Tillard John A S 1889

Colonel John Arthur Stuart Tillard OBE MC

1889-1975

Father Nm: Philip Edward Tillard 1837–1913
BIRTH ABT 1837 • Alwalton, Huntingdonshire, England
DEATH 10 NOV 1913 • Huntingdonshire

Mother Nm: Iona Mary Bonham-Carter 1850–1936
BIRTH SEP 1850 • St Martins, London, England
DEATH 14 MAR 1936 • The Holme, Godmanchester, Huntingdonshire

Marriage Dt: 30 Nov 1920 St Stephen, Kensington

K comments: Wife Penelope Blencowe served in WW1. Son John Robert served in WW2 as Lieut KRRC,

Spouse comments: Margaret Penelope Blencowe [4325] 1890–1966
BIRTH 1890  Steyning, Sussex, England
DEATH 1966  Lewes

 

Children: Phillip B 1923, John Robert Tillard 1924, Patricia Susan 1928.

Born 1889

24 November, Godmanchester, Huntingdonshire

1908

• 7 August. The Scotsman newspaper announces John is a successful candidate to get into the Royal Military Academy of Woolwich.

  

1910

• Army and Navy Gazette – Saturday 29 January 1910 announces John appointed 2nd Lieut. Royal Engineers from Royal Military Academy.

  

1911 CENSUS

2nd Lieutenant Royal Engineers. Royal Engineers barracks, Brompton St Mary’s Chatham.

1912

• 23 January Promoted. Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer – Saturday 27 January 1912 announces 2nd Lieut promotion to Lieutenant.

 

WW1

John Arthur Stuart Tillard, 1889, Lieutenant, Captain, Acting Major, Acting Brigadier and Colonel, Royal Engineers, General Headquarters Staff British Army and Mistry of Supply

Synopsis

John AS Tillard had a long and stellar career with the British Army from Cadet entry in 1908 to the Military Academy to serving in both wars he was recognised as a leader of men and excellent administrator. His particular field of work telecommunications capability while never called that by the Army was to expand and become an essential operational tool and even strategic in some cases part of operations in both wars.  Joining the Royal Engineers in 1912 he was at the forefront of their development of the signals capability until it became large enough to have its Regiment the Royal Signals. We don’t have John’s service record so we can only go by a full medal card and several high-profile gazetted awards he received the Military Cross and was mentioned in despatches five times which tells us his leadership and role were critical to the successes of the Allies in the war. In late 1917 he was sent with the 23rd Division to Italy and was with the 23rd Signal Company of the RE throughout 1918. The war diary for that unit contains locations and the key work they did which is summarised here. It’s noted that again his work was recognised and he became the only Blencowe family member to win the Croce de Guerra from the Italian Govt.

In between the wars the Royal Corps of Signals Regiment was created in 1920 but it was 1925 when we have a record that shows John was at Bulford with this Regiment as a full Major. In 1935 it seems he was promoted to Acting Brigadier Army GHQ and shortly was involved in the Munitions Development.

In WW2 he was heading the development and supply of Signals Equipment for the Ministry of Supply. This was to be the further development of wireless and radar technologies which became critical to success in the war.

 

1914-1915

• 11 August. John is with an Airline unit of the British Expeditionary Force embarked for France with Royal Engineers,  Which Signal company he was with we do not know as yet. There is a reference in his medal card to “A” Airline Section suggesting he was with the communications unit of the Royal Engineers responsible for telecommunications through the air. This comprised of Telephone/Telegraph lines running overground on poles, through trenches.  “To serve the BEF a GHQ signal company, two headquarters signal companies, six divisional signal companies, one cavalry signal company, eight cable and five airline sections and one lines communication signal company were formed and sent to France”²

  

1916

• John was promoted to Captain before June 1916
• June. While in France  John was Mentioned in Despatches. General Haig has the honour to forward herewith the names of those under his command whom he wished to bring to notice for gallant and distinguished conduct in the field. This was Gazette issue 29623; Date:13/06/1916; Page: 5932

 

1917

• April. John is Mentioned in Despatches. by Sir Douglas Haig’s Despatch of 9th April, submitting names deserving a special mention, published in the London Gazette of Tuesday, 15th May, 1917. Newspaper Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Friday 18 May 1917
  Gazette Issue 30077.Gazette Date:18/05/1917 Gazette Page: 4879
• Sometime before December 1917, John was promoted to (2nd): Acting Major.
• 18 December. John joins the 23rd Division which was sent to Italy this month. This is evidenced on his Medal Index Card.
• December. John was awarded the Military Cross. Gazette No. 30450. Military Cross. The KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the reward of the Military Cross for distinguished service in the Field. Gazette Date: 28/12/1917 page 48

1918

• January. John’s Military Cross award is repeated in the New Year Honours List Gazette Info: 48 Gazette Date: 01/01/1918
• 26 February John is with the 23rd Division from it seems his MID in 1919
• 28 May. London Gazette Issue 30711. Gazette Page:6331
  Mentioned in Despatches. I have the honour to submit a list of names serving, or who have served, under my Command, whose distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty I consider deserving of special mention.
• 14 September. John ends his service in Italy and presumingly returns to London for his next posting.

1919

• 3 January. For his work in Italy with the 23rd Divisional Signals Company a third mentioned in despatches. Acting Major J A S Tillard.                                    Gazette 31106 Mentioned in Despatches. The following despatch has been received by the Secretary of State for War from General F.R., Earl of Cavan, K.P., K.C.B., M.V.O. Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in Italy. I have the honour to submit the name of this person who is serving or who has served under my command during the period February 26th 1918 to midnight, September 14th 1918 whose distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty I consider deserving of special mention
  Gazette Date: 03/01/1919
• May. Awarded the Croce de Guerra by the Italian Government. Gazette Info:
  Gazette issue 31345. Croce de Guerra has been awarded by the Allied Powers for distinguished services rendered during the campaign.
  Gazette Date: 16/05/1919 Gazette Page: 6204
• 3 June. Awarded the CBE for service to the Royal Engineers. Duty Location:
  Italy (including Monte Cassino, Anzio, Salerno, San Marino etc)

 

1925

• 14 October. Recorded as a Major and with The Royal Corps of Signals Regiment,Bulford

  

   

1932

• Based at Catterick Camp through to 1936.

1935

• 1 April. Possibly a Lieut. Colonel with the Territorial Army but attached to the Royal Air Force

 

1936

• 1 April. A Lieut. Colonel appointed Assistant Director (Signals) to the Department of the Director-General of Munitions Production. Committees and Miscellaneous Establishments. Royal Engineer and Signals Board. Associate Member.

 

1937

• 1 July. Promoted to Colonel, Royal Engineer And Signals Board, Regents Park, London (Associate Member. Assistant Director (Signals).)

1939

• February Colonel, Assistant Director (Signals). Royal Engineers and Signals Board,

1940-43

• 25 June. Colonel, Temporary Brigadier at Ministry Of Supply, Directors of Signal Equipment.
• 25 December. appointed Deputy Director of Signal Equipment. Ministry of Supply, Directorate General Mechanised Equipment.

1944-45

• April Army List. Colonel, Temporary Brigadier 25/12/1940 Supernumerary. Serving with the Ministry of Supply.

Medals

WW1

Between the Wars

WW2

Sources

1. 1. Find my Past, Ancestry  and BFA database
   2. The Impact of World War One on Military Communications by Professor Andy Sutton
   3. The Great War Forum members a constant source of excellent information

After World War Two

Retirement in Chailey

1966 Widower

Death 1975 Chailey

Gallery

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