WW1 Remembrance

2nd Lieut Charles Alfred Pigot-Moodie, 6th Bn, Rifle Brigade

2012-01-14T07:21:00.002Z

2nd Lieut Charles Alfred Pigot-Moodie of the 6th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, was killed in action on the 14th January 1915. He was the son of George and Rosa Pigot Moodie and was born at Westbrooke, Rondebosch, Cape Province, South Africa. The cutting above is taken from De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour.

Charles Pigot-Moodie is buried in Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery. His brother's son, John Peter Pigot-Moodie, is recorded as a Second World War casualty.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

WW1 Medal Index Cards
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers - FREE
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission - FREE

11/11/11

2011-11-11T03:53:00.000Z

Remembering our dead today. In particular, Rfm John Frederick Nixon, KiA on the 3rd October 1918.

At the Going Down of the Sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Light a Light of Remembrance on the Imperial War Museum's Centenary Wall.

30724 Pte George Rolfe, 9th Bn, Suffolk Regt

2011-10-10T14:06:00.000+01:00

30724 Private George Rolfe of the 9th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment was killed in action on the 10th October 1916; one of over 650 British Army officers and men to die on this day. He was born in Depden Green, Suffolk and enlisted at Bury St Edmunds. He was 27 years old, the son of Thomas and Annie Rolfe, of Bury Road, Depden. George has no known grave and is commemorated on the imposing Thiepval Memorial on the Somme.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

WW1 Medal Index Cards
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers - FREE
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission - FREE

Imgae courtsey of Paul Reed and borrowed from his page on the Thiepval Memorial.

Remembering Loos - 96 years ago today

2011-09-26T13:28:00.006+01:00

On the 25th September 1915, 96 years ago, nearly 10,000 British army officers, NCOs and other ranks laid down their lives for King and Country. This was the opening day of the Battle of Loos and the majority of the 9661 men who died on this day, died in the assault towards Loos.

1310 Rifleman Joseph Hart of the 8th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Post Office Rifles) was one of the casualties on that day. He was born in Westbourne Park and was living at Notting Hill when he enlisted in late January or early February 1911. Like the majority of the men in the battalion he was probably a postman by trade. Joseph was 23 years old, the son of Edward and Fanny Elizabeth Hart of 23 Silchester Terrace, Notting Hill, London. He is buried in St Mary's Advanced Dressing Station Cemetery at Haisnes.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

9309 Pte Thomas Wilken Cairns, 1st Bn Northumberland Fusiliers

2011-09-23T13:41:00.007+01:00

The Battle of Mons - 97 years on

Ninety-seven years ago on the opening day of the Battle of Mons, 23rd August 1914, 9309 Private Thomas Wilken Cairns of the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action. He was one of 277 officers and men of the British Army to die on this day.

Thomas was born in Sunderland and was living there when he enlisted with the regiment in 1903. He was probably on the Reserve when Britain went to war in August 1914 but his medal index card reveals that he arrived overseas on the 13th August. Ten days later he was dead. Thomas has no known grave and is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Image from Wikipedia

2530 Cpl Frank Kilsby, 1/8th Worcs Regt

2011-08-30T14:00:00.003+01:00

2530 Corporal Frank Kilsby of the 1/8th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment was killed in action 95 years ago today on the 30th August 1916. Frank was living in Redditch and enlisted there in September 1914. His medal index card notes that he arrived in France as a private on the 1st April 1915 and was later promoted to corporal. He is buried in Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

1989 Pte William M Roberts, 1/6th Bn, Welsh Regt

2011-08-29T21:25:00.002+01:00

1989 Private William Mates Roberts of the 1/6th Battalion, Welsh Regiment died of wounds on the 29th August 1915. He was born at Aberavon, was living at Penygraig when he enlisted, and joined up at Swansea. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records that he was 38 years old and the cousin of Rachel Harwood of High Street, Swansea.

William's number dates to the second week of August 1914 and so he was an early volunteer. His medal index card notes that he arrived overseas in France on the 29th August 1914 and thus, had he survived, he would have been entitled to wear the 1914 Star and the clasp that designated him as an Old Contemptible. His MIC also notes the appointment of Lance-Corporal and it is this which is impressed upon his 1914 Star, whilst the rank of Private appears on his British war and Victory medals. He is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:
Ancestry (MIC)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

11135 L/Cpl Thomas Pinch, 2nd Bn, Royal Scots

2011-08-27T22:59:00.004+01:00

11135 Lance-Corporal Thomas Pinch of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots was killed in action on the 27th August 1914. He was born in London and was living at Southwark when he enlisted in late April or early May 1912. He arrived in France on the 11th August 1914 and was killed a little over two weeks later, one of two men of the 2nd Battalion Royal Scots to die on this day.

Thomas was buried in Bethencourt Communal Cemetery, a little north of Le Cateau, and is commemorated on a special memorial there. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes: "A German hospital was posted in the village of Bethencourt in August and September, 1914. There are now over 80, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, a small number are unidentified and nine graves which cannot now be traced, are represented by special memorials. The plot covers an area of 326 square metres."

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

1st July 1916 - 95th anniversary

2011-07-01T07:33:00.003+01:00

Remembering today, the men of the British Empire who gave their lives for King and Country on the 1st July 1916. I remember in particular the veterans I interviewed who were there on the Somme on that bright but fateful day ninety-five years ago today.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

13241 Pte Harry V A Hull, 1st Bn, Beds Regt

2011-04-11T06:48:00.003+01:00

13241 Private Harry Valentine Alexander Hull of the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment was killed in action ninety-six years ago today. He was born and bred in Markfield, Leicestershire and enlisted at St Albans in early September 1914. His medal index card notes that he arrived overseas on the 11th March 1915. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (which appears to have transposed his middle names and records him as Harry A V Hull) notes that he was 19 years old when he died and was the son of Harry Hull, of Birch Hill, Copt Oak, Markfield, Leicester. He is buried in Tuileries British Cemetery in Belgium.

Two other 1st Battalion men also died the same day. They were, 10308 Acting Lance Corporal Charles Gunn and 14413 Private William Jackson. William is buried in Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery whilst Charles Gunn has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

21877 Gdsmn William D Matson, 3rd Bn, Grenadier Guards

2011-03-29T22:05:00.005+01:00

21877 Guardsman William Dunn Matson of the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards was killed in action on the 29th March 1916. He was born in Brotten, Yorkshire and enlisted at Whitby in the second week of January 1915. William was 21 years old, the son of John and Margaret Matson of Brotton. He is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery in Belgium.

William was one of our Grenadier Guardsman to die on the 29th March 1916. The other three men, all of whom died of wounds, were:

14250 Gdsmn Arthur Edwin Hine, 1st Bn, enlisted Feb/Mar 1909
18420 Gdsmn Arthur John Lane, 2nd Bn, enlisted Sep 1914
17106 Gdsmn James Frederick Parker, 2nd Bn, enlisted Aug 1914

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

32976 L/Cpl William Eaglesham, 14th HLI

2011-03-24T20:23:00.003Z

3,025 British Army officers and men died on the 23rd March 1918 and 32976 Lance-Corporal William Eaglesham of the 14th (Service) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry was one of these men. He was killed in action.

William was born in Camlachie, Lanarkshire and he enlisted at Glasgow. He is buried in Douchy-Les-Ayette British Cemetery in France.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

79607 Pte Jacob Sarfaty, RAMC

2011-03-12T11:55:00.004Z

79607 Private Jacob Sarfaty of the 37th General Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps was killed in action in Salonika on this day, the 12th March, in 1917. He was 29 years old and the son of Mordecai and Jean Sarfaty of 60 Sydner Road, Stoke Newington, London. Jacob was born in Tower Hamlets and was living in Stoke Newington when he enlisted. On this, the 94th anniversary of his death, he is not forgotten.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

825 Pte Alexander Ness, 5th Bn, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)

2011-03-09T13:42:00.003Z

825 Private Alexander Ness of the 5th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) was killed in action on the 9th March 1915. According to Soldiers Died in The Great War he was born in Arbroath and enlisted at Carnoustie. His regimental number indcates that he joined the 5th (Territorial Force) Battalion in 1908 or 1909 and he was overseas as early as the 1st November 1914 thus qualifying - had he but known it - for the clasp to his 1914 Star.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records Alexander as A R Ness and notes that he is buried in the Rue-du-Bacquerot No 1 Military Cemetery in Laventie.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

2783 L/Cpl George Gray, 2nd Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers

2011-02-09T15:42:00.003Z

2783 Lance-Corporal George Gray of the 2nd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers died of wounds on the 9th February 1915. He was born in Rennington, Lancashire, and enlisted at Alnwick in Northumberland.

George's medal index card notes that he was a drummer, although this rank is scored through on the card. He arrived overseas on the 19th January 1915 and had therefore only been in France for a few weeks before he was fatally wounded. He is buried in Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery in France.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

8571 Pte William E Syratt, 2nd Northamptonshire Regiment

2011-01-04T20:47:00.004Z

8571 Private William Edward Syratt of the 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment was killed in action on the 4th January 1915. He was born in Buckingham and enlisted at Northampton on the 16th August 1907. He was therefore just a couple of weeks away from being transferred to the Reserve when war was declared.

William's service record - 39 pages of it - survives in WO 363 and from it we can see that he was eighteen years and five months old when he joined up and that he was a shoe finisher by trade. He stood five feet, five and a half inches tall, weighed 114 pounds, had a fair complexion, green eyes and brown hair. He was tattooed on both forearms and had a scar on the back of his neck.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records that William was 28 years old, the son of William and Elizabeth Syratt of 54 Spencer Street, New Bradwell, Wolverton, Bucks. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Le Touret War Memorial.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC, WO 363)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

2010-12-28T06:44:00.004Z

As strange as it may seem, I find I have less and less time these days to devote to blogs and so, it is with some regret, that I am temporarily suspending the entries on this particular remembrance blog. I will retain what I have already posted and hopefully, when I reach a position where I am able to devote sufficient attention to the men who gave their all for us during WW1, I'll return to this topic.

9612 Pte Cyril E Cook, 5th Bn, Wilts Regt

2010-12-21T07:28:00.004Z

9612 Private Cyril Edward Cook of the 5th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment was killed in action on Gallipoli on the 15th December 1915. Cyril was just seventeen years old, the son of Arthur Ernest and Florence Ethel Cook of 29 Park Road, Harringay, London. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial. Soldiers Died in The Great War notes that he was born in Barking and living in East Finchley when he joined up. He enlisted at Lambeth.

Cyril's birth was registered in the March quarter of 1899 and he appears on the 1901 census with his parents and two siblings living at 5 Park Hall Parade in Finchley. His army number dates to August 1914 which means that he was an early volunteer and probably no older than 16; one of Lord Kitchener's youngest recruits.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

18078 Pte Arthur Herdman, 13th Bn, DLI

2010-12-14T22:43:00.005Z

Over a month after the Armistice had been declared, on the 14th December 1918, 18078 Private Arthur Herdman of the 13th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry died of wounds. He was born in Chester-Le-Street but according to Soldiers Died in The Great war was living in America when war was declared. He joined the DLI at Chester-Le-Street in September 1914.

Arthur was 21 years old, the son of James and Elizabeth Eleanor Herdman of 4 Stackyard, Great Lumley, Fence Houses, County Durham. He is buried in Premont British Cemetery in France.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

38206 Pte Ernest Mayes, 12th Bn, West Yorks Regt

2010-12-14T22:38:00.003Z

38206 Private Ernest Mayes of the 12th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment was killed in action on the 13th December 1918. He was born in Bradford and enlisted there. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records that he was the son of Mr J Mayes of 19 Edmund Street, Valley Road, Shipley, Yorkshire. He is buried in Mory Abbey Military Cemetery at Mory near Arras.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

144018 Spr Arthur Fearnsides, RE

2010-12-14T22:34:00.003Z

144018 Sapper Arthur Fearnsides of the Postal Section, Royal Engineers, died at home on the 12th December 1916. He was born in Bradford and was still living there when he enlisted. He joined up at London.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records that Arthur was 40 years old, the husband of S E Fearnsides of 27 Lytton Road, Girlington, Bradford. He is buried in Bradford's Scholemoor Cemetery.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

19006 Spr Frank Callaway, RE

2010-12-14T22:31:00.002Z

19006 Sapper Frank Callaway of the 24th Base Park Company, Royal Engineers died on the 11th December 1915. He was 25 years old, the son of Walter Henry and Elizabeth H Callaway of 121 Eastney Road, Eastney, Portsmouth. He probably died as a result of sickness and is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

2577 Rfm Stephen Dade, 2nd Bn, KRRC

2010-12-14T22:22:00.003Z

2577 Rifleman Stephen Dade of the 2nd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, died on the 10th December 1914. He almost certainly died as a prisoner of war as he is buried in Berlin South Western Cemetery in Germany. His medal index card notes that he arrived in France on the 13th August 1914 whilst soldiers Died in the Great War records that he was born in Wakefield and enlisted at Leeds. If he was a regular soldier, his number indicates that he joined the KRRC in January 1900. He is almost certainly the same Stephen Dade whose birth was registered in the March quarter of 1886 which, in turn, suggests that he joined the KRRC as a boy soldier.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

9151 Pte Percy Swinn, 1st Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers

2010-12-14T22:17:00.003Z

9151 Pte Percy Swinn of the 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action on the 9th December 1914. He was 33 years old and a member of A Company. His number indicates that he joined the regiment in January or February 1903. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Swinn and the husband of Ada Emily Swinn of 5, Knight's Yard, Church Street, Lenton, Nottingham. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate at Ypres.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

13811 Pte Henry L Duplock, 6th Bn, DCLI

2010-12-08T12:04:00.003Z

13811 Private Henry Lewis Duplock of the 6th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry was killed in action on the 8th December 1915. He was born in London and living in West Croydon when he enlisted. His number indicates that he must have joined the regiment in September 1914 and he was almost certainly an original member of the 6th Battalion.

The CWGC records his first name as Harry and notes that at the time of his death he was 33 years old and serving with B Company. He was the "son of the late Harry Howell Duplock of Cripplegate, London and of Charlotte Duplock, now of 121, West Division St., Belding, Michigan, U.S.A. Native of Cripplegate, London, England." He is buried in White House Cemetery at St Jean-Les-Ypres.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Officers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission