Announcement

**Darrell** · 11-01-2012, 06:41 AM

c. Page where Alfred's Citation is listed:

Attached Files

LG 3.jpg (149.9 KB, 18 views)

**Darrell** · 11-01-2012, 06:41 AM

Closeup of the Citation:

Attached Files

LG 4.JPG (119.2 KB, 18 views)

**Darrell** · 11-01-2012, 06:42 AM

The finally the local newspapers announce Alfred’s achievements. The following entries were noted in the THE NORTH CHESHIRE HERALD on 29 June 1918, 21 September 1918 and 16 November 1918.

JUNE 29, 1918:

Attached Files

DCM Trio - ALFRED WAGSTAFFE - The Reporter 21-09-1918 a.jpg (96.3 KB, 18 views)

**Darrell** · 11-01-2012, 06:44 AM

Closeup:

Attached Files

HYDE 29 JUN 1918.jpg (33.5 KB, 18 views)

**Darrell** · 11-01-2012, 06:45 AM

21 September 1918:

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Attached Files

DCM Trio - ALFRED WAGSTAFFE - THE NORTH CHESHIRE HERALD September 21, 1918.jpg (185.6 KB, 18 views)

**Darrell** · 11-01-2012, 06:45 AM

Closeup;

Attached Files

HYDE 21 SEP 1918.jpg (68.5 KB, 18 views)

**Darrell** · 11-01-2012, 06:46 AM

16 November 1918:

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Attached Files

DCM Trio - ALFRED WAGSTAFFE - THE NORTH CHESHIRE HERALD November 16, 1918.jpg (220.5 KB, 18 views)

**Darrell** · 11-01-2012, 06:47 AM

Closeup of article (grouped together for ease of reading):

Attached Files

HYDE 16 NOV 1918.jpg (97.3 KB, 18 views)

**Darrell** · 11-01-2012, 06:49 AM

The 21 September and 16 November stories are printed in their entirety below because it’s hard to zoom in and show the complete write up on each. Unfortunately the 29 June one is faded and impossible to decipher but is the issue referred to in the documents below.

21 September 1918

How a Hyde Soldier Gained the DCM

In our issue of 29 June last. We had the pleasure of recording the fact the Sergt. A. Wagstaffe, Machine Gun Corps., elder son of Mr. And Mrs. Joseph Wagstaffe, 17. Croft Street, Hyde, had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallant conduct in France during the month of April last. The record on the official card, signed by Major-General W. Williams, stated that the honour was awarded “for your gallant services rendered to your country, near Ypres, 25-26 April 1918”. We are enabled to give the official permanent record of Sergt. Wagstaffe’s work in the field that gained him the D.C.M. It was officially issued a few days ago, and is in the following terms: - “This N.C.O. was sergeant of a section of guns which took part in two heavy days’ fighting. He started on long range fire on the enemy advancing over a ridge, but soon had to shift, two guns having to be left behind owing to the violence of the barrage. In the evening he took out a party and fetched in those two guns and ammunition. Shortly after the section officer was severely wounded , and owing to heavy casualties, only one gun could be manned. The next day, after further heavy bombardment, the enemy again attacked, and he kept his gun in action till they were within 50 yards, when he got his gun away, the company officer being killed.”

Sergt. A. Wagstaffe, D.C.M., has served his country well. Enlisting on the 9th November, 1914, when about 20 years of age, he first went to France about June, 1915. On the 25th September following, he was wounded in the Loos battle. After recovering he returned to France in February, 1916, and has been there ever since with the exception of a furlough last September. He has gone through a good deal of fighting on the Western front. Up to enlisting, Sergt. Wagstaffe had been for some time employed as a spare hand for the Northrop looms in the Wharf Shed of Ashton Bros. In his boyhood he attended Hyde-lane Day School, and he became connected with Union-street Sunday School, whilst later he joined the St. George’s Rowing Club and Young Men’s Class. We congratulate the young and gallant soldier upon the high honour that has been conferred upon him, which the official record shows to have been so well earned.

16 November 1918

Ashton Bros. DCM PRESENTATION TO SERGT. ALFRED WAGSTAFFE

While a very fair number of Ashton Bros. Employees have been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in the war, we believe that Sergt. Alfred Wagstaffe son of Mr. And Mrs. Jos. Wagstaffe, 17. Croft St, Hyde is the only one to whom the D.C.M. has been awarded. This, of course, is not to say the other employees have not done well for the country in the great conflict. All the lads from this big firm like the others from Hyde, have done splendidly in the defence of the country, and in the process of beating down German militarism, and the only thing to be regretted is that so many lives had to be sacrificed in order that the world may once more breathe freely. Sergt. Wagstaffe D.C.M., has recently been over on leave, and the firm and work people of Ashton Bros., took the opportunity on Friday evening in last week in making presentations to him in recognitionof the high honour he has gained in France. How Sergt. Wagstaffe has gained the D.C.M. was recorded in our issue of June 29th last. It was for gallant conduct on the Western front during last April. The record on the official card, signed by Major-General W. Williams, stated that the honour was awarded “for your gallant services rendered to your country, near Ypres, 25-26 April 1918”. The Major-General gave the gallant sergeant his sincere congratulations on the honour he had gained. In fighting which took place at that time, Sergt. Wagstaffe and four men were the only ones not killed or wounded. The gallant sergeant who is only about 24, enlisted on the 9th November, 1914, up to which time he was employed as a spare hand for the Northrop looms in the Wharf Shed of Ashton Bros. He is an “old boy” of the Hyde-lane Day School, and had became connected with the Union-street Sunday School, later joining the St. George’s Rowing Club and Young Men’s Club. He first went to France in about June, 1915. On the 25th September he was wounded in the Loos battle. On recovering, he returned to France in February, 1916, and he has been there ever since with the exception of one or two furloughs. Sergt. Wagstaffe has been in a great deal of heavy fighting, and after all this it was a pleasure to see him at the presentation looking so well. As is well known, his father is an old Territorial, an served in the present war as an instructor up to a few months ago, while the younger son John has gone through a deal of fighting in France.

The presentation to Sergt. Wagstaffe took place in the workpeople’s dining room at the mills, the proceedings being enlivened by vocal and instrumental music. Mr. S. Watson, weaving manager at Throstle Bank, presided and was supported by Councillor A.M. Fletcher, general manager and a director (who made the presentation) and Mrs. Fletcher., both of the D.C.HM.’s parents being present. The chairmen referred with regret that they had lost in the war another one of their comrades, William Foster, who was employed in the cloth room of Throstle Bank and he was sure the sympathy of them all went out to his parents and other relatives.

WORK PEOPLES APPRECIATION

They were met that night, the Chairman proceeded, to give their tribute of appreciation to their colleague in work, Sergt. Alfred Wagstaffe, who had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for the conscientious and brave discharge of his duty. To him, personally, and he was sure to many of Sergt. Wagstaffe’s workmates in the Wharf Shed, the honour he had gained was a source of great satisfaction. They all admired recipients of the honours that had come from time to time to employees of Ashton Bros. It was a special privilege to be gathered together to tender their appreciation to Sergt. Wagstaffe. He thought they could now say the end of the war was in sight. It had been a terrible time, and he thought they could all look forward to a peaceful New Year and a new condition of things in this country. The pity of it was that it had needed a war to bring all classes of society together. He thought that it could safely be said that it was British determination and courage that had carried us through, and our thanks were due to each one of the lads who had gone forth to defend our hearths and homes – (Hear. Hear.). Briton’s from every part of our vast empire had fought an honourable and straight fight in the cause of the world’s freedom and justice, and our terms of peace must be such as an honourable settlement could exact. Mr. Wilson again offered their congratulations and appreciation to Sergt. Wagstaffe, whom they were glad to see with them. – (Applause.)

OUR BRAVE BOYS

Mrs. Fletcher was called upon to present a scroll relating to the gaining of the Distinguished Conduct Medal to Sergt. Wagstaffe. She expressed great pleasure in being present and remarked that nobody appreciated more than she did what Sergt. Wagstaffe and other brave boys had done. She considered it a great honour and privilege to be present. She had not got the medal to pin on his chest, but she would be very pleased to pin it on if he came to her house when he got it. The document she was handing him showed that the medal had to be awarded to him. – (Loud applause).

SPEECH BY COUN. FLETCHER

On behalf of the workpeople and the firm, Councillor Fletcher presented to Sergt. Wagstaffe respectively a wristlet watch and a wallet containing Treasury notes. Word, he said, could not convey the feelings one had for those who had been in the trenches and borne the brunt of the battle for us. His wife and himself had only that week sent on another batch of memorial cards, making over 500 which they had sent with regard to the men who had sacrificed their lives in the war, me whose faces we should never see again. He did not think any of them could realize what it was to be on the battlefield, except those who had experienced it. If it had not been for the Briton’s, France would have long since have been conquered by those terrible Huns. He was perfectly delighted that Sergt. Wagstaffe had so distinguished himself, and he would be sure his parents would be very proud that they had such a son. He led the men on, and kept the guns firing, and that was a great trait in his character, a trait which he hoped might develop later in industrial life. He took it as a great privilege to be entrusted with the presentation, and was very pleased, as general manager, to be asked to voice their feelings and wishes. The firm always liked to think they were all one. They were on with the training of the young people at the factories, and they had at heart the best interests of them all. Physically and morally. They wanted them all to do well, and he was sure that if they did their best in industrial life, they would be a very happy and healthy community. Girls were going to have home nursing. Incidentally, Councillor Fletcher made an appeal for support of the Y.M.C.A. effort, for which they were having four collections in the mills. He hoped they would respond well, and the firm would also give. Reverting to Sergt. Wagstaffe, he said he felt proud of him, and he sure his mother was a very happy woman. They all hoped and trusted he might be spared to come back and take his part at the mills. – (Loud applause).

Sergt. Wagstaffe, D.C.M. was brief in his response. He asked them to accept his best thanks for the gifts, and also for the way in which Mr. Fletcher and Mr. Watson had spoken on their behalf. As regarded the winning of the honour, he thought that any man in the same place would have done exactly the same as him himself. The gallant Sergt. Was enthusiastically applauded.

On the proposition of Mrs. Joseph Knowles, seconded by Mr. Oliver Mason, a vote of thanks was passed to Councillor and Mrs. Fletcher for their kindness in coming and performing the presentations, also to the artistes and the chairman.

With Mr. Emsley as pianist, the songs and duets were all very pleasing , the vocalists being Miss Crumbie who sang “In the old-fashioned Garden” and “Annie Laurie”: Mr. Parker who first gave a humorous ditty and later sand “Homeland”.: Mr. Hall whose contributions were “The Bachelor Ship” and “Corporal John Bartholomay”: Mr. Tempest who sang “Alice , where art thou” and “Anita”: Mrs. Dennerlay “Angus Macdonald” and “There’s a land”. A piano and violin duet “Caliph of Bagdad” was given in masterly style by Mr. Emsley and Mr. Hornsby. The interesting and enjoyable proceedings were terminated with the National Anthem.

**Darrell** · 11-01-2012, 06:51 AM

Here is a picture of Alfred Wagstaffe. Date taken unknown by likely during the War sometime.

Attached Files

DCM Trio - ALFRED WAGSTAFFE - Photo.jpg (131.7 KB, 18 views)

**Darrell** · 11-01-2012, 06:53 AM

In 1919 Medal Index Card and Medal Roll Books WO329/2826 (15 Star) WO329/1737 (BW and V) show Alfred discharged to Class Z Army Reserve 15 May 1919.

Below is Alfred's Medal Card for the D.C.M.

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Attached Files

DCM Trio - ALFRED WAGSTAFFE - DCM Card.jpg (75.7 KB, 18 views)

**Darrell** · 11-01-2012, 06:56 AM

Alfred's Medal Index Card for his Trio. Interestingly, he was issued TWO. This first one has his last name spelt incorrectly (without an E on the end). This was how his 1914-15 Star was named (as will be seen below). The error was noted on the second Index card issued when his War Medal and Victory Medals were issued.

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DCM Trio - ALFRED WAGSTAFFE - WAGSTAFF MIC.jpg (89.2 KB, 18 views)

**Darrell** · 11-01-2012, 06:56 AM

Second MIC where is name has been corrected:

Attached Files

DCM Trio - ALFRED WAGSTAFFE - WAGSTAFFE MIC.jpg (86.6 KB, 18 views)

**Darrell** · 11-01-2012, 06:58 AM

Here is Alfred's Grouping Mounted:

Obverse:

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DCM Trio - ALFRED WAGSTAFFE - Group Obverse 2.jpg (205.2 KB, 18 views)

**Darrell** · 11-01-2012, 06:59 AM

Reverse:

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DCM Trio - ALFRED WAGSTAFFE - Group Reverse 2.jpg (128.7 KB, 18 views)

Announcement

DCM WW1 Trio Group to Alfred Wagstaffe - 30th M.G.C.

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