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This pic is uplifted from Frank Warwick's article in the Post Office Magazine of June 1937 - page 263.
[Frank L. Warwick was the Postmaster at Barnard Castle.]
Any ideas where this pic is taken?
Answers on...
The Post Office Magazine of June 1937 donated by Mr McRobbie of Bowes - Matt's son-in-law.
HANDSOME CHAP: Mike Amos, John North columnist, snapped by former Echo photographer Ian Wright in May 1969.
Dial 'one' for Matt Bendelow, Sub-postmaster Bowes.
The 1960 Post Office Christmas Party at the Morritt Arms
Harry
Maddison
Stan
Evans
Ron
Newton
l
l
l
l
l
l
Matt
Bendelow
Tommy
Dolan
AFTER THE RUSH, POST OFFICE EMPLOYEES RELAX.
This 1960 photo was donated by Sonia Hopper.
After a record Christmas rush period when they dealt with more than 25,000 letters and packets, Barnard Castle Post Office employees relax with their guests and friends at the dinner held at the Morritt Arms Hotel recently.
[Ed: 25K items is just a busy day at Barney these days!]
Telegram of 1.10.1916.
"Man dangerously ill at 12 General Hospital, ROUEN, France".
Regtl No. 18407 - Matt Bendelow wounded - left knee - 27/9/1916.
War Office: Service Medal and Award Rolls Index, First World War:-
Medal card of Pte Bendelow, Matthew 18407
The 1914-1915 medal is made of bronze and measures 1.75" wide by 2.25" top to bottom. The medal is a four pointed star, with the top point being hidden by the Imperial Crown. The obverse has a scroll in the centre with the years "1914 - 1915" on it. Surrounding the medal is a laurel wreath with the "GV" monogram at the bottom with two crossed swords (blades uppermost) in the background. The ribbon is attached via a ring on top of the crown.
The reverse is plain and flat with the recipients number, rank, name and unit. The naming is done by stamping in block capitals.
This star was issued to all (approximately 2,336,000) who saw service in any theatre of conflict [for Matt it was Gallipoli] against the central powers between 05 August 1914 and 31 December 1915, except for those who were eligible for the 1914 Star. The medal was authorised under Special Army Order 20, which was released in 1920. It was issued to British forces of all kinds, as well as imperial troops from Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and India.
1914 - 1915 Star
Dave
Both John Gilmore and Matthew Bendelow were in the 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment.
In 1915 the 6th Battalion were involved in the Gallipoli campaign, landing at Suvla Bay on 6 August 1915.
From the Green Howards Gazette database, Matthew Bendelow (Regtl No 18407, 6th Battalion) was wounded, left arm [muscles removed], at Gallipoli. The date of the wounding is unknown, but may have been *21 August 1915*. The same database shows him as having been wounded the following year (no details of where or when) but it may have been in September / October 1916.
My guess is that this second wound saw him invalided out.
Almost certainly he would have been awarded not only the 1914-1915 Star, but the Victory Medal and the War medal as well.
For more on these medals see
http://www.ww1-yorkshires.org.uk/html-files/family-memorial.htm
If you are interested in finding out more about the role of the 6th Yorkshires in the Gallipoli campaign, you may obtain a copy of "The Green Howard", (Issue 5, September 2008) from the Green Howards Museum. This has an in-depth account of the campaign by Brigadier John Powell. The journal is available price £5 from the Museum.
* 21 August 1915 * also saw Sergeant John Gilmore, Regtl No. 8403,
of the 6th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own
(Yorkshire Regiment) killed in action at Gallipoli.
More details on John Gilmore can be found on the CWGC page by clicking
Photographer: Rev. Ernest Northcroft Merrington
British WWI troops at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, Turkey, 1915.
Brief details:-
Born: 1895.
Next if Kin: Wife Margaret Bendelow of 2, East Parade, SHILDON.
Previous Family Home address: 4 Lilburn Street, OLD SHILDON.
Return to UK 30-5-18. Home Address: 17, Wesley Crescent, OLD SHILDON.
Age at Attestation: 19 years 2 months.
Occupation: Miner.
Marital Status: Married 3rd August 1914 at Auckland Parish Church.
Enlisted: 22 Jan 1918 .
Recruited: - Service No. 11/18407 6th Yorkshire Regiment, .
* Medical: NO RECORDS FOUND *.
(Looks like they were in the 'Burnt Documents'.)
Military History: RECORD INCOMPLETE. Awarded 1914-15 Star dated 8.9-15 Theatre of War (2B) Balkan. (Edward Nichol - 'Friends of the Green Howards' confirmed 2B as Gallipoli!)
(Coincidentally, one of the Fallen listed on the Barnard Castle Post Office Roll of Honour, Sgt John Gilmore, was killed in action during the same campaign.)
Posted France: 2-7-1916.
17.1.16 - Absent from roll call parade 6.45am. Found in bed 6.50am. Awarded 7 day punishment. Also, in the right hand margin of this document is the only reference to being "Wounded 27/9/1916".
Telegram 1.10.1916 - "Man dangerously ill at 12 General Hospital ROUEN - L Knee.
-2 OCT 1916 4.55p - Official POST OFFICE TELEGRAPHS from OHMS War Office London to Next of Kin.
Discharged as no longer physically fit for War Services: 29.5.18.
30.5.18 - Pension set at 27/6 [27 shillings and 6 pence].
Matthew Bendelow did, however, serve out his time at the 'Yorksires' Depot at Richmond upon his return to the UK.
It is self evident from the condition shown in the images that Matt's record was in those burnt * i.e. corners/edges etc blackened/scorched plus 'water' damage.
* As approximately 60 per cent of the paper originals of the service records were destroyed by fire when the War Office in London was struck by a bomb in 1940 during an air raid, the surviving 32.5 million paper records now online have become known as the ‘Burnt Documents’.
Gadfly By Mike Amos - Wed Nov 25, 2009.
********
* Erratum - my [Editor's] mistake.
Edward Nicholl is, in fact, a 'Friend of the Green Howards Museum' and, I might add, a mine of information!!!
Appologies for any inconvenience - Ed!
The full range of Edward's websites can be found:-
