The Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalions

Thomas Margerison.

Thomas enlisted in the Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion giving his address as 18 Goddard Avenue, Newlands Avenue, Hull. He also stated his date of birth was the 8 July 1894 and that he was born in Leeds, Yorkshire. Upon enlistment he was given the Hunts Cyclist Battalion number of 697 and was posted to the 1/1st Battalion.
He stated that his father was Walter Margerison. Before being posted to the Royal Flying Corps. he held the rank of Sergeant in the Hunts. Cyclist Battalion.

One newspaper [from an unknown source] indicated that he also served in the East Yorkshire Regiment but his Medal index card indicates he served in the 5th Cyclist Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment. He was appointed Second Lieutenant from the rank of sergeant 5th (Cyclist Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment).

In the "London Gazette" dated 13th May 1916, he was Lieutenant gazetted Lieutenant precedence from March 13th 1916 to stay Second Lieutenant.

Under part 2 of Battalion orders 41, signed by H. Wootton officer commanding 2/1st Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion (Captain and adjutant) on behalf of Lieut. Col. J. L. Stanley. V. D. Commanding Officer 2nd Hunts. Cyclist Battalion, issued at Whitby on 22nd. March 1915, orders being for the following day i.e. 23rd March 1915, records indicate that 2nd. Lt. T. Margerison was posted to 1st Hunts. Cycle Battalion to date 9-3-1915.

Thomas MARGERISON - 2nd Lt. Hunts. Cyclists Battalion & R M Killed in action 13th April 1917, while serving as observer with 57 Squadron; flying FE.2d, with pilot Capt. L. S. Platt (also killed); as part of six-aircraft patrol, attacked by enemy fighters and shot down at Vitry-en-Artois, probably by Lieutenant Heinrich Gontermann of Jasta 5. He is buried at Brown's Copse. Roeux, France.

Thomas had a friend John Arthur Marshall who was in the Hunts. Cyclist Battalion who also joined the Royal Flying Corps.

Thomas was the great uncle Nadine Tull. Many thanks to her for the photographs of him in his service uniforms.

Photo of the grave of T. Margerison who started his military service in the H C B and then was transferred to the Royal flying Corps. The grave is inscribed with both units. The grave is located in Brown's Road Military Cemetery, Festubert, Pas de Calais, France.

Thomas Margerison in the uniform of a sergeant in the 1/1st Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. He wears the Hunts Cyclist shoulder title of a 'T' over the Word 'HUNTS', the T stood for Territorial.

Thomas Margerison in the uniform of a sergeant. It does not appear to be the Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. He wears the shoulder title of a 'T' over a curved named unit - sadly the unit is unreadable. Further research is ongoing into which unit it is. His belt buckle is of a type not normally associated with the Hunts. Cyclist.

Thomas Margerison in the uniform of a Second Lieutenant in the Hunts Cyclist Battalion. He wears the collar 'dogs' of the rampant stag over a shoulder title of a 'T', the T stood for Territorial. These rampant stags, worn by all HCB officers were handed left and right and the 'T' was a separate item from the stag. The cap badge was always of a stag rearing on his hind legs with his head to the right [as viewed].

Thomas Margerison in the uniform of a Second Lieutenant in the Hunts Cyclist Battalion. He wears the rampant stag as the cap badge. The buttons on the coat and also the button holding on the leather strap to the cap bear the raised form of the rampant stag.

Brown's Road Military Cemetery, Festubert, Pas de Calais, France.

The Grave number is V - F - 1.

If you can help with any data on this Huntingdonshire Cyclist please contact me at huntscycles@btinternet.com

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09/04/2012
. . Martyn Smith

Thomas enlisted in the Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion giving his address as 18 Goddard Avenue, Newlands Avenue, Hull. He also stated his date of birth was the 8 July 1894 and that he was born in Leeds, Yorkshire. Upon enlistment he was given the Hunts Cyclist Battalion number of 697 and was posted to the 1/1st Battalion. He stated that his father was Walter Margerison. Before being posted to the Royal Flying Corps. he held the rank of Sergeant in the Hunts. Cyclist Battalion. One newspaper [from an unknown source] indicated that he also served in the East Yorkshire Regiment but his Medal index card indicates he served in the 5th Cyclist Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment. He was appointed Second Lieutenant from the rank of sergeant 5th (Cyclist Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment). In the "London Gazette" dated 13th May 1916, he was Lieutenant gazetted Lieutenant precedence from March 13th 1916 to stay Second Lieutenant. Under part 2 of Battalion orders 41, signed by H. Wootton officer commanding 2/1st Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion (Captain and adjutant) on behalf of Lieut. Col. J. L. Stanley. V. D. Commanding Officer 2nd Hunts. Cyclist Battalion, issued at Whitby on 22nd. March 1915, orders being for the following day i.e. 23rd March 1915, records indicate that 2nd. Lt. T. Margerison was posted to 1st Hunts. Cycle Battalion to date 9-3-1915. Thomas MARGERISON - 2nd Lt. Hunts. Cyclists Battalion & R M Killed in action 13th April 1917, while serving as observer with 57 Squadron; flying FE.2d, with pilot Capt. L. S. Platt (also killed); as part of six-aircraft patrol, attacked by enemy fighters and shot down at Vitry-en-Artois, probably by Lieutenant Heinrich Gontermann of Jasta 5. He is buried at Brown's Copse. Roeux, France. Thomas had a friend John Arthur Marshall who was in the Hunts. Cyclist Battalion who also joined the Royal Flying Corps. Thomas was the great uncle Nadine Tull. Many thanks to her for the photographs of him in his service uniforms.
Photo of the grave of T. Margerison who started his military service in the H C B and then was transferred to the Royal flying Corps. The grave is inscribed with both units. The grave is located in Brown's Road Military Cemetery, Festubert, Pas de Calais, France.
	Thomas Margerison in the uniform of a sergeant in the 1/1st Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. He wears the Hunts Cyclist shoulder title of a 'T' over the Word 'HUNTS', the T stood for Territorial.
	Thomas Margerison in the uniform of a sergeant. It does not appear to be the Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. He wears the shoulder title of a 'T' over a curved named unit - sadly the unit is unreadable. Further research is ongoing into which unit it is. His belt buckle is of a type not normally associated with the Hunts. Cyclist.
	Thomas Margerison in the uniform of a Second Lieutenant in the Hunts Cyclist Battalion. He wears the collar 'dogs' of the rampant stag over a shoulder title of a 'T', the T stood for Territorial. These rampant stags, worn by all HCB officers were handed left and right and the 'T' was a separate item from the stag. The cap badge was always of a stag rearing on his hind legs with his head to the right [as viewed].
	Thomas Margerison in the uniform of a Second Lieutenant in the Hunts Cyclist Battalion. He wears the rampant stag as the cap badge. The buttons on the coat and also the button holding on the leather strap to the cap bear the raised form of the rampant stag.
	Brown's Road Military Cemetery, Festubert, Pas de Calais, France. The Grave number is V - F - 1.
If you can help with any data on this Huntingdonshire Cyclist please contact me at huntscycles@btinternet.com
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09/04/2012	.	.	*Martyn Smith*