Sunday 31 October 2010

2nd Lt Rudolph V Surr, 5th Bn, Worcs Regt

2nd Lt Rudolph Vincent Surr of the 5th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, (attached to the 24th Trench Mortar Battery) died on the 31st October 1916. He was killed in action.

Rudolph was 25 years old and an American citizen. He was the son of Vincent Surr of 1696 Cedar Avenue, Berkeley, California, USA and had probably been in England at least since 1911 when he appears on the census that year as a 19-year-old commerce student visiting the home of Elizabeth Ward Roberts and her family at 11 Waldeck Avenue in Bedford.

Rudolph's medal index card notes that he originally arrived overseas in France (on the 31st October 1915) as a private (number 2129) with the 18th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial on the Somme. His sister, Miss E Surr, is recorded on his medal index card, two addresses being given for her, the first in Kiddernminster and the second in Ayr, Scotland.


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

Sources:

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

G/9021 Sgt John Derrick, 8th Bn, RWK Regt

G/9021 Seregant John Derrick of the 8th Battalion, Queen's Own, Royal West Kent Regiment, was killed in action on the 30th October 1915. He was born in Camberwell, was living in Hertford and enlisted at Hertford in July 1915. He arrived in France on the 11th October 1915. John was 22 years old, the son - according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission - of John and Evelyn Amelia Derrick of 63 Alderney Street, South Belgravia, London. He is buried in Elzenwalle Brasserie Cemetery at Ypres.

John Derrick's badly damaged service records survives in the WO 363 series at The National Archives and from this we also see that he was married at the time of his death, and that his widow - also Evelyn Amelia Derrick (nee Massingham) received a pension of 15 shillings a week for herself and one child with effect from the 15th May 1916. It is also noted that his effects were to be returned to her. Did the Commonwealth War Graves Commission record his wife's name as his mother's name?

We know that John and Evelyn married in Essex in the December quarter of 1914, that marriage recorded in the Orsett district, and that Evelyn had a son - Frederick J Derrick - whose birth was recorded at Orsett in the June quarter of 1915. I know nothing else about John however, and have been unable to identify him on the 1901 or 1911 census.

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

Sources:

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

Friday 29 October 2010

10357 Pte Frank E Fish, 1st Bn, Coldstream Gds

10357 Private Frank Ernest Fish of the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards was killed in action on the 29th October 1914. He was 20 years old, the son of Frank Fish of 16, Mantle Road, Leicester. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate at Ypres.

Frank was one of 139 Coldstream Guardsmen to die on this day; a day which saw 691 British army officers and men lay down their lives for King and Country. A total of 240 of these men were serving with Guards regiments at the time of their death.

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

Sources:

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

Thursday 28 October 2010

37483 Pte Joseph Ousbey, 8th Bn, Welsh Regt

37483 Private Joseph Ousbey of the 8th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, died of wounds at Gallipoli on the 28th October 1915. He was born in Manchester and living in Clayton, Lancashire when he enlisted. He joined the 8th Battalion at Manchester in May 1915 and arrived in the Balkans on the 2nd October 1915.

Joseph was just seventeen years old at the time of his death. He was the son of Edwin and Martha Ousbey of 682 Ashton New Road, Clayton, Manchester. He is buried in Hill 10 Cemetery on Gallipoli.


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

Sources:

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

Wednesday 27 October 2010

623 Rfm Frederick Kyte, 3rd Bn, Rifle Brigade

623 Rifleman Frederick Kyte of the 3rd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade, was killed in action on the 27th October 1914, one of over five hundred British officers and men to die on this date. He was a Londoner, born in Acton and living in Ham Common when he enlisted at the Rifle Brigade HQ in Winchester. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.

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

Sources:

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

Tuesday 26 October 2010

8253 L/Cpl David McGeorge, 2nd Bn Border Regt

739 British officers and men died on this day of heavy fighting on the 26th October 1914. 8253 L/Cpl David McGeorge of the 2nd Battalion, The Border Regiment was killed in action on this day. He was born in Carlisle and enlisted there on the 10th March 1906 in what was a bumper recruitment year for the Border Regiment. Thirty-six pages of his service record survive in WO 363. He was 26 years old, the son of the late William McGeorge, and Mary McGeorge of 37 Colville Street, Denton Holme, Carlisle, and the husband of Frances McGeorge of 23 Colville Street, Denton Holme, Carlisle. He had married Frances in June 1914 and was on the Army Reserve when war was declared.

David McGeorge has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate at Ypres.


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

Sources:

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

Monday 25 October 2010

17197 Pte Thomas Grossart, 1st Bn, HLI

17197 Private Thomas Grossart of the 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, died on the 25th October 1918. He was killed in action.

Thomas was born in Symington, Lanarkshire, and was living there when he enlisted. He joined up at Biggar.

Thomas died in the operations in Mesopotamia and has no known grave. He is commemorated by name on the Basra Memorial in Iraq.

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

Sources:

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

Sunday 24 October 2010

7337 CSM Robert McGarvey, 7th Bn, RSF

7337 Company Sergeant Major Robert McGarvey of the 7th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, died at home on the 24th October 1914. His number dates to 1902 and at the time of his death he was one of those few, influential and experienced NCOs charged with turning a battalion of Kitchener recruits into a fighting force. He presumably died as a result of sickness and is buried in Aldershot Military Cemetery.

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

Sources:

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

36773 Sgt Jackson Stahl, 7th Bn, East Lancs Regt

36773 Sergeant Jackson Stahl of the 7th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment was killed in action on the 23rd October 1917. He was born in Manchester and enlisted there in January 1917. He is buried in the Oxford Road Cemetery at Ypres.

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

Sources:

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

Friday 22 October 2010

6444 Pte David G Horobin, 6th London Regt

6444 Private David George Horobin of the 6th London Regiment was killed in action on the 22nd October 1916. He was from Welling in Kent and enlisted at Woolwich. He was 19 years old, the son of Frederick Horobin of Orchard Cottage, Upper Wickham Lane, Welling.

David Horobin has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate at Ypres.

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

Sources:

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

7898 Pte Issachar Allen, 1st Bn, DCLI

7898 Private Issachar Allen of the 1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, was killed in action on the 21st October 1914. He was born in West Bromwich, lived in West Bromwich and enlisted at Cornwall around February or March 1904. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial in France.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission adds no additional information about this man but we can see from other sources that his birth was registered in the December quarter of 1881 and he was therefore probably 32 years old when he died. He had been in France with the 1st DCLI since the 21st August 1914 and was almost certainly on the Army Reserve when war was declared.

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

Sources:

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

Wednesday 20 October 2010

9480 Pte Denis Glavin, 2nd Bn, Leinster Regt

9480 Private Denis Glavin of the 2nd Bn, Leinster Regiment was killed in action on the 20th October 1914. He was born in Cork and enlisted there in 1910 or 1911. He was 23 years old, the son of Denis Glavin of 5 Hogan's Lane, Cork. He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.

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

Sources:

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

Tuesday 19 October 2010

50143 Gnr William H Birks, RGA

50143 Gunner William Henry Birks of the 19th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery was killed in action on the 19th October 1917, one of 475 British Army officers and men to lose his life on this date. He was born in Lewisham and was living there when he enlisted at Woolwich. At the time of his death he was 21 years old, the son of William and Kate Birks, of 13 Bedford Grove, Eastbourne, Sussex. He is buried in Canada Farm Cemetery near Ypres in Belgium.


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

Sources:

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

Monday 18 October 2010

5053 L/Cpl Reginald D Gingell, 9th Lancers

5053 Lance-Corporal Reginald David Gingell of the 9th Lancers was killed in action on the 18th October 1914. He was born in Chippenham, Wiltshire, was living in Kingsdown and enlisted at Trowbridge. He was 26 years old, the son of William and Alice Gingell of 2 The Prospect, Kingsdown, Box, Wiltshire. He is buried in Sanctuary Wood Cemetery.

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

Sources:

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

Sunday 17 October 2010

8893 Cpl John S Jewson, 2nd Bn, Scots Guards

8893 Corporal John Samuel Jewson of the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards was killed in action on the 17th October 1915. He was born in Shoreditch, lived in Bethnal Greeen and enlisted at Stratford. At the time of his death, John was 19 years old. He was the son of John and Rose Jewson of 4 Mansford Street Buildings, Bethnal Green Road, London. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

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

Sources:

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

20933 Gdsmn Hubert J Oldring, Grenadier Guards

20933 Guardsman Hubert John Oldring of No 1 Company, the 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards was killed in action on the 16th October 1915. He was born in Hemel Hempstead and enlisted in London.

John Oldring was 21 years old when he died. He was the son of George and Ellen Oldring, of "Hammerfield", Hemel Hempstead, Herts, and he is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

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

Sources:

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

Friday 15 October 2010

1439 Pte James Peden, 1st Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers

1439 Private James Peden of the 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, was killed in action on the 15th October 1914. He was 34 years old, the son of Richard and Mary Peden of Milford, Derbyshire and he had enlisted with the Northumberland Fusiliers in July 1905. He had arrived overseas on the 13th August 1914.

James is buried in the Vieille-Chapelle Military Cemetery in Lacouture, France.

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

Sources:

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

Thursday 14 October 2010

Lt Col Claude S Worthington, 6th Manchester Regt

Nearly thirteen hundred British officers and men died on the 14th October 1918, and Lieutenant Colonel Claude Swanwick Worthington DSO, of the 6th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, was probably the most senior man to die that day. He was severely wounded at Epinoy and died of wounds at Le Treport. He is buried in the Mont Huon Military Cemetery in Le Treport. Claude Worthington was 41 years old, the son of Edith and the late Thomas Worthington FRIBA of Broomfield, Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

Lt Col Worthington won the DSO twice and had also earned the TD distinction. At the time of his death he was attached to the 5th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment. His original wooden cross survives at Dean Row Unitarian Chapel at Dean Row near Wilmslow, Cheshire and he is also named on the war memorial there.

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

Sources:

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

Wednesday 13 October 2010

327370 Sgt John Wignall, 2/9th Bn, DLI

327370 Sergeant John Wignall of the 2/9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, was killed in action in Salonica on the 13th October 1917. He was born in Bolton, Lancashire, and had previously served with the Loyal North Lancs Regt (number 970).

John was 33 years oild when he died. He was the son of William and Charlotte Wignall of 24, Venice Street, Daubhill, Bolton, and the husband of Rose Grundy (formerly Wignall), also of the same address. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Doiran Memorial in Greece.

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

Sources:

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

Tuesday 12 October 2010

9074 Pte Alfred Mess, 2nd KOSB

9074 Private Alfred Mess of the 2nd King's Own Scottish Borderers was killed in action on the 12th october 1914. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial in France.

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

Sources:

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

Monday 11 October 2010

28593 Pte William Lockwood, 2nd West Yorks Regt

28593 Private William Lockwood of the 2nd West Yorkshire Regiment, died of wounds on the 11th October 1916. He was born in Bradford and enlisted there. He was 22 years old, the son of John and Ada Lockwood of 41 St Stephen's Road, West Bowling, Bradford, and he is buried in Philosphe British Cemetery in Mazingarbe, Belgium.

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

Sources:

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

Sunday 10 October 2010

3782 Pte Joseph Bardsley, 2nd Bn, Lancashire Fus

3782 Private Joseph Bardsley of the 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, was killed in action on the 10th October 1915. He was a Manchester man, 28 years old when he was killed, and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. He had been in France since the 21st May 1915.

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

Sources:

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

Saturday 9 October 2010

11881 L/Cpl Edwin W Kittle, 6th Bn, Ox & Bucks LI

11881 Lance-Corporal Edwin William Kittle of the 6th Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, was killed in action on the 9th October 1916. He was born in Pontlatlyn, Glamorganshire and was still living there when he enlisted at Rugby in late August or early September 1914.

At the time of his death he was 27 years old, the son of William and Eva Kittle of Osborne Villas, South End, Pontlatlyn, Cardiff. He is buried in the Guards' Cemetery at Lesboeufs.

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

Sources:

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

Friday 8 October 2010

8997 Pte Reuben F Rowdon, 1st Bn, Coldstream Gds

8997 Private Reuben F Rowdon of the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards, died of wounds on the 8th October 1914. He was 23 years old, the son of Richard and Rosina Rowdon, of 7 Bendon Terrace, Earlsfield, London. His number indicates that he had joined the Coldstream Guards in Febraury 1911.

Reuben is buried in Braine Communal Cemetery in France.

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

Sources:

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

Thursday 7 October 2010

Capt Charles N Ridley, Northumberland Hussars

Captain Charles Noel Ridley of the Northumberland Hussars died of wounds on the 7th October 1915. He was 30 years old, the husband of Daphne Pringle (formerly Ridley), of Knorren, Brampton, Cumberland. He was a native of Park End, Northumberland. He is buried in Longuenesse (St Omer) Souvenir Cemetery.

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

Sources:

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

Wednesday 6 October 2010

3/8564 Pte Thomas Ruddy, 3rd Bn, Yorks Regt

3/8564 Private Thomas Ruddy of the 3rd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, died in England on the 6th October 1914. His number indicates that he joined the Special Reserve after war was declared and preumably died as a result of sickness or accident.

Thomas was born in Stockton-on-Tees around 1879 and enlisted at Middlesborough. He was the son of the late Thomas and Eliza Ruddy and he is buried in Eston Cemetery in Yorkshire.

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

Sources:

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

Tuesday 5 October 2010

10721 Rfm William Piper, 1st Bn, KRRC

10721 Rifleman William Piper of the 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, was killed in action on the 5th October 1914. William was the ward of Mrs F Francis of 23 Buckingham Street, Brighton. He joined the KRRC in August 1912 and he arrived in France on the 13th August 1914. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the La Ferte sous Jouarre Memorial in France.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

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

Monday 4 October 2010

Maj Frederick Gordon Owens, 9th Bn, King's

Majo Frederick Gordon Owens of the 9th Battalion, The King's (Liverpool Regiment) died, probably as a result of sickness, on the 4th October 1918. He was twice Mentioned in Dispatches and was the youngest son of Jessie Owens of 3 Highfield Road, Walton Park, Liverpool, and the late John Oswald Owens. He was 32 years old and is buried in Kantara War Memorial Cemetery in Egypt.

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

Sources:

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

Sunday 3 October 2010

S/5966 Pte John Tevendale, 11th Bn, A&S Highlanders

S/5966 Private John Tevendale of the 11th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders was killed in action on the 3rd October 1917. He was born in Aberdeen and enlisted in Glasgow on the 19th October 1914. He was then 26 years old, a plasterer by trade, just short of five feet eight inches tall with a pale complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. The medical officer examining him notes a "linear scar on the left side [of his] nose [and a] small circular scar [on his] r[ight] forearm."

John was initially posted to the 10th Battalion and sailed for France with the 10th on the 11th May 1915. He was appointed unpaid lance corporal on the 11th January 1916 and then paid acting lance corporal the following month (24th). He returned to England on the 13th April 1916 as a result of a gunshot wound to his scalp and spent three weeks at the Edinburgh War Hospital. The wound appears to have healed well, although "some degree of vertigo" is noted. He was subsequently posted to the 3rd Battalion on the 8th August that year.

On the 16th May 1917, Private Tevendale was tried by a Regimental Courts Martial for "without reasonable excuse allowing to escape a person committed to his charge." He was found guilty and was sentenced to 14 days' detention.

The following month, on the 17th June, John Tevendale was back in France and posted to the 11th Battalion. Less than four months later he was killed in action. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that he was 28 years old, the son of George and Helen Campbell Tevendale of 364 Govan Street, Glasgow. He is buried in the Level Crossing Cemetery at Fampoux in France.

In February 1918, George Tevendale acknowledged receipt from the infantry office in Perth, of his late son's wallet and photos.

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

Sources:

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

Saturday 2 October 2010

5170 Pte Sidney C Good, 4th Dragoon Gds

5170 Private Sidney Charles Good of the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards, died at h0me on the 2nd October 1914, probably as a result of sickness. He was born in Walthamstow and was living in Leyton when he enlisted. He joined at Dalston and is buried in Netley Military Cemetery.

Sidney was born in late 1883 or early 1884, his birth registered in the West Ham district in the March quarter of that year. His number probably dates to November 1903 which in turn suggests - depending on his original terms of enlistment - that he may have been on the Army Reserve when he died.

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

Sources:

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

Friday 1 October 2010

209658 Pioneer Sijil Abdul Ali, RE

209658 Pioneer Sijil Abdul Ali of the Royal Engineers, was killed in action on the 1st October 1917. He was 28 years old, the son of Muhammad Hyder Abdul-Ali of England, and the husband of Daisy Marion Abdul-Ali (nee Payne) of 123 Brecknock Road, Tufnell Park, London. Sijil was born in St Bride's, Middlesex, and enlisted in Middlesex. He was serving with the RE Special Brigade when he was killed, and he is buried in the Longuenesse (St Omer) Souvenir Cemetery.

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

Sources:

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

Naval & Military Press