like it is from a 1920 Pattern Rolls-Royce armoured car.

The picture is not too high a resolution but there is enough to make out a few details and to grab my interest. It turns out that the vehicle is from the Sudan Defence Force contingent operating in the campaign.

A copy of the picture appears in W E Crosskill's book "The Two Thousand Mile War" which I recently acquired. Sadly not much information re the cars or the SDF.

The Sudan Defence Force was formed after unrest in the 1920's, at which point Sudan was separated from Egypt and its own armed forces created under British control. The SDF inherited two 1914 pattern Rolls-Royces from No 3 Armoured Car Company, Tank Corps that had originally been part of the Duke of Westminsters armoured car quadron during WW1. The cars had likely been involved in the 1916 Tara Rescue.

It appears that 45 of the armoured vehicles were constructed during the 1930s by Charles Gordon Stewart, then responsible for Motor Transport in the Sudan Defence Force.

The cars don't have wheel arches/fenders but do appear to have storage at the rear, an open top turret fitted with a Vickers .303 inch machine gun and a Boys .5inch anti-tank rifle. The Boys rifle only came into service in 1937 so probably not part of Stewart's development.

Together with a number of Sudan Defence Force Scout Cars, the armoured cars appear from about 2minutes 5 seconds onwards in a film clip hosted by the Imperial War Museum, reference WPN 283.

Having participated in the Abyssinian campsign, the some of the cars were moved to Kufra to take over  garrison duties from the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG).

LRDG commanding officer Guy Prendergast had previously served with the SDFs No 2 MMG Company and had learnt to fly in the Sudan.

A couple of photos that feature the armoured cars appear in a 1964 album prepared for the President of Sudan and former member of the Sudan Defence Force Ibrahim Abbood, available to view at the UK National Archives in Kew, reference CO 1069/15.

An inside view of the turret can be seen on the Imperial War Museum website where there are several SDF and Sudan related photos, films etc

IWM ref E 3764 1941 photo inside an SDF armoured car turret

Charles Stewart Gordon (1891-1964) was born in London to parents from Ireland, his father an engineer. In the 1911 census of Ireland he is at the house of an uncle (James Stewart, age 60) and two aunts (Rachel age 59 and Rebecca age 57) at Northland Road, Derry. The record transcription gives his occupation as : 

"Engineers Apprentice at Vickors Sons and Mariens Ltd (at Barrow in furnise] at present in Turner Shop"

which should say "Engineers Apprentice at Vickers, Sons and Maxim Ltd (at Barrow in Furness) at present in Turner Shop".

The most surprising snippet for me in looking into the background of Charles Gordon was that another uncle, Reverend Harvey Stewart (1859-1939) was rector at St Stephen's Parochial Hall during the Easter Rising in Ireland. Never expected to find any Easter Rising link on this bit of work.

Charles Stewart started the First World War as a Private in the Royal Army Medical Corps. Transferred to the Army Service Corps and later commissioned into the Army Service Corps. He would be in Turkey in the 1921 census. Seconded to Sudan in 1927, he was there until 1937.  On return to the UK, he transferred to the RAOC, with whom he stayed until the creation of REME where he became a Brigadier. Quite a remarkable progression.

There is an exceptional photograph album of Stewarts that was donated to the REME Museum at Lyenham that is worth a look if you are interested in interwar vehicles and/or the Sudan. 

The Bodleian Library has a good copy of  "Tales of the Sudan Defence Force" by John Orlebar, carrying the same picture as used on the cover of the Abyssian Campaign publication.

For general interest in the Sudan, the archive at Durham University is the place to go. Check their Special Collections site. 

Leonard Horace Charles Hatton (1888-1980)

 

Mentioned alongside Arthur John Bather in Egypt and aid to the Long Range Desert Group is Leonard Horace Charles Hatton.

He entered the Great War as a Sergeant in the 20th Hussars. Commissioned shortly afterwards, he served through the war and survived earning a Military Cross in 1918.

In 1921 he was in Constantinople. It's not clear when he got to Egypt first but in 1926 he is awarded the Order of the Nile while commanding the Egyptian Frontiers Administration Camel Corps and Car Patrol.

Egyptian Frontiers Administration officer Major David Johnston Wallace (ex-Royal Scots Fusiliers) wrote up a short report about the organization and work of the Camel Corps and Car Patrol :

Hatton gets a very brief mention in Major Dun's book about the 12th Lancers Expedition to Siwa oasis.

In 1937, the Car Patrol appears to have been using Ford Cars and have had at least one unit with Vickers Machine Guns accoding to the British Military Report on Egypt

 Hatton's OBE in 1941 does not appear directly related to the frontline war.

Born 11^th April 1888, Kensington London,

Father William (1844-1893), mother Hannah Ross (1848-1904)

Died 7^th November 1980 The Spinney Woodside Morley Derbyshire

 

1911 Census

20^th Hussars, Lance Sergeant.

20^th Hussars

Sergeant, number 5277

Entered France 16^th Aug 1914. Clasp and Rose for 1914 Star.

 

LONDON GAZETTE 23 October 1914

War Office, 23rd October, 1914.

REGULAR FORCES.

The undermentioned to be Second Lieutenants for service in the Field: —

Dated 16th September, 1914.  

20th Hussars, Squadron Serjeant-Major Ernest Frederick Wyborn.

Serjeant Leonard Hatton.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28949/page/8515

 

LONDON GAZETTE 08 December 1914

War Office, 9th December, 1914. Revised and corrected list of names appended to Sir John French's Despatch, dated 8th October, 1914 (including those published for the first time in the London Gazette, dated 4th December, 1914).

No. 5277 Serjeant L. Hatton

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29001/supplement/10538

 

Marriage

October 1915 to Ella Lucy Margaret Gosling.

 

LONDON GAZETTE 16 July 1918

Military Cross

Lt. (A./Capt.) Leonard Horace Charles Hatton, Hrs. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He displayed great gallantry in searching a village still containing several hostile machine guns and snipers who were causing losses. He performed this difficult and dangerous task with great coolness and showed a fine example of courage.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30801/supplement/8462

 

1921 Census

20^th Hussars, Constantinople

 

LONDON GAZETTE 30 April 1926

Whitehall, April 28, 1926.

The KING has. been pleased to give and grant unto Leonard Horace Charles Hatton, Esq., M.C., Camel Corps and Car Patrols, Frontiers Administration, War Office, Cairo, His Majesty's Royal licence and authority to wear the Insignia of the Fourth Class of the Order of the Nile, which Decoration has been conferred upon him by His Majesty the King of Egypt, in recognition of valuable services rendered by him.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33156/page/2930

 

LONDON GAZETTE 5 April 1929

15^th/19^th H.—Capt. L. H. C. Hatton, M.C., retires on ret. pay, 6th Apr. 1929, and is granted the rank of Maj.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33483/page/2280/data.pdf

 

LONDON GAZETTE 01 June 1934

OBE

Major Leonard Horace Charles Hatton, M.C., retired pay, Reserve of Officers, 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars, attached Egyptian Army, Officer Commanding, Camel Corps and Car Patrols, Frontiers Administration.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34056/page/3562

 

LONDON GAZETTE 8 FEBRUARY, 1938

ORDER OF THE NILE.

Insignia of Commander.

Major Leonard Horace Charles Hatton, O.B.E., M.C.

Robert Augustin Gardner, Esq., B.Sc., M.B., Ch.M.

Arnold Kirkpatrick Henry, Esq., M.B., M.Ch., F.R.C.S.I.

Jasper Wyndham Macaldin, Esq.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34480/page/809/data.pdf

 

Who’s  Who Le Mondain Egypt 1941

BRITISH  MILITARY  MISSION  TO  THE  EGYPTIAN  ARMY

Frontier  Force

Col.  R.H.C.  Hatton,  O.B.E.,  M.C. ;

Lt.  Col.  A.J. Bather,  R.T.C.

 

BATHER,  Major  A.J.,  R.T.C.,  attache,  British

Military  Mission  to  the  Egyptian  Army,  7,  rue

Amir  Fouad,  Zamalek,  [II]  56765,  Caire.

https://archive.org/stream/TheEgyptianWhosWho1941/LeMondainEgyptien1941.PartI_djvu.txt

Arthur John Bather

Lurking in the texts of a number of books relating to Ralph Bagnold and the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) is A J Bather (aka Bather Bay or "Tom" Bather) but rarely does he make it to indexes of the books or get a mention by his full name.

One of the last class of WW1 Sandhurst graduates, Arthur John Bather was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenantt with the Hampshire Regiment on the 20th December 1918. He later transferred to the Tanks Corps and would be in Sollum, Egypt with 3rd Armoured Car Company in 1921. This unit was using 1914 Pattern Rolls-Royce armoured cars inherited from the Duke of Westminster's Squadron.

Bather introduced Lt Victor Christian Holland, Royal Signals Corps, to desert exploration by car. Holland in turn introduced Ralph Bagnold. Holland is generally referred to in books simply as V C Holland and I'm not aware of any that give his full name.

While Holland and Bagnold continued exploring the desert (film available to view via the British Film Institute), Bather was back in the UK working for the inter war Tank & Tracked Transport Experimental Establishment and then as Adjutant of the Mechanical Warfare Experimental Establishment.

Seconded to the Foreign Office and working with the Egyptian Frontiers Administration, Bather would be retained as Second in Command of the Camel Corps  and Light Car Patrol. He was in Siwa Oasis when the very first patrol of Bagnold's newly formed LRDG arrived in 1940. Bather and his men assisting the LRDG men complete their mission.

LONDON GAZETTE 21 January 1919

REGULAR FORCES.

The undermentioned Gentlemen Cadets, from the R. Mil. Coll., to be 2nd Lts. With effect from the 20th December, 1918: —

Hampshire Regiment:—

Arthur John Bather.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31140/supplement/1185

 

Sandhurst Collection Record

https://sandhurstcollection.co.uk/people/3901308-cadet-arthur-bather-register-entry

 

LONDON GAZETTE 25 June 1920

Tanks Corps

The undermentioned 2nd Lts. are apptd. to the Corps, 20 May 1920, with seniority from the dates specified against the names : —

L. D. Crocker (Devon. R.). 20 Dec. 1918.

A. J. Bather ,(Hamps. R.). 20 Dec. 1918.

A. W. Billing (Hamps. R.). 16 Jul. 1919.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31956/supplement/6984

 

Census 19 June 1921

Sollum Garrison, Egypt.

Lt Arthur John Bather

 

LONDON GAZETTE 14 September 1923

The undermentioned to be Lts., 15th Sept. 1923, with seniority as stated:—

Lt. A. J. Bather, from Hampshire R. 20th Dec. 1920.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32862/page/6199

 

LONDON GAZETTE 29 July 1927

ESTABLISHMENTS.

The undermentioned appt. is made:—

Tank & Tracked Transport Experimental Establishment.

Spec. Appt. (Cl. GG) —

Lt. A. J. Bather, R. Tank Corps. 20th July 1927

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33298/page/4910

 

LONDON GAZETTE 16 August 1927

ROYAL TANK CORPS.

Lt. A. J. Bather is secd, whilst holding an appt. at the Tank and Tracked Transport Exptl. Estabt. 20th July 1927.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33303/page/5333

 

LONDON GAZETTE 11 October 1929

ESTABLISHMENTS.

The undermentioned appts. are made. 1st Oct. 1929: —

Lt. A. J. Bather, R. Tank Corps, from Exptl. Offr. (C1. GG), to be Adjt., Mech. Warfare Exptl. Estabt.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33542/page/6477

 

LONDON GAZETTE 15 October 1929

ROYAL TANK CORPS.

Lt. A. J. Bather remains secd, whilst Adjt., Mech. Warfare Exptl. Estabt. 1st Oct. 1929. 

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33543/page/6549

 

LONDON GAZETTE 22 January 1932

ROYAL TANK CORPS.

The undermentioned Lts., to be Capts. 30th Nov. 1931, and remain secd. : —

A. J. Bather.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33792/page/487

 

LONDON GAZETTE 03 April 1934

ESTABLISHMENTS

Capt. A. J. Bather, R. Tank Corps, as Adjt. Mech. Warfare Exptl. Estabt. 1st Apr.. 1934.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34038/page/2186

 

LONDON GAZETTE 08 May 1934

The undermentioned are restd. to the estabt. 1st Apr. 1934: —

ROYAL TANK CORPS.

Capt. A. J. Bather.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34048/page/2939

 

LONDON GAZETTE 20 November 1934

ROYAL TANK CORPS

Capt. A. J. Bather is secd, for serv. under the Foreign Office. 26th Oct. 1934.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34106/page/7440

 

Zerzura Club 1935 Meeting

https://www.fjexpeditions.com/frameset/zerzuraclub.htm

 

LONDON GAZETTE 14 May 1937

ROYAL TANK CORPS

Capt. A. J. Bather is restd. to the estabt. 1st May 1937.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34398/page/3185

 

LONDON GAZETTE 11 January 1938

The undermentioned are granted local rank whilst empld. with the British Mil. Mission, Egyptian Army, 1st Jan. 1938:—

Maj. L. H. C. Hatton, O.B.E., M.C., Res. of Off., I5th/i9th H., to be local Col.

(Leonard Horace Charles Hatton)

Capt. A. J. Bather, R. Tank Corps, to be local Maj.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34472/page/193

 

LONDON GAZETTE 05 August 1938

ROYAL TANK CORPS

Major?

A. J. Bather

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34538/supplement/5027

 

Who’s  Who Le Mondain Egypt 1941

BRITISH  MILITARY  MISSION  TO  THE  EGYPTIAN  ARMY

Frontier  Force

Col.  R.H.C.  Hatton,  O.B.E.,  M.C. ;

Lt.  Col.  A.J. Bather,  R.T.C.

 

BATHER,  Major  A.J.,  R.T.C.,  attache,  British

Military  Mission  to  the  Egyptian  Army,  7,  rue

Amir  Fouad,  Zamalek,  [II]  56765,  Caire.

https://archive.org/stream/TheEgyptianWhosWho1941/LeMondainEgyptien1941.PartI_djvu.txt

 

LONDON GAZETTE 228 March 1941

OBE

To be Additional Officers of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order: —

Major (local Lieutenant-Colonel) Arthur John Bather (17918), Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35120/supplement/1866

 

National Army Museum Collection

1994-02-156

Five letters, two in Polish with translations, written to Major A J Bather, HQ British Advisory Staff, Polish Resettlement Corps, Feb to Mar 1948.

 

Marriage 14 Oct 1948 London, England

Chelsea

Honoria Mary Carter/Sharples

 

LONDON GAZETTE 15 April 1949

ROYAL ARMOURED CORPS.

RTR.

Maj. A. J. BATHER, O.B.E. (17918), retires on ret. pay, 16th Apr. 1949.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38586/supplement/1887

 

LONDON GAZETTE 18 November 1949

R.T.R.

Maj. A. J. BATHER, O.B.E. (17918), having attained the age limit of liability to recall, ceases to belong to the Res. of Offrs., 24th Oct. 1949.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38762/supplement/5463