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Major
SYDNEY ALFRED GREENFIELD
(formerly 1862966 Mechanist Quartermaster Sergeant)
Royal Engineers

by

Lieutenant Colonel Edward De Santis. MSCE, P.E., MInstRE
2017 (revised 2022)  

NOTE: Revisions were made to this original research after acquiring the Royal  Engineers Tracer Cards that were made available in 2021.  

1.  INTRODUCTION  

            This research project was conducted after I acquired the medals of Major Greenfield.  His Army Long Service and Good Conduct medal was acquired as a single medal in 1990.  His India General Service Medal was purchased in 2003 from another dealer in the United Kingdom, thereby reuniting the two medals from Greenfield’s group.  I am not aware of how the two medals became separated.  What sometimes occurs in the hobby of medal collecting, much to my dismay, is that some collectors who specialize in a certain medal will buy a group of medals, keep the one in which they have an interest and sell off the other medals in the group.  As a result of this research I also have learned that Greenfield was entitled to the 1939-45 Star and the War Medal for service in World War 2.  As these medals were issued un-named they probably were sold off after the group was split up.     

2.  EARLY LIFE AND FAMILY INFORMATION  

The Parents of Sydney Alfred Greenfield

            Sydney’s father, William Alfred Greenfield (1866-?), was born in Sunderland, County Durham in 1866.[1]  His mother, Charlotte Ann Pexton (1879-?), was born in Hovingham, North Yorkshire in 1879.[2]  William and Charlotte were married in 1901 and resided at 263 Eastbourne Avenue in Gateshead, County Durham.[3]  In addition to Sydney, the Greenfields had another son, Ronald Hesselgrove Greenfield (1908-?) who was born in Sunderland.[4]

 Figure 1.  Map of Sunderland and Gateshead, County Durham.
(Map Courtesy of Wikipedia 

Figure 2. The Residence of William and Charlotte Greenfield at 263 Eastbourne Avenue in Gateshead, County Durham.
(Photograph courtesy of Google Earth)

            Sydney Alfred Greenfield was born on 11 May 1904 in Gateshead, County Durham, probably when his parents were living at the Eastbourne Avenue address.[5]  His brother, Ronald Hesselgrove Greenfield was born on 24 May 1908, probably at the Queen’s Crescent address shown in the 1911 Census below.[6] 

            By 1911 the family had moved to 75 Queen’s Crescent in Sunderland.  The following is an extract from the Census of England compiled on 2 April 1911:

            The census indicated that the Greenfields had been married for ten years by 1911 and that William Greenfield was working on his “Own Account” at “Home.”  This can be interpreted to mean that he was a freelance journalist, perhaps writing stories for a local newspaper or magazine.  There were numerous newspapers being published in County Durham in 1911.  The newspaper published in William Greenfield’s home town at the time was the Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette.  This paper was published from 1873 to 1954.  It is quite possible that as a “freelance” reporter Greenfield had submitted articles to this paper and to others in Durham, or perhaps to newspapers and magazines in other parts of the United Kingdom.

            When the Great War started in 1914 Sydney was 10 years old and Ronald was only 6.  Certainly their parents were happy that they would miss the carnage of that terrible conflict.  Both boys probably continued in school during the four years of the war, but military service soon beckoned to Sydney shortly after the war ended.        

Figure 3. The Greenfield Residence at 75 Queen’s Crescent, Sunderland.[7]
(Photograph courtesy of Google Earth)         

3.  ENLISTMENT IN THE ARMY

Enlistment

            Sydney Alfred Greenfield enlisted as a Pioneer in the Royal Engineers on 2 April 1923.  Upon his enlistment he was issued Army Number 1862966.[8]  His enlistment was for 6 years with the Colours and 6 year in the Army Reserve.   

Training

            Following the administrative actions involved with his enlistment and training, Greenfield was sent off for his recruit training.  With the exception of Drivers, every recruit enlisted for the Royal Engineers had to have a trade.  Pioneers and Sappers were sent to Chatham where they were trained for a year in infantry drill and pioneer duties.  During the summer every training company in turn went into a tent-camp at Wouldham near Chatham, where the recruits were taught camp duties, pontooning and other field engineering tasks.  The engineer recruits also received musketry training.  When the course of training was completed the recruits had to pass an examination and were then transferred to engineer formations, where they received higher pay and could earn extra allowances by working at their special trades

            Greenfield was posted to “F” Company of the Royal Engineers Training Battalion where his Corps Trade was listed as a Fitter, Class EIII.  On 10 July 1923 Greenfield was posted to “D” Company.  While at Chatham his rank was changed from Pioneer to Sapper.[9]  

4.  ASSIGNMENTS AND CAMPAIGN SERVICE

54^th Field Company, R.E. (1924-1925)

            On 21 November 1924, upon the completion of his recruit training, Sapper Greenfield was posted to the 54^th Field Company in the 3^rd Division, located at Bulford Camp on Salisbury Plain (East) in Wiltshire.  Throughout his military career, while on Home Service, Greenfield would spend most of his postings in the Wiltshire area. 

            Within the British Army command structure at the time the company was located in the Southern Command, Wessex Area (West).[10]   As one of the three divisional engineer companies, the men of the 54^th Field Company were responsible for bridging, demolitions, creation and clearance of obstacles or roadblocks, development and maintenance of water supplies and other field engineering tasks necessary to support the division in offensive and defensive operations.  Greenfield’s stay with the 54^th Field Company was a short one, only 288 days.  During that period he may have been able to complete the company’s annual training cycle, which would have included trade training, the annual musketry course and field engineering training.

4^th Fortress Company, R.E. (1925-1926)

            On 5 September 1925 Greenfield was posted to the 4^th Company, Royal Engineers at Gosport, Hampshire.[11]   The electoral registers for Newcastle-upon-Tyne for the years 1926 through 1929 show his address as 81 Wingrove Gardens in Newcastle and indicated that he was serving in the 4^th Company, Royal Engineers.

            The history of the 4^th Company, Royal Engineers is an interesting one.  In July of 1887 the 4th Company was at Gosport. It became the training company for the School of Submarine Mining at Stokes Bay in May of 1892 and was converted to a Fortress Company on 1 July 1905.  It remained at Gosport as the training company for the School of Electric Lighting.    During the Great War of 1914-1918 it was converted to the 4th Advanced Park Company and was moved to the Salonika front.  By 1924 the 4^th Company again was converted to a Fortress Company and was located at Haslar Barracks in Gosport. 

Figure 4.  Haslar Barracks, Gosport.
(Photograph courtesy of the Southern Daily Echo)  

            The role of a fortress company was to assist in the defence of ports and harbours that had significant military importance.  This was accomplished by the use of mines and searchlights and by supporting the Royal Artillery garrison co-located with the fortress company.

            A Royal Engineers fortress company typically would provide the following services in defence of ports and harbours:

·         Construction and maintenance of fortifications and gun emplacements.

·         Construction of ammunition storage areas and magazines.

·         Construction and maintenance of roadways.

·         Water supply to units manning the fortifications.

·         Supply of electricity to installations within the fortress area.

·         Provide searchlight support to anti-aircraft and anti-shipping artillery batteries.

·         Provide engineer works in and around the harbour and port areas.

            It would appear that while at Gosport Sydney continued to claim the Wingrove Gardens address as his “home of record” although he was serving in the Royal Engineers and probably was not living there.  The Electoral Registers for Newcastle upon Tyne from 1926 to 1929 show him as an absentee voter with this address, serving with the 4^th Company, Royal Engineers.  It is possible that his parents had moved to this location and that he was using it as his permanent address for voting purposes.  The Electoral Registers for Newcastle upon Tyne also show Sydney Alfred Greenfield as an absentee voter for the years from 1930 to 1933, but these registers do not show his military unit.

            Greenfield served with the 4^th Fortress Company for 1 year and 26 days, another rather short time for a posting while serving in the U.K.   

Figure 5.  Sydney Greenfield’s Home at 81 Wingrove Gardens, Newcastle.
(Photograph courtesy of Google Earth)

30^th Fortress Company (1926-1928)  

            Greenfield was posted to the 30^th Fortress Company at Plymouth on 1 October 1926.[12]  This company also was located in the Southern Command on the English Channel, in the Wessex Area (West).  With the 30^th Company he performed much the same duties as he did with the 4^th Fortress Company at Gosport.

            In October of 1928 Greenfield extended his service to complete 12 years with the Colours.  He was still a Sapper at this time.[13]

“M” Depot Company (1928-1930)  

            On 1 March 1928 Greenfield was posted to “M” Depot Company at the School of Military Engineering (S.M.E.) in Chatham.  This company formed part of the Depot Battalion under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Arthur James Darlington, DSO, R.E.[14]  Greenfield’s company commander was Captain T.H. Sweeney, R.E. with two other officers in the company: Lieutenant G.W.D. Jennings, R.E. and Lieutenant J. O’Dwyer, R.E.[15]

            His work in “M” Depot Company probably involved advanced training of other soldiers to prepare them for overseas deployment or for subsequent postings.  By this time in his own career he must have been a Sergeant in order to perform this duty.  He remained in the assignment for 1 year, 10 months, 28 days before being posted back to Salisbury Plain.

C.R.E. Salisbury Plain (1930)  

            Greenfield was assigned to the Office of the Commander Royal Engineers (C.R.E.) Salisbury Plain at East Bulford on 29 January 1930.  He also was promoted to the rank of Mechanist Staff Sergeant (Electrical and Mechanical Branch) on this date and was serving with the Establishment for Engineer Services.  The Royal Engineers Headquarters at East Bulford was located on C Lines in Bulford Camp.  The Commander Royal Engineers was Lieutenant Colonel Lionel Vivian Bond, R.E.[16]  The Deputy Commander Royal Engineers was Lieutenant Colonel Charles Hertel Egerton, DSO, MC, R.E. and the Garrison Engineer was Lieutenant N.R. Swales, R.E.[17]  Mechanist Staff Sergeant Greenfield most certainly had daily contact with these officers, especially with the Garrison Engineer.

Figure 6.  C – Lines, Bulford Camp.
(Photograph courtesy of Wikipedia)  

Establishment for Engineer Services (1930-1935)

            On 22 November 1930 Sydney Greenfield was posted to India.  He was serving in the Electrical and Mechanical (E & M) Branch of the Establishment for Engineer Services (E.E.S.).[18]  To more fully understand the duties that Greenfield would have been assigned in this unit, a description of the workings of the E.E.S. is in order. 

            The term Establishment for Engineer Services (E.E.S.) or Royal Engineer Works Service had been used for a number of years in the 20^th century to describe the duties of the Royal Engineers in connection with building construction and the use of materials.  This establishment dealt with the construction of fortifications, but by and large its greatest responsibility was in the area of the construction and maintenance of barracks. Other works undertaken by the Establishment included hospitals and Army Ordnance buildings.  With regard to the latter, the work included not only the buildings themselves, but also the provision and maintenance of fixed machinery and the construction and maintenance of magazines and buildings for the storage of explosives, with special attention to precautions against fire and protection against lightning.

            The E.E.S. also was involved with other buildings in support of the Army Service Corps, to include bakeries, stores, transport sheds and workshops.  Special facilities such as refrigeration plants also were provided at Gibraltar and Malta and at other tropical locations.  Many other buildings, such as churches, schools, offices, quarters for Commanding Officers and certain Staff Officers, also were provided by the E.E.S.  Other essential services of the Establishment included the care and maintenance of military cemeteries and burial grounds, the preparation of graves and the appointment and supervision of caretakers.

            In connection with all of the above works, there was an organization within the E.E.S. responsible for the control of "Military Lands."  This term included the land on which the barracks and fortifications were constructed, along with roads, parades and recreation grounds. Closely allied to the control of "Military Lands" was the provision of rifle and artillery ranges.

            One of the special branches within the E.E.S. included the Electrical Branch which consisted of Defence Electric Lights, Telegraphs, Telephones, and Miscellaneous Electrical Services.  The largest sub-element of the Electrical Branch was the Submarine Mining Service, which was responsible for the mine defences and also for the defence electric lights and electrical communications in the defended ports throughout the British Empire. Other miscellaneous electrical services included barracks lighting and protection of buildings against lightning.

            A second special branch of the E.E.S. was the Mechanical Branch, with its responsibility for installation and maintenance of engines, boilers and machinery used with pumping and heating plant, and machinery used in Royal Engineer and Ordnance workshops.  Other special branches of the Establishment were the Mechanical Transport Branch and the Railway Branch.[19]

            Upon his arrival in India Greenfield was posted to the E & M Branch of the Indian Military Engineer Service (M.E.S.).  The M.E.S. in India performed functions almost identical to the British E.E.S. 

            The first regular establishment of “Engineers” in India was formed in the Madras Army in 1748. On 23 March 1770 the Chief Engineer of Madras Engineers had the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. From 1776 to1818 the Bengal Sappers and Miners existed in some form or other in Bengal Army. On 19 February 1819 the Bengal Sappers and Miners, consisting of six companies, officially came into being.  On 1 April 1862 the Bengal and Madras Engineers were amalgamated with the Royal Engineers of British Indian Army. The Royal Engineers were thereafter employed in the Department of Public Works or Railways or Survey Departments and from 1851 the “Public Works Department” was under civil control and no separate organization was considered necessary for military works. After 1860 there was a boom in the construction of civil works. A large number of civil engineers were engaged and the military department began to lose proper control over military works. By 1871 the situation was so unsatisfactory that a “Special Military Works Branch” of the Public Works Department was given the responsibility for major works and ten years later the branch was placed under military control. In 1889 the “Military Works Department” took over all the military works in India. However, it was not until 1899 that this Military Works Department became entirely military in character and was officered by Royal Engineers. It was then named as “Military Works Service” and so it remained until 1923 when it was renamed as the “Military Engineer Service.”   It was this last organization to which Greenfield as posted upon his arrival in India, approximately five months after the outbreak of hostilities with the Afridis in on the North West Frontier.

            The operations against the Afridis were underway while Greenfield was serving in the region.  What specific part he played, if any, in these operations is not known.  As a non-commissioned officer in the E.E.S. he probably was serving in a relatively secure area where his work entailed the construction, maintenance and repair of electrical and mechanical equipment in cantonment areas.  The following information describing these operations has been taken from The Military Engineer in India by Lieutenant Colonel E.W.C. Sandes, R.E. 

            “For several years the Indian Army devoted itself to a much-needed reorganization, while politicians, to use a popular form of diction, "explored every avenue in search of a formula which might lead, in due course and through the proper channel, to responsible self-government." But the Afridis preferred direct action and took it in June of 1930, when they descended from the Tirah to raid Peshawar Cantonment.

            The Afridi were driven back, but returned in August and made a second abortive attempt. It was then decided that troops should occupy the Kajuri and Aka Khel Plains near Peshawar, and should occupy them permanently, thus denying to the Afridis the ground on which they grazed their cattle during the winter and the caves in which they sheltered with their families.  These operations were to be in three phases. First, the clearing of the Afridis from the area and the establishment of perimeter camps; then the provision of good roads, tracks and water supply; and finally the building of permanent camps and posts for the garrison of the area. The pro­gram was an engineering one. In fact, the cavalry, artillery and infantry acted in these operations of 1930 and 1931 merely as a covering force for the Engineer. (Note: bold type in the original document).

Figure 7. Peshawar and the Kajuri and Aka Khel Plains.
(Map courtesy of Sandes, 1933)

            The Kajuri Plain, lying a few miles south-west of Peshawar, is bounded on the north by a metalled road leading from Peshawar to Jamrud and so up the Khaibar Pass. The eastern boundary of both the Kajuri and Aka Khel Plains—the latter to the south of Peshawar —is the metalled Peshawar-Kohat road running through Matanni.  A third metalled road led in 1930 from Peshawar to Fort Bara on the Bara River which is a rapid torrent dividing the Kajuri and Aka Khel Plains and flowing in a deep and wide chasm with precipitous sides cut in a hard conglomerate soil. A track, ten feet wide, connected Matanni with Jamrud and formed part of the "Frontier Road." There was no surface water on the arid plains; but in the foothills, south and west of them, were a number of springs around each of which the Afridis had dug their winter caves.[20]

            The occupation of the Kajuri Plain was easy.  By October l4th, 1930, the Nowshera Brigade was in position along the Frontier Road between Jamrud and Matanni, covering the operations of the 4^th Company, Bengal Sappers and Miners, and the Bombay Pioneers, who were arranging for water supply. Three days later the Jhansi Brigade advance from Peshawar and crossed the Kajuri Plain to Miri Khel, while the Rawalpindi Brigade marched as far as Bara. On the 27^th the three "brigades swept the plain clear of Afridis, and preparations were made for an advance of the Rawalpindi Brigade to a more central camp at Karawal Hill. This movement, however, could not be carried out until water was brought to the site of the camp, a task which was allotted to the 3rd Company, Bengal Sappers and Miners, assisted by a company of Bombay Pioneers, and was completed by them in 15 days. They installed a powerful pump on the Bara River, two miles above Bara Fort, and laid a pipeline for more than five miles to the site of the Karawal Perimeter Camp which was occupied by the 'Rawalpindi Brigade on the 17^th of November. The work might have progressed even more quickly had it not been necessary to supplement the pipeline by a road with permanent piquet posts as it advanced. Most of the infantry units were now roadmaking with great energy and increasing skill under the technical direction of the Commanding Royal Engineer. The roads intended for heavy motor transport were made 18 feet wide with a foundation of stone overlaid with earth, gravel and sand. Nullah crossings were ramped to a limiting gradient of 1 in 10, and covered in some cases with wire netting.  During the latter half of November [about the time of Greenfield’s arrival] large gangs of coolies, under Engineer officers[21], extended the Peshawar-Bara metalled road towards the Kandao Pass at the rate of 200 yards a day. In short, the force "dug itself in" on the Kajuri Plain rapidly, methodically, and with little interference.         While the infantry wielded their picks and shovels, most of the Engineer units were sinking wells, laying pipes or building bridges. In the second phase of the operations, between November 17^th and December 9^th, the 3rd, 4th and 5th Companies of the Bengal Sappers and Miners were fully occupied with the water-supply installations of the three brigade areas; but before that phase began, the 4th Com­pany had built a fine bridge over the Bara River close to Bara Fort. The Frontier Road between Jamrud and Matanni—a most important lateral communication—crossed the river at Bara by a ford which was often impassable during spates, so it was decided that the river should be bridged. This was a difficult problem. A bridge was required to carry a load of a ten-ton steam roller and infantry in fours, and the tubular-steel bridging material which was available (Mark I, Inglis Bridge) would not carry such a load over a span greater than 120 feet, while the necessary span was 144 feet; but the problem was neatly solved by prolonging the bridge over its supports so that the projecting ends remained as cantilevers which were then weighted with concrete to reduce the stress in the centre of the main span. The line of the Bara Bridge was laid out on October 29^th; the launch­ing of the girders from both banks to a central junction was completed in less than seven hours on November 13^th; and on November 23^rd the bridge was opened to traffic. It was a spectacular piece of engineering which reflected great credit on the Sappers and Miners, and also on the Sikh Pioneers and infantry working parties who laboured to cut the approaches in hard conglomerate soil.

Figure 8.  The Bara Bridge.
(Photograph from Sandes, 1938)

            Another Inglis bridge, of somewhat similar size and design, was erected by the 5th Company at Mazarai later in the operations; but in this case there were further complications as one bank of the Bara River was high and precipitous and the other rose to a lower level in two steps. A concrete and rubble pier was built on the lower step, and the girders launched across it to the far bank in which a very deep and long approach cutting was required. As in the case of the Bara Bridge, the last three bays of the Mazarai Bridge were counter-weighted and left permanently in cantilever—but at one end of the bridge only, instead of at both as at Bara. The pier was made 30 feet in height in order to limit the depth of the opposite approach cutting to 16 feet; but even so the Sikh Pioneers and infantry working parties who did the excavation were obliged to remove 250,000 cubic feet of very hard soil. It is creditable to all concerned that the whole undertaking was completed in 50 days. The construction of the Bara and Mazarai bridges was the most important engineering work executed during the occupation of the Kajuri and Aka Khel Plains, and it has been described in some detail to show what Sappers and Miners are now called upon to do in field operations.

            The third and final period, from December 9^th to March 31^st, began with the selection of the sites for the permanent camps and posts, and the Engineer units were soon sinking tube wells and raising defences at these places. Samghakai Post, Jhansi Post, Nowshera Post and an enlarged Fort Salop came into being, while road work continued in various directions. But in spite of a heavy program of engineering, several small punitive expeditions were sent against Afridi villages on the outskirts of the plains. One of these, in which the Rawalpindi Brigade operated against Tauda China on February i8th, will serve as an example of the usual employ­ment of the Engineer units. On this occasion the 3rd Company, Bengal Sappers and Miners, working with the 2nd Bombay Pioneers, demolished several towers and houses and blocked more than 100 caves with thorn trees, stones and barbed wire to which they some­times attached mines. In a mined cave, any movement of the wire caused the charge to explode and to discourage attempts to remove the wire with a hook and a rope from a safe distance, a mine was placed occasionally at just that distance outside the cave. The results were most satisfactory—except to the Afridis. Hostilities ceased gradually, and with the approach of the hot weather all the troops except the permanent garrison left the Kajuri and Aka Khel Plains. Peshawar was safe against further Afridi raids.”

            Greenfield probably was not involved to any extent with the tactical operations of the field companies of the Bengal Sappers and Miners during these operations.  His duties would have been primarily involved with the construction and maintenance of camp facilities that were occupied by the units operating in the area.  Greenfield’s duties did, however, earn him the India General Service Medal 1908-1935 with the clasp [NORTH WEST FRONTIER 1930-31].  This medal was awarded to all individual who served in the campaign between 23 April 1930 and 22 March 1931 for any action taken against the depredations of Abdul Ghaffar and his so-called “Redshirts,” as well as in the border villages.  In February of 1932 while still in India, Greenfield was awarded a 2^nd Class Certificate of Education.

            It appears that Greenfield returned home to England, probably on leave, in 1932 when he married Miss Doris Kibel in Newcastle in the fourth quarter of that year.[22]  He appears to have returned to India with his wife and remained there until 2 December 1935 when he returned home. 

C.R.E. Wessex Area East (1935-1937)  

            Mrs. Greenfield preceded her husband home from India, arriving at Liverpool from Bombay aboard S.S. Elysia on 19 June 1935.  Mrs. Greenfield’s address on the ship’s manifest is listed as 35 Gloucester Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne.[23]  This had been her address at the time that she married Sydney.

Figure 9.  S.S. Elysia, circa 1935.
(Photograph courtesy of Wikipedia)

            On 4 December 1935 Greenfield was posted to the Officer of the C.R.E. at Wessex Area East in the Southern Command.[24] The R.E. Office in Wessex Area East was located in Milldam Barracks on Burnaby Road in Portsmouth.  The Commander Royal Engineers for this district was Lieutenant Colonel A.J. Cruickshank, DSO, R.E.  His Assistant C.R.E. was Major P.C. Lord, OBE, R.E. (retired).[25]  Major Lord had joined the Egyptian Army on 2 April 1901 and was posted to the Sudan Government Railway. He left the railway in May 1926.  At the time that Greenfield joined the R.E. Office in the Wessex Area East, Major Lord already had 34 years of government service and apparently was an accomplished engineer.

Figure 10.  Milldam Barracks, Portsmouth.
(Photograph courtesy of Wikipedia)  

            In April of 1936 Greenfield received his 1^st Class Certificate of Education.[26]  He appears to have devoted much time and energy to improving his education while in India and he continued with his studies after returning home.

            On 4 May 1936 Greenfield was promoted to the rank of Mechanist Quartermaster Sergeant (E&M) (Warrant Officer Class II) and was posted to Weymouth, Dorset[27], probably in a sub-district office of the Wessex Area.  There he resumed his work in the Electrical and Mechanical Branch of the E.E.S. at the various military facilities located within his area of responsibility.

C.R.E. Sierra Leone (1937-1939)

            On 29 September 1937 Mechanist QMS Greenfield was posted to the Office of the C.R.E. Sierra Leone in Freetown.  At that time there was a lot of work associated with the defences of the town.  This work involved the supervision and employment of a labour force consisting of 1,200 native civilians for the construction of the coast defences.  The work included the construction of gun mounts, ammunition magazines, pump chambers, officers’ and men’s quarters, a workshop, a power station with two 120 kilowatt engines, a plotting room, and roads and water supply facilities within the artillery battery area.  The majority of the construction consisted of structures with 3-foot thick reinforced concrete walls and 7-foot 6-inch thick concrete roofs, completely underground and covered with 3 feet of reinforced concrete and a 3-foot sand cushion on either side of the structures.  It was obvious that Great Britain was preparing Freetown for a potential attack from the sea, undoubtedly by the Germans.  Actually, the British prepared Freetown for war as early as 1938, with comprehensive militarization taking place the next year.  Freetown, the capital of the British West-African colony of Sierra Leone, was central to the Allies’ strategy during World War 2.  It served as a convoy station with up to 200 cargo and military vessels moving in and out of is well-protected harbour at the height of wartime activities. In 1939 Great Britain introduced a general militarization of the city and the United States built installations and stationed officers and troops there.  Greenfield was part of this militarization. 

“L” Depot Company (1939)

            Greenfield was posted to “L” Depot Company at Chatham on 26 August 1939.  This posting appears to have been a transitory one as his stay at Chatham lasted only six days.  In fact, the posting may have been to provide him with some additional training before moving him on to his next assignment with the C.R.E. at Corsham.

C.R.E. Corsham (1937-1939)

            Greenfield was posted to the Office of the C.R.E. Corsham in Wiltshire on 19 September 1939.[28]  This posting probably brought him back into contact with some old friends, as Corsham was a sub-district of the greater Wessex Area.  As World War 2 had already begun in Europe, senior N.C.O.s were much needed in field units, thus putting a burden on the staffs of C.R.E. offices at home.  Because of this need for men in the field units, Greenfield’s stay in Corsham was a short one.   

235^th (Northumbrian) Field Park Company (1939)

            Corsham lost Greenfield in just under two months when on 17 November 1939 he was posted to the 235^th (Northumbrian) Field Park Company[29]  in the 50^th (Northumbrian) Division.  Other Royal Engineers units in the division at the time included the 232^nd (Northumbrian) Field Company, R.E. and the 505^th Field Company, R.E.  His R.E. Tracer Card provides some confusion regarding his actual date of posting to the 235^th Company.  Card No. 2 clearly shows the date as 17.11.39, but Card No. 1 shows a struck-out entry of 23.1.40. (See Addendum No. 1.) 

            A Field Park Company provided the workshop and stores elements of the engineer provision for an infantry division during the Second World War. Each infantry division had one Royal Engineers field park company on its establishment, which provided the heavy equipment, workshop and stores provision for the division as a whole.  A Major commanded each field company, with a Captain as his second-in-command.  There was a small company headquarters, including the Company Sergeant Major and Company Quartermaster Sergeant. Each company comprised three platoons; each platoon consisting of a headquarters and four sections commanded by a subaltern. Each section had a Corporal or Lance Sergeant as the commander,

and eleven other sappers.  Greenfield probably assumed the position of the Company Quartermaster Sergeant.

            The 50^th Division formed part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France in 1940 and was one of the units to be evacuated from Dunkirk.  Fortunately for Greenfield he did not take part in this deployment.  The 50^th Division deployed to France in February 1940, but Greenfield’s Tracer Card appears to show that he left the 235^th Field Park Company on 23 January 1940 and that he was posted to the 109^th Workshop and Park Company on 19 June 1940.

109^th (Glasgow) Workshop and Park Company (1940-1941)  

            His R.E. Tracer Card provides a similar confusion regarding his actual date of posting to this unit as it does with his posting to the 235^th Company.  Card No. 2 does not show a date as for his posting to 109^th Company, but Card No. 1 shows a struck-out entry of 19/6/40. (See Addendum No. 1.) 

            Greenfield served with this Supplementary Reserve unit until 10 March 1941 when he was discharged from the ranks to take a  Regular Army Emergency Commission (General List) as a Lieutenant, Inspector of Royal Engineer Machinery (I.R.E.M.).  This type of commission and duty was common for senior non-commissioned officers of the Establishment for Engineer Services.  On this date he also was posted to the Office of the Chief Engineer, Scottish Command.[30]

Service in World War 2

            In 1941 he received the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and on 5 November 1943 he was appointed a Temporary Captain (I.R.E.M.).  He was promoted to the rank of War Service Captain (I.R.E.M.) on 10 March 1944.[31]  Precisely where he served during the war is unknown, but what is known is that he earned the 1939-45 Star and 1939-45 War Medal for his service.[32]  This would indicate that he spent a period of at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945 in operational service overseas, probably in Europe.

Post War Service and Retirement

            On 10 December 1946 Greenfield was appointed a Temporary Major[33] and continued to serve as an Inspector of Royal Engineer Machinery after the war until he retired from the Army in 1950.

5.  PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

            Sydney Alfred Greenfield received the following promotions and appointments during his time in service:

NOTE: TBD indicates that the dates of promotion could not be determined.

6.  MEDALS, AWARDS AND DECORATIONS  

            Major Greenfield received the following medals, awards and decorations during his time in service:[34]

 The  India General Service Medal is named in impressed upper case letters as follow:  

1862966 S. SJT. S.A. GREENFIELD. R.E.  

 Figure 11.  India General Service Medal 1908-1935.
(Photograph from the author’s collection)  

The Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is named in impressed upper case letters as follows:  

LT. S.A. GREENFIELD. R.E.  

Figure 12.  Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
(Photograph from the author’s collection)

7. MILITARY EDUCATION  

Greenfield qualified for the following levels of education while serving in the ranks prior to being commissioned:

 8.  POST SERVICE LIFE  

            Sydney Greenfield’s activities after leaving the Army have not been determined.  London Electoral Registers show that he and his wife resided at 47 Erpingham Road in Wandsworth, London at least between 1952 and 1957.

Figure 13.  47 Erpingham Road, Wandsworth, London.
(Photograph courtesy of Google Earth)  

            Sydney Alfred Greenfield died at St. Mary’s Hospital, 67 St. Ronans Road, Southsea, Portsmouth on the 25^th of June 1966 at the age of 62.  His will was probated at Winchester on the 5^th of October 1966 leaving his estate of £6,089 to his widow.

Figure 14.  St. Mary’s Hospital, Southsea, Portsmouth.
(Photograph courtesy of Wikipedia)

ADDENDUM NO. 1.
Details from the Royal Engineers Tracer Cards of S.A. Greenfield.  

Figure 15.  Tracer Card of S.A. Greenfield (Card No. 1)
(Card in the author’s collection)  

            Figure 16 is an enlargement of the area in the upper right-hand section of Card No. 1.  It contains confusing entries regarding the 235 Field Park Company and the 109^th Workshop and Park company.   

            The entry for the 235^th Field Park Company appear to be BEF 23.1.40 indicating that Greenfield did, in fact, go to France with his company before the Germans surrounded them at Dunkirk.  It appears, however, that the entry is crossed out.  Card No. 2 clearly shows his posting to this unit as 17 November 1939.  

            The entry for the 109^th Workshop and Park Company indicates that he was posted to that unit on 19 June 1940, but it too appears to have been crossed out.  A definitive date is not shown on Card No. 2.  It is the author’s opinion that neither of the crossed-out dates on Card No.1  is valid and that Greenfield was not with the BEF in France in 1940.

Figure 16.  Enlargement of a Section of Tracer Card No. 1.
(From the author’s collection)  

ROYAL ENGINEERS TRACER CARD, CARD 2  

Figure 17.  Tracer Card of S.A. Greenfield (Card No. 2)
(Card in the author’s collection)

ADDENDUM NO. 2.
Summary of Total Service  

            Major Greenfield’s total service with the Royal Engineers was reckoned as shown in the tables below.  

NOTES: 
1.      Greenfield’s career was somewhat unusual in that he was posted 12 times while on active service with some postings lasting for very short periods. 
2.      Without his full service papers his postings after commissioning cannot be known precisely, therefore his total service time must be considered to be an approximation.

  REFERENCES

Army Lists  

1.      The Monthly Army List, June 1926, p. 320.  

2.      The Monthly Army List, August 1949, p. 663a.  

Books  

1.      BAKER BROWN, W. The History of the Corps of Royal Engineers. Volume IV. The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, 1952, pp. 245-262.

2.      GORDON, L.L.  British Battles and Medals. Spink & Son, Ltd., London, 1979.  

3.      SANDES, E.W.C.  The Indian Sappers and Miners.  The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, 1948, pp. 636 – 641.  

4.      SANDES, E.W.C.  The Military Engineer in India.  The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, 1933, pp. 524-528.  

Census Data  

1.      1911 England Census for Sydney Alfred Greenfield.  

2.      1901 England Census for Charlotte A Greenfield.  

3.      1891 England Census: Charlotte A Pexton.

Internet Web Sites  

1.      Ancestry.com Family Tree: http://person.ancestry.com/tree/56309/person/25343979807/facts  

2.      British Empire: digital.library.northwestern.edu/league/le0288al.pdf  

3.      Forces War Records:

https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/records/5762827/lieutenant-s-a-greenfield-british-army-royal-engineers/  

4.      Google Earth/Maps.  

5.      Gosport History: https://www.fortgilkicker.co.uk/royalengineers.htm  

6.      Military Engineer Service (India): http://www.mes.org.bd/  

London Gazette  

Supplement to the London Gazette, 6 MAY, 1941.  

Medal Rolls  

Royal Engineers Medal Roll Book, India General Service Medal, 1908-1935.  Army Medal Office Reference 30/47.  

Periodicals  

1.      The Royal Engineers Quarterly List, January 1930, p. xxii.  

2.      The Royal Engineers Quarterly List, October 1935, p. xxii.  

3.      Southern Daily Echo, 28 November 2017.  

Registry Documents  

1.      England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 for Sydney Alfred Greenfield, 1904, Q2-Apr-May-Jun.  

2.      England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 for Sydney A Greenfield, 1932, Q4-Oct-Nov-Dec.  

3.      Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Electoral Registers, 1741-1974 for Sydney Alfred Greenfield, Absent Voters List, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932 and 1933.  

4.      Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Electoral Registers, 1741-1974 for Doris Kibel, Register of Electors (Central), 1929.

5.      London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965, Wandsworth, Putney and Streatham, 1952.  

6.      London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965 for Sydney A Greenfield, Wandsworth, Putney and Central, 1953, 1954 and 1957.  

7.      England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 for Sydney A Greenfield, 1966, Q2-Apr-May-Jun.

8.      England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995 for Sydney Alfred Greenfield.

Sapper Magazine  

1.      The Sapper, October 1928, p. 90.  

2.      The Sapper, February 1932, p. 196.  

3.      The Sapper, April 1936, p. 242.  

4.      The Sapper, May 1936, p. 267.  

Ship Manifests  

S.S. Elysia, Bombay to Liverpool, 19 June 1935.

ENDNOTES