Berkshire and The War: the "Reading Standard" pictorial record. Volume 4. p 927

Welcome Home to the 1st Royal Berks Regiment -€” continued.

In offering a welcome home (the Mayor continued) to the officers, N.C.O.'s and men I feel sure you will all realise we are trying in some small way to thank all ranks, past and present, of the regular battalion, Territorial, and new Army, for their valuable services. I will now ask you to come into the Town Hall and partake of refreshment, which I hope may be acceptable to you after your long journey".
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Colonel BRETT, in a brief reply, again expressed thanks for the reception. If it had been expected, he said, he would have smartened his men up. They all appreciated it enormously. Though their ideas as to why they joined were perhaps somewhat vague in some cases, yet underlying these things were a patriotism and love of country which had carried them through. They now saw the lucky ones, but the unlucky ones were left behind. They, the lucky ones, were the men who would perpetuate the memory of the Royal Berks Regiment.

The men were then taken into the Hall and provided with the cup that cheers in generous measure, by the liberality of Messrs. H. and G. Simonds. Refreshments of all kinds were in readiness, and aldermen and councillors lent ready hands in waiting upon them. After they had taken their fill a move was made in the direction of the Barracks.

The Barracks.

Darkness was now falling and the spirits of the crowd seemed to be increasing correspondingly. During the march up Oxford Road they seemed to reach the high water mark and the merriment grew still more fast and furious. At length the Barracks were reached, and here Sergt. Major TRINDER congratulated the Battalion on their return on behalf of the N.C.O.'s and men. It gave him great pleasure to do so, he said, considering he had been associated with the Royal Berkshire Regiment for nearly forty years. He wished them good health and every prosperity.

The discharged and demobilised party then broke into enthusiastic cheering for Sergt.-Major Trind er, Colonel Walsh and the 1st Battalion.

Colonel WHITEHEAD having counselled the 1/4th Berks to give way to their comrades, the 1st, and to let them come first, the parade was then dismissed, and the men adjourned to dinner, which was followed by music and mirth until a late hour.

The Cadre.

The following is the nominal roll of the gallant cadre: -€” Lieut.-Colonel Brett, Lieut. Lapworth, Captain Mason, M.C., Captain W. C. Hanney, M.C., Second Lieut. Greaves, Lieut. T. E. Bryan, and Lieut. R. Frost, Q.M.S. Hammond, C.Q.M.S. Thornton, Sergt. Acting C.S.M. Tiesteel, C.S.M. Adams, Sergts. Dilling and Ashley, Corpls. Hume, Pride, Jackman and Ellicott, Lce.-Corpls. Keen, Mellett, Shuff, Dunnington and Causer, and Privates Pickford, Cox, Tapping, Newcombe, Croombes, Heeton, Bailey, Fergus, Fletcher, Medlands, Lake, Poole, Chesterman, Williams, Matthews, Barker, Jarvis, Everall, Grace, Hales, Bond, Bowler, Wilkins, Heard, Taylor, Hayter, Reynolds, Shurmer, Fry, Frampton, Thatcher, Gomm, Crutchley, Lee and Purton, and Drummers, Horne, Constable, Taylor, Sumners, Corporal Thomas, Mace, Corporal Smith and Buchan. A number of Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry accompanied the battalion home and shared the reception.

Colonel Brett has only been in command of the Battalion for twelve months and is universally popular. He was severely wounded at Monchy. On that occasion the Battalion was taking over the line from the Guards when a shell killed all the other six officers with him. He alone escaped death, and though severely injured returned and took command of the Battalion.

It was an unhappy ill-fortune that prevented Captain Pugh, D.S.O., M.C., the son of Mr. H. T. Pugh, from enjoying the honours accorded to his fellow officers. Urgent duty detained him at Cologne. Captain Pugh has done great things in the war. He joined the Universities and Public Schools Battalion of the Fusiliers on the outbreak of war and has since then been awarded the M.C. and D.S.O. for particularly fine work. At one time he was in command of the Battalion, though only in an acting capacity.

Of this cadre only six members went out with the Battalion on the outbreak of war. They are Lieut. Lapworth, R.S.M. Hammond, M. M., C.S.M. Adams, D.C.M., M.M., C.S.M. Tiestell, M.M., Bandsman Summers and C.S.M. Ashley, M.S.M. Their portraits appear below.

[photo, group, exterior] SIGHT-SEEING FROM A LORRY. [Photo by C. E. & A. May.]
From this mobile coign of vantage the metal smelters obtained a first-rate view of the scenes.

[photo, group, exterior] THE SIX ORIGINALS. [Photo by C. E. & A. May.]
The only six members now left of the 1st Battalion Royal Berks Regt. who went overseas with the Battalion at the outbreak of war. Reading from left to right their names are: - ”Top row: Sergt. Ashley, Bandsman Sumners, C.S.M. Adams. Bottom row: R.S.M. Hammond, Lieut. and Qmr. Lapworth, C.S.M. Tiesteel.