Frederic Williams Piggin

Frederick joined 2nd Brabant’s Horse as 923 Quartermaster Sergeant on 15 December 1899 to fight in the Boer War. He was wounded at Jammersburg Drift between 9 and 24 April 1900 and again at Lindley, Orange River Colony, on 31 December 1900. He transferred to 1st Kitchener’s Fighting Scouts, commanded by Lt Col Johan Colenbrander, as 1295 Trooper on 11 May 1901. He was discharged in Cape Town on 26 February 1902 on completion of service and returned from South Africa onboard R.M.S. Kildonan Castle. Exceptionally, Frederic was awarded an army pension of £50 a year for life in 1903. (See 'Extra information')He was appointed squadron sergeant major of the South Nottinghamshire Hussars in 1914 and commissioned second lieutenant on 7 November 1914 (London Gazette 26 November 1914). He was promoted temporary lieutenant 12 November 1915 (London Gazette 6 October 1916) and temporary captain 22 November 1916 (London Gazette 22 November 1916). He disembarked at Salonica with 1/1st South Notts Hussars on 9 June 1917. Frederic was awarded the Military Cross on 4 February 1918 (London Gazette 4 February 1918 and Edinburgh Gazette 6 February 1918); the citation was published in the London Gazette on 5 July 1918 and the Edinburgh Gazette on 8 July 1918. Frederick was drowned on 27 May 1918 when the troop ship Leasowe Castle on passage from Egypt to the UK was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine. (See 'Extra information') His body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Chatby Memorial, Alexandria, Egypt.CWGC - History of the Chatby Memorial: The district of Chatby is on the eastern side of the city of Alexandria. 'In March 1915, the base of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force was transferred to Alexandria from Mudros and the city became a camp and hospital centre for Commonwealth and French troops. Among the medical units established there were the 17th, 19th, 21st, 78th and 87th General Hospitals and No 5 Indian Hospital. After the Gallipoli campaign of 1915, Alexandria remained an important hospital centre during later operations in Egypt and Palestine and the port was much used by hospital ships and troop transports bringing reinforcements and carrying the sick and wounded out of the theatres of war. The Chatby Memorial stands at the eastern end of the Alexandria (Chatby) War Memorial Cemetery and commemorates almost 1,000 Commonwealth servicemen who died during the First World War and have no other grave but the sea. Many of them were lost when hospital ships or transports were sunk in the Mediterranean, sailing to or from Alexandria. Others died of wounds or sickness while aboard such vessels and were buried at sea. More than 700 of those commemorated on the memorial died when the following vessels were topedoed or mined.' (www.cwgc.org)

Frederic Williams cousin, Frederic Percy Loverseed Piggin, the son of his father's younger brother John Piggin, served with the Rhodesia Native Regiment (Lieutenant) and was killed on 20 December 1916. (See record on this Roll of Honour)All Saints Church, Dale Abbey, Derbyshire, family headstone to Richard Salt Piggin and his wife Annie Piggin; 'Also Captn Frederic Williams Piggin, M.C. South Notts Hussars eldest son of the above who gave his life for his country [obscured] May 26th 1918.' Note: Piggin is not named on the Dale Abbey village war memorial in All Saints churchyard; he was born in Long Eaton and lived in Beeston and did not live in Dale Abbey.The South Notts Hussars had been fighting in the Middle East and was moving to France after a merger with Warwickshire Yeomanry in April 1918 to form 'B' Battalion of the Machine Gun Corps. On 19 August 1918 'B' Battalion was renamed 100th (Warwickshire and South Nottinghamshire Yeomanry) Battalion, Machine Gun Corps.On 26 May 1918 the Battalion embarked on the transport ship, Leasowe Castle. Leasowe Castle was one of a convoy of six troopships, accompanied by a number of destroyers. The weather was good, the sea was calm and a brilliant moon shone in the night sky. At 1.30am on May 27 1918 when the ship was about 104 miles from Alexandria, Leasowe Castle was struck by a torpedo on the starboard side with devastating results. The engines were immediately stopped. The troops mustered to their stations, rolls were called, boats lowered and rafts flung overboard. The Japanese destroyer "R" stood by, while the remainder of the convoy continued on their journey at full speed. We are informed that perfect order was maintained on board, the men standing quietly at their stations as if on parade, while those detailed for the work assisted in lowering the boats. Lifeboats were launched in the course of forty five minutes and the rescue attempt continued smoothly. Leasowe Castle remained fairly steady, though sinking a little at the stern, with a slight list to port. All of 'B' (Warwickshire Yeomanry) Company of the Battalion went over the port side and were picked up in the water. About 1.45am. HM sloop "Lily" appeared having turned back from the convoy to assist in the work of rescue. She ran her bows up to the starboard side of the "Leasowe Castle" and made fast, so that troops were able to pass quickly on board. Meanwhile the Japanese destroyer put up a smoke screen for protection. Suddenly about 3.00am a bulkhead in the aft part of the ship gave way, and with a loud noise Leasowe Castle sank rapidly. The "Lily" had a narrow escape, as the hawsers connecting her with the sinking ship were cut with an axe just in time. Captain Piggin along with 48 other officers and men from the South Notts Hussars were drowned.His brother Henry Arthur served in the same units as Frederick in South Africa and returned home with him. He was appointed Transport Officer and Honorary Lieutenant, 1st North Midland Field Ambulance, 1 May 1914. He is shown as landing in France in December 1914 before the 1st/1st Field Ambulance arrived in theatre. He resigned his commission in May 1915 and was commissioned second lieutenant in the South Notts Hussars. He is shown on the medal roll as serving with them in theatre, so served with 1st/1st South Notts Hussars. He later joined the Army Remount Service and rose to the rank of temporary captain. He survived the war and resigned his commission in 1920.Another brother Frank also went to South Africa and served in the 1906 Natal Rebellion as a Trooper with the Transvaal Mounted Rifles. His Medal Index Card shows that he later served as 3191 Private Derbyshire Yeomanry before transferring to the Durham Light Infantry (42995 Private). He later transferred to Royal Army Medical Corps (161141 Private). He is on the 1914-1915 Star Roll serving with RAMC, so it is likely that he served with the Corps overseas. This is most likely to have been with the Notts and Derby Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance, RAMC, which landed in Egypt in April 1915, as he was commissioned honorary lieutenant in the North Midland Mounted Field Ambulance before being appointed second lieutenant in North Midland Divisional Train, with precedence 28 October 1914, on 7 April 1916. A second Medal Index Card indicates that he entered theatre in the rank of captain on 20 February 1917. This appears to have been with the 59th (2nd North Midland) Division, as it entered France in February. Frank achieved the rank of acting captain and resigned his commission in 1921.BOER WAR: The Long Eaton Advertiser regularly published letters from 'Fred' Piggin and his brother Harry, writing from South Africa between 1900 and their return to the UK in 1902. The newspaper later reported on public talks, lectures and lantern slides that Fred gave in Long Eaton.Nottingham Evening Post, 14 January 1901: Quartermaster-Sergeant F Piggin of 2nd Brabant’s Horse, one of the four members of the South Notts. Hussars who went to South Africa at the outbreak of hostilities and became attached to the irregular mounted forces, is reported as having been slightly wounded at Lindley (Orange River Colony) on December 31st.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 21 March 1902: ‘Homecoming of South Notts Hussars. Amongst the passengers returning from the war on board the Carisbrook Caslte mail steamer, due at Southampton to-morrow morning are Sergeant-Major FW Piggin and Quartermaster Harry Piggin who at the commencement of the war went out in the Norham Castle, and joined Brabant’s Colonial Horse. During the siege of Wepener Sergeant-Major Piggin was shot through the head, and later, at Lindley, fell after receiving five shots. He was present at the capture of General Prinsloo and his force.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Journal, 12 September 1902: ‘Returned Soldiers. Complimentary Dinner at Long Eaton. Last evening a dinner was given as the Wheat Sheaf Hotel, Long Eaton, to the local soldiers returned from South Africa … Amongst those present were: Messrs FW Piggin, A Piggin … The Vicar proposed ‘The King’ .. Next, the Chairman proposed ‘Health and Success to the Soldiers From South Africa.’ He asked the company to rise in silence in memory of the three comrades who had fallen. This was done solemnly .. [following a toast] Sergeant Beet VVC responded first .. Quartermaster-Sergeant FW Piggin, Sergeant Cursley, and Private Altman (also) responded.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)Long Eaton Advertiser, 27 February 1903: ‘Echoes of the War. A Pension for a Deserving Citizen Soldier. It was in November 1899 when Messrs, Fred and Harry Piggin decided to take up arms in defence of their country, and to that end they volunteered and went out to South Africa and in the beginning of December they were on the batltlefield, face to face with one of the toughest wars known to history … These young men went out on special service from the South Notts. Hussars and joined the Brabont Horse. At the siege of Wepener Fred Piggin was wounded in the head by a bullet, and about the same time Harry was stricken down with fever … Thanks to a strong constitution and a strong will he [Fred] has so far recovered as to enter the field again, and in so doing he forfeited his claim to a pension. We are, however, pleased to learn that the excellent characters given to Mr Fred Piggin by his superior officers and the intercession of the Member of Parliament for the Ilkeston Division – Sir Walter Foster – the War Office has recognised this gallant young fellow’s claim and have awarded him a pension in keeping with his rank when he left the army, viz. Sergt.-Major in charge of supplies. We feel certain that this recognition of sterling grit and worth will give our readers satisfaction and they will be pleased to learn that their townsman – who was wounded several times during the campaign - has been granted a pension for life. Two of the brothers, Harry and Frank, are now in South Africa, and we are glad to hear they are doing well. We need scarcely add that we wish Mr Fred Piggin may be long spared to enjoy a pension which was hardly fought for.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)Nottingham Evening Post, 11 October 1910, published a report of bankruptcy proceedings again Frederic. ‘After spending three years in the South African war Frederick William Piggin, butcher, now of Hall Croft, Beeston, commenced business in 1902 at Long Eaton … taking over his mother’s premises … Three years ago he found he was insolvent, but continued to trade in the hope that business would improve.’ He appeared at the Derby Bankruptcy Court … ‘He was a bachelor and had no furniture, but had an army pension of £50 a year which was not attachable. Although his father was in a good way of business he (debtor) had had to keep his mother and sister. The examination was closed after debtor had stated that the cause of his deficiency of £673 was bad trade, shortness of capital, and illness of himself.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)Nottingham Evening Post, 1 June 1918 (extract): ‘Local Yeomanry Officers. Reported Missing, believed Drowned. Official news reached Nottingham yesterday that three well-known Yeomanry officers, Captain Fredk. Wm Piggin, MC, Captain Sydney Hanson, and Lieut. JCG Warwick, are missing and believed drowned. Telegrams conveying the sad messages were received by the parents from the authorities at York, and in a fourth case, that of Captain FP Holmes, a similar intimation was happily followed by a telegram containing reassuring news that he was a survivor. Further information as to the missing officers is being awaited with keen anxiety. Captain Piggin is the eldest son of Mr RS Piggin, and has served in the Yeomanry for 23 years. He went through the Boer war, and was wounded, and on the outbreak of the present war was given a commission in the unit with which he had been so long actively identified. He proceeded on active service early in 1915, and served in the Dardanelles, Salonika, and Egypt, being awarded the Military Cross a few months ago in recognition of gallantry in capturing some Turkish guns. Captain Piggin has had the good fortune during the war to miss no fewer than three boats on which he intended to sail, and which all met with disaster.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)Probate: Piggin. Frederic Williams of Beeston Nottinghamshire captain in HM Army died 27 May 1918 at sea Probate Nottingham 13 June to Annie Elizabeth Piggin [sister] spinster. Effects £686 9s.8d.Long Eaton Advertiser, 1 January 1932, published a report of the death of Mr RS Salt. ‘Mrs Piggin, died seven years ago ... Mr Piggin’s eldest son, Captain Fred Piggin, was dronwed when a troopship was sunk in the Mediterrancean n 1918. He had been serving in Egypt with the South Notts Hussars. Another son is Captain Harry Piggin who is head of the Beeston Riding School and the younger son is Mr Frank Piggin who has established a riding school of his own at Sevenoaks. Mr Piggin had one daughter, Mrs AE West, of Aspley Guise, Bucks.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)See also: www.beeston-notts.co.uk/ww1_piggin.shtml and 'The Journal of the South Notts Hussars Yeomanry, Issue No. 79, March 2011: article (p.7) 'Captain Frederick Wililams Piggin MC SNH'