TOY.~, ....... 0 F~ 6 e ~PSHIRE COUNTY LIBRARY ~,~ )~ ~e~1 011 lOCAl. ~ISTO~¥ COI.I.~.CTIO~ ~OR ~R~C~. US~. 0~7 ..£,2 il;: ~ I£ ~: r!:L i- • . ....... .=. -> .... ~ .. ~,~:-i~i~ !:.-~;i~; ~ ~: ?,~ °, |-, ~ r_¸ r r i k i i l_ 890 THE TIMES HISTORY OF THE WAR. i~~ ~ i i : i ~ SEC.-LIEUT. (Acting CAPTAIN) A. M. TOYE, Middlesex Regiment. i E i~ ii/ i, J ! BRIGADIER ALFP~ED M~URIC~S TOYE, V.C., M.C. ALFRED ~tAURICE TOYE was the eldest son of Mr. James R. TOYE, Chief Clerk, General Registry, Aldershot 8ommand, and was born at "D" Terrace, /~/~ Stanhope Lines South Camp, Aldershot, on the 7th April 1897 His Father - a Uhristian Scientist - raised the end Aldershot Troop of Boy Sco~ts, who had their headquarters in a wooden hut in Wellington Lines. Alfred was the first Patrol Leader and ~ing's Scout in the Troop. His younger brother Henry also belonged to the Troop The many photographs taken by Gale and ~olden, L~d,Aldershot of the Aldershot Boy Scouts Association are shown in this file because of thise connection. 0nly a few show Mr. J.R.Toye and perhaps his two sons. They were taken between the years 1910 & 191~; some are of the 1st Aldershot Troop (Marlborough l~ines) only. This Troop, whose scoutmaster was Lieuteant Betts, The well-known Gymnast and Master-at-Arms- won the Prize for being the smartest troop in all England at the Crystal Palace Rally, 1910. The prize was a mountain-gun given by Sir Robert Baden- Powell, and casued much criticism by the non-milltant leaders of the Boy Scout movement. It was kept in the Army Detention Bar- racks at North Camp and maintained in good order by soldiers in d~tention ' It came out for various displays by the Troop. In October 1911, my R~giment, the llth Hussars, moved from Shorn- cliffe to Aldershot and I was asked to take over the post of Scomtmaster, 1st Aldershot Troop. This I resigned in~12 when my father was dying; but in 1913, after ± had been promoted Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant, llth Hussars, and was ~iven a Warrant 0fficer's quarter next to the Sc~t Hut, I was request -ed to succeed ~r. J.R. Toye as Scoutmaster of the 2nd Aldershot Troop (~.M.Lu~nis) At that time ~r. J.R.Toye and his family were living in @~ Road. ~de~shgJ~~ ~50, St. George's R@ad) .My wife's oar -en~s were ±Ivlng In ~ Terrace , ~annope "ines. W.M.L. Alfred Toye was a good-looking boy and very likeable. In after life he proved a very efficient soldier as he had been a very keen Scout. At the age of 14 he enlisted in the Royal Engineers on boy's service, and went to The Curragh, Co. Kildare. In 1915 h~ went to France and became Acting Corporal, and at the e~d of 1916 he put in for a commission and went on a c~urse at the Cadet School, Blendecques, near St. 0met . It was where I had been in March-April 1916 before I obtained my com- mission. In January 1917 I was in cha~ge of a couple of Army lorries sent from Pernois to Watten to pick up stores belonging to my Regiment, 2nd Bn. Suffolk Regiment. These had been left there before we went to the Spmme. On my way I called at Somer -set Eouse, Cadet School, Blendecques and there I met Alfred Toye. Ze appeared to be a very smart soldier. Later he was commissioned into the 2nd Bn. The i~iiddlesex Regiment. About October 1917 he was in the Ypres ~alient and took part in the fighting for Passchendaele and was awarded the Mill -tary Cross. Subsequently he was appointed Acting Captain. His Victoria Cross was won during the retirement of the Fifth Army in rearguard actions around Eterpign~y; for de~ails of which see another ~age. He was decorated with the V.C. by His ~ajesty King George V on the Queen's Parade, ~Lldershot, 8th June 1918 He was presented with the Freedom of Aldershot by the Aldershot Town Council. He married Miss Robertson, an Army School teacher, at Aldershot. After the First Wo~ld War Captain Toye was specially se- lected , as were some half-dozen V.Cs, for service in N. Russia on the Staff of General R.St.G. Grogan,VC . %~ile there he was met several timesby another former ~ldershot Boy Scout - Patrol Leader Fred C.~. Walker, 2nd Aldershot Troop - who was serving in R.E. Signals His selection for Russia came as a great sur- prise, as he had intended going to India. It gave him another chance of ~istinguis ing himself, being mentioned in despatches for services as an Intelligence Officer. 6th/ Further details about Al~red Maurice TOYE, V.C., M.C. Date of Birth. According to attestation 7th April, 1897, but according to my Scout Records, 15th April, 1897. Passed out of Cadet School, Blendecq~es, 15~h February, 1917. Commissioned !nto. Rnd Bn. ~e Middlesex Regiment, 15 Feby. 1917. Appointed Acting Captain and Company Commander. Awarded the Victoria Cross for nine veyy gallant acts of leadership in extricating his Company from precarious situationS'at~ Eter- pigny Ridge from the 2gth to 31st March, 1917 and 24 April 1917. A picture of him b~eing decorat~ed with the Victoria Cross by His Majesty King George V on'the Queen's Parade, Al~ershot,~appeared in the "Aldershot News,$ but owing to a disastrous fire which occurred~at ~es#rs ~ale& Polden's premises at Wellington Works, the ph0tographic plate was lost. There•~fS~ a• referehce to this in "The Story of Aldershot" (pag~ 184).~ Also on pp 305 and 306, it is stated that a photograPh of him is in the Committee Room of the Town Clerk, Aldershot. ~ ~ :~ ~:: : Afterwards Captain Toye trans.ferred to the ist Bn. The 0zfp~d~hire &nd Buckifighamshire Ligb't Infantry,~ and was station -ed at Colchester~. (about 1937) ~There~he resided in" ~Married Quarters at Ypres Road,iReed~lial~ " the verysame road in which my wife and I l~ved up to 1930. ...... ~ ...... While I was Vicar of Kesgrave, Suffolk (1933-1941) he wrote to me asking ill could procure for his company a camping site~. . l'~aontac%ed Col. C.~ Barnes,~ of Kesgrave I~all,~ a~nd thus r.ranged f0~ a site 0n his estate. ~ .... ~ My son, Eric, when commissioned into the Suffolk Regiment met Alfred Toye at De~onport In 19S9, where he was holding some staff appointment. Appointed Commandant,~ ~rmy Gas School, 9 September 1940. Temporary Colonel, 9th March 1941. Between the two World ~ars he was Assist~ant Command@nt of th~ Staff College in Egypt. I have seen at his father s house a photogta~h Lof him~,wear%ng a 'Tarbush' I was not "~able to obtain a copy ofthis~. ........ ~ ~ ~ ' ' ~=~ Brigadier, ist July 1948 Retired Staff, 19th January, 1949. He died ~after a ~10ng.iilness, of cancer, at Madame Curie ~°~lep~e~Undati~~ ~d~c~b~eHaall'5T~ve~t°n'D~v°ns ~nriedth~ Tiverton, September 10th. ~:~ ..... Wmj M. Lummis London Gazettei 8th May, 1918:- .... • ~ALFP~D ~RiCEITOYE,~ 2nd Lieutenant (Acting%CaPtain) 2nd Battaiion, The Middlesex Regiment. "For most conspicuous b~avery and fine leadership display -ed in extremely critical Circumstances. When the enemy cap- tured the trench at a bridgehead, he three times re-establlshed the post, which was eventually recaptured by fresh enemy attacks. After ascertaining that his three Other posts were cut off, he fought his way through the enemy with one officer and six men of his company. Finding 70 men of the battalion on his left re -tiring, he collected them counter-attacked and took up a line which he maintained until reinforcements arrived. Without this action the defence of the bridge must have been turned. In two subsequent operations, when in comm~of a composite company,he covered the retirement of hls battalion with skill and courage. Later, with a party of battalion headquarters, he pressed through the enemy in the village, firing at them in the streets, thus covering the left flank of the battalion retirement. Finally, on a still later occasion~ when in command of a mixed force of the brigade, he re;established, after hard fighting, a line that had been abandoned before his arrival. He was twice wounded within ten days, but remained~at duty. His valour and skilful leading throughout this prolonged weriod of intense operations were most conspicuous. (for a detail of the places and dates covered by this citation, see the front page, as Well ms the following page.) List of actions covered by the Citation in the London Gazette ~f 8th May, 1918. Eterpigny, (Eterpigny Ridge ) Rosieres, Caix, Moreuil Wood, Viller s-Bre t o nneux, 25th March, 1918. 26th/27th March, 1918. 28th March, 1918. 31st March, 1918. 94th April, 1918. @@~-~~ "S~ CHRIST was held till late in the evening, when the Germans, still ~ressing our line back from the South, made the position un- tenable, and our men had to fight their way back. "Further north, the enemy, under cover of a heavy m~chine-gun and artillery fire, gradually established a footing on our bank of the So,he at ETERPIBNY on the 66th Division's front. Captain TOYE, commanding a company of the Middlesex, held on here till he was left/ surrounded. With l0 men/he fought his way out, then collected 70 more of another battalion and led his party back to our new line. For this very determined and gallant action he was awarded the V.C." ("The Fifth ~rmy", by General Sir Hubert Cough, G.C.M.G., K.C.B., K,C.V.0., etc. pp 296-29~) Copy of a typewritten sheet sent to members of the 2nd ~kldershot Troop, Boy Scouts, in 1918 by Captain W.M.Lummis, The Suffolk Regiment, formerly Scoutmaster of that Troop, 1913-1914:- 2nd ALDERSHOT TROOP, BOY SCOUTS ROLL OF HONOUR. THE VICTORIA CROSS Members of the 2nd ALDERSHOT TROOP will be immensely leased to hear that the VICTORIA CROSS has been conferred on CAPTAIN ALFRED MAURICE TOYE, M.C., 2nd MIDDLESEX REGIMENT, late PATROL LE~ER of this Troop. - SCO~T SERVICES. Eldest son of M~. James R. TOYE, of 'Inglesant',50 St.George s Road, Aldershot, who first~or anized~H~t ~ 2~Idershot Troop and was its first Scoutmaster; ~ ~ TOYE joined his Father s Troop on its formation in March, 1909." As~"Scout he showed great keenness and efficiency, gaining quite a number of proficiency badges, including that of King's Scout, and the rank of Patrol Leader. He was present with the T~oop~ at th~ Windsor. Roya~. . Eeview on 4th July, 1911, and at all the ~s and ~allies in ~hlch the Troo~ took ;art ~glLITARY SERVICES. (here the paper is torn, and I have no copy of the original) lie joined the Royal Engineers, and, I believe, was stationed in Ireland, in December, 1912. At the Curragh he was of great assist- ~nce ~o The Rev. P. W. Guinness, C.~., in training the 2rid Curragh roop Boy Bcouts as Troop Leader. He went to France, 4th August, 1915, and after serving 5 years and 62 days in the ranks was com- missioned 2rid Lieutenant in The Middlesex Regiment, 15th February, 191¥, following a course at the Cadet School, Blendecques, near St. 0mer. i ~i~ ~i'~ f i~i!¸¸ =[ !" i From "The Scoujts' Book of Heroes", by F. Haydn Dimmock MXJOR ~J~F~~D |,i./~U~l~;~ 'iv*,v,, ~., ., Patrol Leade~: 2nd Aldershot Troop Boy Scouts. Lieutenant (Acting Captain) 2nd Bn. Middlesex Regiment. "Stic~ to it" is one of the Scouts' favourite mottoes, and Lkeut. Toye (as he was at the time of our story) showed the Hurts what that motto can mean. Lieut. Toye was in command of a post at a bridgehead. The enemy attack~dgin full force, managed to capture his trench. But Lieut. Toye had made up his mind to stick to that bridgehead, and before long he had re-eltablished a post. This was also cap -tured by the Bosche, but the persevering Scout established yet a third post, which fared in like manner. Ascertaining that his three posts were cut off, and that the bridge was in imminent danger of falling into the enemy's hands, Lieut. Toye made his last move. Fighting his way through the enemy, accompanied by one officer and six men, he was just in time to find seventy men of the battalion on his left, reti~img. These he collected, and, inspiring them with his own indomitable spirit ~d daring courage, counter-attacked. was too much for the Bosche. An enemy wh~lould Stick to it like that was more than they could deal with. Taking up his new line, Lieut. Toye determined to hold it until reinforcements arrived. This he was able to do. Without this action the defence of the Bridge must have been turned. Later it became necessary for the left flank of the battal- ion to retire. It was a retirement fraught with very great danger. By his extraordinary daring, however, Lieut. Toye made it possible. With a _arty of men from the battalion, he pressed through the ene- my in t~e village, firing at them in the streets, thus covering the left flank of the battalion's retirement. He was twice wounded within ten days, but remained on duty." From "The Times History of the War" V.C. Volume V; ~ages 389@390. "he was twice wounded within ten days, but remained at duty", was recorded of Second Lieutenant (Acting Captain) Alfred Maurice TOYE, M.C., Middlesex Regiment, who afforded another illustration of the terrible stress which was imposed upon British troops by the great German offensive.Reports from the front had shown how critical were many of the situations in which British troops foundt~emselves during the retirement, and how nobly officers and men, often enough collected remnants, had responded to a supreme call upon their courage and devotion. Toye provided such an example, He fought desperately during a "pDolonged period of intense operations." Amongst other achievements, finding 70 men of the battalion on his left, retiring, he collected them and counter-attacked, taking up a line which he maintained until reinforcements arrived. Without this action the defence of a bridge on which the operations centred must have been turned. All the captain's bravery and fine leadership were shown in extremely critical circumstances, and were p~rfect~y in keeping with the daring andrescourcefulness which had been so often shown durin~ the War by the old "Die Hards" to which he belonged." ii DIE-HARDS IN THE GREAT WAR. Records of The Middlesex Regiment. There were not fewer than fifteen battalions of the Middlese~ Regiment in France and Flanders in the year 1917, and their record shows that the personnel of each was made up of "Die-Hards". The second volume of "The Die-Hards in the Great War, " by Everard Wyrall, has been published by MessrS Harrison and Sons, Ltd., of London. There is evidence everywhere that the ~,iiddlesex men lived up to the reputation they won at Albuhera. The author gives us a re- cord of the desperate and splendid fighting by the "Die-Hards." Here is one of the examples: The 2nd Middlesex were heavily engaged during the Somme crossing. The first attack was at ETER- PIGNY, where, on the bridge, "C" Company had a post. This post was rushed and the garrison driven back. Fifteen minutes later the post was re-established end was again attacked. The N.C.0. was killed and the remainder of the post withdrew. Again the post was -re-established. It was not seen again. A patrol was sent- ~long the river bankzand similarly disap- peared. "C" Company had been surrounded. The order was given that there was to be no retirement. All ranks would hold out "at all costs" to the last. A desperate struggle followed. The details of the fighting at this time are obscure. 0nly the right platoon of "B" Company and the last support of "D" Company got away. "The other ~ six platoons of these two companies perished at their post. As ordered by the Divisional Commander, there was no retirement. They held out at all costs." The Battalion narrative recorded that all four platoons of "C"Company obeyed the order to hold out at all costs. In all ten survivors escaped after they were surrounded. Captain A.M.TOYE who commanded 'C' Company, was awarded the Victoria Cross. "From "The Die-Hards in the Great War, 1916-1919 - Vol. II by Everard V/yrall. "The story now turns back to the morning of the 24th (March, 1918) to the S0~E south of PERONNE, where the 2nd and 13th Battal- ions of the (Middlesex) Regiment were engaged in holding up the ene -my' s advance. The night of the 23rd/24th March passed comparatively quiet- ly, but when dawn broke pc'~_~2 ~tter, Tt~ v;ere made by theGermans to force the crossings over the river. The 13th Battalion, on the night of 23rd, had concentrated at LICOURT with two companies forward in close support of the 2nd Northamptons, who were holding the crossing. Early on the 24th the Battalion received orders to withdraw and concentrate at CHA~LNES. This move completed, the Middlesex went into bivouacs east of the town until 1 p.m., when orders were received to occupy defensive positions on the PUZEAU-PUNCHY line, in support of the 7th North- amptons and Royal Sussex. Three companies were put into the front line, and one company with Battalion Headquarters at I~/ZEA~Y. The night of 24th/25th passed quietly. At 7 a,m. on the 25th a counter-attack on the llne CURCHY- DRESLINCOURT, in co-operation with the French on the right, was ordered. The French counter-attack did not materialise, but the Northamptons and Sus se~, supported by the 13th Middlesex, were heavily engaged with the enemy and had to fall back again to the positions occupied all night. The enemy followed up vigourously , and, supprted by heavy artillery f~e, drove back the two forward battalions. At about 6 p.m. "C" Company of the Middlesex was driv -en out of PUZEAU, and the Battalion withdrew to a line crossing theeastern side of I~JNCHY to the PUNCHY-CHAULNES road. Before daylight, however, on the 26th, another withdrawal to a more suit- able position on the line HALLU-CHAULNES was made, without inter- ferencefrom the enemy. In the fighting on 26th March Lieut. W.H. D. de PASS was reported missing and 1.ieut W.R.T.Skinner wounded." L i k THE SOMME CROSSINGS (continued) North of the 13th Middlesex, the 2nd Battalion had remained throughout the R4th in the position taken up, i.e., in the tren -ches and shell holes west of VILLERS-CARBONNEL. On the night of the 24th/R~th, however, the Battalion relieved the Rnd West Yorkshires in the defences of HAPPLINCOURT, BRIE and ETERPIGNY, Bridges over the SOMME: the Rnd Devons were on the right of the 2nd Middlesex and the 7th D.L.I. on the left holding ETERPIGNY village. On the 25th the Rnd Middlesex were heavily engaged. The first attack was at ETERPIGNY, where, on the bridge, "C" Company ~his ~st.wasTrashg~ at ~ a~m. and the garrison driven back on the supports. But 18 minutes later the post was re-established, only to be attacked again. The N.C.0. was kill -ed and the remainder of the post withdrew. Once more the ~ost was re-establlshed; it was never seen again A~ ~.30 a.m. a patrol was sent along the river bank and similarly disappeared; By 8 a.m. it was a;parent that the enemy had crossed the river, and 18 minutes later he attacked north and south of the ETERPIGNY bridge. On the left the 7th D.L.I. withdrew, with disastrous results to "C" Company of the Middlesex. "C" Company was now surrounded, but at once the order was given that there was to be no retirement and all ranks would hold out, 'at all costs' to the last. And then ensued a desper- ate struggle. One gallant subaltern -R/Lieut. F.G.E. Mahany - with great courage and initiative, knowing that his company corn -mander was in the village, fought his way through at the cost of all but three men of his platoon. CAPTAIN A.~I.TOYE, command" ing "C" Company, with six men, cut his way out of the village, and the little party, finding some 70 men of the 7th Durham L.I rallied them and even counter-attacked the enemy, and held on across the ETERPIGNY-VILLERS-CARBONNEL road until the Rnd West Yorkshires came up and relieved the situation. CAPTAIN TOYE remained with the West Yorkshires until dark. For his conspicu -ous bravery and fine leadership on the RSth of ~arch, he was subsequently awarded the VICTORIA CROSS, the official citation stating : - "~en the enemy captured the trench at a bridgehead, he three times re-established the post, which was eventually re- captured by fresh enemy attacks. After ascertaining that his three other posts were cut off, he fought his way through the enemy with one officer and six men of his company. Findi~ ~O men of the battalion on his left retiring, he collected ~them, counter-attacked, and took up a llne which he maintained until reinforcements arrived. Without this action, the defence of the bridge must have been turned. In two subsequent operations, when in command of a composite company, he covered the retire- ment of his Battalion with skill and courage. Later, with a par- ty of Battalion Headquarters he oressed through the enemy in the village, firi~g at them in the streets, thus covering the left flank of the battalion retirement. Finally, on a still later occasion, when in command of a mixed force of the brigade, he re-established, after hard fighting, a line that had been aban- doned before his arria@~l. He was twice wound td within ten d^ys, but remained at duty. His valour and skilful leading throug~- out this prolonged period of intense operations was most con- spi cuou s." ("London Gazette", 7th May, 1918) In the _action at ETERPIGNY, the Battalion na~rati~ve proud -ly ~ecords that "all four platoons of 'C' Company obeyed the order to h01d out at all costs without retirement. In all ten survivors es- caped after they were surrounded." The Somme Crossings (continued) BRIE Bridge was next attacked. Germans, moving quickl~y ~@ dawn the west bank of the river from ETERPIGN~, attacked the left post of "B" uompany. Here also the same sBlenl~d discipline, the same heroic regard for the honour of the Regiment distinguished the fighting of the Die-Hards. During several hours of heavy fighting the Company commander sent his support Dlatoon and a olatoon of "D" Company to form a de- fensive flank between the railway and the river at the bottom of the valley. Keeping under cover as much as pOSSible, the Germans reached BRIE bridge and tried to carry the trenches at the bridge head. For an hour and a half they made the most desperate efforts to cross, but each time were repulsed and driven back. The simple harrative of the fighting in this part of the battle- field is given in full, for no paraphrase can add to what is really an eoic :- "The details of the fighting are obscure, as only the right plat -oon sf "B" Company and the last support of 'D~ Company got away. The other six latoons of these two Companies perished et their post, As ordered by'the Divisional Commander, there was no retirement. They held out at all costs. The left platoon of 'A' Company, which had been sent to reinforce 'B' Company, has never been seen again." May the splendid example set by these brave fellows, who were faithful unto death, be for ever an Insoiratlon to all young soldiers to carry out their orders regardless of the cost. The remainder of 'A' Company were not seriously engaged during the day and withdrew, with the Devons, in the evening. Ther'right platoon of "B" was in the bridge defences with two Lewis gun~, under R/Lieut. W. J. Martin. For nearly two hours they kept the enemy at bay, exacting fearful toll of his troops. Captain N Wegg then posted them on the Amiens road near his Company Headquart- ers, overlooking the bridge. ~;~.q~en the ~emnants of the Company were destroyed, R/Lieut. Martin fell back upon 'A' Company at F~&PPLINCGJRT and withdrew through the outskirts of VILLERS-CARBONNEL with the left of the Devons~ The support platoon of 'D' Company had been posted on a rise above the bridge, on the south side of the river, under cover. In anticipation of the afternoon attack the C.0. moved the platoon to a wost north-west of the bridge. They finally fell back fighting, with Battalion Headquarters, when the order to retire was received from Brigade Headquarters. The story of that day of desperate and splendid fighting would not be complete without relating what happened to Battalion Head- quarters. The first news of the attack reached the C.0. (Lieut-Colonel C. A.S. Page) at 9 a.m., from an officer of the 8th Division Machine-Gun Battalion, who with two men had escaped after hand-~Lo-hand fighting just south Of ETERPIGNY; he re~orted that the latter ~ace had fall- en. Battalion Headquarters, 2rid Middlesex, were then situated in an old trench about 200 to 300 yards north of the VILLERS-CARBONNEL-BRIE road and about 700 yards east of VILLERS-CARBONNEL. Page at once form -ed a ~efensi~e flank in trench "A-A" with about fifty men of Battal- ion Headquarters, consisting of Scouts, Pioneers, Signallers and Run- ners. Major C.B. Drew with 2/Lieut A.T. Goodman, (-Intelligence Offi- cer) and R/Lieut D. W. Temple, took command of the right portion of the trench. A patrol of scouts was then ~aken out by Lieut.E. Frayne in order to gain touch with the enemy~ ~t about 9.15 a.m. 2/Lieutenan~ Cawdron, with five men, the only survivors of his platoon, came into Battalion Headquarters and confirmed the loss of ETERPIGNY. Nothing happened until about 10.50 a.m., when the right flank of two companies of the 2nd West Yorkshires were seen moving down the VILLERS-CARBONNEL-ETERPIGNY road. ~Knowing~ that the Germans were post -ed on the spur "B" with two machine-guns, Major C. D. Drew saw that the West Yorkshires would be taken in flank. Immediately, on his own initiative, he led forward 20 details from °attalion Headquarters and counter-attacked the enemy, driving the Germans back up the valley and ~osting a Lewis gun and one Vickers gun to hold them off. 1 ! ~f ~i¸ ,~i:% ~i!!~ The So,mine Crossings (continued) At about 1.20 p. m. the little party was attacked by 60 Germans, c but drove them off. At 4.5 p.m. fresh German troops, in: great fo~re, advance'd~to the attack, a~d, seeing th6 ~utility of trying to hold these up, Major Drew fell back again to trench "A-A" Meanwhile the Scout P~la~oon had almost been wiped out. Colonel Page, in' b~der~ to protect Major Drew's right flank) had s e~t ~ the SC0ut l~latoon, Under' Lieut, E. Frayne, to take ap :position o~L Spur "D". The platoon moved down trench "A-A"and then, in~ single file, down the valley "C". At about Point "C" they .were SUrp~±sed by a G;erman machine-gun at 200 yards range and: were near l~ killed / or wounded. The remainder tookwhat cover they could,~but, being un- @~ able t b move, were eventually c=p~ured. Lieut Frapne;J was wounded and taken ~risoner. (He died of wounds, in German hands on 17.5.1S) The platoon sergeant - Sergeant W. FOX - was also taken prison -er, but, imbued with the Die-tiard spirit, knocked his guard down and ¢scapod" (Three days later he was twice captured, bu~ escaped On both. occasions). -- " .............. ' At ~bout 4._15 p~m.;'Colonel iPage reoeived-f.~nal ¢nessa~e~ con- cerningq'B'' and "D" Companies: they were seen Lfighting to ~he •last against overw~e~lming forces of fresh ~troops .... a whole GermanDivision had been descending the slope east~ oT the, river all day without in- terference ~nd had crossed at ETERI~I~NY. ~- .~ ~ The little party at Battalion headquarte~ now prepare'd, to sell their lives dearly. Reln9orced by two Vickers guns, the C.0., the ~econd in 0ommand and the Adjutant, all taking a hand in the fir -ing, engaged the enemy, who were now advancing over the crest at "B" and "D" . The range , and along a hedge on the sunken road near "C" was from 800 to 1,000 yards~~ Everyone shot Well, and until du:sk the , Germans were p'revented from cross±ng the high ground.~:" ,~--~ ,- : At about 5.20 p.m, a G~rman aerol~ane, flying low over ~ the little party of Middlesex, called for ~arrage fire on the trench "A--A". German guns on the opposite crest of the valley then opened fire and, until after 7 p.m., fired ten rounds a minute on Col. Page and his devoted comrades. Few casualties resulted from this fire and the men of Headquarters, s~owing an utter contempt for danger, continued sniping steadily through the barrage wlth,the utmost cool- ness. • Then, at last, at 6.45 p.m., orders were received from Brigade Headquarters to retire. Colonel Page at once sent.off an order to "A", "B" and "D" Companies to withdraw. The order had arrived too lat~. , Three platoons each of "B" and "D" Companies and one of "A" had already fallen at their" posts or had been captured. "At all costs" they had carried out their orders to remain to the end and not with- draw. ° : • - ~ .... ........ The runners with the messages came back and reported that . the ro2d at about "F" was-'in German hands. At about 7 p.m= the latter began :to advance from the rivar 'on VIIJm~RS-0ARBONNEL. They approach- ed unseen "~0 within 450 #ards of Battalior~ Headquarters, but were there Observed and @topped by fire, They then began to move for- ward into dead" ground 200:Yards in front of ~A"--'tA" trenoh,n~ar the '~L, of PONT LES BRIE. At 7.15 p.m. Colonel Page began the retirement of Battalion Headquarters. He first sent off Major C. D. Drew, the Adjutant (Cap -tain W. Evans), with half the party to a covering position at about "G". The remainder he sent back in batches upon the trench "A"--"G" All the while the gallant C.0. and two men - Private Burgess (the C.0's servant) and Private Allen - both of "D" Company, fired "ra.l~id" to cover the retirement. A Vickers gun also remained under Captain Robertson, of the Machine Gun Corps. Finally, at 7.25 p.m, Colonel ~age sent off the two men and "after five last rounds rapid" follow- ed them up the trench. Three minutes after the C.0. had left the Germans occupied it : The C.0 had himself fired over 200 rounds' The Somme Crossings (continued) From ii a.m. (when the Germans were first driven back by Major Drew) Battalion Headquarters, with only a platoon of "D" Company, had held the llne "B, C, D. "A--A" successfully until 7.25 p.m. In all, the Battalion maintained the defence of BRIE BRIDGE from 7.00 in the morning Until 7.0 at night ~gainst o~ds of six to one, for, Judgingby formations and frontages, three battalions of the Ger- man division which crossed at ETERPIGNY were employed against the b rl dge. The fine example set by the Commanding Officer of the end Middlesex in this section will llve long in the annals of the Regi -ment and amongst the imperishable deeds of the Great War. The remnants of the 2nd Middlesex withdrew to ESTREES through a rearguard of another Division. In the gallant defence of the Somme crossings the Middlesex had lost four platoons of "C" Company, three of "B" Company, three of "D" Company, and one of "A'" Company. "Eleven platoons ,"records the narrative, "in all p~rished in accordance with the order of no retirement and resistance at all costs." Twelve officers and over 300 other ranks, killed, wounded,or taken prisoner, were the losses of the Battalion, but as the narra -tlve states:- "Not once had an officer to reprimand a man. The fighting spirit was perfect and worthy of th~ traditions of the 77th. The 77th has never fought against such odds with such succes~ except at INKERMAN. " "Thank God all ranks did their duty '" By the ~miens road the Middlesex returned to the defence of ESTR:~ii~i~i!~i~i!~¸¸~¸¸~¸~¸~¸¸!~¸ i~ ..... ~ ~ ~ i~ ~ ~ ~ ~ii,~i¸ 43rd Light Infantry COLCHESTER 18th June, 1937 My dear William, I met Colonel Barnes by arrangement yesterday morning and settled the bivouac site for~ Friday, 23rd July. He was kindness itself and has been very helpful over the water question. Very many thanks for all your help in the matter. Given good weather I know we shall be very comfortable. We are due to ar~Ive about 1 p.m. on Friday, 23rd July, and to leave at 9 a.m. the following morning. My officers and I hope that Mrs Luminia and yourself will Join us for sherry in the bivouac about 6.15 o'clock p.m. on Friday, 93rd~ July. Yours ever, MAU RI CE. +++++++ From Kesgrave Parish Magazine, August, 1937 43rd LIGHT INFANTRY CAMP. Two companies of the 0xfordshlre and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (or the 43rd Light Infantry - their former des- ignation - which they prefer to use)from Eyderabad Barracks, Colchester, were In camp on the Heath north of Kesgrave Hall (by kind ~ermisslon of Col. C. C, Barnes) on the night of Jul~ 23rd~24th, under the command of CAPTAIN A. MAURICE TOYE, V.C., M.C. On the following morning they left for Aldeburgh. A visit to the camp showed how much is changedln the Army during the past ~even years. ~here was practically noth -ing to suggest a military camp at all. There were no rows of bell tents out in the open, or even a trace of camp kitchens, transport lines, and other familiar features of military life. Precautions against aerial attack necessitate concealment. Even though the unit be mechanised, as into this case, the vehicles re all under trees or cohcealed by camoflag~d s~reens. ~ach sectipn of men with their bivouacs is tucked aWaY under a bush and further hidden by the tall bracken.There are no smoky wood fires - cooking is all done by small petrol c ontrlvanc e s • Capt. A. M TOYE is one of the eleven former Boy Scouts who gained the Victoria Cross in the Great War, and has had a very distinguished career. He was the first Patrol Leader and King's Scout of the 2nd Aldershot Troop, of which his father was the first Scoutmaster. He enlisted in the Royal Engineers at the end of 1911 and was stationed on the Curragh when war broke out. Commissioned in the field and posted to the Middlesex Regiment (15th February, 1917) he quickly gained a Company and acting Captaincy, and won his ~i.C. in the same year. The retirement of General Gough's Fifth Army gave him the opportunity of winning the V.C., and the nine days' lead- ership of his Company, extricating them from numerous dan~ers, was, in my opinion, one of the finest records in the history of the V.C. After serving on the Western Front until 1919, C_apt. Toye was specially selected for Staff appointment in North Russia. He was Staff Lieutenant, let Class, 23rd May to 21st June, 1919; G;S:O. 3 (Temp Capt) July 22nd to October 5 1919 and G.S.0., Defence Force, April 9th to May 12th, 1921. Then from let March, 1923 to June 1924, he held a Special a~point- ment with the Rhine Army, and on 1~romotion to Captain, 24th June, 1924, was posted to his present regiment. On 18th November, 1925, he was appointed Senior Military Instructor, Cairo Military School, Egypt, an appoint -ment which he only relinquished l~s than two years ago. For ~his services in North Russia, he was mentioned in Despatches, (L.G. 3rd Feb.1925) W.M.L. (Vicar of Kesgrave) From The Mont,11y._,.~~-~.~ Li~ ~n(~ the Lcr,$c,~ (}~zette THE DUKE OF C~MBRIDGE'S OWN (MIDDLESEX REGIMENT)- Regimental District No. ~7. LIEUTENANTS : (21) V.C.TOYE, A M. H.C. (Acting Major, 21 Sept. 1918) London Gazett.~: 15 Aug, 1918 GENERAL STAFF G.S.0., 3rd Grade: Lieutenant A. M. TOYE, V.C., M.C., Middlesex Regiment . from a Staff Lieutenant, and to be temporary Captain, whilst so employed, vice Captain G.R.P. ROUPELL, V.C. East Surrey Regiment (July 22, 1919) London Gazette, 3rd February, 1920:- T~e names of the undermentioned have been brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War for valuable and distinguished services rendered in connection with the operations in RUSSIA during the period 25th March to 26th September, 1919. ARCHANGEL. T/Brig-}en. ~G. W. St. G. GROGAN, V.C., C.B., C.M.G., D.S.0. A/Lt-Col. C.E. HUDSON, V.C., D.S.0., M.C., Notts and Derby Regiment . A/Major A. L[. TOYE, V.C., M.C., i~T.iddlesex Regiment. Army Orders - January 1923 A.0. 28, 1923 +++++++++++++++ SCHOOL OF MILITARY ADMINISTRATION With reference to Kimg's =egulations, 1914, paragraph 861 and Appendix XI (as amended by Army Order 39 of 1991), the following officers passed the Junior Officers' Course, No. 4, which assembled at the School of Military Adminis- tration, CHISLEDON, on 15th September,1922, and terminated on 8th December, 1922:- + + + + + + Lieutenant TOYE, A.M., V.C., M.C., The Middlesex Regiment. (Duke of Cambridge's Own) 1 ~i~ ~ J~i~ ~/~~ ~.. ~ ~,~ ~ ~ ~ ~L~ ~ ~ ~ii~•~i~ii~i~i~i~i£¸~¸¸¸¸~¸~'~ ~¸¸ .......... ~¸¸ '¸¸ ............. ~ ~ ~ .............. ~ .......... ........... ~ o~RVICzS .... cf B}IIQ~SDII~I~ ~/LFkLL' ~.: ~ TT~:~(, ...... ..... T~'~'~.~ V.C I,i.C From "?~o' s ~,ho", and other sources :- Born at '~LDZRSHOT, 7th ~.pril, 1897. Eldest son of Mr. James R. ~0YE, Chief Clerk, Central Registry, Aldershot Command, who was the founder and first Scoutmaster of the 2nd '~ldershot Troop Boy Scouts, March 1909 to 1913. Alfred Maurice Toye joined the Troopln March, 1909 and became Patrol Leader and the first King's Scout of the same He was ~resent, I believe, at the Ch#ystal Palace i~ally in 1910 and the WinSsor Rally in June 1911. He joined the Royal Engineers on boy's service in December, 1912, and was stationed at The Curragh, Co. Kildare. There he was of great assistance to the Chaplain, The Rev. Percy W. Guknness in the training of the 2nd Curragh Troop Boy Scouts. He oroceeded to France on the 4th August 1915 and served in France and Belgium until the 24th April, 1918, and again from 23rd August 1918 to llth November 1918. Ee was wounded no less than three times. He was an Acting Corporal, Royal Engineers, when, in the winter of 1916-17 he was selected to attend the Cadet School, Blen- decques, near St. 0mer, for a course prior to being commissioned. In January 1917 I called at Somerset House, Blendecques (where I was on a course nine months previously) and there met Alfred Toye. He was commissimned a Second Lieutenant in the Middlesex Regiment, and oost -ed to the 2nd Battalion, 15th February, 1917. He was promoted Act- ing Caotain and Elven command of a Company 15th August 1917. His Erom0tlon to Lieutenant was exactly a year later, 15th August, 1918. e held the rank oi ~cting Major from 29th September 1918 to July 21 1919. For his services at Passchendaele in 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross, and his consoicuous gallantry during the retire- ment of General Sir Hugh Gough's Fifth Army at ETERPIGNY on the 25th March, 1918 and subsequent dates won him the Victoria Cross. ~qis was announced in the London Gazette 8th May, 1919. and he was decor- ated by His Majesty King George V at an Investiture held on Q~een's Parade, Aldershot, on 8th June, 1919 (exactly a month later) His medals for the 1st World War were the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, besides being mentioned in Despatches for services in North Russia. ~e also received the Freedom of Alder- shot. He was selected for s ec~al service in North Russia, as were ?% several other holders of the Victoria Cross, under a/Brigadier G.W. St. G. GROGAN, VC, CB, CMG, DS0. He was Staff Lieutenant, 1st Class from 23rd May 1919 to 21st July 1919; G.S.0., 3, North Russia, with tKmary rank of Captain from 22nd July 1919 to 5th October, 1919; and G.S.0, Defence Force, from 9th April 1921 to 15th May 1921. He was in North Russia from 9th April 1919 to 20th October 1919. He held a~ecial appointment Class FF with the Rhine Army (temporarily) from 1st March 19~3 to 8th June 1924 (London Gazette, 13th March 1923) being stationed at COLOGNE. On 17th November 1925 he left Aldersbot for Cairo to take up the appointment of Assistant Commandant, Egyptian Military Coll- ege, under the Egyptian Army. He was photographed wearing the tar- bush, but I have been unable to obtain a copy from the one I saw at his father's house. He held this post from 18th November 1925 to 17th November 1935. He was Chief Instructor from 19th April, 1939, to 16th ~gust, 1939 and Chief Instructor from 17th August 1939 to 8th September, 1940. He had been transferred as Captain to the 0xfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light ~Infantry, 26th April 1924. Stationed at ~iyder -shad Barracks, Colchester in 1937, he occupied a Married Quarter at ll, Ypres Road, Reed Hall. On 23rd July 1937 he commanded two companies ~iweuecked ~t Kesgrave AAall enroute for Aldeburgh. Promoted NaJor 5th EYarch 1938, and Brevet Lieut~nantColonel 1st July 1939, he was in command of Tregantle Fort, Cornwall, where my son Eric, commissioned into The Suffolk Regiment at Plymouth,met him in 1939. He WaS Acting Lieutenant-Colonel 18th October, 1939 to 17th January 1940, and Temp. Lieutenant-Colonel 18 January, 19@0 and Actin~eCOlonel,~9.t.h Sept.emb~r 1940 was a~ ~.n.~., ~llaa±e ~ast, Cairo, in January 1946 f / 2 J J ,& From The Daily Telegraph, Th~arsday, September 8, 1965. 0b i tu ar_/f BRIG. A. M. TOYE, V.C. ++*+++++++++++++÷++ ~.++ TOYE: On Sept. 6 at the Marie Curl, Memorial Foundation, Tldcombe Hall, Tiverton, I~von, after a long illness courageously borne, ~RIGADIER ALFRED MAURICE TOYE, V.C., M.C., late Com- mandant, Home Office C.D. School, Fairfield, Glos. aged 58 years, ~ery dear husband of FLORA. Funeral, ~aturday, 12 noon. ?lowe~s to Mugford, Barrlngton Street, Tiverton. Brig. Alfred Maurice Toye, who was awarded the VictoriaCross in 1918, died on Tuesday at Tiverton, Devon. He ~:as 58. 0bi tu ary -P4 Brig. ALFRED M~/IRICE TOYE, who has died aged 58, won the Vic -toria Cross in 1918 when serving with the Middlesex ~ } Photographs of 2nd Aldershot Troop Boy Scouts ************ i. The whole Troo~par~ded in Aldershot Station yard prior to entrainment for the Birmingham Jamboree, 1912. Five patrols, and strength about 40. Henry Toye (younger brother of ~lfred Maurice Toye) was my Patrol Leader (Beaver ~atrol). I can only see my eyes and hat showing ! Henry Toye was ~y pal and I often went to his house at the back of Aldershot Station to help manipulate his model theatre or other games. My Father came home one day and said'Guess who I clothed out and kitted to-day :- Alf T~ye.He's just been called up for training as a Trumpeter ! " Mrs Toye sent my mother an invitation to Alfred's wedding which she was delighted to attend. In the summer of 1918 I was sitting in a tent ~n a field in Bungay when I opened a letter from Mother which enolmsed a cutting from the 'Aldershot News' in which it stated Alfred Toye had been awarded the M.C. Shortly afterwards on reading the 'Daily Mail' there was the news that Alfred had been awarded the V.C, Alfred, on his way to North Russia, as Brigade-Major, 238 Special Brigade, travelled on the same boat as I did, the s.s. Stephen. I have apicture of our boat stuck in the frozen sea between Murmansk and Archangel. 2. Picture of the troop outside the old Scout Hut, Mr. Gibson being the Scoutmaster. The lady is Miss Wigg: she used to teach us cooking and gardening. This was just before Sergeant Lummis, llth Hussars, took o~er the Troop, 1913. . Tilford Camp, Surrey. We shared the camp with the 4th Ilford Troop. I became friendly with Leslie Hollinghurst when I said I had an aunt who lived in Ilford. He told me to call on him when next I visited Ilford, which I did. I corresponded with him for a number of years and last heard from him when he was a flying instructor at Uphaven, Wilts. As you know, he reached the great heitht of Air Chief Marshal, and died 1951. 1913 2nd Aldershot Troop Boy Scouts, parading in Aldershot Railway Station Yard under Scout- master James R. Toye prior to entraining for the Birmingham Rally. { i{ • il } ii > ? '• .... i-~,:~ ~, 1912 2nd Aldershot and 4th llford Troops at Tilford Camp The Bugler is Fred Walker, 2nd AldershQt / i ? i9i3 2nd Aldershot Troop in camp Scoutmaster W.M.Lummis standing on left of the middle tent. Patrol Leader Fred Walker in centre on the left of the cyclist .... ~ ~! i ~ ~ ~ ! • ! •iil ~ .... i¸i 7!~ ~ ..... .... i,~ ? 1912 2nd ~ldershot Troop on Laffan's Plain, Aldershot. % i i 1914 2nd ~Idershot Troop in canoe on Basingstoke Canal Scout Ernest C. Mugridge at the stern S/M W.M.Lummis and Scout ReginaldBy~ne Scouts in middle seat Scout Jack A. Gedge & P./Ldr F. Walker, front seat Scout in bow = ~