Arbre Généalogique Guertin Rondeau Family Tree - Person Sheet
Arbre Généalogique Guertin Rondeau Family Tree - Person Sheet
NameAlfred Casken 
Birth1882
Death4 Mar 1915, Dardanelles, Turkey
FlagsMilitary, WW1
FatherJohn Casken (1855-1896)
MotherMary Fenwick (1856-1906)
Notes for Alfred Casken
THE PLYMOUTH MARINES AT THE DARDANELLES 4/3/15.
Barnsley Men at Sedd-ul-Bahr & Kum Kale.
RND's First Blood drawn in opposed landings.
It was during my research into Jack's two pals, Val Littlewood & Harold Benfell, that I discovered many men from Barnsley had enlisted for Short-service with the Plymouth Division RMLI.
The first 12 Barnsley recruits for the Plymouth Short-service Marines had originally enlisted with the KOYLI & were then transferred to the Plymouth Division RMLI 16/9/14. These men had all volunteered in early September 1914 in answer to Kitchener's call (see 'Kitchener's Marines' page). Their former comrades in the Kitchener's Army Battalions did not see active service until mid-1915 or on the Somme in 1916, whereas the Marines were first in action at the Dardanelles 4/3/15.
Two companies of the Plymouth Bn. landed at Kum Kale (No.3 Coy) & Sedd-ul-Bahr (No.4 Coy), on opposite sides of the entrance to the Dardanelles.
The Plymouth Bn. lost 25 killed or died of wounds (3 of No.4 Coy. & 22 of No.3 Coy).
Five of the Plymouth Battalion's ex-KOYLI's were killed: one of them a Barnsley Marine: PLY 178/S Pte. Alfred CASKEN, No.3 Coy, his body was not recovered. Another Barnsley Marine (PLY 664/S Pte. Horace LIVERSIDGE, No.3 Coy.) was severely wounded. The following are relevant extracts from the 'Barnsley Chronicle.' Page 8. Saturday March 20th 1915
The many friends of Mr. Alfred Casken will regret to hear that he has been killed in the Dardanelles. Deceased was a nephew of Mr. John Smith, colliery proprietor, of Barnsley, & was well known in the district. Alfred responded to the call for men for the duration of war, & joined the Royal Marines at Plymouth. They left Plymouth for Malta last month, & arrived there on Feb. 15th, & after a brief stay there were sent to the Dardanelles. He was one of the party landed on March 4th, & was killed the same day during a battle with the Turks. He was a Gawber lad, & has three brothers in the Army. One was badly wounded in the Battle of Marne (Sgt. J.E. Casken), another (Cpl. J. Casken) has been out since the commencement of the war, & the other brother (A. Casken) has been in India about 10 years. Official news from the Admiralty of Alfred's death, was received the other day saying he was killed in action on March 4th 1915.
49571 Gunner Arthur Casken, RFA, POW Turkey (Kut) 30/4/16. 1st Theatre of War: 5(a) Asiatic 29/9/15, died as POW 26/8/16.
52645 Cpl. (later BQMS) James E. Casken, 34 Bde. RFA, 1st Theatre of War: France 16/8/14 (14St. & Bar).
Post War No. 1023405 RA, LSGC issued 1927.
T/16101 Dvr. (later A/Sgt.) John F. Casken, ASC, 1st Theatre of War: France 11/8/14 (14St.)
Alfred's three brothers were all pre-war regulars: -
52645 Cpl. (later BQMS) James E. Casken, 34th Bde. RFA, arrived in France 16/8/14.
T/16101 Dvr. (later A/Sgt.) John F. Casken, ASC, arrived in France 11/8/14.
49571 Gnr. Arthur Casken, RFA, POW Turkey (Siege of Kut-al-Amara) 30/4/16. Died a POW 26/8/16.
In March 1916 the KOYLI wrote to Alfred's brother, John Casken, to enquire (in their typically clumsy fashion) as to Alfred's whereabouts, for the purpose of disposal of his original KOYLI attestation papers to his present regiment:- Dear Sir, Excuse me taking the liberty of filling in your paper as my husband is serving with the colours in France, one of the first Expeditionary Force that landed in August 1914. My brother-in-law Alfred Casken were killed in the Dardanelles March 4th 1915. He enlisted Sept. 1914 landed at Malta Feb. 16th & expected going up the Dardanelles any day he said. The last letter I had from him were dated Feb. 27th 1915. I had official news of his death from the Admiralty also his Lieut. saying he were shot through the head. Death being instantaneous. I remain yours obediently Mrs J.F. Casken, 35 Schofield Crescent, Model Village, Maltby, Nr. Rotherham."
PLY/178/S Pte. Alfred CASKEN ex-13872 Pte. KOYLI. KIA No.3 Coy. Plymouth Bn, Kum Kale, Dardanelles 4/3/15.
A Miner. b. Middlesboro, Yorks. 7/4/1881.
Home address: c/o Mr John Casken, 35 Schofield Crescent, Maltby. Brothers: Robert, John, Arthur, James ; Sisters: Emily, Minnie.
Next of Kin (ADM159): Brother: John Casken, 35 Schofield Crescent, Maltby, (on card index) Sister in Law: Sarah Casken same address, amended to Mrs J. Pearce, 13 Mount St., Ardsley, Nr. Barnsley, Yorks.
Named with his brother Arthur on the Gawber War Memorial, Gawber Churchyard, Barnsley.
Barnsley Chronicle.
http://www.jackclegg.com/barnsley%20marines.htm
Barnsley Men at Sedd-ul-Bahr & Kum Kale.
RND's First Blood drawn in opposed landings.
It was during my research into Jack's two pals, Val Littlewood & Harold Benfell, that I discovered many men from Barnsley had enlisted for Short-service with the Plymouth Division RMLI.
The first 12 Barnsley recruits for the Plymouth Short-service Marines had originally enlisted with the KOYLI & were then transferred to the Plymouth Division RMLI 16/9/14. These men had all volunteered in early September 1914 in answer to Kitchener's call (see 'Kitchener's Marines' page). Their former comrades in the Kitchener's Army Battalions did not see active service until mid-1915 or on the Somme in 1916, whereas the Marines were first in action at the Dardanelles 4/3/15.
Two companies of the Plymouth Bn. landed at Kum Kale (No.3 Coy) & Sedd-ul-Bahr (No.4 Coy), on opposite sides of the entrance to the Dardanelles.
The Plymouth Bn. lost 25 killed or died of wounds (3 of No.4 Coy. & 22 of No.3 Coy).
Five of the Plymouth Battalion's ex-KOYLI's were killed: one of them a Barnsley Marine: PLY 178/S Pte. Alfred CASKEN, No.3 Coy, his body was not recovered. Another Barnsley Marine (PLY 664/S Pte. Horace LIVERSIDGE, No.3 Coy.) was severely wounded. The following are relevant extracts from the 'Barnsley Chronicle.' Page 8. Saturday March 20th 1915
The many friends of Mr. Alfred Casken will regret to hear that he has been killed in the Dardanelles. Deceased was a nephew of Mr. John Smith, colliery proprietor, of Barnsley, & was well known in the district. Alfred responded to the call for men for the duration of war, & joined the Royal Marines at Plymouth. They left Plymouth for Malta last month, & arrived there on Feb. 15th, & after a brief stay there were sent to the Dardanelles. He was one of the party landed on March 4th, & was killed the same day during a battle with the Turks. He was a Gawber lad, & has three brothers in the Army. One was badly wounded in the Battle of Marne (Sgt. J.E. Casken), another (Cpl. J. Casken) has been out since the commencement of the war, & the other brother (A. Casken) has been in India about 10 years. Official news from the Admiralty of Alfred's death, was received the other day saying he was killed in action on March 4th 1915.
49571 Gunner Arthur Casken, RFA, POW Turkey (Kut) 30/4/16. 1st Theatre of War: 5(a) Asiatic 29/9/15, died as POW 26/8/16.
52645 Cpl. (later BQMS) James E. Casken, 34 Bde. RFA, 1st Theatre of War: France 16/8/14 (14St. & Bar).
Post War No. 1023405 RA, LSGC issued 1927.
T/16101 Dvr. (later A/Sgt.) John F. Casken, ASC, 1st Theatre of War: France 11/8/14 (14St.)
Alfred's three brothers were all pre-war regulars: -
52645 Cpl. (later BQMS) James E. Casken, 34th Bde. RFA, arrived in France 16/8/14.
T/16101 Dvr. (later A/Sgt.) John F. Casken, ASC, arrived in France 11/8/14.
49571 Gnr. Arthur Casken, RFA, POW Turkey (Siege of Kut-al-Amara) 30/4/16. Died a POW 26/8/16.
In March 1916 the KOYLI wrote to Alfred's brother, John Casken, to enquire (in their typically clumsy fashion) as to Alfred's whereabouts, for the purpose of disposal of his original KOYLI attestation papers to his present regiment:- Dear Sir, Excuse me taking the liberty of filling in your paper as my husband is serving with the colours in France, one of the first Expeditionary Force that landed in August 1914. My brother-in-law Alfred Casken were killed in the Dardanelles March 4th 1915. He enlisted Sept. 1914 landed at Malta Feb. 16th & expected going up the Dardanelles any day he said. The last letter I had from him were dated Feb. 27th 1915. I had official news of his death from the Admiralty also his Lieut. saying he were shot through the head. Death being instantaneous. I remain yours obediently Mrs J.F. Casken, 35 Schofield Crescent, Model Village, Maltby, Nr. Rotherham."
PLY/178/S Pte. Alfred CASKEN ex-13872 Pte. KOYLI. KIA No.3 Coy. Plymouth Bn, Kum Kale, Dardanelles 4/3/15.
A Miner. b. Middlesboro, Yorks. 7/4/1881.
Home address: c/o Mr John Casken, 35 Schofield Crescent, Maltby. Brothers: Robert, John, Arthur, James ; Sisters: Emily, Minnie.
Next of Kin (ADM159): Brother: John Casken, 35 Schofield Crescent, Maltby, (on card index) Sister in Law: Sarah Casken same address, amended to Mrs J. Pearce, 13 Mount St., Ardsley, Nr. Barnsley, Yorks.
Named with his brother Arthur on the Gawber War Memorial, Gawber Churchyard, Barnsley.
Barnsley Chronicle.
http://www.jackclegg.com/barnsley%20marines.htm