Alan - as William JE Merryweather had service with both the 23rd and 21st Battalions of the London Regiment you may want to make the London Branch of the Western Front Association aware of the diary - they almost certainly have members who would be interested. Contact chairman Charles Harvey at charlesharvey@amserve.com. The other place where diaries of this sort should be offered is the Collections Division (Department of Documents) at the Imperial War Museum - e-mail > docs@iwm.org.uk regards - Tom Tulloch-Marshall WW1 Military Research website > http://www.btinternet.com/~prosearch/index.html
I salute his memory. A great guy; so helpful. MIke C.
To give some of our newer members who didn't know the late Iain Kerr here is a sample of one of his amazing answers. I keep information such as this as important. Aye Malcolm ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The Royal Naval Division Background Royal Naval Brigades were originally ad-hoc groupings of sailors and marines to be employed in land operations alongside units of the British Army. Prior to the outbreak of World War II on 4 Aug 1914, Royal Naval Brigades had served in many parts of the world. The Royal Naval Brigades had fought with distinction in the Crimea, the Indian Mutiny, in China, the South African War, and in a variety of lesser campaigns. The Royal Naval Division in World War I During the First World War, Winston Churchill formed the Royal Naval Division as an infantry formation in Aug 1914. This continued a tradition of employing ad-hoc groupings of sailors and marines in land operations alongside units of the British Army. Prior to the outbreak of World War II on 4 Aug 1914, Royal Naval Brigades had served in many parts of the world, fighting with distinction in the Crimea, the Indian Mutiny, China, South Africa and in a variety of lesser campaigns. The Royal Naval Division was initially found from those men of the Royal Navy Reserve, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and the Royal Marine Reserve. The Admiralty realised that on mobilisation the Royal Navy would have between 20-80,000 men of the various reserves, for whom there would be no space in any warship's complement. The surplus was sufficient to form two naval infantry brigades and to provide a Royal Marine Brigade to be available for home defence or special tasks.. The Royal Naval Division was established with two Naval Brigades and one Marine Brigade; each having four battalions. The eight Naval battalions were named Drake, Hawke, Benbow, Collingwood, Nelson, Howe, Hood and Anson. (The Benbow and Collingwood Battalions were disbanded before May 1916.) The 1st and 2nd Naval Brigades were formed at Walmer and Betteshanger in Kent in Aug and Sep 1914. Initial Operations The Royal Marine Brigade became the 3rd Brigade and included the Royal Marine Artillery and Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth Battalions. It landed at Ostende on 27 Aug 1914. The Royal Marine Brigade returned from Ostende on 31 Aug 1914 and re-embarked for Dunkirk on 19 Sep 1914 with a strength of 2,200 men. The brigade then reached Kassel, Belgium by 30 Sep 1914 and returned into Belgium, detraining at Antwerp on 3 Oct 1914. Antwerp's outer forts were taken by the advancing German forces and the Brigade were put in the trenches immediately. 4-9 Oct 1914 Defence of Antwerp The two other Brigades (1st and 2nd Royal Naval Brigades) embarked from Dover on 4 Oct 1914, landed at Dunkirk, detrained at Antwerp on 6 Sep 1914 and joined the RM Brigade in the trenches. The Royal Naval Division withdrew to St Gilles Waes on 9 Oct 1914, and began entraining for Ostende, except for about 1,500 men of the 1st RN Brigade, who failed to cross the River Scheldt in time and crossed into occupied Holland. There they were interned for the rest of the war, but a few managed to escape back to Britain. The Royal Naval Division landed at Dover about 11 Oct 1914 and started to replace lost equipment and men. (Note that by 1916 there were only a handful of the "Antwerp" men left, the casualties suffered by the Division being so high). The Division assembled around Blandford Camp, Dorset on 27 Nov 1914. The battalions were based in a series of tented camps, and trained for their next operational deployment. The Hood Battalion's presence at Blandford is marked by a battalion war memorial on the camp entrance road off the A354 Salisbury to Blandford Forum road. The Royal Naval Division at Gallipoli The Royal Naval Division was selected to play a major part in Churchill's plan to defeat the German/Turkish alliance by an amphibious attack into what he called "the soft under-belly of Europe" to seize the entrance to the Bosphorus at Gallipoli. This was one of the greatest disasters of the Great War. The Royal Naval Division started to embark for Lemnos at Devonport on 6 Feb 1915 and by 1 Mar 1915, the rest of the Division (except the training Depot) were on their way to Lemnos. By 19 Mar 1915 the Division were stationed off the Gallipoli peninsula, but as the "great Naval attack" on 18 Mar had failed, the Division were returned to Egypt and landed at Port Said by 29 Mar 1915. The Division re-embarked for Mudros on 8 Apr 1915 and were landed at Helles Beach, on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 25 Apr 1915. It was deployed and involved as follows: 25-26 Apr 1915 Gulf of Xeros (RN Division) 25-26 Apr 1915 Landing at Cape Helles (Anson and Plymouth Battalions) 28 Apr-12 May 1915 Defence of Anzac (Chatham, Portsmouth, Nelson and Deal Battalions) 28 Apr 1915 1st Battle of Krithia (2nd RN Brigade and Drake and Plymouth Battalions) 1-2 May 1915 Eski Hissarlik (2nd RN Brigade and Drake and Plymouth Battalions) 6-8 May 1915 2nd Battle of Krithia (Drake, Plymouth, Howe, Hood and Anson Battalions) 2 May 1915 The Chessboard (Nelson, Deal, Chatham and Portsmouth Battalions) 4 Jun 1915 3rd Battle of Krithia (RN Division) 7-9 Jan 1916 Evacuation of Helles (RN Division). Recovery from Gallipoli With the withdrawal of British forces from the Dardanelles in early Jan 1916, The Royal Naval Division was evacuated to Mudros and split up. Drake and Hawke Battalions went to Imbros between 19 Jan and 15 Feb 1916; Hood Battalion to Mudros between 20 Jan and 22 Feb 1916. The 2nd Brigade went to Stavros on 20 Jan 1916. The Division did not reform until arriving back in France in May 1916. During this period, the Royal Naval Division was transferred from the Admiralty to the War Office control. (Authority: 79/8954 (SD2) dated 29 Apr 1916). Transfer to the Army and to France and Flanders The Battalions landed in France at Marseilles as follows: Howe 12 May, 2nd RM 12 May: Anson 19 May; 1st RM 19 May; Hood 20 May; Nelson 22 May; and Hawke 23 May 1916. In France the Royal Naval Division was formally numbered the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division and the Brigades were numbered the 188th, 189th and 190th. (Authority ACI No 1363 dated 8 Jul 1916). Owing to the fearful losses suffered in Nov 1916, several Army battalions were attached to the Division from time to time. The 63rd (Royal Naval) Division remained in France and Flanders for the rest of the war and fought in the following battles: Dates Battle Parent Formation 13-18 Nov 1916 Somme V Corps, 5th Army 13-15 Nov 1916 Ancre V Corps, 5th Army 20 Jan - 27 Feb 1917 Operations on the Ancre II Corps, 5th Army 17/18 Feb 1917 Miraumont II Corps, 5th Army 23-29 Apr 1917 Arras XIII Corps, 5 Army 23/24 Apr 1917 2nd Scarpe XIII Corps, 5 Army 28/29 Apr 1917 Arleux XIII Corps, 5 Army 26 Oct - 10 Nov 1917 3rd Ypres XVIII Corps, 5th Army 26 Oct - 5 Nov 1917 2nd Passchendaele XVIII Corps, 5th Army 30/31 Dec 1917 Welch Ridge V Corps, 3rd Army 21 Mar - 5 Apr 1918 1st Somme V Corps, 3rd Army 21-23 Mar 1918 St Quentin V Corps, 3rd Army 24/25 Mar 1918 1st Bapaume V Corps, 3rd Army 5 Apr 1918 Ancre V Corps, 3rd Army 8-23 Aug 1918 2nd Somme IV Corps, 3rd Army 21-23 Aug 1918 Albert IV Corps, 3rd Army 26 Aug - 3 Sept 1918 2nd Arras XVII Corps, 3rd Army 2/3 Sept 1918 Droucourt-Queant Line XVII Corps, 3rd Army 27 Sept - 8 Oct 1918 Hindenburg Line XVII Corps, 3rd Army 27 Sept - 1 Oct 1918 Canal du Nord XVII Corps, 3rd Army 8 Oct 1918 Capture of Niergnies, Cambrai XVII Corps, 3rd Army 7-11 Nov 1918 Advance in Picardy XXII Corps, 1st Army 7 Nov 1918 Grande Honnelle XXII Corps, 1st Army The End of the War The units of the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division were fighting till the last minute of the war. They ended the war on Armistice Day 11 Nov 1918 capturing their objective for that day, the Mons-Givry Road. The Division HQ opened at Harveng. The 63rd Division were to have advanced into Germany with the Army of Occupation, but this was cancelled on 13 Nov 1918. On 17 Nov 1918, the Army of Occupation marched through the Division's outpost line. The Royal Naval Division were withdrawn to Valenciennes on 26 Nov 1918 and King George V visited the Division there on 5 Dec 1918. Demobilisation started in Dec 1918 with the "key-men", i.e. those having critical civilian occupations such as miners being demobbed first. The strength of the Division dwindled fast, by the end of Jan 1919 3,875 men had been demobbed, end of Feb 1919 7,047 had gone. The 63rd (Royal Naval) Division became a cadre in Mar 1919 and were disbanded in Apr 1919. Thus came the end of a brilliant fighting force, which had lost 47,953 men killed, wounded or missing 1914-18, or equivalent to three 1918 Infantry Divisions, in four years. The Division had fought throughout the war of 1914 - 1918, at Antwerp, on the bloody invasion of Gallipoli and Salonika and finally from 1916 to 1918 in France and Flanders. The Division held its final parade on the 6th June 1919. During W.W.1 the Royal Naval Division suffered the following casualties: Killed : 582 Officers, 10,797 other ranks; Wounded: 1,364 Officers 29,528 other ranks. Yours aye, Iain Kerr In Windsor, Berkshire Web Page at: http://home.clara.net/iainkerr/index.htm Rootsweb Sponsor Listowner for the KERR; McTURK and SOUTHON lists. Maintainer of the Ayrshire Surnames Database at: http://home.clara.net/iainkerr/genuki/AYR/SID/indexsid.htm Maintainer of the GENUKI Ayrshire pages at: http://home.clara.net/iainkerr/genuki/AYR/index.htm ============================== The RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: Tens of millions of individuals... and counting. http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iain KERR - is still greatly missed, he touched so many researchers with his quote "Iain with an extra eye", there said it for you Iain; he gave so much information so willingly, just as both Malcolm FERGUSSON whom if requested gives forth much of his knowledge & Janice DUKE whom seems to know all the urls on the WWW because of her quickness in replies with these links to answer researchers questions. God bless all you sharing knowledgeable people. Alan ... Alan T... {East Midlands UK} Please visit our family genealogy site:- http://www.forefathers.homestead.com/ -----Original Message----- From: greatwar-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:greatwar-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of M.G.Fergusson Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2007 7:51 PM To: greatwar@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [GREATWAR] Iain Kerr Hi Janice, We remember all the great help he gave. Here's to his memory. Aye Malcolm Today is the 5th anniversary of Iain's passing. He is remembered. Janice USA
On 05/06/07, DRWtoo <drwgen@allatsea.co.za> wrote: > Alfred John Morris was born about 1898 at St Olave, Surrey and lived > in Southwark. Which means he would have fallen in the zone to serve > during WW1. > Is there any specific regiment that somebody who lived in that area > would have gone to? I have heard about the pals regiments so it is > possible he went into one in his area. Not very helpful, but my grandfather also lived in Southwark at the start of WW1 and he joined the Dorsetshire Yeomanry. One of his brothers was in the Royal Field Artillery, another in the Royal Garrison Artillery, a fourth was in the Navy. No such thing as the RAF at the time; anything to do with flying was, at that time, part of the army. Don't know why my granddad joined the yeomanry, unless he had an ambition to ride a horse! But I do know he did his training in Sevenoaks Kent (so nothing to do with Dorset). I've always assumed that there were all sorts of regiments you could join, all types of enlistment places around, especially in the London suburbs, and you picked what you most fancied. No doubt someone will know more. Diane
Hi Janice, We remember all the great help he gave. Here's to his memory. Aye Malcolm -----Original Message----- From: greatwar-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:greatwar-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Janice Duke Sent: 05 June 2007 18:48 To: GREAT WAR Subject: Re: [GREATWAR] Iain Kerr Today is the 5th anniversary of Iain's passing. He is remembered. Janice USA ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to GREATWAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message
I think you forgot to name yourself on this list, young man. You have assisted many, many a questioner. Be well my friend, Janice USA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan Taylor" <alan.taylor-howe@ntlworld.com> To: <greatwar@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2007 5:14 PM Subject: Re: [GREATWAR] Iain Kerr > Iain KERR - is still greatly missed, he touched so many researchers with > his > quote "Iain with an extra eye", there said it for you Iain; he gave so > much > information so willingly, just as both Malcolm FERGUSSON whom if requested > gives > forth much of his knowledge & Janice DUKE whom seems to know all the urls > on the > WWW because of her quickness in replies with these links to answer > researchers > questions. > God bless all you sharing knowledgeable people. > > Alan ... > > Alan T... {East Midlands UK} > Please visit our family genealogy site:- > http://www.forefathers.homestead.com/ > > > -----Original Message----- > From: greatwar-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:greatwar-bounces@rootsweb.com] > On > Behalf Of M.G.Fergusson > Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2007 7:51 PM > To: greatwar@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [GREATWAR] Iain Kerr > > Hi Janice, > We remember all the great help he gave. Here's to his memory. > > Aye > Malcolm > > > Today is the 5th anniversary of Iain's passing. He is remembered. > > Janice > USA > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > GREATWAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message
Greetings to all present, I joined this list because I am curious, and being somewhat of a military buff I am curious about most military things. I have been doing a lot of reading about the Great War. My grandfather was a survivor of Delville Wood and he never really mentioned it very much. In the course of my genealogy research on my family in the UK I discovered my grandmothers brother possibly lost during WW1. As usual with these things I have very little information to go on so thought I would pose a few questions, that I can mull over and use in my research. Alfred John Morris was born about 1898 at St Olave, Surrey and lived in Southwark. Which means he would have fallen in the zone to serve during WW1. What was the minimum age that the British Army took recruits in, or conscripted them at? I presume it would be 16 or 18. Is there any specific regiment that somebody who lived in that area would have gone to? I have heard about the pals regiments so it is possible he went into one in his area. Unfortunately he was literally the last of that particular line, being the only son (that I know of) so if he was killed during the war then the line ended with him. I have checked with Commonwealth War Graves and there are a number of Alfred John Morris casualties, unfortunately many do not give any details on next of kin which does throw a spanner in the works. Are there any other sources to look at? I believe the army list was destroyed during WW2 and I did consider the medal cards but that could be time consuming and expensive, especially if there is no record of next of kin. Would civil authorities issue a death certificate in the case of a wartime casualty? especially if that death occurred outside of the UK? I havent really considered that maybe he went into the merchant navy or even the air force or Royal Navy. I would appreciate any ideas or possible links to look at, bearing in mind that I do not have access to written text in the UK, being in South Africa. I also understand that I am asking a lot, but maybe somebody out there has taken this path before me and knows teh way. Best Wishes Derek Walker. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.8.7/830 - Release Date: 2007/06/03 12:47 PM
Hello Listers, The above was my Chelsea born uncle who kept a diary from February 1917 until his death in N France in the November. It records a lot of names which I'd like to offer to family historians and it may well be of interest to military historians. I'd like to find out more about some of the people he named and offer whatever information I have. Rather than invite people piecemeal to apply for a fully referenced transcript of the diary, is there a site where it can be lodged where anyone interested can read it? Thanks, Alan Merryweather. Cirencester, Glos UK
Today is the 5th anniversary of Iain's passing. He is remembered. Janice USA
Go to the Doughboy Center for hints on researching military records. _www.wotldwar1.com/dbc_ (http://www.wotldwar1.com/dbc) LGS ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
Lindsay See below... :-) -----Original Message----- From: Lindsay Graham <LDGraham@aapt.net.au> Sent Subject: [GREATWAR] WW1 MEDAL CARDS > I'm new to this list, so I hope I'm not asking questions that are just too easy or have > been covered before. I have obtained an > image from the WW1 Medals Cards database at the British National Archives, and I am > looking for some assistance to interpret it. > The left hand side of the card says: > Medal Roll Page > -------------------------------------------------------- > Victory RGA/118B 1480 (or 1780?) > British do. do. > 15 Star RGA/1B/5 359 > The right hand side of the card, under Remarks, says Class 2: 23-2-19. > RGA is Royal Garrison Artillery, in which he was a Gunner, later Acting Corporal. > Does "15 Star" mean the 1914-1915 Star? Yes - there should also be a date of entry to a theatre of war. The qualification for this medal is that the individual entered a theatre of war by 31/12/1915. > What do the other codes under Roll and Page mean? Do they refer to other records that > are available? The medal index card (MIC) is simply a filing card and gives these references to the medal rolls themselves. These record the individual's entitlement to medals and sometimes contain information not held on the MIC. > What does "Class 2: 23-2-19" mean? Its more likely to be Class Z, short for army reserve class Z. This was the title of the army reserve to which volunteers were demobilised at the end of the war. 23-2-19 is the date he was discharged from the army. > The family believes that he was awarded a Military Medal at the Battle of Vimy Ridge, was > made a King's Corporal at Loos, was > Mentioned in Despatches, and was awarded the Croix de Guerre. Given the information on > the Medal Card, how likely does this seem? If he was awarded an MM it will likely be recorded on another card for gallantry medals. This should include the date of the London Gazette in which the award was announced. However citations are not normally given for Military Medals. > Where can I find records of these medals and awards? Look for another medal card on the National Archives website. Try searching on his surname and number only. It is likely that a card for his MM exists but will be listed on surname and initials only (rather than christian name). Sometimes MMs are recorded in the war diary of the unit but in the case of artillery you then hit the problem that the war diaries haven't survived to any great extent. I share this problem with you; my grandfather served with the RGA and was awarded an MM in January 1918 but few records survive regarding the circumstances of the award. I'm fortunate to have the citation published in routine orders for XIII Corps. Its also recorded in the history of his Siege Battery (135). > I'm sorry that there are so many questions, but I hope someone can help me at least some > of these queries. If it would help, I can > provide an image of the Medal Card (276KB) or provide name and other details of the > soldier concerned. Do - feel free to e-mail me and attach the medal card. I would be happy to help as far as I can. > Lindsay Graham > Canberra, Australia Greetings Lindsay! Kind regards Mike Shingleton London, UK > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > GREATWAR-request@rootsweb.com with > the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message
I'm new to this list, so I hope I'm not asking questions that are just too easy or have been covered before. I have obtained an image from the WW1 Medals Cards database at the British National Archives, and I am looking for some assistance to interpret it. The left hand side of the card says: Medal Roll Page -------------------------------------------------------- Victory RGA/118B 1480 (or 1780?) British do. do. 15 Star RGA/1B/5 359 The right hand side of the card, under Remarks, says Class 2: 23-2-19. RGA is Royal Garrison Artillery, in which he was a Gunner, later Acting Corporal. Does "15 Star" mean the 1914-1915 Star? What do the other codes under Roll and Page mean? Do they refer to other records that are available? What does "Class 2: 23-2-19" mean? The family believes that he was awarded a Military Medal at the Battle of Vimy Ridge, was made a King's Corporal at Loos, was Mentioned in Despatches, and was awarded the Croix de Guerre. Given the information on the Medal Card, how likely does this seem? Where can I find records of these medals and awards? I'm sorry that there are so many questions, but I hope someone can help me at least some of these queries. If it would help, I can provide an image of the Medal Card (276KB) or provide name and other details of the soldier concerned. Lindsay Graham Canberra, Australia
Hello, I am again trying to find out information about my Grandfather Clarence Roberts. He was born in 1892 and he was in WWI. He was sent to France and he fought in the Belleau Woods battle. I am trying to find something at this point anything about this. I am told there is a book The Official History of the 315th Infantry U.S.A. . I can only find one copy at Amazon for about $160.00 does anyone have this book and could do a couple of lookups for me or might be interesting in selling the book. Hope someone can help me. My grandfather was Clarence Roberts born in WV. He was a private I believe when he was discharged. He was shot in the back but his mess kit saved his life. I am told and was also told he was exposed to mustard gas. He of course is deceased and my son and I are trying to find out what medals he might have received from his time in the service. I sure could use some advice and some help with this. Thanks so much PS HE was in the 315th Infantry Division and Company L. I can find a lot on Company K online but not much on this Company L. Hope someone can help us Pat Adkins Riverview Florida ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
Thank you to all who helped me with this inquiry. Last week I got a letter from the Wisconsin Historical Society with a photocopy of a listing of Christian Justesen's service in WWI: Name: Justeson, Chris Rank: Horseshoer Army serial no.: 268957 Age: 1888 7-12 Eyes: blue Hair: br Complexion: fair Height: 5-4½ Organization: 32 Div. MP Co. Occupation: Blacksmith Married or single: single Residence: 209 7th St. Stoughton, Wis Enlisted: 18 May 1917 Place: Stoughton, Wis. Discharged: 21 May 1919 Place: Camp Grant, Ill. --------------------------------------- Battles, engagements, etc.: Alsace, 1 May 1918 to 21 July Aisne Marne, 29 Juli to 7 August Oise Aisne, 26 August to 6 September Meuse Argonne 26 September to 11 November Army of Occup. 13 December 1918 to 20 April 1919. Transfers: Company K, 4th Wisconsin Infantry to Company C, 107th M.P. Company, 32nd Division There was also a photocopy of another paper, Form No. 721-1½, A.G.O. of 1920, which is partly handwritten, and this part is very faint and hard to read. It must have been made after the war. It also tells about his service, and maybe the handwritten part tells about the gas attack? I have considered asking the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO, but I am not sure that I am related closely enough. Best regards, Arne Nielsen, Ballerup, Denmark Arne Nielsen wrote: > My grandmother's brother-in-law Christian Justesen was born in Denmark > in 1888, and he died in 1934 in Denmark, 45 years old. He was active in > WWI, where he was exposed to gas, which made him ill the rest of his > life. His widow got pension from the US, and she went to my > grandparents, when she received letters in English from the US > authorities, to have the letters translated. > > In 1910, he was living in Stoughton Ward 3, Dane county, Wisconsin. He > was a roomer and his occupation was blacksmith (his father and brother > were also blacksmiths). > > I have not found his WWI Draft Registration Card. What should I do next, > when I want to find something about his military service? > > Best regards, > > Arne Nielsen > Ballerup, Denmark
Hi Nicola, An amendment to an earlier posting. The No. 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital was located in Boulogne in 1916, but in Doullens in the timeframe you are asking about. Janice USA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nicola Butler" <local_history@ntlworld.com> To: <greatwar@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, May 28, 2007 7:54 AM Subject: [GREATWAR] Lancashire Fusiliers and the Somme 1918 > Hi List > > I haven't had much luck with my queries before but I'm desperate for some > help. > > My ancestor died in June 1918 at 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital in > Doullens. I am wanting to visit the area next year and would like to do > some background research about the battles, so I'm not just looking at > open fields! I want to be able to see in my head where he would have been > and what he may have encountered. Events leading up to his death etc. I > know he was buried in the Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery. > > He was in the 17th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers and enlisted in Woolwich > (previously he was in the RAVC). I have looked at a few websites but > cannot see a particular battle that was happening there at the time of his > injury. > > Any help will be gratefully received as I am getting nowhere fast. > > Thanks. > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nottinghamshire_genealogy/ > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > GREATWAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message
Hi Nicola/Listers, I found the war diaries of the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital which I believe was located in Boulogne. Seems the hospital was bombed on 29/30 May, 1918. I don't know if it was related to the death of your young man. Was he Pvt. William Arthur Brackner?? From what I understand, in 1918 there were more flu related deaths than from combat. Possibly others on this forum far more knowledgeable than I may relate an encounter at Aveluy Wood on 1 June, 1918 as being another possibility. http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t34532.html http://data4.collectionscanada.ca/netacgi/nph-brs?s1=Canadian+Stationary+Hospital&s13=&s12=&l=20&s9=RG9&s7=9-52&Sect1=IMAGE&Sect2=THESOFF&Sect4=AND&Sect5=WARDPEN&Sect6=HITOFF&d=FIND&p=1&u=http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/02015202_e.html&r=3&f=G Thank you for his military service. Today is Memorial Day here in the U. S. so I'm remembering all who have contributed to the greatest gift that I have: my freedom. Always held close in my thoughts and heart. National treasures & valiant heroes all. Janice USA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nicola Butler" <local_history@ntlworld.com> To: <greatwar@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, May 28, 2007 7:54 AM Subject: [GREATWAR] Lancashire Fusiliers and the Somme 1918 > Hi List > > I haven't had much luck with my queries before but I'm desperate for some > help. > > My ancestor died in June 1918 at 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital in > Doullens. I am wanting to visit the area next year and would like to do > some background research about the battles, so I'm not just looking at > open fields! I want to be able to see in my head where he would have been > and what he may have encountered. Events leading up to his death etc. I > know he was buried in the Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery. > > He was in the 17th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers and enlisted in Woolwich > (previously he was in the RAVC). I have looked at a few websites but > cannot see a particular battle that was happening there at the time of his > injury. > > Any help will be gratefully received as I am getting nowhere fast. > > Thanks. > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nottinghamshire_genealogy/ > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > GREATWAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message
Hi List I haven't had much luck with my queries before but I'm desperate for some help. My ancestor died in June 1918 at 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital in Doullens. I am wanting to visit the area next year and would like to do some background research about the battles, so I'm not just looking at open fields! I want to be able to see in my head where he would have been and what he may have encountered. Events leading up to his death etc. I know he was buried in the Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery. He was in the 17th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers and enlisted in Woolwich (previously he was in the RAVC). I have looked at a few websites but cannot see a particular battle that was happening there at the time of his injury. Any help will be gratefully received as I am getting nowhere fast. Thanks. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nottinghamshire_genealogy/
Hi Nicola, I don't have an answer for you myself, but if anyone knows, it will be these people - http://www.fusiliersmuseum-lancashire.org.uk/ Have you tried getting hold of regimental histories? Regards, Chris ----- Original Message ---- From: Nicola Butler <local_history@ntlworld.com> To: greatwar@rootsweb.com Sent: Monday, May 28, 2007 7:54:43 AM Subject: [GREATWAR] Lancashire Fusiliers and the Somme 1918 Hi List I haven't had much luck with my queries before but I'm desperate for some help. My ancestor died in June 1918 at 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital in Doullens. I am wanting to visit the area next year and would like to do some background research about the battles, so I'm not just looking at open fields! I want to be able to see in my head where he would have been and what he may have encountered. Events leading up to his death etc. I know he was buried in the Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery. He was in the 17th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers and enlisted in Woolwich (previously he was in the RAVC). I have looked at a few websites but cannot see a particular battle that was happening there at the time of his injury. Any help will be gratefully received as I am getting nowhere fast. Thanks. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nottinghamshire_genealogy/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to GREATWAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message
Many thanks for your help, Forrest, Alan and (again) Mike. Ill digest all that and let you know if anything becomes clearer. Youve already helped me leap forward many paces! I hope this has been of use to others in some way too. Ray