Five: Sergeant “Fred” Stratton, Royal Garrison Artillery, who was one of a small group...

Five: Sergeant “Fred” Stratton, Royal Garrison Artillery, who was one of a small group of artillery instructors attached to the South Persia Rifles during 1917-21

India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, North West Frontier 1908, Waziristan 1921-24 (15627 Gunr. F. Stratton No 3 Mtn. B RGA); British War and Victory Medals (15627 Sjt. F. Stratton. R.A.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S. Persia (15627 Sjt. F. Stratton. R.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (1401549 Sjt F. Stratton. R.G.A.) mounted for wear, generally very fine and scarce (5) £800-£1,000

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William “Fred” Stratton was born in March 1886 the son of Mary Anne Stacey and Henry Stratton, a postman, at Old Alresford, Hampshire. He attested for the Royal Garrison Artillery at Guildford on 6 August 1903, aged 18 years 9 months. After two years training he was sent to India in 1905 and joined the 3rd Mountain Battery R.G.A. He first saw action in the ‘Weekend War’ against the the Zakka Khel Afridis during February 1908. The rapid advance of Major-General Sir James Willcocks' column combined with the use of the new 10-pounder breech-loading mountain guns using smokeless powder so surprised the Afridis that they submitted quickly to the British forces. Casualties to the Battery were slight with 2 officers and 4 rank and file wounded.

During World War 1 the 3rd Mountain Battery remained in India as part of the 4th Quetta Division, holding positions at Chaman, Fort Sandeman, Jacobabad, Lorelei, Manora and Hyderabad. In August 1916 a force termed the “South Persia Rifles” [S.P.R.] was raised by Sir Percy Sykes consisting of 450 cavalry, over 3,000 infantry and a few artillery pieces. With the discovery of oil and the lawless nature of the local tribes it became necessary to raise such a unit in order to control British interests. After the reverse at Dasht-i-Arjan the force was reinforced with troops from India together with two officers, two sub-conductors and 21 N.C.O.'s acting as instructors. By August 1917 the strength of the force had risen to 5,500 men with 70 active British Officers and 84 British and Indian N.C.O. instructors. By the Spring of 1918 the force was 6,000 strong and at its peak 8,000 men had been enlisted. The S.P.R. was disbanded in 1922 with perhaps fewer than 150 N.C.O instructors having ever been seconded. Stratton's service record does not state when he joined although the India General Service medal roll for South Persia shows him being attached to the 2nd Battery, South Persia Rifles. While the 1st Battery was up and operational by 1917, the 2nd Battery was never fully operational. With low morale it became increasingly necessary for officers and instructors to be attached to all field operations to stiffen resolve. Stratton last saw action in Waziristan where he served with the 12th Pack Battery at Ladha and Piazho Raghza. It was a hard campaign over rugged terrain with sickness endemic. Total casualties were 261 killed, 370 wounded, with 467 dying of disease. Stratton's last unit was the 9th Pack Battery and he was discharged at his own request after 18 years service in India, and having been brought to the notice of the Senior Officer Commanding in India for his services. He arrived back at Dover 1st February 1923, and received his Long Service Good Conduct medal in April 1922. He retired on a pension of 33 pence per day and returned to the village of his birth. He married Lily Wright at Winchester in the 3rd quarter of 1936 and died in the 3rd quarter of 1945.

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