From Hill to Hill Part 2
Driver John Hill Royal Artillery
1914-18 British War Medal. Victory Medal.
The Man John Hill was born during September 1895, in the Parish of St. Phillips, Sheffield, son of Arthur Hill. Little is known of his early life except that by 1901 he was possibly living with his younger brother Richard, and his maternal Grandmother’s family at 278 St. Phillips Road, Sheffield. John enlisted at Newcastle upon Tyne into the Royal Field Artillery with service number 21827 attesting on 4th September 1914 aged 18 years and 359 days old. At the time of his enlistment he was described as 5’.2 ½” tall and weighing 7st 10lbs. His girth when fully extended was 34 ¼” with a range of expansion of 2½“. He had a medium complexion, brown eyes and hair with a tattoo of a butterfly on his right forearm and figures on his left. At the time of enisting his address was 27 Portland Street, Upperthorpe, Sheffield and his initial posting was as a Driver with the 91st Brigade at 16th Australian Lines, Salisbury Plain. On 7th March 1915 John married Minnie Smith, who lived at 18 Daisy Bank, Sheffield. Four days later on 11th March, he went Absent Without Leave to Duty, returning a few days later and receiving 10 days detention. Things got worse for John as on 19th April he deserted whilst at Salisbury Plain and was at large for over two weeks before being detained by police on 6th May and lodged at Sheffield Police Station. Detective Sergeant Martin Ambrose Pratt stated "At 9.15pm on 6th inst, the prisoner was arrested. Gazette dated 27th April 1915 produced. The description is the same. He is remanded for escort". DS Pratt claimed 5/- for the arrest. John seems to have eaten well whilst in custody as the Chief Constable of Sheffield charged the Army for nine meals for the four days he was detained.It seems that john was determined, as whilst he was under escort he escaped from the police at Sheffield Railway Station. He was apprehended three weeks later on 26th May and once again DS Pratt stated that “At 1.55am yesterday (26 May) the prisoner was arrested after the police officer had been trying since the 6th inst to trace the prisoner. He on that day escaped from ? Escort at the Railway Station at Sheffield. All efforts to trace him have been futile. The police officer has been trying night and day to trace him. He is remanded for Military Escort.”
DS Pratt this time claimed a 20/- recapture fee! The exact dates are uncertain, as it seems John was in custody from 6-10 May, and yet DS Pratt's statement says he escaped on 6th! The Chief Constable this time charged the Army for four meals 27th and 28th May. Interestingly the 20/- reward was strictly reserved for cases where superior intelligence was displayed in apprehending men in plain clothes, or under difficult or exceptional circumstances. John was subsequently tried by Court Martial, found guilty, convicted on 21st June 1915 and sentenced to 9 months detention at Wandsworth Detention Barracks. In addition all of his former service was forfeited and started again from 21st June, although it seems he only served until 3rd November 1915.
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After release John was admitted to Woolwich Military Hospital for seven days on 9th February 1916 suffering from scabies. He was prescribed linseed baths and calamine and on 29th February 1916 was posted to the British Expeditionary Force in France joining HQ 94 Brigade RFA on 22nd March. He served the rest of the war seemingly without incident, except one on 30th December 1916 when he was deprived of 10 days pay for ill treating a horse in the field. On 1st September 1917 he was posted to D Battery and remained there for the rest of the war. On 15th May 1918 Minnie gave birth to their Son, Albert and nine months later on 5th February 1919 John returned to the UK for demobilisation and was transferred to the Z Class reserve on 8th March. It seems that having been freed of military service John did not enjoy it for long, as he sadly died during the last quarter of 1919 aged only 24! He was posthumously awarded the 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals which were sent to his widow on 20th September 1920 and 17th August 1921 respectively.
The Story The two groups of medals awarded to John Hill and his Son Albert, were acquired from E-Bay in December 2012. The reason they were of interest was because of the Efficiency Medal awarded to Albert and the fact it seemed a shame to split up a father and son group. Bids were placed and thankfully both groups kept together. After enquiries with the vendor they provided three additional badges belonging to the family that were not included within the original lot. The vendor also confirmed that the groups had been sold to them by the family quite recently, but sadly they had no further details. The usual checks were completed on ancestry.uk, and amazingly several pages of John Hill's service records were in existence. More interestingly his medal index cad was marked 'deserter' the records confirming this and including much detail, including statements made by the Police following John Hill’s detention. From the records it was also possible to establish the hitherto unknown first names of John and his son Albert. Sadly John seems to have died young only a few months after being demobilized; there is a certain irony to this as he spent so much time trying to get out of military service whilst serving. There is little likelihood of obtaining a lot of further detail as John Hill is a very common name on ancestry.uk, as is Albert Hill; that said death certificates may produce further detail and one never knows. At the very least John and his son Albert’s memories have been at least partially preserved for posterity.
The Story The two groups of medals awarded to John Hill and his Son Albert, were acquired from E-Bay in December 2012. The reason they were of interest was because of the Efficiency Medal awarded to Albert and the fact it seemed a shame to split up a father and son group. Bids were placed and thankfully both groups kept together. After enquiries with the vendor they provided three additional badges belonging to the family that were not included within the original lot. The vendor also confirmed that the groups had been sold to them by the family quite recently, but sadly they had no further details. The usual checks were completed on ancestry.uk, and amazingly several pages of John Hill's service records were in existence. More interestingly his medal index cad was marked 'deserter' the records confirming this and including much detail, including statements made by the Police following John Hill’s detention. From the records it was also possible to establish the hitherto unknown first names of John and his son Albert. Sadly John seems to have died young only a few months after being demobilized; there is a certain irony to this as he spent so much time trying to get out of military service whilst serving. There is little likelihood of obtaining a lot of further detail as John Hill is a very common name on ancestry.uk, as is Albert Hill; that said death certificates may produce further detail and one never knows. At the very least John and his son Albert’s memories have been at least partially preserved for posterity.
Volunteer Training Corps
It is unknown whose VTC lapel badge this is, possibly John's Father Arthur? However as it came with John and Albert's Medals an explanation of the VTC is worthwhile. Early Development After war was declared in August 1914, there was an immediate demand for a means of service for those men who were over military age or engaged in important occupations. Combined with the perceived risk of a German invasion, this resulted in the spontaneous formation of illegal "town guards" and volunteer defence associations around the country, often organised by former Regular Army or Volunteer Force officers. By September 1914, a central committee had been formed and on 19 November 1914, a renamed Central Association of Volunteer Training Corps was recognised by the War Office.Lord Desborough became the President of the Association and General Sir O'Moore Creagh VC was appointed the Military Advisor. Official Recognition Although the Central Association had been officially recognized, the new Volunteer Training Battalions were not. Units had to be financially self-supporting and members had to provide their own uniforms, which could not be khaki; the Association recommended Lovat green. All members were required to wear a red brassard or arm band, bearing the letters "GR" for Georgius Rex. No weapons or equipment were provided, although local Territorial Army Associations were asked to supply a few "DP" rifles, which were dummy weapons intended for "Drill Purposes". |
Membership of the Corps was only open to those who had "genuine reasons" for not enlisting in the regular armed forces. In October 1915, the Marquess of Lincolnshire attempted to give the Volunteers legal status by means of a private member's bill in the House of Lords. but it ran out of parliamentary time. However, MPs discovered that the Volunteer Act 1863 had never been repealed and the VTC Battalions legally became Volunteer Regiments in July 1915. In August 1916, the War Office decided to include the VTC Battalions into the County Infantry Regiment system, and they became numbered "Volunteer" battalions of their local regiment. With the introduction of conscription in 1916, came the power of the Military Service Tribunals to order men to join the VTC; however, the clause in the 1863 act which allowed resignation after fourteen days' notice made it unenforceable, so a Volunteer Act 1916 was passed which obliged members to remain in the Corps until the end of the war. By February 1918, there were 285,000 Volunteers, 101,000 of whom had been directed to the Corps by the Tribunals.
Equipment, Training and Role
During 1917, P.14 Enfield Rifles began to be issued, followed by Hotchkiss Mk I machine guns. The Corps trained in drill and, if the equipment was available, use of the rifle. In case of a German invasion, battalions were tasked with roles such as line of communication defence and forming the garrison of major towns; 42 battalions were to defend London. Volunteers undertook a wide range of other tasks including; guarding vulnerable points, munitions handling, digging anti-invasion defence lines, assisting with harvesting, fire fighting and transport for wounded soldiers. In 1918, when there was an acute shortage of manpower because of the German spring offensive, 13,000 Volunteers undertook three-month coast defence duties in East Anglia. The force was sometimes ridiculed by the public; there were jokes that GR on their armbands stood for "George's Wrecks", "Grandpa's Regiment", "Genuine Relics","Gorgeous Wrecks" or "Government Rejects".
The Easter Rising in Dublin
The only time that Volunteer Training Corps men were engaged in combat, was the Easter Rising in Dublin starting on Easter Monday, 24 April 1916. Some 120 members of the 1st (Dublin) Battalion, Associated Volunteer Training Corps were returning from field exercises at Ticknock, when they heard news of the uprising. The commanding officer, Major Harris, decided to march to Beggars Bush Barracks. They carried rifles but were without ammunition or bayonets. They were fired on by a party of Irish Volunteers from a railway bridge. Part of the VTC force entered the barracks by the front gate, others made their way to the rear and scaled the wall. About 40 men at the rear of the column were pinned down by fire from surrounding houses and four were killed, including the first-class cricketer, Francis Browning, who had been second-in-command. The VTC men assisted the small garrison of regular soldiers to hold the barracks for eight days. In total, five members of the battalion were killed and seven wounded. Disbandment
The Volunteer Training Corps was suspended in December 1918, and officially disbanded in January 1920, with the exception of the Volunteer Motor Corps which was retained until April 1921 in case of civil disorder.
Equipment, Training and Role
During 1917, P.14 Enfield Rifles began to be issued, followed by Hotchkiss Mk I machine guns. The Corps trained in drill and, if the equipment was available, use of the rifle. In case of a German invasion, battalions were tasked with roles such as line of communication defence and forming the garrison of major towns; 42 battalions were to defend London. Volunteers undertook a wide range of other tasks including; guarding vulnerable points, munitions handling, digging anti-invasion defence lines, assisting with harvesting, fire fighting and transport for wounded soldiers. In 1918, when there was an acute shortage of manpower because of the German spring offensive, 13,000 Volunteers undertook three-month coast defence duties in East Anglia. The force was sometimes ridiculed by the public; there were jokes that GR on their armbands stood for "George's Wrecks", "Grandpa's Regiment", "Genuine Relics","Gorgeous Wrecks" or "Government Rejects".
The Easter Rising in Dublin
The only time that Volunteer Training Corps men were engaged in combat, was the Easter Rising in Dublin starting on Easter Monday, 24 April 1916. Some 120 members of the 1st (Dublin) Battalion, Associated Volunteer Training Corps were returning from field exercises at Ticknock, when they heard news of the uprising. The commanding officer, Major Harris, decided to march to Beggars Bush Barracks. They carried rifles but were without ammunition or bayonets. They were fired on by a party of Irish Volunteers from a railway bridge. Part of the VTC force entered the barracks by the front gate, others made their way to the rear and scaled the wall. About 40 men at the rear of the column were pinned down by fire from surrounding houses and four were killed, including the first-class cricketer, Francis Browning, who had been second-in-command. The VTC men assisted the small garrison of regular soldiers to hold the barracks for eight days. In total, five members of the battalion were killed and seven wounded. Disbandment
The Volunteer Training Corps was suspended in December 1918, and officially disbanded in January 1920, with the exception of the Volunteer Motor Corps which was retained until April 1921 in case of civil disorder.
Medal Details:
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 21827 DVR. J.HILL. R.A.
- Victory Medal: 21827. DVR. J.HILL. R.A.
This page last updated 28 Jul 14