Description
A Salonika Front Great War, World War Two Atlantic Convoy, Merchant Navy Father and Son Casualty Group comprising:
Father – Driver Albert Edgar Putz, 129 (Howitzer) Brigade Royal Field Artillery, and Sergeant Special Constabulary comprising: –
1914-15 Star, (803 Dvr. A. Putzs. R.F.A.), note spelling of Putzs, 1914-1920 British War and Victory Medals, (803 Dvr. A. Putz. R.A.), 1939-45 Defence Medal, 1953 Coronation Medal, both unnamed as issued, Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, GVIR, (Sergt. Albert E. Putz), mounted for wear, very fine.
Son – Second Radio Officer Albert Leslie Puts, M.V. Empire Comet, who was Killed in Action when M.V. Empire Comet was torpedoed by U-136 on the 17th of February 1942 comprising 1939-45 Star, Atlantic star, 1939-45 War Medal, mounted for wear very fine.
Albert Edgar Putz joined the 4th Home Counties (Howitzer) Brigade 4th Kent Battery, Royal Field Artillery (Territorial Force) on the 4th of October 1914, he was 19 years old. He transferred to 129 Brigade RFA and landed in France with that unit on the 21st of December 1914. The Brigade was part of the 27th Division seeing action at St Eloi and the Second Battle of Ypres. In November 1915 the Brigade was ordered to Salonika the whole Division arriving in Salonika by the 13th of February 1916 they were engaged in the capture of Karajakois, the capture of Yenikoi and the battle of Tumbitza Farm. In 1917 they were in action at Homomdos. In 1918 they were in the actions in the capture of the Roche Noir Salient the passage of the Varda River and the pursuit into the Strumica valley. The Division reached Constantinople on the 19th of December 1918. Albert’s papers show that he was in France from the 22nd of December 1914 to the 30th of January 1916 and with the Egyptian expeditionary Force from the 31st of January 1916 to the 25th of March 1919. He returned Home on the 20th of April 1919 and was Discharged Sick, No Longer Fit For Military Service on the 7th of May 19191 receiving Silver War Badge number B224417, his records state he was living at St Brides Little Haden, South Wales. He married Margaret Jane and they had a son Albert Leslie Putz born in 1923. Albert Edgar is shown in the 1953 Coronation Roll as Sergeant Special Constabulary, Area UK S CM 5C.
Second Radio Officer Albert Leslie Puts is shown as the son of Albert Edgar and Mary Jane Puts of Bury Port Carmarthenshire. Albert Leslie was the Second Radio Operator abord the Merchant Navy Motor Vessel Empire Comet part of Convoy HX 174, her second Convoy, which departed Halifax on the 7th of February 1942 bound for Liverpool. Empire Comet straggled behind the Convoy at 22.17 (German Time) on the 17th of February 1942 Empire Comet was hit by two torpedoes fired by German Submarine U-136, Heinrich Zimmerman. There were no survivors of the 38 crew and 8 DEMS Gunners.
