Background
The primary driver of the establishment of what became the Wagoners Special Reserve was Colonel Sir Mark Sykes (1879-1919), a grandee of high society of the East Riding of Yorkshire. The only son of Sir Tatton Sykes, Bt, with a large estate at Sledmere that included a significant race horse stud farm, he became a Unionist Member of Parliament for Central Hull. On his father’s death, Mark succeeded to the title of 5th Baronet. He was also very much involved in the Volunteers, and when this was dismantled in the Haldane army reforms of 1908 he became the commanding officer of the 5th Yorkshire Regiment (Territorial Force).
The area around Sledmere was not unfamiliar with things military. Not only were there units of the yeomanry and infantry based and recruiting in the East Riding, but in August 1904 Sledmere was at the epicentre of large scale battle training maneouvres carried out by the Beverley-based 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment: the then Captain Mark Sykes acted as staff officer.
From around 1906 Sykes pushed for the creation of a volunteer reserve of drivers and farm workers as an auxiliary to the Army Service Corps. He appears to have always taken interest in wagon driving and competitions, and offered prizes at shows.
Enlistment
In July 1913 a great show was held on York Dale, and about 1000 people watched. By then, many of the wagoners had, with Sykes’ encouragement, formally enlisted into the new Category C of the Special Reserve. This had been introduced in March 1912. As drivers of the Army Service Corps HorseTransport section, the recruits would be required to perform duties in the army similar to that in civilian life. They would have the same duties and liabilities as the rest of the Special Reserve but would not be called out for annual training. Recruits in this category would join for one year, be aged between 18 and 45, and at least 5 feet 3 inches in height.
Those wagoners who joined were given a number with a C(HT) prefix. They enlisted for one year and were paid paid £1 on completing enlistment.
The Wagoners Special Reserve was not a unit recognised by the Army Act and as such it does not appear in the Army List.
It had different ranks to those used by the army:
Roadmaster
Foreman
Waggoner (technically attested as Driver, appointed as Waggoner).
Mobilisation and war service
The men went to be mobilised at Bradford Moor on 6 August 1914. Several of them were quickly sent on attachment to the 2nd Bridging Train of the Royal Engineers and went to France with that unit. They landed at Le Havre on 20 August 1914, putting them among the very earliest men who were not serving regular soldiers to enter the theatre of war. Others went not with a unit but as a draft of men, assigned to units once in France. An example is Waggoner C(HT)599 Richard Sawden, who landed in France on 19 August and went to 4th Reserve Park ASC. Men of the Wagoners Special Reserve are known to have served in France, Salonika,. Italy and elsewhere.
Examples
Road Master C(HT)1 William Dewsbury Megginson enlisted in Driffield on 12 February 1913. He re-engaged in 1914 and was mobilised when the war began, but was discharged unfit soon afterwards. Megginson headed the winning team at the July 1913 show. His name appears on other men’s attestation papers, and he was clearly involved in recruitment process.
Road Master C(HT)10 Frank Dee enlisted in Sledmere two days later aged almost 41. He too had been at the 1913 show. He went to France with 2 Bridging Train RE.
Waggoner C(HT)226 James Henry Woodger, enlisted at Driffield aged 18 on 7 July 1913.
Waggoner C(HT)465 Frank Arthur Atkinson enlisted in Sherburn on 18 December 1913. On 30 July 1915 he agreed to serve for the rest of the war. He transferred to 2/5th Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment) on 12 October 1917; sadly, he died of wounds on 20 July 1918.
Researching a Wolds Wagoner
The general method for researching a man who served with the Wagoners Special Reserve is exactly the same as for any other soldier: see my advice at How to research a soldier. You will probably not find any specific mention of the Wolds Wagoners, but the prefix, ranks, and places of enlistment will be good indicators.
Sledmere House estate can be visited today and includes a small Wagoners Museum, which includes photographs, papers, memorabilia and a medal collection. See website link below.
