Peter Cairns
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CAIRNS, Pte Peter, No. 42681, 4th (Extra Reserve) battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, was taken prisoner at Armentières on 11th July 1918, and died on 23rd October 1918 and is buried in Glageon Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France. In 1911 Peter Cairns and his twin sister Sarah Jane Cairns were living at Beal with their mother Mary Cairns and their younger sister Catherine (b 1905). Peter and Sarah Jane Cairns were born in c 1899. Their father was apparently called Peter.[Note 1] In May 1904 the son Peter was entered on the roll of Cornhill County First School, Northumberland by his father. It was his first school. There is no evidence that his twin sister Sarah was enrolled at this time. Peter left Cornhill School in May 1905, because the family, who were agricultural workers, were leaving the District and were ‘flitting’, that is they were moving to a new farm or locality for farm work following the annual ‘Hiring’.[Note 2] In May 1906 Peter and Sarah were enrolled in Duddo Church of England School again by their father. The Duddo Admissions Register records that both children had previously attended ‘Berwick Catholic School’, presumably between May 1905 and May 1906. They left Duddo in May 1907 and the young Peter was enrolled at Fenwick School later the same month by his mother Mary. The family address was recorded as ‘Fenwick Steads’. Peter’s twin Sarah was not enrolled until the end of February 1908. Peter and Sarah left Fenwick School in May 1908, and both were enrolled by their mother at Lowick School, later the same month. Their young sister Catherine (b c early 1905) was enrolled at Lowick in late November 1909 when she was five years old. When the 1911 census was taken the family – Mary and her three children - were still living at Lowick and all three children were ‘at school’. The three children remained at Lowick School until May 1911. This might have marked the end of schooling for Peter and Sarah Jane, but Catherine presumably continued in schooling after 1911. By 1921 Mary and her two daughters were living at Old Bewick. Peter the father served in the Army in the Great War and he died on 23rd October 1918. When he enlisted he was living at Bowden, Roxburghshire. In the Army he served as No. 42681 with the 4th (Extra Reserve) battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. The battalion had been sent to Jersey in the Channel Islands at the start of the War, but later was posted to Marske-on-Sea before moving to Redcar in September 1916, and was then was posted to Canterbury in 1917. In October 1917 the battalion was posted to France where it came under the orders of 7th Brigade, 25th Division. The main body of the 4th battalion sailed from Southampton for Le Havre on the night of 10th-11th October 1917 aboard the SS Archangel. The battalion was inspected at Oblinghem, Pas de Calais, on 15th October by Major General Bainbridge, GOC 25th Division. The Division suffered heavy casualties during the (Third) Battle of the Aisne 1918 (27th May-6th June 1918) and a decision was made on 8th June to break up the 25th Division and send its units as reinforcements to other formations. On 22nd June 1918 the 4th battalion South Staffordshire Regiment became part of 25th Composite Brigade which was posted to 50th Division. Peter Cairns was taken as a prisoner of war at Armentieres on 11th July 1918. He had been serving with “D” Company and was described as ‘unverwundet’ (unwounded) in the Prisoner list submitted by the German War Ministry to the International Committee of the Red Cross.[Note 3] He was listed as a prisoner notionally held in the POW camp at Friedrichsfeld near Wesel, and which was located some 60 miles (c 100 km) north of Cologne. It likely that he saw little or nothing of Friedrichsfeld, because when he died still in captivity in October 1918, he was interred in the Glageon Communal Cemetery Extension, Department of Nord, France. Glageon is located about 155 miles (c 250 km) as the crow flies from Friedrichsfeld. Many Allied prisoners of war, including French, Italians, Americans and Russians as well as British, were buried in the cemetery. It seems likely that the prisoners were kept near the Front to provide labour behind the German lines. There is no record of a cause of death for Peter Cairns. Memorials: Eglingham, Roadside Cross 1914-18 1939-45 (NEWMP E18.01); Scottish National War Memorial RoH - No. 42681, Pte Peter Cairns;
See also: Bailiffgate Collections - Peter Cairns; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 42681, Pte Peter Cairns; 26/08/2022; 30/08/2022; 04/09/2022; 21/09/2022; 16/03/2023; 24/06/2023; 13/02/2024; |
Thomas Carr
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CARR, Pte Thomas, No. H/42876, 2/1st Northumberland Hussars, Corps of Hussars, discharged 23rd March 1918, under King’s Regulations paragraph 392 xvi. He died from influenza on 15th February 1919, aged 28, and is buried in the churchyard of St Peter’s Church at Chillingham, Northumberland Thomas Carr, was the older brother of William CARR (qv), and third child of John and Helen Carr. The couple were both from Rothbury and had married in 1885. John Carr had worked as a shepherd but by 1911 he was farming at Hepburn Bell, Old Bewick. Later the family moved to Ellingham Home Farm, Chathill. The couple had nine children. Thomas had an older brother Joseph (b 1885) and an older sisiter Janet Isabella (b 1888). He had five surviving younger brothers and sisters, Thomas (b 1890), Susan Storey (b 1893), William (b 1895), John Edward (b 1897) and Helen (b 1910), and a sister, Margaret Ellen (b 1900, d 1901), who had died young. Thomas enlisted on 16th November 1916 and served with 2/1st Northumberland Hussars (No. H/42876). The 2/1st Northumberland Hussars was a Second Line Yeomanry regiment formed in 1914, and it spent the early part of the war at Scarborough patrolling the coast. In April 1916, while A squadron remained at Scarborough, other squadrons were separately posted as divisional cavalry. The regiment was reunited in February 1917 and subsequently embarked for service on the Western Front. It landed at Le Havre on 19th March 1917 and served as XIX Corps Cavalry until it was posted to Étaples in August 1917 for infantry training. The regiment was absorbed by the 9th battalion Northumberland Fusiliers which became the 9th (Northumberland Hussars) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (Brig E. A. James, British Regiments 1914-16, 5th edition 1998, reprint published by Naval and Military Press). It is possible that Thomas Carr had left the regiment before it was posted to Étaples, since he was discharged from 5th Cavalry Depot on 22nd March 1918 as no longer fit for military service because of disablement or ill health.[Note 4] He was 26 years old at discharge. He died less than one year after discharge on 15th February 1919 having succumbed to influenza. He is buried in the churchyard of St Peter’s Church at Chillingham (Berwick Advertiser, 28 February 1919, p 2).
Memorials: Chillingham, St Peter's Plaque 1914-1918 (NEWMP C30.01)
See also: Bailiffgate Collections - Thomas Carr (named, not identified); IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. H/42876, Pte Thomas Carr; 31/04/2020; 05/05/2020; 21/06/2023; 24/06/2023; |
William Carr
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CARR, Pte William, No. 7/1610, 1st/7th (TF) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, killed in action 16th June 1915, aged 20, he is commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium William Carr (b 1895) was a younger brother of Thomas CARR (qv) and son of John and Helen Carr who were from Rothbury. The couple had married in 1885. John had worked as a shepherd, but in 1911 he was farming at Hepburn Bell, Old Bewick. He had another older brother Joseph (b 1885) and two younger brothers John Edward (b 1897) and Andrew Hogg (b 1903). He also had three surviving sisters, Janet Isabella (b 1888), Susan Storey (b 1893) and Helen (b 1910). William was a member of the Territorial Force and served with 1/7th battalion Northumberland Fusiliers Northumberland (No. 7/1610). He is listed on the embarkation roll of the battalion and landed at Boulogne in the early hours of 21st April 1915. The Northumbrian Division was thrown into action almost immediately during the 2nd Battle of Ypres. Between the 25th April and 2nd May the battalion suffered heavy casualties (TNA WO95 2830/1, War Diary 1/7th Northumberland Fusiliers, 3rd May 1915):
During May and much of June the battalion spent stints in the trenches in Ypres Salient, on occasion suffering casualties from German artillery fire. After a short period out of the line the battalion went into support trenches on 11th June and then moved into the Hooge defences on 14th June. On 16th there was a heavy bombardment of the enemy trenches before an attack by the 3rd Division. In response there was a heavy fire from enemy artillery which caused casualties in the battalion before the two companies in Hooge trenches were relieved at midday on 16th June by the 6th and 8th Durham Light Infantry and and withdrawn to reserve trenches.
William Carr was killed on 16th June 1915 less than two months after disembarking with the battalion. One officer and twelve other ranks were killed and four officers and 53 other ranks were wounded while the battalion was in the trenches between 11th and 20th June (TNA WO95 2830/1, War Diary 1/7th Northumberland Fusiliers, 20th June 1915). It was reported that William Carr was buried by his comrades and his grave marked with simple cross (Berwick Advertiser, 25 June 1915, p 3) but his body was not recovered or identified after the War and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate. In addition to Thomas CARR (qv), who served in the war, William had two other older brothers, Joseph and John Edward, may have served during the War but as yet it has not been confirmed. The youngest brother Andrew born in 1903 would have been too young to have served in the war.
Memorials: Chillingham, St Peter's Plaque 1914-1918 (NEWMP C30.01); ROH 7th Northumberland Fusiliers, in Buckley, War History of the Seventh Northumberland Fusiliers, Appendix IV, p.136-144 (NEWMP A11.59)
See also: Bailiffgate Collections - William Carr; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 7/1610, Pte William Carr. 31/04/2020; 05/05/2020; 25/11/2021; 16/03/2023; 24/06/2023 |
Oswald F-C Carr-Ellison
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Oswald Fenwicke-Clennell Carr-Ellison was the second son of Captain John Ralph Carr-Ellison JP of Eglingham (b 7th June 1832; d 6th February 1907) and his second wife Edith Maude Mary Fenwicke-Clennell of Allerburn, Northumberland. The couple married in 1890. John Ralph Carr-Ellison had been a career soldier and as a young officer had fought in the Crimean War. His first wife Emily Anne Watts Stockley aged 51 had died in 1887. Several members of the Carr-Ellison family of Eglingham served in the Great War.
John Ralph Carr-Ellison and Edith Maude Mary Fenwicke-Clennell had four children, including three sons, Thomas Fenwicke-Clennell Carr-Ellison (b 9th June 1893), Oswald Fenwicke-Clennell Carr-Ellison (b 1895, Hedgeley Hall, Eglingham) and Cuthbert Fenwicke-Clennell Carr-Ellison (b 12th March 1901). Their daughter Edith Fenwicke-Clennell Carr-Ellison (b 19th March 1898 at Hedgeley Hall) was their third child. She married Montagu Blackett-Ord at Alnwick in 1924. Oswald Fenwicke-Clennell Carr-Ellison was educated at Canon Moore’s School at Alnmouth, and then at Sherborne School, Dorset. He went straight from School to the Army joining the 3rd (Reserve) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers in October 1914, and was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant ‘on probation’ in the Special Reserve (London Gazette 28922, 2nd October 1914, p 7815) and subsequently was confirmed in his rank (London Gazette 29146, Supplement, 28th April 1915, p 4151). Oswald Fenwicke-Clennell Carr-Ellison disembarked in France in June 1915 and joined up with the 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers on 25th June 1915 and was entitled to the 1915 Star. The 2nd battalion was part of 84th Brigade, 28th Division and had landed in France on 18th January 1915. Oswald Carr-Ellison was promoted to Lieutenant (London Gazette 29272, Supplement, 23rd August 1915, p 8380) and on 29th March 1916 was transferred from the Special Reserve to the Regular Army (London Gazette, 29525, Supplement, 29th March 1916, p 3397). ‘Lieutenant Carr-Ellison, Special Reserve’ was to be a temporary Captain ‘whilst commanding a company’ (London Gazette 29532, Supplement, 1st April 1916, p 3525). In September 1917 the appointment of 2nd Lieutenant Carr-Ellison recorded in the Gazette of 29th March 1916 (No. 29525, Supplement, p 3397) was ‘antedated to 3rd July 1915’ (London Gazette 30288, Supplement, 17th September 1917, p 9629). The 28th Division’s service in France was relatively brief however, and in October 1916 it sailed from Marseilles headed for the Salonica front. The 2nd Battalion was transported to Alexandria aboard HMT Ivernia sailing on 24th and arriving on 29th October 1916. The battalion landed at Salonica on 24th November 1916. In early 1917 Oswald Carr-Ellison was awarded with
The award was for his leadership of his company while still on the Western Front.
The 2nd battalion Northumberland Fusiliers remained on the Salonica Front until June 1918 when it was ordered to France and left the 28th Division. The battalion departed Greece sailing from Itea for Taranto (26th-27th June 1918) and then moved by train via Faenza, Voghera, Savona and Ventimiglia (frontier station) to France.
The battalion rested and trained in the Serqueux area from 6th to 16th July. On Sunday 14th July the battalion was inspected by the Army commander General Sir Henry Rawlinson. On 16th July the battalion entrained for Martin Église, near Dieppe, and joined the 150th Brigade, 50th Division. On 3rd October 1918 orders had been issued by Fourth Army (Rawlinson) for the capture of the Beaurevoir Line (Hindenburg Reserve Line). The first attack against Le Catelet on the 3rd October failed. The 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers launched their attack early on 4th October following behind a barrage until stopped by heavy machine gun and mortar fire. The battalion made a further attack at 6.00pm and captured their objective. Lt Carr-Ellison was killed during the latter attack. His mother received a letter from his commanding officer which described the circumstances of his death:
After the war Lt Oswald Fenwicke-Clennell Carr-Ellison’s body - 'buried near where he fell' - was located and re-buried in the Prospect Hill Cemetery, Gouy.
Memorials: Eglingham, Roadside Cross 1914-18 1939-45 (NEWMP E18.01); Memorial Plaque, St Paul's Church Alnwick (NEWMP A11.29)
See also: !914-1918 Sherborne School Book of Remembrance [Note 7]; Bailiffgate Collections - Oswald Carr-Ellison; IWM, Lives of the First World War - Lt. Oswald Fenwicke-Clennell Carr-Ellison; 19/10/2022; 29/11/2022; 16/03/2023; 21/06/2023; 09/02/2024; |
John Cassidy
Photo IRS 10 Sept 2019
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CASSIDY, Pte John, No. 30/66, 1/7th (TF) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, formerly 25th (Service) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (2nd Tyneside Irish), previously No. 30/66, 24th (Service) battalion (1st Tyneside Irish), was killed in action on 26th October 1917, aged 25, and is buried in Poelcapelle British Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium John Cassidy was the son of Ann Cassidy (b 1872) and the grandson of John Cassidy and his wife Elizabeth Gilchrist, although recorded as a son of John and Elizabeth in the 1901 census. John Cassidy the grandfather was born in 1844 probably at Longhorsley, Northumberland and was the son of Francis and Ann Cassady (sic), who were both born in Ireland. He married Elizabeth Gilchrist in Gateshead in 1871, probably at St Joseph's Catholic Church, where their daughter Isabella was christened in the same year. Elizabeth was the daughter of Thomas and Margaret Gilchrist. Thomas Gilchrist was a police officer. Although John and Elizabeth were married and had a child, when the 1871 census was taken John was with his parents at Kilham in Northumberland, where he was an agricultural worker, and Elizabeth and their daughter Isabella were with her parents in Gateshead. According to the 1911 census return John and Elizabeth had had ten children five of whom had already died. Nine children of the couple can be identified and four of these had died by 1911. The identified children were Isabella Robson (b 6 January 1871, Gateshead, Co Durham, d 1893), Ann (b 1872), Francis (Frank) (b 1874), Thomas Gilchrist (b 1877; d 1897), Eleanor (b 1879; d 1894), John (b 1880), Elizabeth Mary (b 1885), Wilhelmina (b 1887) and Richard Robson (b 1890; d 1909). John Cassidy, who was the son of the couple's daughter Ann, was born in 1892, and in the 1911 Census he was living with his grandparents and his uncle also called John at Presson, Carham. John and his uncle were both ploughmen. John’s mother Ann Cassidy was unmarried and living in Belford and working as a domestic servant for Thomas Harvey, an unmarried farmer, and his unmarried aunt Isabella Harvey, who was his housekeeper. It is interesting that the Soldiers’ Effects Register records John Cassidy’s grandfather rather than his mother as the person authorised to receive his effects. When John Cassidy enlisted on 27th October 1915 his address was Lucker Cottage, Belford, which was where his mother and Thomas Harvey were certainly living in 1917. He was a shepherd working for Mr Logan of Cornhill on Tweed. He was posted initially to the 30th (Reserve) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (Reserve battalion Tyneside Irish) for training at Catterick. After training he was then posted to the 24th (Service) battalion (1st Tyneside Irish) and later he served with the 25th (Service) battalion (2nd Tyneside Irish). His final posting was to the 1/7th (TF) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. John Cassidy was in France by 11th March 1916, and in August 1916 he sustained a shrapnel wound to his right arm. He was serving with the 1/7th battalion when he was killed in action in Houthoulst Forest, Belgium on 26th October 1917 the first day of the 2nd battle of Passchendaele, the final phase of the 3rd Battle of Ypres (popularly known as ‘Passchendaele’). The casualties recorded in the 1/7th battalion War Diary are: Officers: 1 wounded, 1 wounded and missing believed killed, and 9 killed; other ranks: 150 wounded, 43 killed and 53 missing (TNA WO95 2830/6, 26th October 1917). The CWGC lists 104 fatalities from the 1/7th battalion on 26th October. The 1/4th battalion lost 95 men and the 1/5th lost 173. The 1/6th battalion, which was in support, suffered far fewer casualties.
Memorials: Kirknewton, Cross 1914-18 1939-45, Roadside (NEWMP K15.01); Cornhill on Tweed, Roadside Cross 1914-18 1939-45 (NEWMP C53.01); Lucker Cross 1914-18 1939-45 (NEWMP L38.01); ROH 7th Northumberland Fusiliers, in Buckley, War History of the Seventh Northumberland Fusiliers, Appendix IV, p.136-144 (NEWMP A11.59)
See also: Bailiffgate Collections - John Cassidy; Coldstream Local History Projects - Pte John Cassidy; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 30/66, Pte John Cassidy 07/08/2018 - 18/04/2023; 17/06/2023; 24/06/2023; |
Robert Chisholm (No, 13021)
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CHISHOLM, Pte Robert Elliot, No. 13021, 9th (Service) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, died of wounds on 26th February 1916, and is buried in the Bedford House Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium No. 13021 Pte Robert Chisholm served with the Northumberland Fusiliers, and died of wounds on 26th February 1916. It is almost certain that he can be identified as Robert Elliot Chisholm who was born on 11th August 1890, and baptised at Kirk Yetholm, Roxburghshire on 27th August 1890. He was described as ‘illegitimate’ in the register of baptisms, and no father was named but his mother was identified as Elizabeth Chisholm.
It is possible that a ten year old Robert Chisholm recorded as an inmate of the Union Workhouse at Elswick in the 1901 Census could be identified with the Robert Chisholm born at Kirk Yetholm in 1890. However, the young lad at Elswick is recorded as having been born in Northumberland not Scotland. The identification is far from certain. [Note 8] In the 1911 Census, Robert Chisholm (aged 20 and born Kirk Yetholm) was one of two miners recorded lodging with the widowed Mary Browell and her family in Stanley Street, Lemington. This was certainly the man baptised at Kirk Yetholm in 1890. He was working as a miner and putter. In the Great War, Robert Chisholm served as No. 13021 with the 9th (Service) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, which was raised in Newcastle upon Tyne in September 1914. The battalion was sent to Wareham Heath in Dorset for training and was under the orders of 52nd Brigade, 17th (Northern) Division. By 6th July 1915, having completed its training, the 9th battalion Northumberland Fusiliers was at Hursley Park, Hampshire, when it received orders to be ready ‘to proceed on active service’. On 14th July, an initial party of 108 men, plus officers, the machine gun section and transport with 66 horses left Hursley for Southampton and embarked for Le Havre. The main body of the battalion, which comprised 880 other ranks plus officers, marched from Hursley to the station at Winchester, and boarded trains for Folkestone. The main party landed at Boulogne on 16th July 1915. Robert Chisholm is listed in the 1915 Star Roll as disembarking in France on 15th July 1915 and may have been part of the advanced party that landed at Le Havre. The two parties reunited at Arques on 17th July 1915 (WO95 2013/1, War Diary of the 9th battalion Northumberland Fusiliers). On 23rd February 1916 the 9th battalion went into trenches north of the Ypres – Comines Canal, with the 12th Manchesters on their left, and the 10th battalion West Yorkshires on their right south of the canal. On 26th February, while in the trenches, the 9th Northumberland Fusiliers suffered 28 casualties from enemy rifle and machine gun fire. No. 13021, Private Robert Chisholm was one of the casualties (WO95 2013/1, 9th battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, February 1916, Appendix L Casualty list). Pte Robert Chisholm was listed initially as wounded but the list was later amended with a note of his death from his wounds the same day. He is buried in the Bedford House Cemetery. Robert Chisholm seems to have had no surviving dependents or relatives, for there is no record that any pension payments were made following his death, and his medals remained unclaimed.
Memorials: Lemington, Cross 1914-18 Lemigton Cemetery (NEWMP L41.01); Newburn, Memorial Plaque, 1914-18 1939-45, Church of St Michael and All Angels (NEWMP N13.02)
See also: Clan Chisholm Society, Great War Centenary Project, Roll of Honour Vol I Flanders 1914-1918, p 17, '13021 Private R Chisholm' [Note 9]; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 13021, Pte Robert Chisholm 21/07/2023; 22/07/2023; 25/02/2024; |
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CHISHOLM, Pte Robert Mathison, No. G/2203, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), died of wounds, aged 36, on 29th March 1918, and is buried in Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Tréport, Haute-Normandie, France Robert Mathison Chisholm was youngest of the three children of Ralph Chisholm and his wife Elizabeth Jackson Mathison (b Bempton, Yorkshire). The couple had married on 8th August 1877. Ralph Chisholm was a farmer and in 1881 was farming 960 acres at Holborn Grange, Lowick. The couple’s first child, their daughter Frances Jackson Chisholm, was born in 1878, and she was followed by Ralph Chisholm (b 1880) and Robert Mathison Chisholm in 1881. Both sons were educated at the North Eastern Counties School at Barnard Castle, Co Durham, which was renamed Barnard Castle School in 1924.
Robert Mathison Chisholm the youngest child had attended the School at Barnard Castle from 1894 to 1896. Robert Chisholm continued his education in Edinburgh and in early 1901 he was lodging with Jessie McIntyre at 24 Avondale Street, St Bernard, Edinburgh and working as a gardener. Then from 1901 to 1903 Robert was an agricultural pupil with Ernest Day at Staple Hill Farm, Wellesbourne, Warwickshire. In 1903 Robert began farming at Clifford Bank, Warwickshire, in partnership with James Robertson Black. Eventually the two men ran three farms, two in Gloucestershire and one – Clifford Forge Farm, Stratford upon Avon – in Warwickshire. The partnership was dissolved on 30th September 1908 (Stratford upon Avon Herald, Friday 18th December 1908, p4; London Gazette 28206, 18th December 1908, p 9689). Robert continued to farm on his own account at Clifford Forge Farm, while living at 75 Shipston Road, Stratford upon Avon. In 1911 he sold up and took over a farm at Godstone, Kent. He sold the latter farm in 1914, intending to emigrate to Canada. However Robert enlisted in Army, joining the 7th (Service) battalion The Queens (Royal West Surrey Regiment). The battalion was formed at Guilford and came under the orders of 55th Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division, a ‘New Army’ Division, at Purfleet. The 7th Queens was brigaded with the 7th (Service) battalion The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) and the 7th (Service) battalion East Surrey Regiment. In April the Division concentrated at Colchester, then in May 1915 it was sent to Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, where it was based at Codford Camp.
On 26th July 1915 an advance party of the 7th battalion Queens left Codford Camp by train for Southampton. This party sailed on the SS Mount Temple for Le Havre on night of the 26th-27th July. The main body of the battalion boarded two trains on the afternoon of 27th July and travelled to Folkestone and embarked on the SS Victoria for Boulogne landing late on 27th July 1915. The two parties of the battalion joined up in billets at Bertangles on 29th July. Private Robert Chisholm was entitled to the 1915 Star. The 18th Division proved to be one of the best divisions in the BEF and clearly benefited from being under the command of Ivor Maxse from its creation until January 1917, when Maxse was promoted to a Corps command. Maxse was replaced by another highly regarded commander Richard Philip Lee who led the division right through to the Armistice. The 18th Division was one of the few Divisions that was successful on the Somme in 1916.[Note 10] At the beginning of March 1918 the 7th Queens were in the Vendeuil Sector of the front line on the west side of the Sambre – Oise Canal south of St Quentin. On night of 13th/14th March the battalion was relieved by the 7th Buffs and moved to positions at Liez Quarry and Liez Village in the Battle Zone. At 4.45am on 21st March the German barrage began which signalled start of the German 'Michael' offensive, and the battalion moved to its battle positions. 'As dawn broke it became obvious that the whole area was enshrouded in a thick mist through which it was impossible to see further than 20 or 30 yards' (TNA WO95, War diary 7th Queens, 21st March 1918). As the mist lifted it became obvious that the enemy had broken through on both flanks. The battalion suffered losses on 21st, but was able make a measured withdrawal. The battalion suffered its heaviest losses on 23rd March when its supported French troops who launched a counterattck against the Germans. In the evening of 23rd the French took over the front line and 7th Queens were able to withdraw to billets at Bethancourt. The battalion lost 247 men (15 officers and 232 other ranks) on the 23rd March.
Casualty figures for the 7th Queens (Royal West Surrey) Regiment March 1918. The table above is based on that appended to the Battalion War Diary for March 1918 (TNA WO95 2051/1). The original is incorrectly labelled ‘April’ in the date column. Key: (k = killed; w = wounded; m = missing; pow = prisoner)
Robert Mathison Chisholm was wounded during the fighting between 21st and 25th March and he died in hospital in Le Tréport on 26th March. His brother had been notified of his injuries and was on his way to visit him in hospital when he received news of Robert's death (Stratford upon Avon Herald, Friday 5th April 1918, p 3). Robert's older sister Frances Chisholm, who was unmarried and the eldest child and only daughter of Ralph and Elizabeth Chisholm, had been living with her spinster aunt Jane Watson Mathison (b Bempton, Yorkshire) in Hope Terrace, Alnwick in 1911. Frances, ‘late of Hope Terrace’ died aged 40 on 1st January 1919 ‘after a short illness’ and was interred at Stratford upon Avon (Berwickshire News and General Advertiser, 16th April 1918, p 3). Her death was registered in Stratford and it seems that Frances had been living with her brother Ralph and his family. Jane Watson Mathison was living with Ralph and his family in 1921.
In 1911 Ralph Chisholm was working as an ’Insurance Co’s Cashier and Surveyor’. He was living in Bayswater Road, Handsworth, Staffordshire with his wife Helen and five- year old son Ralph Mathison Chisholm. In 1912 Ralph was appointed secretary of the Midland Farmers Mutual Insurance Society, which had been founded in 1910 following a meeting of seven Warwickshire farmers in a teashop in Stratford upon Avon. In 1919 the company became the National Farmers’ Union Mutual Insurance Society and in 1921 Ralph became general manager of the Society. Ralph and his wife Helen were living at 42 Shipston Road, Stratford upon Avon in 1921. In addition to Ralph’s Aunt Jane Watson Mathison (aged 65), the household included two visitors, Jane Harrison Chisholm (aged 66) [Note 11] and a school girl Rita Isabel Marlow (aged 15). Ralph retired in 1927 having overseen the successful growth of the Company. He died in 1931 (Stratford-upon-Avon Herald, 27 February 1931, p 7). Now known as NFU Mutual, the company still has its headquarters in Stratford upon Avon. Memorials: Barnard Castle School Chapel, Stained Glass Window and Panels - Panel 6 (NEWMP B135.04); Cranleigh, Surrey, War Memorial [Note 12]
See also: Clan Chisholm Society, Roll of Honour Vol 4 France May 1917 - April 1919, p 32, 'Private Robert Mathison Chisholm' [Note 13]; North Eastern Counties School (N.E.C.S.), Roll of Honour, The Great War 1914-1919 (NEWMP B135.20) see now Barnard Castle School, Memorial Website, 'Chisholm, Robert Mathison, 1894-1896' [Note 14]; IWM, Lives of the First World War – No. G/2203, Pte Robert Mathison Chisholm; 25/07/2023; 28/07/2023; 30/07/2023; 31/07/2023; |
Thomas Chrisp MM
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Thomas Chrisp was the son of the late Thomas Chrisp, Inspector of Police, Wooler, and Isabel Ann (Annie) Chrisp (née Charlton), he was born on 7th October 1892 at Eglingham, Northumberland. The couple had three other children, Meggie (b 1892), William (b 13 Feb 1895) and Alice (b 1897, baptised June 1897). At the time of the 1911 census his widowed mother was living in the Police Station, Hexham and was caretaker for the County Council, and Thomas, who was 18 years old and a pupil teacher, was living in Walkergate Alnwick with his aunt Emma Sanderson (née Chrisp) and uncle Andrew Sanderson, who was a Police Inspector. Thomas was a former pupil of The Duke’s School, Alnwick and is listed on the Duke’s School 1914-18 memorial plaque. He was a student at Bede College, Durham (a Church Teacher Training College, now part of the College of St. Hild & St. Bede, Durham University) entering the college in 1912 and is recorded on the College’s First World War Memorial. When the war began he was living in Durham and teaching in Durham at St Margaret’s Church School. Thomas married May Dickinson Hedley, of Summerleigh, Choppington, Northumberland in Hexham Abbey on 24th June 1916. May was a teacher and recorded in the 1911 census as a ‘school mistress’. The couple had a son, John Thomas Hedley Chrisp, born on March 17, 1917.
Thomas Chrisp was a member of the Bede contingent of the 1/8th (TF) battalion Durham Light Infantry.[Note 15] The 1/8th battalion assembled at Durham in August 1914 and formed part of the Durham Light Infantry Brigade, Northumbrian Division. The Division began to entrain for France on 16th April 1915 and elements of the Division landed at both Le Havre and Boulogne from 17th April. Thomas Chrisp arrived in the theatre of war on 20th April 1915. By April 23rd 1915 the Division had concentrated in the area of Steenvoorde west of Ypres. The 8th Durham Light Infantry was soon to be in action during the 2nd Battle of Ypres. On 22nd April the Germans launched an attack on the Ypres Salient using gas for the first time. On the night of 24th-25th April the 1/8th battalion was placed under the command of GOC 85th Brigade (28th Division) and by 11pm was in position astride the road from Verlorenhoek to Frezenberg about halfway between the two places. Orders were then received to proceed to Gravenstafel and the headquarters 3rd Royal Fusiliers, from whence they would led to trenches begun by the Canadians but left unfinished. The men only had their personal entrenching tools. It was the middle of the night when the battalion arrived at Gravenstafel. Instead of digging trenches the battalion was ordered into the front line to relieve the 8th Canadian Infantry battalion. At dawn on the 25th April, A and D Companies of 1/8th Durham Light Infantry found themselves in trenches on Gravenstafel Ridge, with the Canadians on their right and the French Zouaves to their left, the latter having suffered the first gas attack of the War. In some places the German frontline was only 80 yards away. The Germans made numerous attacks against trenches held by the Durham battalion. When the battalion came out of the line it had suffered awful casualties having lost 19 officers and 574 men, including 103 men killed (War Diary 1/8th bn Durham Light Infantry TNA WO95 2842/1 25th April 1915). Of these 93 men have no known grave and are recorded on the Menin Gate Memorial. The Bede College Contingent which was 102 strong (officers, and other ranks) was reported to have had suffered heavily with 8 killed, 9 missing, 18 wounded and 34 taken prisoner, leaving 32 at the front (The Bede, vol. 11, no. 3, June 1915, pp 13-4). Thomas Chrisp was amongst the wounded having suffered gunshots to his right arm and left thigh. He was transported back to England. After recovering from his wounds he was promoted to sergeant major and for a time was involved in training new recruits. Thomas returned to France in July 1916, where he rejoined the battalion near Ypres. On 10th August the Division began a move south to the Somme, and was established in the Montigny area by 17th August. On 7th September the Division was sent orders to take over a section of the frontline north of Bazentin-le-Petit. The move was complete by 11th September. The 50th Division was involved in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette (15th-22nd September) and in the Battle of Morval (25th-28th September). Thomas Chrisp won his Military Medal in trench fighting following the Battle of Morval:
The 1/8th battalion was in the neighbourhood of Cherisy southeast of Arras between April 1917 and October 1917. The battalion War Diary records that: 'At 8am on 23rd June [1917] 300137 C.S.M. Chrisp T. ('D' Coy) was killed by a "whizz bang" ' (War Diary, WO95/2841, 23rd June 1917). The Bede reported his death:
The battalion was in the trenches at the time with working parties undertaking wiring and other works. Chrisp was buried in the Neuville-Vitasse Road Cemetery. He left his widow and his young son.
Memorials: Wooler, Church School plaque (NEWMP W68.03); Alnwick, Duke's Middle School plaque 1914-1918 (NEWMP A11.16); Durham, Cross 1914-18 Bede College grounds (NEWMP D47.017); Durham, 8th D.L.I, Drill Hall (NEWMP D47.019); Durham, Plaque 1914-18 Bede College (NEWMP D47.126); Durham, ROH 1914-18 Bede College (NEWMP D47.127b)
See also: NEWMP - Wooler: Chrisp, T., CSM, MM; Universities at War - Chrisp, T [Note 16] ; Bailiffgate Collections - Thomas Chrisp, MM; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 300137, CSM Thomas Chrisp. 14/10/2018; 13/04/2019; 25/11/2021; 21/05/2022; 16/03/2023; 19/04/2023; 21/06/2023; 24/02/2024; |
Robert Clazie
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CLAZIE, Private Robert, No. 71037, “A” Company 58th battalion Machine Gun Corps, formerly 206th Company Machine Gun Corps, previously No. 38/30, 25th (Service) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (2nd Tyneside Irish), died of bronchial pneumonia on 7th December 1918, and is buried in Neuf-Brisach Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Robert Clazie was the only son of William Clazie (b 1873, Duns, Berwickshire) and his first wife Margaret Chirnside (b Scotland). The couple married at Mordington Free Church, Berwickshire, Scotland in 1896. Robert was born in Berwick-upon-Tweed on 21st February 1897, but unfortunately. his mother died just over a month later. His father William married his second wife, Eleanor Crawford (b Blythe, Northumberland) in 1902. The couple had at least seven children. Six of Robert half siblings were listed in his service record: Margaret Bell Clazie (b 1901), James Clazie (b 1903), Thomas Clazie (b 1905), Christina Laurie Clazie (b 1908), Agnes Arabella (Bella) (b 1911) and Andrina Clazie (Drina) (b 1915). Robert Clazie attested aged 19 on 28th October 1915 and was posted Scotton Camp, Catterick as No. 30/38 for training with the 30th battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (Tyneside Irish Reserve Battalion). He arrived at Scotton on 2nd November 1915. After training he disembarked in France on 8th June 1916 and joined 25th battalion (2nd Tyneside Irish) which had arrived in France in January 1916. Robert Clazie was wounded in the leg on 1st July 1916, but not repatriated to Britain for treatment (Berwick Advertiser, 21st July 1916, p 6). On 3rd December 1916, probably after recovering from his wound(s), Robert Clazie was posted to “B” section, 103rd Machine Gun Company. He was back in England from 23rd April 1917 to 15th September 1917. It appears that he had been wounded again, this time more seriously, since his permission for furlough to visit his home in Bowsden between 18th to 27th June 1917 was signed by Lt Col E. N. Cunliffe, RAMC, of the 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester. He returned to France on 16th September 1917 and was posted to the Machine Gun Corps Base Depot at Camiers and then joined the 206th Company Machine Gun Corps (58th Division) in the field on 25th September 1917. In March 1918, with the re-organisation of the Machine Gun Corps units, 206th company became “A” company, 58th battalion MGC. The 58th battalion MGC served with the 58th Division from its formation to the end of the War. Robert Clazie was taken prisoner during the German Spring offensive which began on 21st March 1918. POW records held by the International Committee of the Red Cross indicate that Robert Clazie (incorrectly spelled 'Clazey') was captured at Quessy on 23rd March 1918 (2 days after his 21st birthday), and by 27th July 1918 he was listed as a prisoner in the camp at Stendal, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.[Note 17] However, the prisoner list which includes Robert Clazie's name ends with the statement that 'Die Gefangen sind in westlichen Etappengebiet verblieben' ('The prisoners are retained in the Western zone' ie. on the Western Front). The presumption is that the prisoners were being used as labour and it is unlikely that Robert Clazie and the other prisoners ever saw Stendal camp.
After his release he arrived at the Lalance Sanatorium, Lutterbach, Alsace on 30th November in 'a state of complete exhaustion and his state of his body owing to lack of nourishment, was such that he could not fight against it’. He suffered from severe congestion of the lungs and died of bronchial pneumonia on 7th December 1918 at the Sanatorium.[Note 18] He was buried in Lutterbach German Military Cemetery near Mulhouse. After the war he was one of 35 former prisoners of war who were re-interred in Neuf-Brisach Communal Cemetery Extension. Neither of Robert’s half-brothers was old enough to legally serve in the Army in the Great War. Memorial: Lowick, Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Village Green (NEWMP L37.01)
See also: Coldstream Local History Projects - Pte Robert Clazie; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 71037, Pte Robert Clazie [Note 19] 04/02/2022; 15/03/2022; 26/03/2022; 28/03/2022; 19/04/2023; 24/06/2023; |
George Cock
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COCK, Pte George, No. 31674, 12th (Service) battalion Durham Light Infantry, died on 7th October 1916, aged 35, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France George Cock was one of the six children of the late Robert Cock, of Doddington Mill, Wooler, and Mary Jane Cock (née Taylor), and was born in c 1885 in Doddington. He had two older sisters Eleanor and Margaret Jane, and an older brother Robert, and two younger brothers William and James. When George Cock attested he was living at 27, Waldon Street, West Hartlepool, and worked as a dock labourer for North Eastern Railways (NER). He attested on 9th February 1916, and was posted to the Army Reserve and mobilised and posted to 17th (Reserve) battalion Durham Light Infantry on 14th April 1916 for training. He was posted to the B.E.F. on 25th July 1916, and was taken onto the strength of the 12th battalion on 16th August 1916. On 7th October 1916 the 12th and 13th Durham Light Infantry, both 68th Brigade, 23rd Division, together with the 9th Green Howards (69th Brigade) were attempting to advance towards Le Sars. George Cock was killed while on patrol. His officer wrote that
A short Memorial service was held in Doddington Parish at which the Vicar, the Rev Shotton, spoke of George Cock's 'bright happy and cheerful disposition which had gained for him a large circle of friends'.
His younger brother William Cock (No. 28139, 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers) enlisted on 5th March 1916, served in the Salonica Force and survived the war. Memorials: Wooler, Tower Hill Cross (NEWMP W68.01); Doddington, 1914-18 Plaque, St Mary & St Michael (NEWMP D13.01)
See also: Bailiffgate Collections - George Cock; Coldstream Local History Projects - Pte George Cock; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 31674, Pte George Cock; Railway Museum, Fallen Railwaymen, 'Private George Cock, North Eastern Railway' [Note 20] 07/08/2018; 13/04/2019; 25/11/2025; 16/03/2023; 18/04/2023; 21/06/2023; 24/02/2024; 17/04/2024 |
William Cockburn
Photo IRS 10 Sept 2019
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COCKBURN, Pte William, No 292285, 11th (Service) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, formerly No. 4/6635, was killed in action 5th July 1917, aged 33, and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium William Cockburn was the youngest son of David Cockburn, foreman ploughman, and Martha Cockburn (née Davidson). The couple had nine children, seven of whom survived to adulthood, and including four sons - David (b 1878, d 1911), Thomas (b 1880), James (b c 1882) and William - and three daughters - Jane Ann (b 1883), Margaret (b c 1893) and Agnes (b 1895). Another daughter Isabella (b 1891) died in 1899 aged 8. William was born in 1886 in Wooler and in 1911 was working as a grocer’s assistant. He had worked for the late Mr Charles Lilico, but prior to enlisting he was working for the Hedgeley Co-operative Society. He married Edith M. Percival of Broome Park, Alnwick in 1914. The couple lived at 7 Whitsun View, Wooler. William Cockburn enlisted in June 1916 and went to France in October the same year. He served with the 11th (Service) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, in the 68th Brigade, 23rd Division. He was seriously wounded on 3rd November 1916 when the battalion was in the trenches at Lillebeke Bund. The 11th battalion war diary records nil casualties on 3rd November but does record two men wounded and one killed on 4th November as a result of a German bombardment by 'Trench Mortars & Shrapnel' (TNA WO95 2182/4, 4th November 1916). It further records that 'Front line has been blown-in in several places'. William Cockburn was transferred from a Casualty Clearing Station to hospital in Rouen. From there he went to the Welsh Metropolitan War Hospital, Whitchurch Cardiff, built in 1908 as the Cardiff City Asylum. In January 1917 he was on leave in Wooler before returning to his unit in France. On 7th June 1917 the 23rd Division was one of the assault divisions for the attempt to capture Messines Ridge, and was given the task of taking the St Eloi Salient, Mount Sorrel and positions at the north end of the ridge. The 68th Brigade was in reserve for the attack and the 11th battalion was in reserve behind the 69th Brigade and only moved forward once the attacking battalions had advanced. The battalion had quite heavy casualties in operations between 7th and 9th June, and was relieved on 12th June and went into billets and rested until the end of June, when it moved to Micmac Camp at St Hubertushoek. On 4th July ‘B’ and ‘D’ companies left Micmac Camp for support positions while ‘A’ and ‘C’ companies and HQ remained at the camp. The battalion war diary records the casualties for the day as ‘3 killed, 1 missing believed killed, 3 wounded’ (TNA WO95 2182/4, 4th July 1917). It is likely that these casualties include the four men (including George Cockburn) recorded by the CWGC database as killed on 5th July. The war diary records ‘nil casualties’ on the 5th July, even though the battalion moved up to the front line that day.
Memorials: Wooler, Tower Hill Cross (NEWMP W68.01); Wooler, Reredos St Marys Church (NEWMP W68.02); Wooler, Church School plaque (NEWMP W68.03); Wooler, West Church Communion Chair (NEWMP W68.06)
See also: Bailiffgate Collections - William Cockburn; Coldstream Local History Projects - Pte William Cockburn; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 292285, Pte William Cockburn 07/08/2018; 13/04/2019; 25/11/2021; 16/03/2023; 19/04/2023; 21/06/2023; 24/06/2023; |
Joseph Common
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COMMON, Pte Joseph, No. 2943, 2/7th (TF) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, died 12th May 1916, and is buried in Chatton (Holy Cross) Churchyard, Northumberland Joseph (Joe) Common was born at Longframlington in late 1896, the son of Joseph Common, farmer, and his wife Mary Dixon. The couple had married in early 1891 and had lived in Dixon Street, Longframlington. The younger Joseph was one of their five children, and had two older siblings, John (b 1891), and Mary Eleanor (b 1894) and two younger brothers Robert Dixon (b 1899) and Thomas Lambert (b 1905). Joseph senior was recorded as a farmer in the 1891 Census, but in 1901 was described as a 'shepherd on grass farm', and by 1911 he was working as a general labourer and living alone at Low Hedley Wood, Long Horsley. He was separated from his wife Mary, who was living at Chatton with at least three of their children, Mary Eleanor, Robert and Thomas. Mary Common was working as a domestic dairy maid and her daughter Mary Eleanor was a housemaid. Mary’s two youngest sons Robert and Thomas were at school. Joseph junior may also have been living at Chatton, but was visiting his maternal grandparents John and Mary Dixon at Clarence Cottage, Longframlington when the census was taken. The oldest son John was a cattleman working for James Heslop at Fenrother, in Hebburn parish, near Morpeth. Joseph Common, who was 17 when the war broke out and reportedly twice tried to join up while under age, finally enlisted following his 18th birthday (Berwick Advertiser, 19 May 1916, p 6). He was serving with 2/7th (TF) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers at Retford, Nottinghamshire and was groom and servant to Major Harold Walter Archer, acting DAQMG (Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General) of 63rd Division. Joseph died on 12th May 1916 following a fall from a horse. He suffered head injuries and died without recovering consciousness (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 15 May 1916, p 3). Joseph was acknowledged to be a good rider. In a letter to Joseph’s mother Major Archer wrote that Joseph ‘was very fond of horses, and got them so fit and well’. The horse he had been riding seems to have bolted for no obvious reason. Joseph had not served abroad, and the 2/7th battalion did not serve abroad until it sailed to Egypt in January 1917. Joseph’s Soldiers’ Effects Register entry lists Hugh James Percy as the executor of the estate and will of Joseph's father Joseph Common senior. His father died just a month after his son on 14th June 1916. Hugh James Percy was a well-connected solicitor and the deputy coroner for North Northumberland.[Note 21] Joseph’s body was brought back to Chatton from Retford accompanied by Staff Farrier Sergeant Robinson of 63rd Division, and was buried with full military honours in Holy Cross churchyard on Tuesday 16th May. The firing party was provided by the 1st Northern Cyclists (Berwick Advertiser, 19 May 1916, p 6). Joseph's older sister Mary Eleanor COMMON (qv) joined the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps as a cook and served in France landing on 30th October 1917 and departing on 9th July 1919. his older brother John (b 1891) enlisted in the Army on 4th September 1914, and was on the roll of the 1/7th (TF) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (No. 7/2117) when it embarked for France in 1915, but was hospitalised in July 1915. He was suffering from Kyphosis (curvature the spine) and did not return to his regiment. He was posted to the 487th Agricultural Company Labour Corps (No. 416500) in October 1917 and was discharged on 17th December 1918 as ‘surplus to military requirements’. His younger brother Robert Dixon Common (b 1899) joined the Navy in early 1916 as a ‘boy’ aboard HMS Ganges the boys training establishment. He was rated as an ‘ordinary seaman’ (No J 51399) on his 18th birthday on 12th September 1917 while serving aboard HMS Courageous, and was rated ‘Able’ in May 1918. In April 1919 he volunteered to become a stoker (No. SS 120882) and remained in the Navy until 7th June 1922. Thomas Lambert Common, the youngest brother, was too young to serve in the Great War. Memorials: Chatton Village Green Cross 1914-18 &1939-45 (NEWMP C20.01); Longframlington, St Mary the Virgin Plaque 1914-1918 (NEWMP L26.01); Longframlington Memorial Hall ROH (NEWMP L26.04) Longframlington Memorial Hall Plaque 1914-1918 & 1939-1945 (NEWMP L26.05); ROH 7th Northumberland Fusiliers, in Buckley, War History of the Seventh Northumberland Fusiliers, Appendix IV, p.136-144 (NEWMP A11.59)
See also: Bailiffgate Collections - Joseph Common; Coldstream Local History Projects - Pte Joseph Common 07/08/2018; 18/04/2019; 25/11/2021; 16/03/2023; 18/04/2023; 16/03/2024; |
Richard Compton-Thornhill
Casualties on 13th September:
From long range artillery fire: 2nd Lieutenant W. G. Houldsworth and 3 other ranks killed; Lt. C. J. Balfour, Lt. G. V. F. Monckton and 11 other ranks wounded (TNA WO 95 1263/2, 13th Sept 1914). Casualties on 14th September:
Maj J. T. Carpenter-Garnier , Lt. H. R. I. Jones , 2/Lt. R. A. Compton-Thornhill and 16 other ranks killed; Lt. Col. H. C. Lowther, 2/Lts. E. D. Mackenzie, J. Stirling Stewart and 86 other ranks wounded, 12 were missing. (TNA WO 95 1263/2, 14th Sept 1914) |
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COMPTON-THORNHILL, Lieut Richard Anthony, 1st battalion Scots Guards, killed in action on 14th September 1914, aged 22, and is commemorated on the La Ferte sous Jouarre Memorial, Seine-et-Marne, France Richard Anthony Compton-Thornhill was the only child of Sir Anthony John Compton-Thornhill, and his wife Ethel Margaret Maria Miller. Sir Anthony was the second and last Baronet Thornhill, later Compton-Thornhill. He was the son of the Thornhill family originally from Riddlestone Hall, Norfolk and Pakenham Lodge, Suffolk. His wife was the only daughter of Lt Col Miller of Shotover, Oxfordshire. In 1901 and 1911 the family were in residence at Shotover Lodge, Forest Hill, Oxfordshire. The family connection to Carham was through Sir Anthony John Compton Thornhill's maternal grandmother Catherine Moneypenny Hodgson, the second daughter and 'co-heir' of Anthony Compton of Carham Hall, and in 1901 the Thornhill family were granted permission to add 'Compton' to their surname before 'Thornhill' (London Gazette, No. 27401, 2nd January 1902, p 581). In 1901 and 1911 Richard Compton-Thornhill and his parents were living at Shotover Lodge in Oxfordshire. After the Great War, Sir Anthony and his wife lived at Barham Hall in Suffolk. They were living there in 1939. Richard Anthony Compton-Thornhill was born in Oxfordshire in 1892. He was educated at Eton College, leaving in 1910, and at Sandhurst, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Scots Guards in September 1912 (London Gazette No. 28641, 3rd September, 1912, p 6536). The 1st battalion Scots Guards received orders to mobilise on 4th August. Reinforced by reservists, the battalion entrained on 13th August at Farnborough for Southampton where it embarked for the Le Havre. The battalion disembarked in the early hours of 14th August and marched six miles to a camp at Harfleur. It returned to Le Havre, leaving Harfleur at 9.00pm on 15th August, and entrained for the front. It passed via Rouen, Amiens, Arras and Cambrai to Le Nouvion, where it billeted on the night of 16th August. On 17th August the battalion marched to Le Boué, where the '1st Guards Brigade concentrated and came under the command of the Brigadier' (TNA WO 95 1263/2, War Diary 1st Scots Guards, 17th August 1914). The Brigade was commanded by Brigadier General Ivor Maxse. The 1st battalion Scots Guards left Boué on 21st August and marched to Cartignies, where it billeted. On 22nd August the battalion marched through Dompierre halting near Beaufort, then marched through Maubeuge and crossed the Sambre and going into billets at 1.00am on 23rd August at Grand Reng in Belgium . At about 4.00am the battalion was ordered to hold the line of the main road about 1½ miles to the north-east in the direction of Mons. The battalion was then ordered to a line west of Villers-sire-Nicole where it 'dug a line of deep trenches'. At 5pm the battalion left and pulled back to billets at La Longueville near Maubeuge, arriving at 10pm. This was the start of the long retreat from Mons.
The 1st battalion Scots Guards left Boué on 21st August and marched to Cartignies, then on 22nd August marched through Dompierre, and crossed the Sambre at Maubeuge. It went into billets at 1.00am on 23rd August at Grand Reng in Belgium . At about 4.00am the battalion was ordered to hold the line of the main road about 1½ miles to the north-east. The battalion was then ordered to a line west of Villers-sire-Nicole where it 'dug a line of deep trenches'. At 5pm the battalion left and pulled back to billets at La Longueville near Maubeuge, arriving at 10pm. This was the start of the long retreat from Mons.
On 25th August the battalion marched to Taisnière sur Hon. The next day it marched as a rear guard to Rejet de Beaulieu. The 'men very exhausted and wet through before they got into billets at 10pm. Large numbers fell out but rejoined later’ (TNA WO 95 1263/2, 26th August 1914). On 27th August the battalion dug a line of trenches covering from just east of their billets through the Forêt de l’Andigny to Wassigny. There was very heavy rain at noon and the men were drenched. The battalion rejoined the Brigade at Étreux where they came under fire from artillery and long range musketry. The battalion was able to disengage and pulled back through Guise to Jonqueuse, where it bivouacked at 11 at night. On 28th August the battalion withdrew past Brissay to St. Gobain. The weather was very hot. The battalion rested on 29th August. On 30th August the battalion marched to Terny 'to be general reserve at Army Hqrs.' On 31st August the battalion continued to withdraw through Soissons to Vauxbuin where it bivouacked. On 1st September the battalion marched through the Forêt Dominiale de Metz, and via Villiers Cotterêts to La Ferté-Milon, where the men slept in a cornfield south of the town. The next day the battalion marched to Chambry and went into billets. On 3rd September the battalion paraded at 3.45 a.m. for ‘war guard, and take (sic) up position on outpost line'. The battalion crossed the River Marne at Germigny. After a stop at St Jean, the battalion had a 'hot march through Bois de Meaux' before arriving at Rouanne were it billeted in an old convent. Over the next two days the battalion marched to Coulommiers and then to Nesles. The battalion was 'on outpost' on 5th September, and encountered cavalry patrols. On 6th September the long retreat came to an end. The 1st Scots Guards outpost line was relieved by the 4th Brigade. The battalion marched from Rozay-en-Brie but the advance guard of 1st Coldstreams was checked about Voinsles and retired under heavy shell fire. The Scots Guards entrenched. A general advance began at 4.30 pm and met no opposition. The battalion passed through Voinsles and Le Plessis and bivouacked. On 7th September the battalion marched through Amillis and Choisy-en-Brie to billets at La Frenois. On 8th September the battalion marched via Jouy sur Morin, Champ Martin and Bellot, where the brigade was shelled. The battalion bivouacked astride the Hondevilliers - Nogent road. The 1st Scots Guards were on outpost about Basseville with Cavalry immediately in front. On 9th September the battalion marched into the Marne valley and crossed the river at Nogent L'Artaud, then marched by Charly-sur-Marne to La Cavodière (?), and at La Marette (?). It rained from midnight and was still raining on 10th September when the battalion began its march at 7 am. It marched by Le Tholet, Torcy, and Courchamps. The 3rd Brigade was heavily engaged by the enemy at Courchamps. The 1st Scots Guards billeted at Latilly. On 11th the battalion marched east via La Croix sur-Ourcq, Armentières-sur-Ourcq, and Nanteuil-Notre Dame, and then towards Bruyères-sur-Fère where it halted. On 12th September the battalion marched by Fère en Tardenois to Loupeigne, then by Bruys and Mont-Notre-Dame to Bazoches in pouring rain. One company billeted, others bivouacked. On 13th September the battalion crossed the Aisne at Bourg-et-Comin, then moved to Pagny (recte Pargnan) above Œuilly and past the Tour de Paissy to Paissy where the battalion was billeted. On 14th the battalion moved via Moulins and Vendresse to a hill a between Vendresse and Troyon. Two companies were in Brigade reserve and two companies sent as artillery escort to Tour de Paissy. Second Lt Compton-Thornhill was killed at Vendresse on 14th September 1914. He has no known grave.[Note 22] He was promoted Lieutenant (posthumously) on 15th September 1914 (London Gazette No. 28986, Supplement, 24 November 1914, p 9970). His father Sir Anthony was also an Old Etonian (left 1884) and a soldier. He served in the Great War as a Captain (honorary Major) in the Royal Garrison Artillery, but resigned his commission due to ill-health in August 1917 (London Gazette No. 30239, Supplement, 17 August 1917, p 8542). Memorials: Carham, St Cuthbert, Memorial Plaque R A Compton-Thornhill, 1914 (NEWMP C08.01); Forest Hill, Oxfordshire, St Nicholas Church, Memorial Plaque R A Compton-Thornhill [Note 23]; The Bachelors Club Mayfair Greater London, Memorial Tablet [Note 24]; Eton College, List of Etonians who served in the Great War 1914-1919, p 58, 'Compton-Thornhill, R A' [Note 25] ; 'The Royal Automobile Club 'Roll of Honour', Imperial Service 1914 until 1919, R.A.C., n.d., p 31.
See also: Coldstream Local History Projects - 2Lt Richard Compton-Thornhill; IWM, Lives of the First World War - Lt. Richard Anthony Compton-Thornhill; 14/02/2021 - 27/02.2021; 25/11/2021; 02/12/2021; 18/04/2023; 21/06/2023; |
John Corcoran
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CORCORAN, acting LCpl John, No. 71049, 102nd Company, Machine Gun Corps, formerly 21st (Service) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (2nd Tyneside Scottish), previously No. 3157, 2nd battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, killed in action on 8th September 1917, and buried in Jeancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Aisne, France John Corcoran was the eldest son of Francis (Frank) Corcoran and Bridget Woods, who had married in 1887. In 1891 the couple were living in Wark Village, Carham, with their first three children: Mary (aged 3, b 1887), Catherine (aged 2, b 1888), and John (aged 1, b 1889). Frank was working as a farm labourer. By 1901 the couple had three more children: Elizabeth (b 1894), Jane (b 1897) and Francis (Frank) (b 1900), and by 1911 there were a further five children: James (b 1902), Evelyn (b 1903), twins Martha and Winifred (b 1905), and Mona (b 1908). The couple had had a further two children who had died infancy: these were Norah (b 1892) and James (b 1896). John Corcoran (b 1889) was the only surviving son old enough to serve in the Great War, with the possible exception of Frank (b 1900), who could have joined up towards the end of the War. When the Great War broke out John Corcoran was a regular soldier serving with the 2nd battalion Northumberland Fusiliers in India. He had enlisted at Coldstream on 14th August 1911. His terms of enlistment were 7 years with the colours and 5 years with the reserve. Right from the start of his military career and right through his time in the Army, John Corcoran was trouble and in trouble. At the Regimental Depot, before he had even joined his battalion, he forfeited 10 day’s pay for being absent. Eventually posted to the 2nd battalion based in India, he joined the battalion on 28th November 1911. John Corcoran’s service in India marked by the number of times he got into trouble. He was awarded 10 days detention for absenting himself from a defaulters’ parade on 7th June 1912. On 1st August 1912, he was tried and convicted by a District Court Martial for striking a superior officer, and so it went on throughout his service in India. He was clearly handy with his fists and quick to use them. One officer’s description of Corcoran as ‘an insubordinate, intemperate, dishonest unreliable man’ is recorded in his service record. When war was declared the 2nd battalion was based in Sabathu, India. The battalion sailed from Karachi on 20th November and landed at Plymouth on 22nd December 1914. It was sent to Winchester as part of 84th Brigade, 28th Division. The Division landed at Le Havre on 18th January 1915. John Corcoran is recorded landing in France two days earlier on 16th January; he may have been part of the advance party of one officer, and five NCOs and men that left Winchester on 16th January. He was in France for just 105 days until 30th April 1915, when he was wounded. His service record shows that he was in Britain (‘Leicester’) from 1st May 1915 to 12th September 1915 a total of 135 days. On 3rd August 1915 he was awarded 8 days Field Punishment No. 2. On 12th September he deserted and headed home. John Corcoran was brought before the Glendale Petty Sessions on 12th October 1915 by the police, and charged with desertion from the 3rd battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. He was remanded in custody to await an escort that would return him to the Army.[Note 26] His service record shows that he was tried and convicted by District Court Martial for ‘Desertion, [and] Deficiency of kit’ and was sentenced to one year in prison. He was released after 9 months, and posted to France landing at Rouen on 20th June 1916. He was posted to the 29th Infantry Base Depot and then on to the 21st battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (2nd Tyneside Scottish). He joined the battalion ‘in the field’ on 10th July and remained with the battalion until he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps on 3rd December 1916. He joined the 102nd Machine Gun Company, 34th Division, on 10th December. He was briefly hospitalised in April 1917, then after a brief spell at Machine Gun Corps base depot at Camiers he rejoined the 102nd MG Company on 26th May 1917. He spent a few days in 102nd Field Ambulance in August with malaria - presumably a souvenir of his service on the Indian Subcontinent – before once again rejoining the company. At some point he was promoted to acting lance corporal and placed in charge of a machine gun and its six man crew. John Corcoran held this acting rank when he died. John Corcoran and two of his crew were killed on 8th/9th September 1917, when the 102nd Machine Gun Company was supporting an attack by the 102nd Brigade which was planned to push the Germans out of their positions on a low ridge overlooking the British trenches. “A” and “C” sections were located in ‘partly dug emplacements’ near Molly Post in front of Grand Riel Farm (TNA WO95 2463/7, War Diary 102nd MG Company, 6th/7th September 1917). “B” section guns were ‘allotted to 2nd & 4th battalions Tyneside Scottish came into position and were now under the orders of the COs of those battalions’ (op. cit., 7th/8th September 1917). The infantry attack captured the main objective but ‘sufficient of FARM TRENCH remained untaken to give the enemy observation into the VILLARET VALLEY’ (op.cit. 8th/9th September 1917). The War Diary records that two guns of “B” section with the 2nd Tyneside Scottish were ‘out of action’. One gun on the right flank had to be replaced because 3 of the crew were killed and the gun and tripod damaged. The replacement gun team was from the 101st MG Company. John Corcoran was one of the three men killed; the two other men of 102nd MG Company recorded by the CWGC as fatal casualties were No. 71043, Pte T Rogan, killed 8th September 1917 and No. 26265, Pte Thomas Henry Kent, killed 9th September 1917. John Corcoran’s family received notification of his death from his officer, who wrote that ‘he was the mainstay of his team during a trying time’, and commented on his ‘exceptional pluck’ (Berwick Advertiser, Friday 28 September 1917, p 3).
Memorial: Lowick, Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Village Green (NEWMP L37.01)
See also: Coldstream Local History Projects - LCpl John Corcoran; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 71049, LCpl John Corcoran; 05/02/2022 - 20/10/2022; 18/04/2023; 21/06/2023; 24/06/2023; |
Geoffrey Matthew George Culley
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CULLEY, Capt Geoffrey Matthew George, 11th (Service) battalion Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), killed in action on 15th September 1916, and is buried in the Bulls Road Cemetery, Flers, Somme, France Geoffrey Matthew George Culley was the only son of Matthew Tewart Culley of Coupland Castle and his second wife Eleanor Jane Darling. Eleanor Darling was the daughter of Matthew Tewart Culley's second cousin the late George Darling of Fowberry Tower. Matthew and Eleanor married in 1882 and their only son Geoffrey Matthew George Culley was born in 1883. Matthew Tewart Culley died in 1889 and the estate was inherited by his oldest son from his first marriage Father Matthew Culley, who was a Catholic priest. Geoffrey Matthew George Culley was educated at Cheltenham College, and in 1901 Geoffrey and his widowed mother were living at Broxsted House, Cheltenham. By 1911 they were living at Grove House, Semley, near Shaftesbury, Wiltshire. On 16th April 1914 Geoffrey Culley married Elizabeth Frances Twynam the second daughter of John Twynam and Mary Rachel Twynam (née Baker) of Soberton House, Soberton, Hampshire (Hampshire Advertiser County Newspaper, April 25th 1914, p. 6). The couple had two sons, George William Culley born Tisbury 1915, and Geoffrey Matthew Culley born on 27th September 1916 at Wardour, Wiltshire. In the 1911 census return Geoffrey Matthew George Culley had given his occupation as Captain in the 4th Reserve battalion Durham Light Infantry. Geoffrey had been an officer in the Durham militia and after the creation of the Territorial Force he was an officer with the Special Reserve battalions of the Durham Light Infantry. In Hart’s Annual Army List for 1908 (col 679) he was listed as a Captain in the 3rd (Special Reserve) battalion Durham Light Infantry, formerly the 1st Durham Fusiliers, but in 1909 he was recorded as an Instructor of Musketry with the 4th (Special Reserve) battalion, and was still listed with 4th battalion in the 1914 list (Hart’s Annual Army List for 1909, col 666; Hart’s Annual Army List for 1914, col 475). After the outbreak of war Geoffrey Culley was posted to the 9th battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and landed in France in May 1915 with the battalion, which was part of 28th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division. In September 1915 the Division fought at Loos where Geoffrey was badly wounded (Newcastle Daily Journal, Wednesday, September 15th 1915, p.10; Berwickshire News, March 7th 1916, p. 3). He was brought back to Britain to recuperate and once he had recovered returned to France in June 1916. He joined the 11th (Service) battalion Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) which was under orders of 122nd Brigade, 41st Division and he was killed in action on 15th September 1916 in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette (15th-22th September 1916) (Yorkshire Post, Thursday 28th September 1916, p.10; Bath Chronicle Saturday 30 September 1916, p. 15; The Scotsman, Monday October 2nd 1916, p.10). He is buried in the Bulls Road Cemetery, Flers. Both the sons of Geoffrey and Elizabeth Culley served in the Second World War and were killed in action. Their eldest son Major George Culley, MC, who served with 53rd (The Worcestershire Yeomanry) Airlanding Light Regiment, Royal Artillery [Note 27], died on 25th March 1945 and is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Their younger son Sergeant Geoffrey Culley (No.1164676) RAF Volunteer Reserve, who was serving as a radio operator/air gunner with 39 Squadron, was killed on 17th May 1942 aged 25 and is buried in the Tobruk War Cemetery.[Note 28] Memorials: Kirknewton, Cross 1914-18 1939-45, Roadside (NEWMP K15.01); KIrknewton, St Gregory, Culley 1916 Plaque (NEWMP K15.05); Semley, Wiltshire, War Memorial, St Leonards Church [Note 29]; Semley, Wiltshire, Roll od Honour WW! and WW2, St Leonards Church [Note 30].
See also: Ann Symons, Geoffrey Matthew George Culley [Note 31]; Bailiffgate Collections - Geoffrey Matthew George Culley; Coldstream Local History Projects - Capt Geoffrey Matthew George Culley; IWM, Lives of the First World War - Capt. Geoffrey Matthew George Culley; 07/08/2018; 13/04/2019; 09/07/2019; 16/03/2023; 18/04/2023; 21/06/2023; 16/03/2024; |
John Dalgleish
The report of his death in The Berwick Advertiser (20th August 1915, p 5) states that before enlisting he had been a farm servant with Mr Logan of Cornhill on Tweed.
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DALGLEISH, Pte John, No. 6874, 1/4th (TF) battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers (The Border battalion), killed in action on 12th July 1915, aged 24 years, and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey John Timlin Dalgleish (b 1891) was second of the two children of Robert Dalgleish and his first wife Jane Timlin, who married in 1887. John had an elder brother William born in 1889. Jane Timlin died aged 27 in 1894, and was buried at Cornhill of 1st May. Robert Dalgleish married his second wife Margaret Hume in 1895. The couple had five children: Robert Thomas Hume Dalgleish (b 1896) Christina (or Christian) Hume Dalgleish (b 1898), James Hume Dalgleish (b 1900), Margaret Jane H Dalgleish (b 1902) and Peter Hume Dalgleish (b 1904). In 1911 John Timlin Dalgleish was a farm labourer, but when he enlisted in the 1/4th (TF) battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers in Galashiels on 5th October 1914 he was described as working as a builder’s labourer in Newcastleton, Roxburghshire. The 1/4th battalion was based at Galashiels, and part of South Scottish Brigade, Lowland Division, which in May 1914 became 155 Brigade, 52nd Division. John Dalgleish was with the battalion when it sailed from Liverpool on 25th May aboard the HMT Empress of Britain. The ship arrived at Alexandria on 4th June 1915. The rest of 155 Brigade had sailed from Liverpool aboard HMT Mauritania on 21st May and had arrived at Mudros on 29th May. The 155 Brigade less the 1/4th KOSB landed at Cape Helles on 6th and 7th June. The 1/4th KOSB landed at Cape Helles on 14th June 1915, having sailed from Alexandria on 8th June and landed at Mudros on 11th June.[Note 32] 1/4th KOSB landed at 'V' Beach Cape Helles on 14th June 1915. The 155 Brigade with the 1/4th battalion was been involved in action on 28th June 1915. Then the 1/4th battalion KOSB was very heavily involved in the first two waves in the assault on Turkish trenches below Achi Baba on 12th July 1915, which became known as the ‘Charge at Achi Baba’. The attack was part of a combined operation involving British and French troops. The 1/4th KOSB was on the left of the first and second waves of the attacking force. Following a preliminary bombardment by French artillery, and with a supporting barrage from British and French guns the battalion successfully broke into and took the two lines of Turkish trenches that were their objective. However the battalion pushed on to the supposed third trench line which proved to be a shallow excavation, and pushed on up the lower slopes of Achi Baba. The battalion was called back but came under fire from both Turkish guns and allied artillery which was firing to prevent the intervention of Turkish reinforcements. The 1/4th KOSB suffered extremely heavy casualties. On the 15th July the battalion was given permission to withdraw to the Rest camp. On 16th the casualty figures were compiled, and the battalion war diary entry for 16th July records:
The CWGC records 303 men of the 1/4th battalion were killed on 12th July 1915, and further 12 who died between the 13th and 15th July. The toll was devastating for the Border communities. The 1/4th battalion, the ‘Border Battalion’, was very much the local unit and at this stage of the war the ranks almost exclusively filled by men from local communities. The sense of loss in those communities was reflected in reports in the Berwick Advertiser and Berwickshire News and General Advertiser. The Berwick Advertiser (27th August 1915, p 5) published the official list of the KOSB missing. The list includes Private John Dalgleish. Both papers published photographs and names of the dead, missing and wounded. One letter from L Cpl James Thompson of Bonchester was published in the Berwickshire News and General Advertiser (3rd September 1915, p 5) under the heading “Very few of the K.O.S.B.s left”. The Berwickshire News and General Advertiser (Tuesday 14 September 1915, p 4) published a poem entitled ‘The Charge of the 1/4th K.O.S.B., July 12th at Achi Baba’ under the heading ‘The Vanguard of the Borders’. The poem was written by George Hope Tait, a prominent local figure who lived and worked at Galashiels.[Note 33]
John Dalgleish was just one of the many killed in action of 12th July. He was unmarried. His parents received a war pension. Three other men, who served with the 1/4th KOSB and died as a result of the 'Charge at Achi Baba’ on 12th July 1915, are recorded on War Memorials in Glendale. They are Pte Herbert MARSHALL (qv) from Cornhill on Tweed, and Pte Gilbert John PIERCY (qv) from Wark East Common, and Sgt John WILSON (qv), who worked as postman in Cornhill. The latter, died at Mudros on 15th July of wounds sustained in the charge at Achi Baba. George Percy Pringle from Glendale was with the Border battalion and survived the Charge at Achi Baba, but was evacuated from Gallipoli in September 1915 suffering from dysentery. He later served with the 10th battalion Tank Corps, won the Military Medal and survived the War. Memorials: Cornhill-on-Tweed, Cross 1914-18 1939-45, roadside (NEWMP C53.01); Scottish National War Memorial RoH - No. 6874, Pte John Dalgleish; CWGC, Helles Memorial
See also: Coldstream Local History Projects - Pte John Dalgleish; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 6874, Pte John Dalgleish; 11/03/2021 - 10/06/2022; 19/04/2023; 12/06/2023; 21/06//2023; 13/0/2024; |
Norman Davison
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DAVISON, Pte Norman, No. 56919, 1st battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales Own) died of dysentery as a prisoner of war in the Kriegs Lazarett IV, Aslett on 8th June 1918 and is buried in Sedan (St Charles) Communal Cemetery, Sedan, Champagne-Ardenne, France Norman Davison’s parents were John Davison (b Doddington, c 1861) and Elizabeth Ann Rogerson (b Green Hill, Bamburgh, c 1862) who married in 1889.side bar The couple had seven children, four sons and three daughters: Andrew (b 1889, Newton Alwinton), Mary (b 1892, Bolton, Northumberland), John T (b 1894, Glanton), Norman (b 1895, Glanton), Katherine (b c 1899, Whitton Dean) and William James (b 1901, Whitton Dean) and Jane E (b c 1904, High Buston, Warkworth). Norman Davison was working as a ploughman and living with his family at Cock Hall, Eglingham when he attested at Alnwick on 24th January 1916. He enlisted at Dunbar on 18th May 1917. After training he was posted as Private No. 56919 to the 1st battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (18th Brigade, 6th Division) and embarked for France on 17th May 1917, disembarking on 18th May. The 6th Division had been in France since September 1914.[Note 34] Norman Davison died as a prisoner of war and was most probably captured by the Germans during the Battle of St Quentin (21st-23rd March 1918) when the Germans launched their Michael Offensives against the British Third and Fifth Armies. The 1st battalion West Yorkshires, 18th Brigade, were in the trenches near Morchies from 14th March, with two companies in the front line and two in the reserve line. The battalion was still in the position on 21st March when the
Marden in his history of the division recorded that
The battalion war diary records that on 22nd March 1918
On 28th March while in billets in the Eecke area the battalion was reinforced by officers and 373 other ranks from the 3rd Entrenching battalion and ‘Lt W K Marshall and 5 ORs who returned from the attack were interviewed by His Majesty the King at Steenvorde’ (TNA WO09 1618/2, 28th March 1918).
By 31st March the battalion had been restored to near full strength and numbered 28 officers and 890 other ranks. The 1st West Yorkshires were not involved in the fighting on the Lys between 13th and 29th April during the German Georgette offensive and its next serous action was not until August and September 1918. Norman Davison died on 8th June 1918 as a prisoner of war in the ‘Kriegs Lazarett IV Aslett, Sedan, Ruhr’ (ICRC Archives [ACICR C G1] PA34029, Totenliste Engländer, dated 05/08/18) and was buried in Sedan (St. Charles) Communal Cemetery, Ardennes, France. Pension records indicate that Norman Davison died from dysentery. Memorials: Eglingham, Roadside Cross 1914-18 1939-45 (NEWMP E18.01)
See also: Bailiffgate Collections - Norman Davison; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 56919, Pte Norman Davison; 01/09/2022; 03/09/2022; 17/09/2022; 16/03/2023; 20/06/2023; |
Herbert Philip Deedes
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DEEDES, Capt Herbert Philip, 16th (Service) battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps (Church Lads Brigade), died on 15th July 1916, aged 34, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France Herbert Deedes was the son of the Reverend Philip Deedes, who was Secretary of Haileybury College and a curate at St Albans Abbey, and Mrs Josephine Deedes (née Parker) of "Aldwych", Russell Avenue, St. Albans, Hertfordshire. He was born in 1882 at St Albans. A former pupil of Haileybury College, in 1901 he was and agricultural student, boarding with John Inch and his family at Congalton House, Dirleton, East Lothian. Also boarding was another agricultural student Alexander Wright. In 1906 Herbert Philip Deedes took the tenancy of West Fenton Farm on the estate of the Hon F W Lambton of Fenton, Wooler. He enlisted as a private in the King's Royal Rifle Corps, but was commissioned and gazetted as temporary second lieutenant in the 16th battalion KRRC with effect from 24th September 1914. He was promoted temporary lieutenant effect from 15th December 1914, and appointed adjutant to the battalion effective from 24th July 1915. He was promoted to temporary captain on 11th October 1915. The 16th battalion was part of 100th Brigade, 33rd Division. The Division landed at Le Havre on 17th November 1915. The Division was initially deployed in the Béthune area. On 8th July 1916 orders were received for movement on 9th July. The division was being transferred to the Somme front. The battalion moved by train from Lillers to Saleux (Somme) and then marched to Vecquemont. On 11th July the battalion marched to Morlancourt where they bivouacked in front of an 8” Howitzer battery. The following day the battalion marched to Becordel-Becourt, where it rested until 14th July. The Division was now under the orders of Horne's XV Corps. On 14th July the battalion moved to its assembly positions for an attack. The 7th Division was tasked with taking High Wood and the 21st Division was to attack Bazentin-le-Petit Wood, while the 33rd Division had orders to launch an attack on the enemies’ switch line between High Wood and the Martinpuich-Bazentin railway. The 98th Brigade was on the left and 100th Brigade on the right with the 9th Highland Light Infantry and 1st Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) opening the attack with the 16th KRRC in support. The 9th HLI were held up by enemy fire from High Wood and the 1st Queen’s found the enemy wire uncut. The 16th KRRC were ordered forward into the gap between the two battalions. The battalion war diary records that
Captain Deedes commanding "B" Company on the right was killed late on the morning of 15th July as he brought the 2nd line of "B" Company forward. 'Captain Deedes was hit by a MG bullet in the head and died immediately' (TNA WO95 2430/3, 15th July 1916). He was one of the five officers and 115 other ranks from the battalion recorded by the CWGC as killed on 15th and 16th July 1915.[Note 35]
Memorials: Wooler Tower Hill Cross (NEWMP W68.01); Doddington, 1914-18 Plaque, St Mary & St Michael (NEWMP D13.01); Doddington, Deedes 1916 Plaque, St Mary & St Michael (NEWMP D13.02); St Albans, Hertfordshire. First World War 1 War Memorial [Note 36]
See also: Bailiffgate Collections - Herbert Philip Deedes; Coldstream Local History Projects - Capt Herbert Deedes; IWM, Lives of the First World War - Capt Herbert Philip Deedes; 14/10/2018; 14/04/2019; 28/02/2021; 04/07/2021; 16/03/2023; 19/04/2023; 21/06/2023; |
Herbert Dew
To date it has not been possible to find any record of Sarah Dew’s death or funeral.
The gardens at Walhampton were extensive. Today, the estate now reduced in area forms the grounds of Hordle-Walhampton School. Although reduced in size the gardens still survive.
In 1911 Banbery family lived in Battlefield Terrace, Wombourne, Staffs. Albert George was then just 9 years old. His father was a boot manufacturer.
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DEW, Gunner Herbert, No. 197474, 73rd Anti-Aircraft Section, Royal Garrison Artillery, previously No. 185540, Royal Field Artillery, died from bronchial pneumonia and influenza in the 48th General Hospital, Salonica, Greece on 11th October 1918, aged 37, and is buried in Kirechkoi-Hortakoi Military Cemetery, Greece Herbert Dew was born in Westbury, Wiltshire and was the youngest of the five children of cloth worker Obadiah Dew and his first wife Sarah Hill.[Note 37] The couple had married at Westbury in 1868. Their oldest child was Sarah Ann (b 1870, d 1892), and was followed by Oliver George (b 1874, d 1899), Emmeline (b 1877), Arthur Enoch (b 1878) and finally Herbert (b 1881). In the 1891 Census return Obadiah is recorded as a widower with his three youngest children. Obadiah married his second wife Mary Jane Eyers at Westbury on 19th May 1891. The couple had four children, Minnie Rosa (b 1892), Agnes Bessie (b 1894), Zella Louisa (b 1896) and Charles Luther (b 1900). Herbert Dew worked as a professional gardener. In 1901 a Harry Dew (aged 21, b Westbury, Wilts) was one of four gardeners working under head gardener John Harris at Walhampton, near Lymington, Hampshire. This could Herbert Dew, although the latter seems to have been known as Bertie Dew (Berwickshire News, 7th November 1916, p 6 ‘Collections for Smokes’). Nonetheless it is at least possible that the Harry Dew at Walhampton in 1901 was the Herbert Dew, who later worked as head gardener at Pallinsburn, Cornhill-on-Tweed. By 1908 Herbert Dew was working as a gardener in Ealing, Middlesex. (John Harris the head gardener at Walhampton was originally from Middlesex and if Herbert had worked at Walhampton then it possible that with his Middlesex connections, John Harris was able to recommend Herbert for the Ealing job.) Herbert Dew married Agnes Wood in the Church of St Mary, Ealing on 21st September 1908. Agnes was born in Worcester and in 1908 was living in Eaton Square, Belgravia, where she was a member of the domestic staff. In 1901 Agnes had been a housemaid to the West family in Barbourne Park, North Claines, Worcestershire. By 1911 Herbert and his wife Agnes were living in Co Antrim, Ulster. Herbert was described in 1911 Irish census as a ‘head gardener’. Subsequently, Herbert became head gardener at Pallinsburn, Cornhill-on-Tweed. The couple’s only child Herbert Oliver Richard Dew was born on 25th August 1915 at Pallinsburn. Herbert Dew attested in early 1916 (Berwickshire News, 1st February 1916, p 5) and was called up on 16th October 1916 and enlisted in Newcastle. He was posted to No. 1 Depot Royal Field Artillery on 17th October. On 3rd February 1917 he was posted to the Salonica Front. After his arrival in Salonica, he was posted from the General Base Depot to the 73rd Anti-Aircraft Section RGA on 29th March 1917. His death from bronchial pneumonia and influenza on 11th October 1918 was reported by the officer commanding 48th General Hospital, Salonica. Agnes his wife was his legatee and probate was granted on 4th December 1918. Correspondence between Agnes Dew and the military authorities show that in late 1918 and early 1919 Agnes was staying at Dunoon House, High Street, Wombourne, Staffordshire, but that by June 1919 she was corresponding from 114 Droitwich Road, Worcester. In 1920 she was living at 64 Vincent Road, Wylde Lane, Worcester. In 1939 her address was 27 Camp Hill Avenue, Worcester. She was still resident at that address when she died on 2nd February 1953, aged 74, although she actually died at 40 Barbourne Road, Worcester. Probate was granted to her only son Herbert Oliver Richard Dew, who was a chartered mechanical engineer, and to Mrs Lillian Agnes Banbery (wife of Albert George Banbery). Memorials: Branxton, Stained Glass Windows 1914-18, St Paul (NEWMP B56.01); Westbury, Wiltshire, Memorial Tablet 1914-1919, St Saviour, Westbury Leigh [Note 38]; Westbury, Wiltshire, War Memorial WW1 and WW2 [Note 39]
See also: Coldstream Local History Projects - Gunner Herbert Dew; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 197474, Gnr Herbert Dew; 23/07/2020; 09/08/2020; 19/04/2023; 21/06/2023; |
Charles William Dixon-Johnson
'Freddie' was the great niece of Josephine Butler (née Grey) the social reformer and campaigner for women’s rights, who is buried in the churchyard at Kirknewton. Freddie's younger sister Mary Lizette GREY (qv) was the commandant of Etal VAD Hospital.
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DIXON-JOHNSON, Pte Charles William, No. 54593, 1/7th (TF) battalion The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) (Leeds Rifles), killed in action on 9th October 1917 and commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium Charles William Dixon-Johnson was the younger son of Cuthbert Greenwood Dixon-Johnson, retired iron merchant and JP (b 1842, d 1899) and of Maria Grey Johnson (née Smith) (b c 1843; d 1932) of ‘Oakwood’, Croft on Tees. He was born on 22nd September 1875 at Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield and christened at Sedgefield in Co Durham on 17th October 1875. The couple’s oldest child was Anna Grey Johnson (b 15th February 1867; christened 3rd April 1867) and the second child and eldest son was Cuthbert Francis Dixon-Johnson (b 26th September 1871; d 1939). Charles Dixon-Johnson married Christian Elfreda (‘Freddie’) Grey (b 22nd December 1883) who was the elder of the two daughters of George and Christian Grey of Milfield, Kirknewton, Northumberland.[Note 40] Charles Dixon-Johnson and 'Freddie' Grey were married in the Church of St Gregory the Great, Kirknewton on 17th December 1907 and they lived at Hethpool, Kirknewton. They had three children: Cuthbert John (b 1908) and twin daughters Christian and Elfreda (b 1912). Charles had ‘a grass farm of 1290 acres near Wooler’, with ‘about 1,100 breeding ewes’. He applied for exemption from military service but was refused (Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, 3rd July 1916, p.3). He was then 40 years and 9 months old. He appealed against the decision but ultimately was obliged to enlist in 1917 following the failure of a final appeal to the County Appeal Tribunal sitting on 17th January 1917 at Berwick (Berwickshire News, Tuesday 23 January 1917, p 5). After training, possibly with the 4th (Extra Reserve) battalion Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) at Hartlepool, Charles Dixon-Johnson was posted to 1/7th (TF) battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (‘Leeds Rifles’) which was part of the 146th Brigade, in the 49th (West Riding) Division. It is not known when he embarked for the Western Front, nor when he joined the battalion. The 49th Division had spent much of its time in France in the Ypres Salient, but from the end of February to the middle of July 1917 it was in a comparatively quiet sector of the front in the Laventie area, and then it was sent to the north coast of France to prepare for ‘Operation Hush’ the proposed attack on the German-held coast of Belgium. The 1/7th West Yorkshire Regiment spent most of August 1917 at Teteghem on the French coast near Dunkirk and much of September at Ghyvelde on the coast next to the Belgium border training for the attack. ‘Operation Hush’ never took place and the 29th Division was ordered back to Ypres. On 24th September 1917 the 1/7th battalion began its march back to the Ypres by slow stages, interspersed with rest days and days of training. It arrived at Shrine Camp in the Watou area on 3rd October. On 6th October it was taken by bus to the Vlamertinghe area just to the west of Ypres. The 49th Division was now under orders of the 2nd ANZAC Corps and about to go into action at Poelcappelle. The 46th Brigade had orders to be in its start positions by 5.20 am on 9th October ready to launch the opening attack of the Battle of Poelcappelle. The 1/7th battalion had a trying march but made it to its starting position in good time, but the rain had made the ground difficult to cross, and the extra water in the Stroombeek, which had to be crossed, slowed its advance and meant that the battalion fell behind its barrage and was pinned down by German machine gun and sniper fire. Losses were heavy and little progress was made by the Brigade. The 1/7th battalion was relieved by the 4th battalion, 3rd New Zealand (Rifles) Brigade at 10pm on 11th October. The relief was completed by 3am and the battalion bivouacked in the old front line south of Wieltje before returning to hutments at Vlamertinghe. The 1/7th battalion war diary gives no casualty figures, but the CWGC database lists 106 men from the 1/7th battalion killed on 9th October. The figures comprise eight officers and 32 NCOs and 69 other ranks amongst whom was Charles William Dixon-Johnson. The 1/5th and 1/8th battalions lost 107 and 117 respectively, while the 1/6th battalion, which was in reserve, suffered less heavily with 34 deaths recorded for 9th October by the CWGC. Memorials: Kirknewton, Cross 1914-18 1939-45, Roadside (NEWMP K15.01); Kirknewton, Dixon-Johnson 1917 Plaque, St Gregory (NEWMP K15.04) See also: Bailiffgate Collections - Charles William Dixon-Johnson; Coldstream Local History Projects - Pte Charles William Dixon-Johnson; 07/08/2018; 18/04/2019; 16/03/2023; 18/04/2023 |
Andrew Dodds
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DODDS, Andrew, Sapper, No. 146269, 222nd Field Company, Royal Engineers, killed in action, aged 27, on 23rd April 1917, and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France Andrew Dodds was born in 1889 at Glanton, Northumberland, the son of Andrew (b 1849, Eglingham) and Annie Dodds (née Wardle; b 1858) of Holly Cottage, Glanton. In 1891 the Dodds family were living next door to the Kitchen family, whose son William Kitchen (qv) was killed only five days after Andrew's death. In 1911 Andrew Dodds (aged 21) and his two younger brothers, Thomas (b 1892; aged 19) and Stanley (b 1899; aged 12) were living in Glanton with their parents. The father was described in 1911 census and a ’farmer & joiner’. Andrew Dodds was still single in 1911 and was working as joiner. His brother Thomas worked on the farm while Stanley was still at school, but no doubt also helping in the family businesses. Andrew Dodds, of Holly Cottage, Glanton, attested 10th December 1915 in Alnwick, and called up for service with the Royal Engineers in February 1916. He served at home between 9th February 1916 and 24th July 1916. He landed in France on 25th July and was posted to 222nd Field Company RE on 30th July 1916. The 222nd Field Company was one of three Field Companies in the 33rd Division. Sapper Andrew Dodds served in France from 25th July 1916 until his death in action on 23rd April 1917. He was killed during an attack against the Hindeburg Line made by 1st and 3rd Armies in April 1917. The 98th and 100th Brigades of the 33rd Division
The casualties from 222nd Field Company during the attack were listed in its War Diary:
Andrew Dodds has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. His mother Annie was his sole legatee. There is no clear evidence to indicate whether or not either of Andrew’s two brothers served in the War.
Memorials: Eglingham, Roadside Cross 1914-18 1939-45 (NEWMP E18.01); Glanton, Presbyterian Church Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1918 (NEWMP G4.03); Whittingham, Fallen 1914-18 Stained Glass window St. Bartholomew (NEWMP W48.01)
See also: Bailiffgate Collections - Andrew Dodds; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 146269, Spr Andrew Dodds; 21/10/2022; 08/12/2022; 10/12/2022; 16/03/2023 |
David Henry Dunbar
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DUNBAR, David Henry, was killed in an accident at Warrenby Steelworks, near Redcar, North Riding of Yorkshire on 10th September 1916, and he is buried in Pelton Cemetery, Chester le Street, Co. Durham David Henry Dunbar was the third son of Peter and Annie Dunbar and was born at Ouston, Chester le Street, Co Durham in 1881. He had two older brothers John (b c 1877), George (b 1879), an older sister Jane (b c 1878), and a younger brother Thomas James (b c 1890). In 1911 David was a farmer and was visiting John and Elizabeth Taylor at Chester Moor Farm, Chester le Street, Co Durham. Although recorded on the Reredos in St Mary’s Church, there is no evidence that David Dunbar undertook military service. David Dunbar was killed in an accident on Sunday 10th September at the Warrenby Steelworks, near Redcar in the North Riding of Yorkshire (North-Eastern Daily Gazette, 11th September 1916, p. 3; Berwick Advertiser, 16th September 1916, p. 3) [Note 41] . His death aged 35 years was registered at Guisborough and he was buried on 14th September 1916 at Holy Trinity Churchyard Pelton, Co. Durham. He is buried in the plot next to his older brother John, who died aged 22 in 1899, and his father Peter Dunbar, who died in 1914 aged 62, both of whom are buried in the plot OE22.[Note 42] He was the brother of George Alexander DUNBAR (qv) and cousin of George GAGIE (qv). Memorials: Wooler, Reredos St Marys Church (NEWMP W68.02)
07/08/2018 |
George Alexander Dunbar
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DUNBAR, Pte George Alexander, No. 31141, 20th (Service) battalion Durham Light Infantry, 11th July 1916 attached 9th (Service) battalion, York and Lancaster Regt, died of wounds at the St John Ambulance Brigade Hospital, Étaples on 23rd September 1916, and is buried in Étaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France George Dunbar was born in 1879 at Chester le Street, and was the second son of Annie Dunbar (née Tarbit) and the late Peter Dunbar. He had an older brother John (b c 1877) and an older sister Jane (b c 1878) and two younger brothers David (b 1882) and Thomas James (b 1890). Peter Dunbar had been a police constable at Ouston, Co Durham, but by 1902 he was the landlord of the Colliery Inn at Chester Moor, Ouston. In 1911 he and his wife were running the Cottage Hotel (now The Tankerville Arms Hotel) at Wooler and farming Cottage Farm. When George Dunbar enlisted he was working as a hotel manager and living in Gateshead. George Dunbar attested on 9th December 1915 and was posted to the Army Reserve. He was mobilised on 21st March 1916 and posted to the 21st (Reserve) battalion Durham Light Infantry, and then he was posted to the B.E.F landing in France on 29th June 1916. He joined the 20th battalion Durham Light Infantry. George Dunbar was posted on attachment to the 9th battalion York and Lancaster Regiment on 11th July 1916. |
The 9th battalion York and Lancaster was under orders of 70th Brigade, and part 8th Division. The battalion had been in action on 1st July, had suffered serious casualties, before it had been relieved at 7pm in the evening. The battalion had arrived at Bruay, SW of Bethune, on 7th July 1916 coming by train from the area around Amiens. The battalion remained at Bruay it until 16th July. On 12th July it received a first draft of 101 men comprising 57 men from the King's Own Scottish Borderers, 33 from the Durham Light Infantry and 11 from the Yorkshire Regiment. The next day the G.O.C. 8th Division (Lt Gen Sir Frederick McCracken) inspected the draft and a further draft of 283 joined the battalion the same day. It is likely that George Dunbar was in one of these drafts. On 16th July the battalion returned to the Amiens area and on 17th July the 70th Brigade transferred from the 8th Division to the 23rd Division, and the 9th battalion York and Lancaster Regiment was inspected by Maj Gen J M Babington (GOC 23rd Division) the same day. But on the 12th September the battalion came now under the orders of 46th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. George Dunbar remained with the 9th battalion York and Lancaster until he was fatally wounded. He died of his wounds in hospital on 23rd September 1916. It is most likely that he suffered his fatal wound sometime during September. Casualties are recorded in the battalion War Diary (TNA WO95 2188/2) on a number of occasions during September: Two large work parties were sent out on 12th September (two other ranks killed and five wounded). Further work parties were supplied on 13th September (five other ranks killed and 15 wounded). On 14th September the battalion went into Gourlay Trench as reserve for 46th Brigade and two other ranks were wounded. On 15th September two battalions of the Brigade successfully attacked the German lines and took their objective. The 9th battalion took over the front line from the 10th Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and 7th/8th battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers and an Advanced HQ was established just behind the front. The battalion lost one other rank killed and two wounded. On 16th the battalion established two strong advanced posts and at 9pm the battalion was relieved and marched to bivouacs at Black Wood. Casualties suffered by the battalion during this relief were severe with six other ranks killed and 30 wounded. Three other ranks were wounded on 18th when it marched to Shelter Wood where it relieved the 7th/8th battalion KOSB. The battalion itself was relieved on the evening of 22nd September and one soldier suffered an accidental injury. On 23rd September, the day George Cockburn died of wounds in Hospital, the battalion bathed at 'A' Dump, Becourt Wood. George was unmarried and his mother Annie was named as his sole legatee. His brother David DUNBAR (qv) had been killed in an accident only two weeks before George died. George GAGIE (qv) who served with Royal Garrison Artillery and who died of influenza on 15th November 1918 was their cousin. Memorials: Wooler, Tower Hill Cross (NEWMP W68.01); Wooler, Reredos St Marys Church (NEWMP W68.02); Durham, Book of Remembrance 1914-18 D.L.I., Cathedral (NEWMP D47.013c July to September).
See also: Bailiffgate Collections - G Dunbar (not identified); IWM, Lives of the First Word War - No. 31141, Pte George Dunbar; 07/08/2018; 18/04/2019; 16/03/2023; 21/06/2023; |
Thomas Dunn (No 7/311)
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DUNN, Pte Thomas, No. 7/3111, 1/7th (TF) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, was killed in action 15th September 1916, and is buried in Adanac Military Cemetery, Miraumont, Somme, France Thomas Dunn was born in 1886 at High Burn House, Wooler. He was the grandson of Ralph Dunn and Susan Dunn (née Smith), and a son of their unmarried daughter Susan. In 1901 the elder Susan Dunn, now widowed was living Cheviot Street, Wooler with her daughter, and three grandsons, Ralph, John and Thomas. Thomas was a grocer's apprentice. By 1911 the elder Susan had died but the younger Susan and two of her sons John and Thomas were still living in Cheviot Street. However, the two young men were listed in the Census return as 'boarders' rather than as Susan Dunn's 'sons', although it is certain that they were her sons. Furthermore Thomas, who was then a grocer's assistant, is recorded having been married for four years. He married Isabella (Bella) Palmer in the spring of 1906 in Newcastle. His wife and his young son Thomas Palmer Dunn (b 1908) were staying with her parents Adam and Annie Palmer in Glue Lane, Newcastle. Adam was a fish salesman. It may be that Thomas and Isabella were already living apart. Thomas Dunn enlisted on 20th February 1915. Prior to enlisting, he had been working as a carter for Mr Laing of Wooler, and also working at the Glendale Store (Newcastle Daily Journal, 23rd December 1916, p 6). On 18th August 1915 Thomas Dunn, from the 7th Northumberland Fusiliers, appeared before the Glendale Petty Sessions as a ‘deserter’ and was handed over to an escort for return to the Army.[Note 43] The report of another case brought before the Glendale Petty Sessions in March 1916 throws some interesting light on the family relationships. Susan Dunn, described as a laundry worker of Cheviot Street and the mother of Private Thomas Dunn of the 7th battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, was found guilty of fraud and imprisoned for one month. She had been accused of impersonating Isabella Dunn, her son’s wife, in order to claim the separation allowance. Isabella Dunn appeared as a witness and said that she had received none of the money obtained by her mother-in-law and was only in receipt of 5s a week for her child. It was stated by John McMaking of the Territorial Association that Susan Dunn was not entitled to a separation allowance, but nor was Thomas Dunn’s wife entitled to the allowance because she ‘was supporting herself at the time of the soldier’s enlistment.’(Berwickshire News, Tuesday 14 March 1916, p 4, Berwick Advertiser, Friday 10 March 1916, p 6). [Note 44] Thomas Dunn was recorded in the battalion war dairy as part of a draft of 14 men that joined the 1/7th battalion 'for duty' on 6th August 1916 at Méteren, Nord, France and was posted to "D" company (TNA WO95 2830/1, August 1916, Appendix: Transfers). He was serving with the 1/7th battalion when he was killed on 15th September 1916 during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette in an attack launched by the 149th Brigade of 50th Division from near Mametz Wood. The 1/7th and 1/4th battalions were in the first wave of the attack with the 1/6th battalion in support and the 1/5th battalion in reserve. The attack was supported by two tanks. The 7th battalion's casualties for the 15th and 16th September are recorded in the battalion war diary: 3 officers and 40 other ranks killed, 7 officers and 219 other ranks wounded and 74 other ranks missing. Two other officers were slightly wounded but at duty (TNA WO95 2830/2, 16th September 1916). The CWGC records 90 men of the 1/7th battalion and 193 men of the 1/4th battalion killed on 15th September. Thomas Dunn was survived by his widow Isabella and their son Thomas. Isabella was recorded as Thomas's legatee in the Soldiers' Effects Registers, rather than his mother Susan, although the couple had apparently separated. Memorials: Wooler, Tower Hill Cross (NEWMP W68.01); Wooler, Reredos St Marys Church (NEWMP W68.02); Wooler, Church School plaque (NEWMP W68.03); Wooler, Plaque 1914-18, United Reformed Church (NEWMP W68.06), ROH 7th Northumberland Fusiliers, in Buckley, War History of the Seventh Northumberland Fusiliers, Appendix IV, p.136-144 (NEWMP A11.59)
See also: ; Bailiffgate Collections - No. 7/3111 Thomas Dunn; Coldstream Local History Projects - No. 7/3111, Pte Thomas Dunn; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 7/3111, Pte Thomas Dunn; 07/08/2018; 18/04/2019; 03/04/2021; 08/08/2021; 08/03/2022; 19/04/2023; 21/06/2023; |
Thomas Dunn (No 267340)
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DUNN, Pte Thomas, No. 267340, 23rd (Service) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (4th Tyneside Scottish), originally No. 4/8155, 1/4th (TF) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, then No. 6/7885 later No. 267340, 1/6the (TF) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, and then 26th (Service) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (3rd Tyneside Irish), he died following illness at the Gefangenenlager (PoW Camp) Minden on 27th October 1918, aged 29 years, and is buried now in the Ohlsdorf Cemetery, Hamburg, Germany Thomas Dunn was the son of Jane Dunn (née Moffat) (b 1854) and the late George Dunn (b 1857, d 1918). The couple married in 1885 and had had six children by 1911, but one child, not identified, had died. The eldest surviving child George was born in 1886, and was followed by two further boys William (b 1888) and Thomas (b 19th May 1889). All three were born at Netherton in the parish of Alwinton, Northumberland. Two further children, John James (b 1890) and Janet (b 1895), were born when the family lived at Harbottle Peels, near Morpeth. In 1911 the family lived at Low Hedgeley, Powburn. In the absence of his service record it is not known when Thomas Dunn enlisted. His British War and Victory medal roll entry records that he served with the 1/4th (TF) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (No. 4/8155), but there is no evidence that No. 4/8155 Thomas Dunn was eligible for the 1915 Star, which indicates that he had not yet joined the battalion when it left for the Front in 1915 as part of the Northumbrian (later 50th) Division. Thomas subsequently served with the 1/6th (TF) battalion and was allocated a new regimental number 6/7885. There is no evidence for the date or the circumstances for his transfer to the 1/6th battalion, however he was still serving with the battalion in March 1917 when regimental numbers for TF battalions were changed and he was given the new number 267340, which falls within the block of numbers allocated to the 1/6th battalion. On his subsequent transfers first to the 26th (Service) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (3rd Tyneside Irish) and then to the 23rd (Service) battalion (4th Tyneside Scottish) he retained the regimental number 267340. When he transferred from the 1/6th battalion to the 26th battalion is not known. However it is almost certain that Thomas Dunn transferred from the 26th battalion to the 23rd battalion Northumberland Fusiliers at the beginning of February 1918 when the 26th battalion (3rd Tyneside Irish) was disbanded as part of re-organisation of infantry divisions in the BEF. It is likely that Thomas Dunn was in the draft of 1 Lieutenant and 50 other ranks sent to the 23rd battalion on 3rd February 1918 (TNA WO95 2467/2, War Diary 26th Northumberland Fusiliers, 3rd February 1918). The War Diary of the 23rd battalion records a draft of 1 officer and 48 other ranks received from the 26th battalion (TNA WO95 2463/2, 3rd February 1918). On 21st March 1918 when the Germans launched their spring offensive, the 34th Division was part of VI Corps in the Third Army. The 34th Division was deployed around and forward of Croiselles, in the centre of the Corps area, with 3rd Division to its north and 59th Division to its south. The 102nd Brigade was positioned forward of the battle zone with the 22nd and 23rd battalions forward and the 25th Northumberland Fusiliers in support. The 23rd Northumberland Fusiliers had the 15th Royal Scots of the 101st Brigade to their left, and the 22nd battalion had the 59th Division to their right. The main weight of German assault was launched against the 59th Division which was forced back threatening the battalions of the 102nd Brigade with encirclement. The 102nd Brigade and ultimately the whole 34th Division was forced to pull back. It was relieved by 31st Division late on 22nd March. The 23rd battalion’s War Diary (TNA WO95 2463/2, 31st March 1918) gives following casualty figures for the whole of March 1918:
Most if not all these casualties were the result of the German attack on 21st March. The CWGC lists 17 men from the 23rd battalion killed on 21st March and 4 on 22nd March 1918. In the circumstances of a fighting withdrawal in the face of a rapid German advance and flanking movement it is quite probable that a good proportion of the missing were taken as prisoners of war. Thomas Dunn was most probably taken prisoner a little later, since the prisoner of war lists sent to the International Red Cross (ICRC) state that he was taken prisoner at or near Armentières on either 13th or 23rd April 1918. He was unwounded (‘nicht verwundet’) when captured. He was a prisoner at Friedrichsfeld Camp, and then transferred to Minden Camp.[Note 45]
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Photograph with kind permisson of the late Mrs Barbara Bownes and her daughter Mrs Joy Clark
He was one of a number of prisoners at Minden Camp who died while in captivity. He succumbed to pleurisy on 27th October 1918. He was listed on two Totenliste (lists of the dead) of British and Commonwealth prisoners, which were sent by the German Zentral Nachweise Büro to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva.[Note 46]
No regiment or service number is recorded for Thomas Dunn on either Totenliste, but the date of his death is given as 27th October 1918. The Register of Soldiers Effects entry for No. 267340 Thomas Dunn confirms that he died at Minden Camp on 27th October 1918. He was buried in the Mindenheide Friedhof (Minden Heath cemetery). Fifty five British prisoners buried in Minderheide Friedhof (1916-1918) were reburied in the Ohlsdorf Cemetery in Hamburg in 1924. A total of 708 Great War dead are now buried at Ohlsdorf. Memorials: Branton Presbyterian Church RoH (now at Glanton U.R.Church - NEWMP G4.02); Powburn Pillar 1914-18 1939-45 Community Garden (NEWMP P39.01)
See also: Breamish Valley Roll of Honour - Thomas Dunn; Bailiffgate Collections - No. 267340 Thomas Dunn; IWM. Lives of the First World War - No. 267540 [recte 267340] Pte Thomas Dunn; 14/06/2020; 21/09/2022; 16/03/2023; 24/06/2023; |
Andrew John Easton
The 21st battalion war diary records no prisoners taken by the Germans. A German raid on the battalion’s sector on 4th June records a number of casualties on both sides but makes no mention of any prisoners taken (TNA WO95 2464/5, June 1916).
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EASTON, Pte Andrew John, No. 21/571, 21st (Service) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (2nd Tyneside Scottish) was missing in action presumed killed on 1st July 1916 aged 21, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial , Somme, France. Andrew Easton was the ninth of the eleven children of William Lewins Easton (b 1849) and his wife Agnes Swan (b 1851). The couple married on 22nd January 1875 (Berwick Advertiser, 29 January 1875, p 3). They had six sons and five daughters: James (b 1876), Robert (b 1877), Elspeth Gibson (b 1879), Jane (b 1881), William (b 1883), Agnes (b 1885), Thomas Lewin (b 1887), Elizabeth Isabella (b 1889), Andrew John (b 1st June 1891), Christina Archibald (b 1893) and David Dunn (b 1895). All the children were born at Cornhill-on-Tweed. In 1891, the family lived at New Harper Ridge, Cornhill. The father William described himself as a potato and rabbit merchant and a Methodist lay preacher. Soon after the family had moved to Blyth and William was a potato, rabbit and poultry merchant (Morpeth Herald, 26 September 1891, p 4). In 1901 William Lewins Easton was working as a commercial traveller and his two eldest sons were potato merchants. The family lived at 18, Coburg Street, Blyth. By 1911 they lived at No 2 Coburg Street. Subsequently the family moved to 37 Hunter Avenue, Blyth. William was later described as a wholesale fruit merchant. Andrew John Easton was a ‘fruiterer’ in 1911, but when he enlisted on 7th November 1914 he had been working for the Blyth Shipbuilding Company. Andrew Easton joined in the 2nd Tyneside Scottish and after training he disembarked in France with the battalion in January 1916. The battalion was under orders of 102nd Brigade, 34th Division, and left Warminster, Wiltshire for Southampton on 10th January. Three trains carried the battalion. At Southampton the battalion was split between the SS African Prince and the paddle steamer SS Empress Queen. The battalion disembarked at Le Havre in the early hours of 11th January. Andrew Easton was apparently captured briefly by the Germans in June 1916 (Morpeth Herald, 21 July 1916, p 5). The battalion was in trenches near Becourt Chateau east of Albert on the Somme front. He managed to escape and rejoin the battalion. Andrew Easton was missing believed killed on the 1st July 1916 when the 34th Division attacked the German trenches to the north and south of La Boiselle. The 2nd Tyneside Scottish supported by the 3rd Tyneside Scottish led the attack to south of La Boiselle; the 1st Tyneside Scottish supported by the 4th Tyneside Scottish led the attack on the trenches north of La Boiselle. The CWGC records the loss of 855 men from Tyneside Scottish battalions. The southern attack cost the 21st battalion 131 men and the 22nd battalion 162 men killed including the battalion C.O. Lt Col Arthur P A Elphinstone. The attack to the north of La Boiselle, which had to cross Mash Valley was even more costly: the 20th and 23rd battalions lost respectively 321 and 241 men killed including both battalion commanders: Lt Col Charles C A Sillery of the 20th battalion, and Lt Col William Lyle of the 23rd battalion. Andrew Easton is commemorated on memorials in Blyth and also on the Tillmouth Council School Roll of Honour. The latter also names five other Eastons - one woman and four men - who served in the War and came home. The five named are ‘Bella Easton’, who served with the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps, ‘Pte David Lowrie Easton’, Northumberland Fusiliers, ‘Pte James Govern Easton’ (recte James Govan Easton) Northumberland Fusiliers, 'Pte William Easton', East Yorkshire Regiment, and 'Pte William Easton', Army Service Corps. All are related to Andrew Easton. Memorials: Tillmouth, School Roll of Honour 1914-1918 (NEWMP T18.01); Blyth, Pillar 1914-18 Beaconsfield Street {NEWMP 42.24); Blyth, Font 1914-18 1939-45 New Central Methodist Church (NEWMP B42.09); De Ruvigny, Roll of Honour 1914-1919, Vol. 3, p 103; Scottish National War Memorial RoH - No. 2517, Pte Andrew Easton;
See also: Coldstream Local History Projects - Pte Andrew Easton; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 21/571, Pte Andrew John Easton. 08/09/2021; 10/04/2023; 21/06/2023; 24/06/2023; 13/02/2024; |
Robert Leathard Elliot
Photo IRS 10 Sept 2019
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ELLIOT, Pte Robert Leathard, No. TR 5/159862, 52nd Graduating battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, died on 8th July 1918, aged 18, and is buried in Wooler (St. Mary) Church Burial Ground, Northumberland Robert Leathard Elliot was the only child of John Elliot, quarryman, and Isabella Elliot (née Leathard), of Bridge End House, Wooler. John Elliott from Wooler married Eleanor Leathard from Bedlington on 18th May 1899 in the parish church at Bedlington. Robert Leathard Elliot was born in 1900 at Newbiggin by Sea, Northumberland. In 1911 the family lived at Lucker, near Belford. Robert died at Guisborough of pneumonia while still training. He had only joined the Army a few weeks before when he turned 18. He was buried at Wooler with military honours. The funeral cortege was preceded by a firing party from the 4th Volunteer Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. The party was commanded Sgt Major Atkinson and Acting Sergeant T. Forster (Newcastle Journal, Saturday 13 July 1918, p 5).
Memorials: Wooler, Tower Hill Cross (NEWMP W68.01); Wooler, Reredos St Marys Church (NEWMP W68.02); Wooler, Church School plaque (NEWMP W68.03)
See also: Bailiffgate Collections - Robert Leathard Elliot; Coldstream Local History Projects - Pte Robert Leathard Elliot 07/08/2018; 16/03/2023; 19/04/2023 |
George Watson Elliott
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ELLIOTT, Pte George Watson, No. 30736, 2nd/4th (TF) battalion East Lancashire Regt, formerly No. 51171, 3rd (Reserve) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, was killed in action on 27th November 1917, aged 28, and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium George Watson Elliott was the youngest son of John Elliott, slater, and his wife Jane Dannatt Watson. The couple had married in August 1874. Jane Dannatt Watson (b 1849) was one of the six daughters, and five sons, of Thomas Watson, plumber of Church Street, Wooler, and his wife Mary Matthewson. Jane Watson's eldest sister was Mary Ann Watson who married to George Rule, Inspector of Nuisances in Glendale.[Note 47] George Watson Elliott was born in 1888 at Wooler. He had four older sisters - Mary Elliott (b 1875), Jane Watson Elliott (b 1879), Isabella Watson Elliott (b 1881) and Sarah Watson Elliott (b 1883) - and two older brothers - Thomas Watson Elliott (b 1877) and John Elliott (b 1886) - and two younger sisters - Nona (b 1891) and Marian (b 1894). The family had lived in Church Street Wooler. The father John Elliott died in early 1897 and was buried at Wooler on 3rd February. The family remained in Church Street at least until 1901, but by 1911 George, his two younger sisters Nona and Marian and their widowed mother were living in Wansbeck Street, Morpeth with George’s older brother John. George was working as a 'yard groom'. Later George Elliott moved to No 3 Pretoria Avenue, Morpeth. On enlistment George Watson Elliott was posted the 3rd (Reserve) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and then was posted to the 2/4th battalion East Lancashire Regiment, which was originally formed as a 'second line' or home service battalion. The battalion landed at Le Havre on 2nd March 1917 and was under the orders of 198th Brigade in the 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division. On 23rd November 1917 it went into frontline in the Ypres Salient relieving the 2/10th battalion Manchester Regiment, also 198th Brigade, 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division). On 27th November the battalion was relieved by the 2/9th battalion Manchester Regiment (198th Brigade) and the War Diary records that 'hostile shelling severely hampered the relief' (TNA WO95 3141/3). Although no casualties are recorded in the War Diary, the entries in the diary are quite limited in detail, it is probable that George Watson Elliott was killed by the enemy shelling. His sister received a letter from a Lt Waugh:
Memorials: Wooler, Tower Hill Cross (NEWMP W68.01); Wooler, Reredos St Marys Church (NEWMP W68.02); Wooler, Church School plaque (NEWMP W68.03)
See also: Bailiffgate Collections - George Watson Elliott; Coldstream Local History Projects - Pte George Watson Elliot, IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 30736, Private George Watson Elliott. 07/08/2018; 18/04/2019; 16/03/2023; 19/04/2023; 21/06/2023; 24/06/2023; |
William Herbert Malcom Elliott
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ELLIOTT, Cpl William Herbert Malcolm, No. 10/2925, 3rd battalion Wellington Infantry Regt, died of wounds on 3rd October 1917 aged 30, and is buried in Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No.3, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium William Elliott was the second son of John Elliott, tea agent and grocer, and Mary Elliott, of 3, St. Ninian's Terrace, Wooler; he was born on 8th November 1886 at Ewart Park, Northumberland. He had an older brother Richard (b c 1886, in the USA), and younger twins Gerald and Maud (b 1889). In 1901 the family lived in Sunderland at No. 49, Chatsworth Street. William had worked for Messrs Coxon, drapers of Newcastle, before moving to London where in 1911 he was working as a draper's assistant for Messrs Frederick Goringe Ltd, Pimlico. In 1913 he sailed on the Corinthic from London to Wellington, New Zealand. In New Zealand he worked as a draper’s assistant for McGruer, Thomson and Co, of Feilding (sic). William Elliott enlisted 14th June 1915. After training he embarked for Egypt on 9th October 1915 and disembarked at Suez on 18th November. He joined the 1st Wellington Regt at Ismailia on 9th January 1916. The regiment embarked for France on 6th and 7th April 1916 on 3 troopships, which arrived in Marseille between 12th and 14th April. The battalion took train for the north. After a rest and training the 1st battalion was ordered to the front and marched from billets to Estaires on 9th May 1916. Apparently the battalion suffered badly on this march having not encountered pavé roads before. The New Zealand Division was to relieve the 17th Division in the front near Armentières. On 13th May the 1st Battalion moved into the trenches relieving the 7th Lincolnshire Regiment. The battalion was holding part of the line that included a salient known as the ‘Mushroom’. The trenches were low lying and in poor condition. It was while the 1st battalion was in the Armentières sector that William Elliott was first wounded. He was admitted to the 8th Stationary Hospital on 23rd June 1916 with a gunshot wound in his right axilla (arm pit), and the next day was sent to England on board the St Dennis and on 26th June was admitted to the Rosherville VAD Hospital, Gravesend. From Rosherville he was transferred to the 2nd New Zealand General Hospital, Walton-on-Thames (arrived 9th August 1916), then to the NZ Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch (arrived 12th August 1916) from where he was transferred to the Convalescent Hospital at Codford on Salisbury Plain (arrived 9th September 1916). On 12th September he was admitted to the recently established 3rd New Zealand General Hospital at Codford and remained in hospital until 16th October 1916. After his discharged he remained in England until transferred to the recently formed 4th New Zealand Infantry Brigade on 7th May 1917. The new Brigade, which included a newly formed 3rd battalion of the Wellington Regiment, was training at Codford. Towards the end of May the new Brigade embarked for France. William Elliott’s service records state that he embarked for France on 27th May. Although he was posted first to the 3rd Wellington Infantry Regt, it seems that very shortly after he was attached the 4th New Zealand Light Mortar Battery. On 2nd or 6th June he was promoted to Corporal ‘in the Field’. On 2nd June 4th Brigade was inspected by General Godley (GOC 2nd Anzac Corps) and General Gough (GOC 1st Army). The Brigade was not directly involved in the New Zealand Division’s attack on Messines on 7th June. On 6th June 1917 William Elliott was detached to the School of Instruction, presumably for mortar training, and on 3rd July 1917 he was transferred to the 4th NZ Light Mortar Battery, which was part of the newly formed 4th Brigade. The Fourth Brigade was employed as Corps troops until September 1917 when it became fully part of the New Zealand Division. On 25th September 1917 the New Zealand Division, now including 4th Brigade, began to transfer to the Ypres Salient. Cpl William Elliott was wounded in action on 3rd October 1917 and died of wounds at the 2nd ANZAC Corps Main Dress Station the same day. Although listed as serving with the 3rd battalion Wellington Regiment, his service record is clear that at the time of his death he was attached to the 4th NZ Light Mortar Battery. He died the day before the opening of the Battle of Broodseinde. The exact circumstances of his death are unknown. Memorials: Wooler, Tower Hill Cross (NEWMP W68.01); Wooler, Reredos St Marys Church (NEWMP W68.02); Wooler, Plaque 1914-18, United Reformed Church (NEWMP W68.06)
See also: Auckland Museum - War memorial, Online Cenotaph, 'William Herbert Malcolm Elliott' [Note 48]; Bailiffgate Collections - William Herbert Malcolm Elliott; Coldstream Local History Projects - Cpl William Herbert Elliot; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 10/2925, William Herbert Malcolm Elliott 14/10/2018; 19/04/2019; 16/03/2023; 21/06/2023; |
John Ewart
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EWART, Pte John, No. TR5/45115, 81st battalion Training Reserve, died on 25th April 1917 at the City Hospital, Walkergate, Newcastle on Tyne, aged 25 years, and is buried in St Paul’s churchyard, Branxton, Northumberland John Ewart was the only son of Hannah Ewart (b 1861, Kirknewton). Hannah was unmarried and in 1901 she, her son John (b 1892), daughter Martha (b 1883) and her sister Margaret (b 1869) were living on Branxton Hill Farm. Hannah was working as a domestic servant and her daughter and sister were agricultural workers. In 1911 Hannah, her daughter, son, and her sister were living at Mardon near Cornhill on Tweed.[Note 49] John Ewart was taken ill while his undergoing Army training and died in the City Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Newcastle on Tyne on 25th April 1917 (Berwick Advertiser, 11th May 1917, p 3). He was aged 25 and unmarried. He is buried at Branxton. Memorials: Branxton, Stained Glass Window 1914-18, St Paul (NEWMP B56.01); Branxton, Plaque 1914-18, School (NEWMP B56.02)
See also: Coldstream Local History Projects - Pte John Ewart 23/07/2020; 09/11/2020; 23/01/2023; 19/04/2023 |
David Fairbairn (No T/293580)
William Fairbairn (No 31867)
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FAIRBAIRN, Driver David, No. T/293580, No. 3 Depot Company (Bradford), Army Service Corps, died in Hospital in Bradford, Yorkshire, on 7th February 1917, and is buried in Lowick (St. John the Baptist) Churchyard David Fairbairn was the fourth child of Catherine (Kate) Ferguson (b 1865, Rothbury) and David Fairbairn (b 1864, Lowick) of The Old Schoolhouse, Lowick. The couple had married in 1888 and had four children, one of whom died aged just 1 year old. Their first child Hannah was born in 1889. Their second child Mary Ellen was born in the summer of 1892, but died in September 1893. Their two sons followed: William born in 1894, and David in December 1896. When the War broke out David Fairbairn was operating a road roller for the Northumberland County Council, but was too young to enlist in Army immediately. Instead he went to work in a munitions factory. He enlisted on 24th January 1917 and joined the Army Service Corps as a driver. Unfortunately, only a few days into his training he was admitted to hospital and died on 7th February 1917. He was buried with full military honours, including the pipe band of the Royal Scots from Berwick, on 11th February 1917 at Lowick (Berwickshire News, 27 February 1917, p 8). His older brother William had enlisted in the Army in November 1916 and was posted to 7th (Service) battalion North Staffordshire Regiment as No. 31867 Pte William Fairbairn. A report in Berwickshire News and General Advertiser (Tuesday 27 February 1917, p 8) stated that William had sailed with his battalion for India on 17th January 1917 and was at sea when the news came that his younger brother had died. In fact the 7th North Staffordshires were serving in Mesopotamia where they had landed at the end of February 1916. William may well have been at sea but not heading for India. The newspaper report stressed that both young men were staunch teetotallers. Memorial: Lowick, Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Village Green (NEWMP L37.01)
See also: Coldstream Local History Projects - No. T/293580 Driver D Fairbairn 04/02/2022; 21/03/2022 |
David Fairbairn (No 39002)
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FAIRBAIRN, Pte David, No. 39002, 2/6th (TF) battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, killed in action on 9th October 1917, and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium David Fairbairn, who served with the 2/6th Lancashire Fusiliers, had worked as a carter or carrier in 1911. He was a son of James Fairbairn, who had worked variously as a quarryman and roadman, as well as sexton of the parish of Lowick.[Note 50] James had married Mary McEachin in Lowick in 1873 and the couple had seven children. Mary Fairbairn (b 1873, Lowick), Susan Fairbairn (b 1875, Lowick), James Fairbairn (b 1880, Lowick), Thomas John Fairbairn (b 1883, Lowick), David Fairbairn (b 1885, Lowick), Jane (Jennie) Fairbairn (b 1890, Lowick) and Robert Murray Fairbairn (b 1891, Lowick).[Note 51] In 1901, the family lived on Main Street in Lowick and David Fairbairn was working as a groom. Mary Fairbairn died aged just 52 years in September 1903, and in 1906 James Fairbairn married his second wife Phyllis Dodds. In 1911 the couple were living in Black Bull Cottage, LOwick. Most of Fairbairn children were living at Priory House, and David was working as a carter and carrier; his brother Thomas John was farming. On 5th April 1916, David Fairbairn appeared before the first North Northumberland Appeal Tribunal held at Berwick, appealing against the decision to grant an exemption to his brother (not named) and the refusal of his own claim for exemption. David, who had given up the carrying trade when his brother (not identified) ‘went to munitions’, was farming the family smallholding of 48 acres of arable and 2 acres of grass. His father, who was working as a roadman, lived in a cottage on the farm and ‘one of his sisters looked after the cows and calves.’ David’s appeal was refused and he would have been called almost immediately (Berwickshire News, 11 April 1916, p. 8). David married Mary Cochrane in Newcastle in the second quarter of 1916. David Fairbairn served with the 2/6th (TF) battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, which was under the orders of 197th Brigade, 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division. The Division received orders for its departure for France in February 1917. The 2/6th battalion Lancashire Fusiliers left its base at Colchester, Essex on 26th February 1917 and travelled to Southampton where it embarked on SS Connaught. The battalion landed at Le Havre on 27th February, and then proceeded to the No. 5 Rest Camp. After further training and some limited experience of the trenches, the battalion went into the line for the first time as a unit at Givenchy on 19th March, and was relieved on 23rd March by the 3/5th battalion Lancashire Fusiliers. In October 1917, the 2/6th battalion travelled by buses from “BRIEL” Camp at Winnezeele to Vlamertinghe, then marched through Ypres and along the Ypres-Zonnebecke road
At 7.00pm on 8th October the battalion moved off in single file to the assembly point. So bad were the conditions that it took 10hrs to move the 2 miles
On 9th October ‘The battalion took part in a successful general attack made by the 2nd & 5th Armies.’ David Fairbairn was killed in action on 9th October 1917. The casualties recorded in the battalion war diary for 9th/10th October 1917 were:
A memorial service was held for David Fairbairn at St John the Baptist Church, Lowick on 27th October 1917 (Berwickshire News, 30 October 1917, p 8). His father was sexton for the parish. His widow Mary who was staying at Adderstone Crescent, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, but later moved to Westbourne Avenue, Gateshead, Co Durham, was awarded widow’s pension. There were no children from their brief marriage.
Memorial: Lowick, Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Village Green (NEWMP L37.01)
See also: Bailiffgate Collections - No. 39002 David Fairbairn; Coldstream Local History Projects - No. 39002, Pte David Fairbairn; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 39002, Pte David Fairbairn; 06/02/2022; 22/03/2022; 16/03/2023; 21/06/2023; 24/06/2023; |
James Fairbairn (No 24055)
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FAIRBAIRN, Pte James. No. 24055, 2nd battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, died of wounds at the 36th Casualty Clearing Station, 15th October 1916, and is buried in Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'Abbe, Somme, France James Fairbairn was the younger of the two sons of Thomas Fairbairn and Mary Dixon. Thomas was born in Lowick and Mary was born in Norham. The couple married on 7th May 1887 at Lowick. Their first child Mary was born in 1886. Mary was followed by Elizabeth (b 1889), George (b 1891) and James (b 1894). A fifth child, Jane Isabella was born in 1899. The eldest daughter Mary is recorded as deceased on the 1911 census return.[Note 52] Prior to enlisting, James Fairbairn had lived at 2a Love Lane, Berwick on Tweed and worked as chauffeur to Dr John Cleasby Taylor of Bridge Street, Berwick. James Fairbairn attested with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers in Berwick on Tweed on 7th December 1915 and was posted to the Army Reserve. He was mobilised at the KOSB Depot on 23rd March 1916, and was posted to the 3rd (Reserve) battalion for training on 26th March 1916. Following training, James Fairbairn was transferred to the Royal Scots Fusiliers on 10th June 1916, and landed in France with a draft for the 2nd battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers. He joined the 2nd battalion on 13th June 1916. The 2nd battalion was part of 90th Brigade, 30th Division. From 22nd September to 3rd October 1916 the 2nd battalion was at Fesselles, north of Amiens, undergoing training. On 4th October the battalion ‘embussed on French buses’ and was taken to Denancourt via Vignacourt and Amiens to Buire, where it spent the night in billets. On 5th the battalion worked ‘under Company arrangements’ (TNA WO 95 2340/1, War diary 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers, 4th October 1916). On 6th October the battalion marched at ‘rear of Brigade via cross-country tracks & Meaulte to camp just W of Fricourt arriving about 7pm’ (TNA WO 95 2340/1, 6th October 1916). On 10th October the
The battalion marched to Longueval were it met guides from 10th Queen’s (Royal West Kents) and 32nd Royal Fusiliers (both 41st Division) prior to entering the trenches. The relief of the 10th Queen’s and 32nd Royal Fusiliers was complete by 1.30am on 11th October.
The battalion had the 2nd battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, 89th Brigade on their left, and the 7th battalion Norfolk Regiment (12th Division) on their right. The 21st Brigade was in reserve. The 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers were to be in position for an attack by dawn on the 12th October. When the attack was launched it was met by considerable machine gun fire and held up well short of its first objective. The same happened with the battalions to either flank. The attack failed and the Royal Scots Fusiliers suffered heavy casualties:
James Fairbairn was amongst those wounded on 12th October and was treated initially at the 15th Corps MDS (Main Dressing Station). Transfered to the 36th Casualty Clearing Station at Heilly, he died of his wounds on 15th October, and was buried in the Heilly Station Cemetery.
His brother George had enlisted in April 1915 and served with 1/7th Northumberland Fusiliers and spent 13 months with the colours before he was discharged ‘having broken down in the training’ (Berwick Advertiser, July 21 1916 p 5). He had not serve in France and after leaving the Army worked in Munitions (loc.cit.). Memorial: Lowick, Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Village Green (NEWMP L37.01); Scottish National War Memorial RoH - No. 24055, Pte James Fairbairn;
See also: Coldstream Local History Projects - No. 24055, Pte James Fairbairn; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 24055, Pte James Fairbairn; 06/02/2022; 23/03/2022; 24/06/2023; 13/02/2024; |
James Fairbairn (No 35770)
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FAIRBAIRN, Pte James, No. 35770, C Squadron, 1/1st Northumberland Hussars/ Northumberland Yeomanry, died of wounds on 3rd September 1918 aged 21, and is buried in Ste. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, France James Fairbairn’s parents were George Fairbairn, farm bailiff, and Mary Jane Fairbairn (née Tate) of "Roseden," Wooperton, Northumberland. James had four older siblings: Isabella, William George, Jane, and Margaret and two younger sisters Charlotte and Mary. James was born in 1897 at Whittingham, Northumberland. In 1911 he was 14 years old and the census returns describes him cryptically as ‘disengaged’. James Fairbairn served with C Squadron, 1/1st Northumberland Hussars. In the absence of a surviving service record it is not possible to be precise about the date of James Fairbairn’s enlistment, but he was too young to enlist immediately and possibly enlisted in 1915 and probably did not serve abroad until 1916 or even 1917. Certainly he did not serve abroad before the end of 1915 and was not eligible for either the 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star. The 1/1st Northumberland Hussars had disembarked at Zeebrugge on 6th October 1914 and had served as Divisional Cavalry to the 7th Division seeing action in the First Battle of Ypres. The unit had the distinction of being the first Territorial Force unit to see serious action in the Great War. In April 1915 ‘B’ Squadron came under the orders of 1st Division and ‘C’ Squadron under the orders of 8th Division, while HQ and ‘A’ Squadrons remained with 7th Division. In April and May 1916 the squadrons were reunited and became the Cavalry Regiment of XIII Corps. In August 1917 the regiment was attached to VIII Corps, but in November 1917 it transferred to III Corps and remained with III Corps until October 1918 when it was attached to XII Corps. It is not clear when or how James Fairbairn received his fatal wound, but the Regiment was actively involved in the fighting during the Battle of Amiens (8th-17th August 1918) with troops from the various squadrons attached to the Divisions of III Corps to provide mounted patrols and reconnaissance. In the Second Battle of the Somme (21st-August 3rd September 1918) ‘A’ and ‘B’ squadrons of the regiment provided support to the advancing infantry on 22nd August, while ‘C’ Squadron ‘on this day were (sic) split up among the Divisions (58th, 18th, 47th and 12th) and did excellent work’. The Regiment lost 6 men killed on 22nd August. There are records of small numbers of wounded troopers leaving the regiment throughout the rest of August 1918. James Fairbairn died of wounds in the 3rd General Hospital, Le Tréport, France on 3rd September 1918 and his death from wounds is recorded on that date in the unit War Diary (TNA WO95 700/2, 3rd September 1918). Memorials: Wooler, Tower Hill Cross (NEWMP W68.01); Wooler, Reredos St Marys Church (NEWMP W68.02); Powburn Pillar 1914-18 1939-45 Community Garden (NEWMPP19.01)
See also: Breamish Valley Roll of Honour - Pte James Fairbairn; Bailiffgate Collections - No 35770, James Fairbairn; Coldstream Local History Projects - No. 35770, Pte James Fairbairn; IWM, Lives of the first World War - No. 35770, Pte James Fairbairn. 07/08/2018; 19/04/2019; 16/03/2023; 21/06/2023; 24/06/2023; |
James Fettis
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FETTIS, Pte James, No. 220058, 6th (Service) battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, previously No. 202825, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, died on 28th March 1918, aged 25, and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France James Fettis was born in 1893 in Wooler. He was the second of the seven sons and eight surviving children of John Fettis, chimney sweep, and his wife Jane Fettis (née Sinton). The oldest child was John James (b 1891), and the younger siblings after James were George (b 1896), Thomas (b c 1898), Queenie (b c 1902), Robert (b 1904), William (b 1906) and Alfred (b 1908). The family had lived in Church Street, Wooler in 1911 and James worked as a chimney sweep like his father. His father John died in 1913, and family moved to No. 20, Percy Avenue, Catchgate, Annfield Plain, Co. Durham. James Fettis attested on 10th April 1917 and was posted to the 5th Reserve battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on 11th April. On 18th July he embarked at Folkestone for the Western Front and arrived at the 19th Infantry Base Depot, Étaples on 19th July, and was posted to the 1/7th battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and then to the 4th Cameron Highlanders and finally on 6th August he was posted to the 6th battalion Cameron Highlanders, which was in the 45th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. In March 1918 the Division was part of Byng's Third Army and was in the Monchy le Preux sector to the east of Arras. On 21st March the Germans launched their assault on the British Fifth and Third Armies. On 28th March 1918 when James Fettis went missing presumed killed in action, the War Diary of the 6th Cameron Highlanders records that the ‘Enemy opens heavy bombardment [at] 3 am & delivers attack along whole front at 7.15am ... Batt[alion] withdraws fighting ...’ (TNA WO95 1945/5). The account of the fighting on 28th March in the battalion war diary includes a statement of the casualties suffered by the battalion: ‘9 Officers and 272 Other Ranks’ (TNA WO95 1945/5, March 1918, Appendix 10). The CWGC lists one officer and 65 other ranks of the 6th battalion killed on 28th March 1918. James’s younger brother Thomas FETTIS (qv) served with the Army Service Corps and died in 1919. James and Thomas were cousins of William FETTIS (qv) and John Fettis of Tweedmouth and Spittal. Memorials: Wooler, Tower Hill Cross (NEWMP W68.01); Wooler, Reredos St Marys Church (NEWMP W68.02); Wooler, Church School plaque (NEWMP W68.03); Scottish National War Memorial RoH - No. 220058 Pte James Fettis;
See also: Bailiffgate Collections - James Fettis; Coldstream Local History Projects - Pte James Fettis; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 220058, Pte James Fettis. 07/08/2018; 19/04/2019; 16/03/2023; 19/04/2023; 20/06/2023; 24/06/2023; 13/02/2024; |
Thomas Fettis
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FETTIS, Pte Thomas, No. M/299295, Motor Transport, Royal Army Service Corps, died on 2nd April 1919, aged 21, and is buried in Stanley (Harelaw) Cemetery, Co. Durham Thomas Fettis was the fourth son of John Fettis, chimney sweep, and Jane Fettis (née Sinton) and was born in 1898 in Wooler. His older siblings were John James (b c 1892), James (b 1893) and George (b c 1896). His younger siblings were Queenie (b c 1902), Robert (b c 1904), William b c 1907) and Alfred (b c 1908). The family lived in Church Street, Wooler. His father John Fettis died in 1913 and his mother Jane Fettis later lived at No. 20, Percy Avenue, Catchgate, Annfield Plain, Co. Durham. Thomas Fettis was just 18 when he attested on 29th February 1916, and he was posted to the Army Reserve on 1st March. He was called up on 5th March 1917 and arrived at Grove Park on 6th March. He embarked at Portsmouth on 2nd April 1917 and disembarked at Le Havre on 3rd April. He was posted to 593 MT Company ASC attached to 290 Siege Battery, VIII Corps Siege Park. On 22nd June 1917 he was transferred to 654 MT Company which was part of the Ammunition Column for VIII Corps, then on 13th November he was posted to 886 MT Company which in late 1917 was Corps Siege Park for VIII Corps. He served with 884 MT Company (XIX Corps) from 6th January 1918 to 30th January when he was posted 406 MT Company ASC (II Corps). He was on furlough for two weeks (22nd Feb-8th March 1918). On 22nd June he went to 110st Field Ambulance with ‘congested lungs’ and was sent onwards to the 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Esquelbecq, Pas de Calais (24th June), and then on 26th June to the 2nd Australian General Hospital at Wimereux, Pas de Calais. He was admitted ‘sick’ to ‘1 C Dep’ (1st Convalescent Depot at Boulogne?) on 14th July, and from there to ’10 C Dep’ (10th Convalescent Depot?) on 17th July, from whence he was sent to the 25th General Hospital at Hardelot, Pas de Calais on 10th August. He was sent back to Britain on 30th August 1918 on board the Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen. He was discharged from the Army on 15th December 1918 as physically unfit for war service due to tuberculosis, and died at the Sanatorium Hospital at Walker Gate, Newcastle upon Tyne on 2nd April 1919. Thomas was the younger brother of James FETTIS (q.v.) who served with the Cameron Highlanders, and cousin of William FETTIS (q,v.) and John Fettis of Tweedmouth and Spittal. Memorials: Wooler, Tower Hill Cross (NEWMP W68.01); Wooler, Reredos St Marys Church (NEWMP W68.02); Wooler, Church School plaque (NEWMP W68.03); Annfield Plain, Co Durham, Annfield Plain Park Cenotaph 1914-18 1939-45 (NEWMP A38.01)
See also: Bailiffgate Collections - Thomas Fettis; Coldstream Local History Projects - Pte Thomas Fettis; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. M/299295, Pte Thomas Fettis. 07/08/2018; 19/04/2019; 16/03/2023; 19/04/2023; 21/06/2023; 13/02/2024; |
William Fettis
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FETTIS, Pte William, No.33071, 7th (Service) battalion Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment) (“Green Howards”), formerly No. 4650, 1/7th (TF) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, died of wounds on 16th November 1917, and is buried in the Solferino Farm Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium William Fettis was fifth of the seven children of James Fettis, and Janet McGregor. William worked as a coal miner and in 1909 married Elizabeth Munro Purvis (or Purves). In 1911 William was lodging with the Ashley family in Ashington, while his wife and their two young daughters Janet (aged 1 year) and Mary Jane (aged 1 month) were visiting William’s parents in Tweedmouth. In 1913 the couple had a third child Elizabeth Munro Fettis, but unfortunately the girl died aged just 2 years 9 months on 14th November 1915 at No. 3 Pudding Lane, Tweedmouth (Berwickshire News, 30 November 1915, p 3). The couple had another child, James, born on 3rd May 1915 at No. 1 Pudding Lane, Tweedmouth (Berwickshire News, 18 May 1915, p 3). William Fettis was a pithead man before joining the Army (Berwick Advertiser, 7th December 1917, p 3; Berwickshire News, 11th December 1917, p 8). H enlisted soon after the War broke out and after training was posted to the 1/7th (TF) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (No. 4650) which was already in France. From the Northumberland Fusiliers he was posted to the Yorkshire Regiment (No. 33071). He was wounded on two occasions, including suffering serious gunshot wounds to both legs in May 1917, before his fatal wounding in November 1917 (Berwickshire News, Tuesday 11 December 1917, p 8). He died at the 52nd Field Ambulance on 16th November 1917. William’s widow was left with two young daughters Janet and Mary Jane and young son Adam to support. In 1921 Elizabeth married Robert Ainslie, who was the youngest child of William Ainslie, stone mason, who was originally from Norham, and his third wife Elizabeth Punton, from Slainsfield, Ford. Robert Ainslie had served with 2nd battalion North Staffordshire Regiment in India in the latter part the War. John Fettis, his older brother, served as a stoker in the Royal Navy aboard HMS Barham from January 1917 until he left the Navy in February 1919. John and William Fettis were cousins of James FETTIS (q.v.) and Thomas FETTIS (q.v.) of Wooler. Memorials: Berwick on Tweed, Angel Statue 1914-18 1939-45 (NEWMP B25.01); Tweedmouth, Riverside Statue 1914-18 1939-45 Falklands (NEWMP T31.01)
See also: Coldstream Local History Projects - Pte William Fettis 07/08/2018; 22/04/2019; 19/04/2023 |
George Foggin
In Egypt and on Gallipoli the 4th Brigade AIF had been commanded by Colonel John Monash, who as General Sir John Monash, GCMG KCB VD, commanded the Australian Army Corps.
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FOGGIN, LCpl George, No. 4812, 16th battalion Australian Infantry, killed in action on 28th September 1917, and commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium George Foggin was born in 1885 at Glanton. He was the second son of George Foggin (b 1854, d 1905), grocer, and his wife Jane Kirkup (b 1852). There had been an older brother Robert (b 1883) who had died on 5th August 1903, aged 19 years, three younger brothers - Thomas Kirkup Foggin (b 1887), John Foggin (b 1888) who died in 1916, and William Foggin (b 4th December 1890) - and a younger sister Kate Georgina (‘Kitty’) Foggin (b 1896). George the father died in 1905, and after his death his widow continued to run the grocery business from Front Street, Glanton. Three members of the Foggin family [qv] served in the armed forces during the Great War. The younger George Foggin (b 1885) married Margaret Thompson in 1909. In the 1911 Census return he was described as an out-of-work coachman. The census return was completed and signed by George on behalf of the family, but there was no mention of his wife in the census return. It is possible that she had been visiting family or friends when the census return was completed. Shortly after the Census was taken, George sailed for Australia on aboard the Orient Line’s ship Otway. The ship departed on 26th May 1911 with its destination Freemantle. He sailed alone. His wife Margaret and his younger brother Thomas Kirkup Foggin followed later: they departed for Australia on 11th October 1912 aboard the White Star Line ship Belgic. Again the ship’s destination was Freemantle. George and Margaret Foggin settled in Boulder, Western Australia, and live at 126, Richardson Street. George Foggin attested for service in the AIF on 6th January 1916 at Blackboy Hill, Western Australia. He had has some prior limited military experience having been a member of the ‘Northumberland Yeomanry’ i.e. Northumberland (Hussar) Yeomanry. He was posted to the 15th Reinforcement, 16th battalion on 19th February 1916 and later at Fremantle embarked aboard HMAT Ulysses which departed on 1st April 1916 for Egypt.[Note 52] George disembarked in Egypt and joined the 4th Training battalion on 26th April. On 18th May he was transfered to the Cyclist Corps, and on embarked on HMT Huntspill at Alexandria on 3rd June, disembarking Marseilles on 14th June 1916. He was transferred to the 1st Anzac Cyclists Battalion details on 9th July 1916, and then was posted from Cyclist battalion at Étaples to the 16th Australian Infantry battalion, 4th Brigade on 27th August 1916 and taken on the strength of the battalion on 31st August. He joined the battalion on 2nd September 1916. In October 1916 he was taken ill and from the 4th Australian Field Ambulance was transfered to the 1st New Zealand Stationary and then to 8th General Hospital Rouen. Initially diagnosed with influenza, the illness was identified an infection of the lymph glands. He was transfered to 24th General Hospital at Étaples on 31st December, and then was shipped to Britain aboard the Dunluce Castle and was admitted to the 1st London General Hospital, Camberwell, on 2nd January 1917. He returned to France from Southampton on 27th May 1917, and finally rejoined his battalion in 21st June 1917 from the 4th Divisional Base Depot Étaples. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 16th July but was killed on 28th September 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres. He has no known grave. The circumstances of his death are unclear. The 16th Infantry Battalion was part of 4th Brigade 2nd Australian Division, and on 26th September had taken part in an attack on Polygon Wood. The battalion had advanced at 5.50am closely following a barrage with the 15th and 14th battalions following behind. When the 16th battalion reached its objective (Red Line) the men began to dig in while the 14th and 15th battalions passed through to advance to their objectives. The battalion war diary records that on 27th September the battalion was
During the night of 27th-28th September the battalion was relieved by the 48th battalion Australian Infantry and ‘moved back to Billets in the CANAL AREA in rear of Ypres’ (loc.cit.). The next day the battalion moved to Vancouver Camp and the men were able to bathe. There is no mention of any casualties on the 28th September when George Foggin’s death has been dated.
Memorials: Branton Presbyterian Church RoH (now at Glanton U.R.Church - NEWMP G4.02); Glanton, Presbyterian Church Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1918 (NEWMP G4.03); Whittingham, Stained Glass Window and Plaque Fallen 1914-18 St Bartholemew (NEWMP W48.01); Virtual War Memorial Australia VWMA - George Foggin; VWMA - Kalgoorlie St John's Anglican Church Honour Roll; VWMA - Boulder Roll of Honour; VWMA - Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Canberra;
See also: Bailiffgate Collections - George Foggin; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 4812, George Foggin. 21/01/2023; 16/03/2023, 21/06/2023; |
Robert Forester
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475
FORESTER, Pte Robert, No. 3588, “C” Company, 1/8th (City of London) battalion (Post Office Rifles), killed in action, aged 20, on 15th September 1916, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France Robert was the only child of Robert Forester (b Duddo, 1866) and his wife Agnes McDougal (b Carham, 1870). The couple had married in 1894, and the family lived in Gateshead where their son Robert was born in 1896. In 1901 the Robert and Agnes were still in Gateshead and lodging with them was Agnes’s older brother James McDougal. James McDougal and Robert Forester were both railway carmen (carters). By 1911 Robert and Agnes and their son were living in the Commercial Hotel, Lowick, where Robert senior was the licensee. The young Robert was the recipient of a bursary that gave him two years free education at Berwick Grammar School. He reportedly missed gaining a good position through examination with the Post Office by ‘a single mark’ (Berwick Advertiser, 23 June 1916, p 3). Subsequently he worked as a postman in Lowick. Robert enlisted in the Post Office Rifles, the 1/8th (City of London) battalion London Regiment, on 18th April 1915 and undertook his training mainly in London. The 1/8th battalion was under the orders of 140th Brigade, 47th (2nd London) Division. The Division had begun its disembarkation at Le Havre on 10th March 1915. Robert Forester landed in France on 27th May 1916, but it is not known exactly when he joined his battalion: large portions of the 1/8th battalion’s War Diary are missing for the latter part of 1916.[Note 53] For the 15th September attack (Battle of Flers-Courcelette, 15-22 September 1916) the 47th Division had to its left the 50th Division and on its right the New Zealand Division. The 141st Brigade (17th to 20th battalions London Regiment) was tasked with taking High Wood and then the Starfish Line and finally taking the Flers Line. To its right the 1/15th London Regiment (140th Brigade) was to attack the east side of High Wood, and the 1/7th battalion was to maintain contact with the New Zealand Division to their right. The 142nd Brigade including the 1/8th London Regiment (Post Office Rifles) was to follow up the advances by 140th and 141st Brigades. Part of 1/8th battalion joined the fighting in High Wood, and part was to advance on the Starfish Line. Robert Fairbairn was killed during the attack on High Wood. The New Zealanders on the right of 47th Division more than kept pace with the advance and by the end of the day were digging-in North of Flers. The 1/6th London Regiment (142 Brigade, 47th Division) following up the initial attack were in touch with the New Zealanders. The attack was successful, but the cost in casualties was high. In the absence of 1/8th battalion war diary from the Battle of Flers there are recorded no casualty figures. However the CWGC records that 107 men from the 1/8th battalion killed on 16th to 18th September inclusive; of these 97 were killed on 15th September 1916. Seventy three men have no known grave and are commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, and 69 of these men died on 15th September.
Memorial: Lowick, Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Village Green (NEWMP L37.01)
See also: Coldstream Local History projects - Rifleman Robert Forester; IWM, Lives of the First World War - No. 3588, Pte Robert Forester. 06/02/2022; 19/03/2022; 19/04/2023; 21/06/2023; C-F n=39
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