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Find the Stories… from Horses to Camels Squadron Sergeant Major

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Find the Stories… from Horses to Camels Squadron Sergeant Major Find the stories… From Horses to Camels Squadron Sergeant Major John Liddle Squadron Sergeant Major John Liddle of A Squadron 1/1st Berkshire Yeomanry, born in Northumberland in 1874. "One of the best Warrant Officers in the Regiment." This description of John Liddle was given by his Commanding Officer on news of his death. He joined the Imperial Yeomanry and served in South Africa during the Boer War 1900-1901, we know this from his medal ribbon. He stayed with the Yeomanry after the war and was photographed at training camp in Churn featuring 'African Heroes' in 1902. He later served with D Squadron of The Berkshire Yeomanry, which was based in Wantage and by 7th June 1904 he was promoted to Troop Sergeant, based on his previous experience. The Yeomanry were a part-time cavalry regiment. The soldiers trained during their weekends and attended a two week annual camp. The highlight of the camp were: competitions in horsemanship shooting swordsmanship and other events like 'best turned out Trooper', including horse and tackle. These competitions were keenly contested between individuals, troops and squadrons. We know Sergeant Liddle excelled in these skills as he won several of the competitions. In 1905 he received 1st prize in the 'Head and Post' competition, riding a horse called Napoleon. This required skilled horsemanship and swordsmanship as the rider rode and first slashed a 'head' and then chopped a post, to simulate a cavalry charge through lines of infantry. A skill which was later proved to be devastating on the Turks in Palestine during WW1. Shortly before the war broke out he was named on a Regimental Challenge Cup during the Salisbury training camp in May-June 1914. As Yeomanry were part-time soldiers, some of their skills were developed outside training as many worked on landed estates with horses and were used to handling guns. So soldiers like John Liddle had a depth of experience prior to the outbreak of WWI. It was his position as coach driver for Lieutenant Hon. A P Henderson that brought John Liddle to Windsor in 1908. When the Great War started he was living on Clewer Hill, Windsor with his wife Sarah, daughter Martha and sister-in- law Martha Keep. On 5 August 1914 he was mobilised as Troop Sergeant in A Squadron of Berkshire Yeomanry based in Windsor. He was recorded in the Reading Mercury Newspaper Roll of Honours on 19 September 1914. Initially the Squadron trained at Churn and then moved with the 2nd Mounted Brigade to Norfolk to provide a defence against the feared German invasion of England. In April 1915 his regiment sailed from Avonmouth and arrived in Egypt. After landing they completed garrison duties, prisoner escort and learned to fight dismounted. This included bayonet practice and an introduction to trench warfare. Many Yeomanry also retrained to ride camels instead of horses. On 13 August they sailed for Gallipolli and landed at Suvla Bay on the 18th. He was not there long as three days later the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Dorset Yeomanry received orders to capture Hill 70. He fought in the Battle of Scimitar Hill (Hill 70) which became known across Britain as "The Great Charge". This hill had been assaulted several times already when the Yeomanry were ordered to move to the front line (Hill 53, Chocolate Hill). To get there they famously marched under continuous shell fire across two miles of a dried salt lake. They did not break ranks but simply moved forwards as casualties fell to the side. Once under the cover of Chocolate Hill they were then ordered to continue past the forward trenches and assault Hill 70. This became one of the most famous events in the Battle for Gallipoli. During this battle John Liddle personally lead an assault on a first and second trench line and as a result of this action he was 'Mentioned in Despatches' (MID). The original citation reads; "For leading his troop to the attack of the enemy trench and after the trench had been left, in collecting his troop and returning in good order under heavy fire". This was a particularly detailed entry for MID. The regiment received heavy casualties and the next day he was promoted to Squadron Sergeant Major and also later listed as Assistant Regimental Sergeant Major. John Liddle's MID recommendation was not turned into a medal. He was however later awarded the French Croix de Guerre Medal in addition to the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal (fondly known as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred). He had previously been awarded the South Africa War Medal and later received the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal. John Liddle was heading to France on a British troopship called 'Aragon' when it was torpedoed by a German Submarine UC 34; and it sank on 30 December 1917. John Liddle's death was recorded as 'lost at sea' - drowned. However his body eventually washed up on the shore and he was buried at the Military Cemetery in Alexandria, Egypt. John Liddle is named on two memorials in the borough. The Barry Avenue Memorial, Windsor dedicated specifically to 'A' Squadron Berkshire Yeomanry and also on his local parish memorial: St Andrews Memorial, Clewer, Windsor. On the memorial at Clewer there is a listing is for Liddell. J. (miss-spelt). Researchers were drawing a blank and couldn't identify this name to a local connection. Thanks to their perseverance it was discovered that there was indeed a spelling mistake and that it should have read Liddle. J. Research carried out by The Berkshire Yeomanry Museum. .
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