Wires crossed

Another photograph from Ian Lewis, this time of a beautifully engraved silver cigarette case presented by the Directors of the Furness Railway to one of their employees in recognition of his wartime service in the 9th Battalion.

At first sight it would seem a generous gesture extended towards a valued employee. However, when attempting to identify the individual so-honoured, problems arise.

An "I. Teasdale" didn't serve in the 9th Battalion, or even in The King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) for that matter! Neither is there any record of a soldier named Teasdale being awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. There was an Isaac Teasdale who was employed by the Furness Railway but, notwithstanding these discrepancies, it is difficult to appreciate just how he could actually have been presented with a cigarette case inscribed "1914 to 1916" given that he was dead by the latter date, killed in action at Gallipoli in 1915.

Isaac had been a pre-war Regular, serving in the Border Regiment after enlisting sometime in late-1902. He would have done his three years with the "Colours" and then been transferred to the Army Reserve to complete the rest of his twelve years' service. It was during this period that he worked for the Furness Railway, living at Askam-in-Furness. He would still have been on the Reserve - just - when war broke out in 1914 and, after being mobilised, he was sent to France with a reinforcement draft to serve with the 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment.

The winter of 1914/15 was particularly cold, and, exposed to the elements in the trenches, many men suffered from frostbite, Isaac included. Invalided home to allow his damaged feet to recuperate (after losing several toes), he was then posted to the new war theatre at Gallipoli, this time to serve with the 1st Battalion of the Border Regiment. Here he was killed on 21st August, along with around 100 others of his battalion, while taking part in the (ultimately futile) assault on Chocolate Hill in the Anafarta Saghir zone. Whatever heroics he may have performed, he was never decorated for them with the D.C.M., or any other gallantry award for that matter.

In the end the Furness Railway Company managed to get his military details at least partially correct. On their memorial, which stands on the forecourt of Barrow-in-Furness Railway Station, he is commemorated as "Private, 2nd Border Regiment." Just whom they intended to reward back in 1916 will probably always remain a mystery.