Nash Malcolm 1888 – Blencowe Family in World War One

Malcolm Nash

1888-19NN

Father Nm: John Robert Nash born ABT 1855 • Frome, Somerset, England
died APR 1918 • Northampton

Mother Nm: Eliza Elizabeth Howe born 1860 • Edgeware, London, England
died OCT 1912 • Northampton.

Marriage Dt: Oct-Dec 1907 Northampton

K comments: Brother George killed in WW1. Brother-in-law William Blencowe served with Northampton Regt
Spouse comments: Alice Blencowe [3530] born 26.2.1885 Northampton died

Children. James M Nash born 11 JUN 1918 died OCT 1977 • Northampton

BORN 1888

16 December 1888 Northampton

1891 Census

Kingsthorpe Northants
John R Nash 36
Eliza E Nash 30
John W Nash 11
Walter Ges Nash 9
Malcolm Nash 2
Edith C Nash 2/12
Sarah Green 30

1901 Census

John R Nash 46
Eliza Nash 40
John W Nash 21
Malcolm Nash 12
Edith Nash 10
Lilly Nash 5
Sarah A Green 39

1911 CENSUS

Name Age
Malcolm Nash 22 Sole Layer
Alice Nash 26

WW1

Malcolm Nash MM, Gunner, Corporal Bombardier, 131489, 777032, 84th Bd, RFA, 84 Army Bde RFA

Note on the VXXXIV(84th) BRIGADE RFA

This 84th brigade was originally comprised of numbers 262, 263 and 264 Batteries RFA and the Brigade Ammunition Column. It was placed under command of the 18th (Eastern) Division. The brigade then remained with the division until late January 1917: It then became a part of the Army Brigade and consequently increeasingly part of combined forces of Australia Britain, and USA artillery that supported the more fluid warfare of 1918.

16 February 1915 the three six-gun batteries were reorganised to become four four-gun batteries and were titled as A, B, C and D Batteries
The Brigade Ammunition Column left on 17 May 1916 to merge with others in the divisional artillery to form the 18th Divisional Ammunition Column.
- On 24 May 1916 D Battery left to join 85 Brigade as its C Battery. It was replaced by the arrival of A (Howitzer) Battery from 85 Brigade, which was then renamed as 84 Brigade’s D (Howitzer) Battery.
- On 3 December 1916, the 18-pounder batteries were made up to six guns each. C Battery sent its two gun sections to join A and B Batteries.

1916

8 April. Enlisted with Royal Field Artillery
6 October. Posted to France.
1 December. Posted to 84 Brigade RFA Divisional Artillery Column
6 December. Joined ‘B’ Battery of the 84th Brigade.

1917

On 25 January 1917, the brigade left the division and became an Army Brigade.
- B and a section of C Battery from 60 Brigade joined and became this brigade’s new C Battery on 8 February 1917.
- On 9 February 1917 D (Howitzer) Battery was broken up, sending a section each to join the D (Howitzer) Batteries of 82 and 83 Brigades.
26 October. Prior to major action, Malcolm is made acting Bombardier of his gun battery.
27-31 October.Passchendaele. In support of the attack, the 84 Army Bde barrage was continued for this period. On the 30th Malcolm was wounded but remained at duty. Casualties reported in war diary 3 Officers wounded 12 OR’s killed 97 wounded and 4 died of wounds.
9-23 November. Leave to the UK granted.

1918

3 March. Home leave to UK
20 March. Confirmed as Bombardier.
20-26 September. After open warfare training at Beguin the Brigade travelled south through arras , Bapaume onto Hervilly to the north of St Quentin
27 September – 1 October. The Battle of the Canal du Nord, 27 September – 1 October 1918. The Brigade supported American and Australian forces in this successful attack.
1-2 October. Bellicourt-Battle of St Quentin Canal. In a joint operation with Australian and American forces, Malcolm is awarded the Military Medal. There are no details of his citation and indeed it seems he had to write to the Army after the war to claim his medal. War diary entries
1 October. In the afternoon Bty’s moved up to positions near Etricourt wagon lines near the Canal south of Bellicourt. The line constantly changing and the infantry advance. HQ removed to the neighbourhood of Canal.
2 October Left 5th Australian Division and came under 2nd Australian Division Artillery and coming under? Right Group composed of 84th Bde, 1Aust Bde, Right ? Group 45th Army Bde, 2nd Aust Bde and 150th Army Bde
The map of the Canal as it went underground south of Bellicourt and the scene of where Malcolm was to earn his Military Medal. This action is comprehensively covered at the website the-battle-of-the-st-quentin-canal-the-breaking-of-the-hindenburg-line-29th-september-1918

American Howitzer guns at St Quentin Canal

1919

14 March. Discharged.

MEDALS

Malcolm was entitled to wear one wound stripe on his dress uniform

SOURCES

1. Ancestry and BFA database
2. War diary 84 Army Bde RFA
3. Long Long Trail
4. Battle of St Quentin Canal Blog

AFTER THE WAR

1939 CENSUS

Trade Union Officer Boot & Shoe Union

DEATH 1957

1 DEC 1955 • Northampton

GALLERY

There are service records in the National archives for this person they can be viewed and download from their website https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/