Wikipedia:WikiProject Military history/Assessment/Samuel Frickleton

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

Article promoted by Kges1901 (talk) via MilHistBot (talk) 12:20, 10 January 2019 (UTC) « Return to A-Class review list[reply]

Samuel Frickleton

Instructions for nominators and reviewers

Nominator(s): Zawed (talk)

Another article in the series I've been working on for New Zealand Victoria Cross recipients of the First World War, Samuel Frickleton was actually Scottish-born and earned his VC at the Battle of Messines in 1917. The article went through a GA review in mid-2018. I look forward to the feedback of reviewers and, all going well, seeing this article be promoted to A-Class. Zawed (talk) 04:29, 30 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]

~~Comments~~Support:

Born in 1891 in Scotland, Frickleton was a miner when he enlisted with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) Makes it sound like he enlisted in the NZDF from Scotland
However, his health was still poor and before the end of the war was returned to New Zealand His health was returned to NZ? ;) Also, "however" is frowned upon by some at FAC; I usually recommend rewording when it's easy to do.
Wounded during the action that earned him the VC But you don't tell us what the action was...
In 1956, he was one of 400 VC winners who paraded in Hyde Park in London For the VC centenary? This is mentioned in the lead but not the body.

Excellent work again. I can't see anything that would bar promotion. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 20:13, 30 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]

HJ Mitchell: thanks for the feedback, I have made edits as per your suggestions. Cheers, Zawed (talk) 22:01, 5 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Happy to support now. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 20:40, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Comments from AustralianRupert - Support: G'day, Zawed, just a few minor comments/observations from me: AustralianRupert (talk) 08:49, 5 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

there are no duplicate links, or dabs (no action required)
ext links all work (no action required)
images lack alt text, suggest adding this in as it can help some readers: [1]

Have added alt text. Zawed (talk) 22:20, 5 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

are there any details of his schooling available?

Unfortunately no. Zawed (talk) 22:20, 5 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

following the death of his father: do we know how he died?

As with above, don't have this information. Zawed (talk) 22:20, 5 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

suggest wikilinking "officer"

Done. Zawed (talk) 22:20, 5 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

and served as Inspector, New Zealand Military Forces --> "and served as Inspector, New Zealand Military Forces serving on the home front for the duration of the Second World War"?

Have added, albeit slightly rephrased from your suggestion, see what you think. Zawed (talk) 22:20, 5 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Looks good. That's better than my suggestion. Regards, AustralianRupert (talk) 00:29, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Frickleton died in 1971 in Wellington --> suggest adding the full date of his death here

Done. Thanks for the feedback AustralianRupert, much appreciated. Cheers, Zawed (talk) 22:20, 5 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

No worries. I've added my support now. Regards, AustralianRupert (talk) 00:29, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Image review

File:Samuel_Frickleton.PNG: when/where was this first published? Nikkimaria (talk) 17:59, 5 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Nikkimaria: not sure of date of publication of that particular image but suspect it could have been in 1937 as part of the publicity surrounding his selection for attendance at the 1937 Coronation. I could replace it with this image: [2], which was executed in 1920 and released by Archives New Zealand under a cc-by-sa-2.0 licence. Zawed (talk) 22:43, 5 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I would do, unless you can track down more info on the provenance of the former. Nikkimaria (talk) 23:37, 5 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks Nikkimaria, I have done. Cheers, Zawed (talk) 00:04, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Comments & Support from Pendright - Pendright (talk) 21:30, 7 January 2019 (UTC)

The following comments are intended to help make a good article better, so please take them in this light. If you disagree with any of them, I expect we can iron-out any issues in a good-natured manner.Pendright (talk) 02:28, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Lead

Samuel Frickleton, VC, ED (1 April 1891 – 6 August 1971) was a soldier in the New Zealand Military Forces and recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award of the British Commonwealth for gallantry in "the face of the enemy. He was awarded the VC for his actions in he Battle of Messiness during the First Wirld War.

Samuel Frickleton, VC, ED

You've described the VC at some length, but only introduced the Efficiency Decoration award as ED?

This mention is in the post-nominal sense. I don't otherwise mention the ED in the lead as I don't think it notable enough to justify doing so. Zawed (talk) 08:43, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Let’s think about the reader (isn’t that what this is all about), who has to go to another site to find out what the ED actually means. Is this reader friendly? Besides, the entire paragraph is only about 40 words in length – it could stand a bump in words. And, as we are all remaindered, if it’s in the body we expect to find it in the lead, or vice versa. Pendright (talk) 01:45, 7 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I've added recited the ED in full in the lead. Zawed (talk) 06:29, 7 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Under Abbreviations, the MOS seems to suggest that they are used only after first being written out. While there are some exemptions, awards do not seem to be one of them.

Can you point to something that says otherwise?

As mentioned above. Zawed (talk) 08:43, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

In this case, can you be more specific! Pendright (talk) 02:58, 7 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

The first usage is as a post-nominal. Post-nominals aren't written out in full on first usage. Zawed (talk) 06:29, 7 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

and recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC),

Consider adding the indefinite article a in front of the noun recipient

I don't believe this is done for the VC (or the Medal of Honor). Zawed (talk) 08:43, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

You said, I don’t believe this [use of the indefinite article] is done for the VC -

Yet, in this response you’ve applied (correctly) the definite article (the) to VC. , But oppose using the indefinite article (a) for recipient. It’s a small matter, I know, but still has its importance in the scheme of things. Pendright (talk) 01:52, 7 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Ah, I misunderstood the original point (I thought you were wanting to refer to "a VC"). Have revised. Zawed (talk) 06:29, 7 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

"the face of the enemy"

For emphasis, the MOS suggests using italics.

My preference is to not use italics. Zawed (talk) 08:43, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

The MOS also states that if quotations marks are used, attribution is required. Pendright (talk) 03:23, 7 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Have deleted the quote marks. Zawed (talk) 06:29, 7 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

First World War

Consider linking!

Done. Zawed (talk) 08:43, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Born in 1891 in Scotland, Frickleton was a miner when he enlisted with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) the year after the outbreak of the First World War. He took ill on reaching the Middle East and had to be repatriated to New Zealand. Although he had been discharged from the NZEF, he rejoined after recovering his health. He was posted to the 3rd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, then serving on the Western Front. Wounded during the action that earned him the VC, he received medical treatment in England after which he underwent officer training. However, his health was still poor and before the end of the war was returned to New Zealand. He later served in the New Zealand Staff Corps. He went to London in 1937 for the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth and again nearly 20 years later for the VC centenary. He served on the home front during the Second World War. He died in 1971 at the age of 80.

Born in 1891 in Scotland, Frickleton was a miner when he enlisted with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF)

While a reader might assume he migrated from Scotland to New Zealand, it might be better to say so.

I had already changed the lead to address this following similar feedback from another reviewer. Zawed (talk) 08:43, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

An under aged person is a minor

Frickleton was a miner, I have now linked this term in the lead and first section to avoid confusion. Zawed (talk) 08:43, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Frickleton: The subject's proper name is used once in the first sentence, then substituted with he or his for the rest of paragraph.

Consider some variation

As a style thing, I generally only mention the name once in a paragraph. I have split the lead into three now so mentioned his name again.

Second World War

Consider linking

Done. Zawed (talk) 08:43, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Observations:

The abbrevaition VC is mentioned three times in the firat paragraph and twice in the second.

I have edited the lead to drop one mention.

The lead shaes little of Frickleton's personal life - other than miliary.

This is a reflection of what makes him notable and the sources. Unfortunately there is little on his postwar civilian life. Zawed (talk) 08:43, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Early life

Frickleton was born on 1 April 1891 in Slamannan in Scotland,

Consider replacing the second in with a comma

Done. Zawed (talk) 08:46, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I recognize how difficult it is to find sources for this kind of artile

Perhaps you still could squeeze out a few more facts to help bolster this small section

I would like to but as noted above, there isn't a lot available on his civilian life. Zawed (talk) 08:46, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

In progress: Pendright (talk) 02:28, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

First World War

The Middle East and France

Are they worthty of linking?

I generally don't link countries/regions unless absolutely necessary i.e. for avoidance of doubt. Zawed (talk) 08:52, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

the rank of corporal

In most places of the world rank is reserved for officers

I'm not sure of this, see Other ranks (UK)

Perhaps it's just semantics! Pendright (talk) 05:28, 7 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Second paragraph: you have the subject promoted to corporal twice?

Yes, when he enlisted the second time, it would have been as a private initially. Zawed (talk) 08:52, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Consider this for clarity:

After a period of convalescence, he re-enlisted [as a private] for the NZEF in 1916.[2] Later that year, he was posted to France as a rifleman in the 3rd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade. By March 1917, he had been promoted to corporal. Pendright (talk) 02:35, 7 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

This is not quite straightforward since a rifleman is equivalent in rank to a private. Have revised to make this clearer. Zawed (talk) 06:57, 7 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

And was badly gassed

Is this clear enough for the average reader?

Have added a link to chemical warfare to help with understanding. Zawed (talk) 08:52, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Later life and legacy

Third sentence: on 7 June 2007, a plaque

Would read smoother without the comma, specially with a semi-colon before the word on

Have rephrased the order of the sentence, hope it is easier now. Zawed (talk) 08:57, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Observation: While the VC is imortant to the story, it seems to be mentioned in the text an inordinate number of times.

Yes, it is a reflection of what made him notable. I would like to expand on his life, particularly post WWII (he would have only been approaching his late 50s), but there is little in the sources. Zawed (talk) 08:57, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Finished - Pendright (talk) 04:28, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Pendright, thank you for taking the time to review the article, it is always good to have as many eyes as possible on an article to ensure all its kinks are ironed out. I have responded to your various points as above. Cheers, Zawed (talk) 08:57, 6 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Pendright, it looks like I misunderstood at least one of your comments, my apologies. I have responded above to each of the outstanding comments. Cheers, Zawed (talk) 06:59, 7 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

@Zawed: No apology necessary! Thank you for your promptness and cooperation. Happy to support - Pendright (talk) 21:30, 7 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Source review

All the sources seem reliable and of high quality. Although there doesn't seem to be a wide range of sources on him, that is common for VC recipients who are not otherwise notable. Formatting seems OK. Cheers, Peacemaker67 (click to talk to me) 08:22, 10 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.