MAUGHAN E.

EDWARD MAUGHAN 1895-1916

21/770 Lance Corporal Edward Maughan 21^st Battalion (Tyneside Scottish) Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action 12 March 1916 and is buried at Ration Farm Military Cemetery, La Chapelle 0d’Armentieres.[1] He was 20 years old and is commemorated on West Auckland War Memorial, the Roll of Honour, West Auckland Memorial Hall and Bishop Auckland Grammar School Memorial.

Family Details

Edward Maughan was born 23 August 1895 [2] the son of Mosley Maxfield and Annie Maughan. There were 7 children, all born at West Auckland:[3]

Edward born 1895
George bc.1898
Olive bc.1900
Amy bc.1901
Harry bc.1904
Mary bc.1907
Annie bc.1910

In 1901, the family lived at Staindrop Road, West Auckland where Mosley worked as a coal miner (hewer).[4] Edward attended West Auckland National School then between September 1908 and July 1910, Edward attended Bishop Auckland Grammar School before leaving to take up a position as “a clerk in a Gas Office”.[5] By 1911, the family lived at 20 Copeland Road and Mosley now was employed as “master shifter in colliery.” 15 year old Edward worked as a clerk at the gas works and 13 year old George was a “mechanic at colliery.” [6]

Service Details

The service details of Lance Corporal E. Maughan have not been researched. He enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne into the Northumberland Fusiliers, 21^st Battalion, Tyneside Scottish and was given the regimental number 21/770.[7]

The 21^st (Service) Battalion (2^nd Tyneside Scottish) was formed at Newcastle 26 October 1914. In June 1915, it was attached to the 102^nd Brigade, 34^th Division. ^{^[8]} The 102^nd Brigade was made up of the following units:

20^th (Service) Battalion, the Northumberland Fusiliers
21^st (Service) Battalion, the Northumberland Fusiliers
22^nd (Service) Battalion, the Northumberland Fusiliers
23^rd (Service) Battalion, the Northumberland Fusiliers
102^nd Brigade Machine Gun Company joined 27 April 1916
102^nd Trench Mortar Battery joined 18 February 1916 ^{^[9]}

The NF battalions were known as the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th Tyneside Scottish and collectively as the 102^nd Tyneside Scottish Brigade. The Brigade went to Salisbury Plain in August 1915 then embarked for France in January 1916.

10 January: The Division arrived in France with the 20^th, 21^st and 22^nd NF sailing to Le Havre. The 21^st Battalion went to Campaigne and started training in earnest before moving forward to the Steenbecque area in preparation for instruction in trench warfare. The 21^st came under the command of the 25^th Brigade for its instruction by the 2/Royal Berkshire Regt. and 2/Royal Irish Rifles.

25 – 28 January: the battalion went into the line.

29 January: noon, the enemy shelled Battalion HQ and the Officers’ Mess Cook. 21/1080 Private Johnson had his leg broken by shrapnel to become the battalion’s first casualty, not in the trenches but behind the line.

2 February: the battalion suffered its first fatality, 21/1568 Private Cree who lived at Esperley Lane near Cockfield. He was wounded 1 February by a machine gun bullet whilst on a working party and died of wounds the next day. ^{^[10]}

12 March: Lance Corporal E. Maughan was killed in action.

Later research records that between 2 February and 12 March 1916, 21/NF lost 13 Other Ranks killed in action or died of wounds.[11]

Lance Corporal E. Maughan was awarded the British War and Victory medals.[12]

Burial

Lance Corporal E. Maughan is buried at grave reference I.B.2 Ration Farm Military Cemetery, La Chapelle d’Armentieres. There are 1313 Commonwealth burials, 677 unidentified. The cemetery was extended after the Armistice when isolated graves and those from smaller cemeteries on the battlefield were concentrated here. [13]

Commemorations

St. Cuthbert’s Church, Bedlington, Northumberland: 20 July 1920: The colours of the 2^nd Battalion, Tyneside Scottish, 21^st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers were “laid up” in the church. The Morpeth Herald 7 October 1921 reported that the porch had been converted to a Chapel of Remembrance.

Lance Corporal E. Maughan is commemorated on West Auckland War Memorial, the Roll of Honour, West Auckland Memorial Hall and also on the Bishop Auckland Grammar School War Memorial.

References:

[1] Commonwealth War Graves Commission Note: CWGC records regimental no.770 & 22^nd Battalion. Report No.25 serial no.4184 records 21 Bn. & reg.no.770. SDGW & Medal Roll record regimental no. 21/770 therefore I have used 21/770

[2] Bishop Auckland Grammar School Admissions Register & England & Wales 1837-1915 Birth Index Vol.10a p.272 Auckland 1895 Q3

[3] 1911 census

[4] 1901 census

[5] Bishop Auckland Grammar School Admissions Register

[6] 1911 census

[7] SDGW

[8] http://www.1914-1918.net/northfus.htm

[9] http://www.1914-1918.net/34div.htm

[10] “Tyneside Scottish” Graham Stewart & John Steen

[11] ODGW & SDGW

[12] Medal Roll

[13] CWGC