Reginald Thurtle, a rather naughty soldier

Reginald Thurtle was being rather naughty when he enlisted with the Norfolk Regiment on the 17th November 1914 when he was only 16 years old. He stated that his age was 19 years old, and then added his name into "I, Reginald Thurtle, do solemnly declare that the above answers made by me to the above questions are true". It also states that "The Recruit above named was cautioned by me that if he made any false answer to any of the above questions he would be liable to be punished as provided in the Army Act". Reginald was determined to follow his brothers!

Whether the Norfolk Regiment knew of his young age, or whether it was just the luck of the draw, Reginald stayed on the Home front until 9th December 1915. His early bad conduct were recorded in his record, and he was punished with 7 days CC for "Making an improper reply to an NCO" on 29th April 1915; then he was punished with 6 days CC for "Gambling in huts" on the 16th July 1915. This may be due to his young age!

On the 10th November 1915 his father must have heard that Reginald was about to be posted overseas as Walter wrote to Reginald's Commanding Officer, saying the following:

S.C.C. Cottages

New Road

Grt Yarmouth

I think my fifth

Son is far too young to be

sent away yet. I have four

others out in foreign parts (Soldiers).

Have enclosed Certificate

I should very much like to have

one at home in England.

   Yours obediently, 

   W Thurtle

To, Commanding Officer

 

Reginald is posted to Mesopotamia in December 1915, arriving in January 1916.

On 31st July 1916, the officer in charge at Base Records in Mesopotamia writes

Officer in Charge,

Base Records,

Indian Revolutionary Force “D”,

Mesopotamia.

Re No. 16601 Pte. R. Thurtle 2nd. Norfolks.

The father of the above has made application for him to

be sent to England, on the grounds that he is under age.

According to Birth Certificate, which is in my

possession, he was born 16. 9. 1898. consequently will not

attain the age of 18 years until 16. 9. 1916.

On enlistment, viz 17. 11. 14. he stated his age

was 19 years, In accordance with A.C.I. 1186 of 1916,

Section 2 para a he should be sent home (if willing) or

dealt with as in Section (b) of this paragraph.

(Signed)

2nd. Lieut.

 

So the Army now knows that Reginald signed up when under age. The Officer in Charge also writes back to Walter:

 

Mr. R. Thurtle, [sic]

S. C. C. Cottages,

New Road,

GT. YARMOUTH.

Sir,

With reference to your son No. 16601 Pte. R.

Thurtle, 2nd. Norfolks, - I have to inform you that I

have reported the case to the Officer i/o Base Records

Busra.

According to Army Council Instructions he will

Be sent home (if willing) or posted to a Reserve Unit

behind the firing line.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

(Signed)

2nd. Lieut.

 

 

Reginald was never sent home, so we can only assume that he was not "willing"!

Reginald's conduct appeared to be a lot better for a while, but then on 22nd September 1917 he received a punishment of 14 days CB for, amongst other things, "Improperly dressed at C.C.s Branch Inspectional 10:30am". Apart from that, his service record shows no more punishments.

 

Harold Thurtle in the Battle of Cambrai, November 1917

Only one of the Thurtle brothers came to harm during the fighting, and that was Harold. We only have his medals card, which shows that he joined the theatre of war in the Balkans, so somewhere in Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece or Bulgaria. However by 1917 he was serving in France, at the Cambrai front.

The war diary for the 20th November says that the fighting by the Essex Regiment started when "At 11am the advance was sounded by bugle". They had no luck when "At 1pm the Canal was reached , but unfortunately the bridge which had apparently been prepared for destruction collapsed under the leading Tank thereby blocking all advance" and "no progress was possible at this point".

Harold was killed in action on the 20th November 1917 at the Battle of Cambrai. He is not listed in the war diary as he was a private and only officers are mentioned by name. There is an entry at the end of the diary for the 21st November that states "Casualties on the 20th/21st amounted to – Killed, 3 Officers, 21 men; Wounded, 2 Officers, 107 men; Missing, 1 Officer, 31 men". He was one of the missing, and is therefore commemorated on the war memorial of the missing.