The sword of Lieut. George G Weaving M.C. South Notts Yeomanry.
George Greville Weaving was born in the village of Appleton, Berkshire, in 1894. As can be found with recruitment into the South Notts Hussars during the Boer War, the South Notts during the First World War found itself with recruits from further afield than the Nottingham area to meet the required numbers. Conscripted into the army in 1916, George G. Weaving was placed with the South Notts Hussars, first serving in Ireland, then Egypt, and then finally on the Western Front while attached to the Machine Gun Corps. During his time with the South Notts, George was to become one of ten South Notts Officer's to be awarded the Military Cross during the First World War. Like so many who witnessed the horrors of the First World War, George did not say much to his family about what he had witnessed. Thankfully, there is interest today with his descendants, most notably his great-niece, who has unearthed some of his wartime possessions and records to help piece together his story.
Born in Appleton near Abingdon in 1894, George was christened in 1895, the youngest of twelve children, only eight of whom were alive by the time of the outbreak of the First World War. He was the son of a corn merchant and brewer, from a well-to-do family who owned several public houses in Oxfordshire and a farmstead. Affectionately known as "Bobble" by his family as a child, to his friends and family he was known as "Bob".
At the time of the outbreak of war, George was working on the family farm. In accordance with the Military Service Act of January 1916, George received his call-up papers in around February. Like millions of other mothers across the country, George's mother did not want her son to go to war. She applied on his behalf to the Local Conscription Tribunal in March 1916, stating he was a vital worker on the farm. She stated that it was a farm of 150 acres with ten horses, five of which were working horses, the farm employing two men and two boys. She insisted that if her son left the farm, she would have to let the farm go without his contribution. Her application was refused, and George was recruited into the army. It's easy to imagine that his loving mother was in fact more concerned about losing her son at the front, and by this stage, the losses were clear for everyone to see. After her son left for service, thankfully they did not lose the farm. In his service with the army, most likely due to academic achievements, George was to become an officer and was assigned to the South Notts Hussars at the rank of 2nd lieutenant. Presumably during his recruitment, George was noted to have experience with horses, and as such was sent to a mounted unit.
2nd Lieut. Weaving joined the 3/1st South Nottinghamshire Hussars Yeomanry, which had been formed into the "Third Line" regiments of yeomanry cavalry. These were training units of cavalry that could be transferred to second-line and first-line regiments when needed and fully trained. In October 1916, the South Notts Hussars went with the 14th Reserve Cavalry Regiment, which also included the Derbyshire Yeomanry, to Fermoy, Ireland. At this time, Ireland was in a state of rebellion, and the presence of these cavalry formations and other regiments prevented further rebellion. A major reorganisation of the 3rd line regiments occurred in early 1917, reducing the number of yeomanry regiments, who now had some of their 1st line now fighting in Egypt. In February 1917, the 3/1st Nottinghamshire Yeomanry was absorbed into the 2nd Reserve Cavalry Regiment at the Curragh in County Kildare.
While stationed in Ireland, located at Newbridge, attached to the 2nd Reserve Cavalry Regiment, Lieut. Weaving sent a letter home on the 1st of June 1917. In this letter, he describes having received a new sword: "I had another sword come from Sheffield a few days ago. It's a real topper, the best I have ever seen." George was referring to this very sword, a 1912 Pattern Cavalry Officer's Sword. Custom made for him by Clement Cray of Sheffield. Etched on the blade are his details: "G.G. WEAVING, SOUTH NOTTS YEOMANRY " Knowing he would soon be transferred for service in Egypt in the 1st line regiment, he arranged to have the sword nickel-plated, as many preferred for easy maintenance in hot climates. The sword was fitted with the leather-covered field scabbard and with a large leather frog for attaching to the saddle equipment.
The 1/1st South Notts Hussars had been in Egypt since April 1915 as part of the 2nd Mounted Brigade, attached to the Notts and Derby Mounted Brigade, and remained until the summer of 1918. Their role in the Middle East was the defense of the Suez Canal, the Persian Gulf, and the Dardanelles. They fought at Gallipoli in 1915. Redesignated as the 7th Mounted Brigade, they saw action against the Bulgarian Army in Salonica and in the liberation of Serbia. In June 1917, they returned to Egypt. In July 1917, the 1/1st South Notts Hussars were placed under the orders of the Desert Mounted Corps under the command of Field Marshall Edmund Allenby, which captured Jerusalem in December 1917. In January 1918, the South Notts were based at Ei Medjel Lake. Here they would begin retraining. Training continued into February. On the 22nd, the South Notts with the Brigade moved into camp a couple of miles to the south-west of Gaza. It was during February that 2nd Lieut. Weaving joined the 1/1st South Notts Hussars in the field along with 2nd Lieutenants J.W. Ede and A.J. Shaw and Lieutenant J.C.G. Warwick. The training continued in March 1918. During his time in Egypt, 2nd Lieut. Weaving took many images of fellow officers, life in camp, and horses. These were most likely taken during this period of training when more free time was available. These images are still held by his descendants today.
On the 5th of March, the South Notts commenced salvage work on the Turkish trenches at Gaza. On the 15th, the South Notts were inspected in brigade by H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught. The work on the trenches ended on March 27th. By now, the Turkish armies had been broken, the Yeomanry Regiments having served with distinction in the campaign. Experienced, well-trained regiments were needed in France with the start of the German Spring Offensive while colonial forces were to be retained in Palestine. On April 2nd, the South Notts paraded as cavalry for the last time and moved to Belah to form camp along with the Warwickshire Yeomanry. On the 4th, the horses and equipment were handed in to the Army Remount Depot. The same day, the South Notts, along with the Warwick's, were paraded and were informed the two regiments were to be amalgamated into a machine gun battalion for overseas service. On the 8th, the regiment entrained to Belah to continue on to Kantara. On the evening of the 9th, the regiment entrained to Sidi Bishr, which it reached on the 10th. The Warwick and South Notts Machine Gun Battalion has 27 officers and 529 men. From April 10th until the end of the month, the regiment was trained at Victoria Camp in the use of the Vickers machine gun. During May, the officers and N.C.O.s were given classes at Zeitun in gun instruction. Orders were received on May 2nd that the battalion were to embark the following day for France. The battalion embarked on the SS Leasowe Castle on 23rd April. On the 26th, the ship set sail as part of a convoy including six other transports accompanied by destroyers. The Leasowe Castle had nearly 3000 troops aboard. On the 27th at 12.25 a.m., around 100 miles from Alexandria, the ship was struck by a German torpedo, fired from U-boat UB51 to her starboard side. One of the accompanying destroyers assisted in rescuing the men from the sinking ship. Order was maintained by the men waiting to board the lifeboats. Suddenly at around 2 a.m., the bulkhead of the ship gave way, causing the ship to sink rapidly. The troops that suffered the most were located on the ship's forecastle as she went down. In total, 101 men were lost, which included 8 officers and 42 other ranks of the South Notts. The survivors were picked up and taken back to Alexandria, which was reached at 7 p.m. on the 27th. The officers were billeted in hotels, most at the Stefano Hotel, while men went to the camp at Sidi Bishr. Work began in reorganising the battalion. On June 2nd, nearly all of the officers were on duty by Sunday, the 2nd of June, and a memorial service for the victims was held at the Albert Hall in Alexandria. With additional troops from the Yeomanry Base at Kantara, the battalion was again complete. By 18th June, the strength was brought up to 41 officers and 937 other ranks. On the 18th, the Battalion embarked on H.M.T. Caledonia, which reached the Italian port of Taranto in good order. The battalion entrained at Taranto on June 23rd. A week's travel through Italy, then onto France, arriving at Etaples on the morning of the 29th. The Battalion was now designated as "B" Battalion Machine Gun Corps. The men were issued with steel helmets and gas masks, which would be needed in their new theatre of operations.
On August 19th, the designation of the Battalion was changed to the 100th (Warwickshire and South Notts Yeomanry) Battalion Machine Gun Corps, with its headquarters at Warloy. More training was given in the ways of action on the Western Front, including attaching officers and N.C.O.s to M.G.C. units at the front line. By the end of August, the Battalion was attached to the Fourth Army and ready to take part in the counter-offensive which had already begun in July to counter the German Spring Offensive. George Weaving, at some point, made a full lieutenant and was placed with "C" Company. The four companies are arranged as "C" and "D", the South Notts, and "A" and "B", the Warwick's.
On September 9th, "C" and "D" were positioned at Guyencourt. On the 10th, the South Notts suffered their first casualties in France, with one killed and 32 wounded in action. On September 11th, "C" Company took up position in Jacqvene Wood. Here they had one of their machine guns knocked out of action by shell fire. On September 16th on the Hindenburg Line, the III Army Corps started a major attack across the whole front, the 100th Battalion giving covering fire under the instruction of the 18th Machine Gun Battalion. "C" Company alone fired some fifteen thousand rounds on the 19th, giving covering fire, and again suffered a machine gun being knocked out by enemy shell fire. In action again on the 21st and 22nd, sustaining fourteen wounded. On the 23rd, "C" and "D" took up position at Quenchettes Wood and the following day gave covering fire for the 53rd Brigade. The two companies were heavily shelled and gassed during their barrage. The battalion saw action throughout the rest of September, firing over 200,000 rounds, and was now under the command of the IX Army Corps. On October 5th, "C" Company moved to Catelet-Nauroy, firing over 20,000 rounds as the infantry captured Beaurevoir, who later praised the actions of the machine gunners that day with their effective covering fire.
On the 7th, "C" Company marched to Follemprise Farm and laid a barrage on Ponchaux but, due to losses while approaching their position, were only able to get eleven machine guns in action with which they were able to provide a barrage. It is for Lieut. Weavings action during this attack that he would be awarded the Military Cross. His citation states, - "On the night of October 7/8 near Ponchaux, the company were advancing to position to fire barrage; they were heavily shelled causing casualties amongst the mules and driver, two limbers being overturned, which caused disorganisation. He took on the company to prepare gun positions. He reorganised the transport and got the guns to the positions. It was largely owing to his cool courage and initiative that the barrage was fired.". The attack during this period was successful, and the German retreated. The General Officer commanding the 25th Division congratulated all ranks of "C" Company for the barrage they put on Ponchaux which had been of great assistance to the attacking infantry. On October 9th, "C" Company positioned itself near Maretz. Operations against the Hindenburg now over, Both the South Notts and Warwick granted several battle honours for their participation.
The Battalion was now available for the attack on Le Cateau, working with the 25th Division. On October 11th, the Battalion moved to Honechy, with "C" Company at Maretz.On the 12th, the Battalion concentrated at Premont. They rested till the 16th when they were to be moved up to the attack on Le Cateau. On the 17th, "C" Company was in action and fired around 20,000 rounds. That afternoon concentrating fire on Reumont, and then moved on to St. Benin to the south of the town. The Battalion remained in position till the 19th, returning to their billets at Premont on the 20th and were allowed a period of rest. On the 2nd of November, "C" Company was attached to the 18th Battalion Machine Gun Corps. and were organised into two batteries of sixteen guns each. On the 4th, "C" Company were positioned in Mormal Forest, the enemy with strong defenses here, the Company suffered heavy shell fire. On the 9th, "C" Company moved with the South African Brigade at Le Cateau as part of a mobile column engaged in pursuit of the Germans, and later moved on to Hestrud on the 10th where they met strong resistance. One section of the Company under Lieut. Pratt formed part of the vanguard whilst another section under Lieut. Weaving acted as part of the defensive flank. They received heavy shelling from the Germans all day and all night. Whilst attached to "C" Company, Lieut. Prankerd of the Warwickshire Yeomanry was killed during the night along with two other ranks just south of Hestrud. The following day saw the Armistice, the news reaching "C" Company while at Hestrud. The Battalion concentrated at Sivry on the 13th, and remained there until the march on the Rhine began, and stayed there till the 18th. On the 18th, the Battalion marched to Fourbechies, then onto Jamoille the following day. They remained at Jamoille till the 24th and then left to find billets at Chateau de Rosee which had been left in a sorry state by the Germans. Here they stayed for four weeks, football and other activities provided to the men, and hunting for the officers.
Following the Armistice of November 11th, demobilization of the Battalion began in January 1919, and was complete by May. In Nottingham, a Memorial Service was held at St. Mary's Church on the 27th May for the men of the Battalion who fell in battle, and the names of those who perished in the sinking of the Leasowe Castle were read out. Although Lieut. Weaving M.C. had a relatively short period of service in the front line, he certainly gave a good account of himself. Whilst serving with "C" Company of the 100th Machine Gun Battalion, they achieved their objectives and even won the praise of the infantry they saved support for. Although being with the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry for only a couple of years, Lieut. Weaving was one of only a small number of officers to have been decorated in the field for bravery.
With special thanks to Katie Napper, "Bob's" great-niece.
