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From: "Peter M Thomas" <>
Subject: RE: 'Bill the Moush' alias 'Hiram' WW1-4th Div Signal Coy & Flying Corps
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2002 11:18:18 +0930
In-Reply-To: <00df01c26bc8$cd7c45a0$b1fc21cb@pavilion>


fascinating: the start of a serious research project.

vol 8 of BEAN is about the AFC: you might get some clues there.

"H.D." possibly = "heavy duty" - a fair description of a Clydesdale, as
opposed to other horses.

In WW1, Signals was part of Engineeers, so "Sapper", which is the quivalent
of a Private in Infantry, would be correct.


Peter THOMAS
Darwin, Australia
<>


-----Original Message-----
From: Abaya Carpentry [mailto:]
Sent: Saturday, 5 October 2002 02:39
To:
Subject: 'Bill the Moush' alias 'Hiram' WW1-4th Div Signal Coy & Flying
Corps


Hi all
OK, this is an extreme longshot, but.....you just never know.

I have received a copy of an unpublished manuscript, from AWM, by one of my
hubbies rellies, (Private or Sapper) Merlin Owen PASCOE, 1511 of "No. 3
Section, 4th Div. Signal Coy. A.I.F.", titled "About a digger in France in
1917-18. (Merlin was K.I.A. 6 Aug 1918, Somme).

I was beside myself waiting to read about his time in WW1, but........it's
about 'Bill the Moush (mouth)' alias 'Hiram'. He doesn't use a surname.
Just thinking this 9 typed pages could be very informative to one of 'Bills'
(presumably William --------??) descendants.

Here's what I can deduce about Bill/William ----------?? from the pages:
*Australian.....from the 'land of the wattle'.
*He was a Driver in a Signal Company (quite possibly No. 3 section, 4th
Signal Company with Merlin?).
*He looked after 2 donkeys-"My worthy old friends and colleagues, Tim and
Jim" as he said.
*1917ish?-At Ypes was injured falling into a ditch, whilst carrying a hay
bale & was evacuated to a rest station for a few days recuperation.......he
somehow made his way from rest station to somewhere else in France, then the
base of Le Havre....arrived back to the unit after 6 months
*Merlin PASCOE was his confidante.
*He had a rather large, expressive mouth.....most prominent feature on
meeting him for first time, apparently.
*He was quite a character, enjoyed telling everyone all about his adventures
& may have 'got into trouble' a fair bit during his service.
*France-'Acquired' a couple of Army horses (H.D. pattern [??]), Clydesdales,
for the unit to use, instead of 'Tim' & 'Jim' (who were sold to a Driver
dealer of the D.A.C. for 5 francs)
*Before March 1918 (Merlins death)-transferred to the Flying Corps to drive
a lorry.

Any takers????? Also, love anything on Merlin Owen PASCOE :0)

Shelley
Perth, WA

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