13 Division Royal Engineers, Signals. July 1915.
MotG Sapper 62361 Austin Ledwith died at sea, he was a telegraphist/signaller, it is has not been possible to exactly determine the circumstances of his death. Signals worked on the lines of communications and would have been distributed and working throughout the network from the front line and back down the various battalion, brigade and divisional HQs. Few details are given in 13 Division, RE Signals War Diary. The Divison had sailed for the Mediterranean in June 1915. In July the Division was to take over from 29 Division at Gallipoli. The Division arrived at Mudros on 9 July 1915. The signallers immediately began work on setting up lines of communications, installing equipment, laying cables and testing. On 16 July they received orders to prepare to move at short notice to the Gallipoli Peninsula. Three officers and 80 men left later that day on board ‘Whitby Abbey’ and disembarked at V Beach at Cape Helles and began work on improving the communications network. The Division returned to Mudros at the end of July and then took part in the landings at Suvla Bay at the beginning of August. It is possible that Sapper 62361 Austin Ledwith died during the passage between Mudros and Suvla Bay.
References and Sources WAR DIARY 13 (Western) Division RE Signal Company
B&O 1915 Gallipoli. 13 Division Royal Engineers, Signals. July 1915.
END