3/1584 Pte Albert Marwood, 9th KOYLI

Doncaster-born, 3/1584 Private Albert Marwood of the 9th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, was killed in action on the 17th December 1915. He was one of 138 British Army officers and men to die on this date.

The 1901 census yields just one possibility for an Albert Marwood born in Doncaster, and shows him living with his parents and siblings at 196 Cleveland Street, Doncaster. Albert's father - Henry - was a fifty year old saddler; the children's mother is recorded as 41-year-old Annie Marwood, and there are four children: Reuben (aged ten), Chris (aged eight), Albert (aged four) and Ada (aged one). All four children were born in Doncaster.

There were certainly other siblings too. Reuben Marwood appears as a nine-month-old baby on the 1891 census, and also noted (this time at 45 St Thomas Street, Doncaster) are Walter Marwood (aged eighteen) and Anne Marwood (aged two). Henry Marwood's trade is recorded as railway labourer. Going back a further ten years, the 1881 census shows Henry married to Mary Marwood, and one child - Walter - as an eight-year-old. Henry is recorded as a labourer in an iron works.

Mary Marwood would die in 1885 (aged 39) and then Henry would quickly re-marry. His marriage to Annie Tutton is recorded in the June quarter of that year. Thus, Walter Marwood was the half brother to Albert and his siblings. Anne Marwood, the two-year-old who appears on the 1891 census, would die in late 1894 or early 1895. Her death (aged six years) was recorded in the March quarter of 1895.

I can find no evidence that Reuben or Chris Marwood served in the army during the First World War. Walter Marwood though, had joined the 5th KOYLI on the 14th March 1911 and he would serve until March 1916 when his period of engagement terminated. He did not serve overseas.

Albert's army number indicates that he originally joined the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, probably in August 1914, and he must have subsequently been posted to the 9th Battalion. He arrived in France on the 14th October 1915 and was the battalion's only fatality on the 17th December that year. He is buried in the Houplines Communal Cemetery Extension in France.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, 1881, 1891 and 1901 census returns, Free BMD, WO 364 army pensions)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

7563 Pte Ernest Pottage, 2nd Bn, East Yorkshire Regt

7563 Private Ernest Pottage of the 2nd Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment, died of wounds on the 16th December 1914. He was a regular soldier who had been overseas since 8th September 1914 and who, judging by his army number, had joined the East Yorkshire Regiment in mid October 1903. This being the case he was almost certainly on the Reserve when Britain went to war with Germany in August 1914.

Ernest was born in Hull and enlisted there. He appears on the 1901 census as the fifteen year old son of William and Maria Pottage. The family (William and Maria and their five children) were living at 5, Edith Terrace, Sculcoates, Hull.

Ernest would have been 28 years old at the time of his death. He is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery in France.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, 1901 census)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

4907 Rfm George Denham Massy, 18th Bn, London Regiment

4907 Rifleman George Denham Massy of the 18th Battalion, The London Regiment (London Irish Rifles) was killed in action on the 15th December 1916. George had originally joined the 6th London Regiment back in 1908, and before that - in all probability - was serving with the 2nd London Volunteer Rifle Corps. His number with the 6th Londons - 205 - indicates that he was one of the initial intake into that battalion, almost certainly joining within the first two weeks of April 1908.

Soldiers Died in The Great War records that George was living at Fulham and enlisted at Ealing. There is no place of birth recorded and I have been unable to find him on English census returns. Given his surname and the fact that he would later join the London Irish Rifles, it seems a possibility that he was born in Ireland and later moved to England, probably for work.

George's 18th Londons number dates to late March or early April 19156 and it would appear that shortly after Britain went to war with Germany in 1914, George was posted to a second or third line battalion of the 6th Londons before being transferred later on to the 18th Londons. He probably went overseas shortly after that transfer - probably within a matter of days - and he lost his life in the great WW1 killing zones around Ypres. He is one of 2033 men buried in the Railway Dug-outs Burial Ground close to that town.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

3/1355 Pte John Anthony Scaife, 8th Bn, KOYLI

3/1355 Private John Anthony Scaife of the 8th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, died of wounds on the 14th December 1917. He was 21 years old, the son of Charles and Mary Sophia Scaife of 38 Victoria Street, Carlinghow, near Batley in Yorkshire.

John Scaife's number indicates that he initially joined the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, almost certainly pre 1914, and was later posted to the 8th (Service) Battalion. No service record survives for him, but his medal index card indicates that he arrived overseas in France on the 7th April 1915. He died of wounds in Italy and is buried in Giavera British Cemetery.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

2212 Shoeing Smith Oliver William Holness, Royal East Kent Yeomanry

2212 Shoeing Smith Oliver William Holness of the Royal East Kent Yeomanry, was killed in action on the 13th December 1915.

Oliver was living at Herne Bay and enlisted at Broad Oak. That enlistment date was after August 1914 and he arrived overseas in Egypt on the 18th October the following year. He was killed in action in Gallipoli and is buried in Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery; a last resting palce he shares with 1133 other identified casualties.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

8324 Pte Alfred James Mabbutt, 2nd Bn, Northamptonshire

8324 Private Alfred James Mabbutt of the 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, was killed in action on the 12th December 1914. He was 29 years old, the son of Josiah and Elizabeth Mabbutt of St. Andrew's Lane, Titchmarsh, Thrapston, in Northamptonshire. Alfred was born in Moulton and enlisted in Northampton. He was serving with A Company at the time of his death.

Alfred joined the Northamptonshire Regiment between 28th December 1906 and the 1st January 1907. This means that unless he'd extended his service with the Colours, he would have been on the Reserve when war was declared; a seasoned campaigner with seven years of soldiering under his belt. In all probability though, Alfred was probably overseas with the regiment, waiting to come home. The 2nd Battalion was in Mustapha Barracks in Alexandria, Egypt and did not sail for England until the beginning of October, arriving at Liverpool on the 16th.

The bulk of the battalion sailed for France on the 4th November, arriving at Havre the following day. Alfred though, arrived on the 6th November. December appears to have been a fairly quiet month for the 2nd Northants but two Northants Regiment men died on this day in 1914, although Alfred was the only man to be killed in action and die overseas. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial in France.

Alfred came from a large family and the surviving members must have felt his loss. The 1901 census shows them living at Manor Farm Cottage in Horton St Mary, Northants. Josiah, a 47 year old waggoner, headed the family with his wife, Elizabeth, aged 37. Their children, in age order, are recorded as Alfred (aged 15), Albert (aged 12), Harry (aged nine), Sarah (aged seven), Frank (aged five), Florence (aged three) and Arthur (aged one). Alfred is noted as an assistant waggoner.

There were also two other half brothers who must have left home by the time the 1901 census was taken. They appear on the 1891 census as John G Mabbutt (aged 15) and Charles E Mabbutt (aged 14).

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, 1891 & 1901 census returns)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

2543 Cpl Harry Oswald Mordy, 1/4th Bn, Gloucs Regt

2543 Corporal Harry Oswald Mordy of the 1/4th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, was killed in action on the 11th December 1916. He was a Bristol man, born and bred, and so the 1/4th (City of Bristol) Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment must have been an obvious choice for him.

Harry's number dates to early September 1914 and he enlisted in Bristol. After a short period of training he was sent overseas, arriving in France on 31st March 1915.

No service record appears to survive for Harry Mordy, but a quick glance at the birth registers shows that his birth was registered in Bedminster district, Somerset in the June quarter of 1895. That in turn tells us that Harry was 21 years old at the time of his death. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial on the Somme.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, Free BMD)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

21045 Pte Percy William Swatton, 1st Bn, Wiltshire Regt

Two hundred and seventy two British officers and men died on the 10th December 1917.

21045 Pte Percy William Swatton of the 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, was killed in action on this day. He was born in Axford, Wiltshire and enlisted at Trowbridge, probably towards the end of May or the beginning of June 1915. At the time of his enlistment he was living at Marlborough.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records basic information about this man, but his unusual surname means that he is easily identified in other archive material. He appears on the 1901 census as a seventeen year old living with his parents and siblings at 25 Head Street, Marlborough. His father Thomas is recorded as a 40 year old bookmaker and shopkeeper running a business on his own account. His mother, Lucy Annie, was older by nine years, and the couple had four sons living with them at the Head Street address. Percy was working as a grocer's porter and then follow Albert Tom Swatton, a 16 year old carpenter's apprentice, William Levester Swatton, a 14 year old shop assistant, and finally James Fergusson Swatton, aged nine.

Albert and James certainly served during WW1 as well, Albert with the Royal Engineers and James with the Wiltshire Regiment. James appears to have joined the regiment two or three months earlier than his brother and he was overseas by 19th July 1915. Percy though, would not go abroad until 1916 at the earliest.

Percy's birth was registered in the June quarter of 1883 which means that he was 34 years old at the time of his death. He is buried in Grevillers British Cemetery. His brothers survived the Great War.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, Free BMD, 1891 and 1901 Census)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

701 QMS Walter John James Mant, RAMC

701 Quartermaster-Sergeant Walter John James Mant of the Royal Army Medical Corps, died from enteric fever on the 9th December 1914. He had contracted enteric fever - more commonly known as typhoid fever these days - whilst on active service, and he died in England. He is buried in Folkestone Old Cemetery.

Walter Mant was serving with the 2nd Home Counties Field Ambulance at the time of his death and his number suggests that he had been a Territorial since the unit's formation in April 1908, and had almost certainly served in a volunteer capacity before then.

I have been unable to find a medal index card for Walter Mant and so it looks as though he did not serve overseas. No service record exists, although his small, three line entry in De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour indicates that he was married. A check through the marriage registers shows that he married in Canterbury in the September quarter of 1895. This in turn ties in with the information on Soldiers Died in the Great War which records that he was born in Eastbourne and living in Canterbury when he enlisted.

Walter's bride was Minnie Sunderland and the couple appear on the 1901 census living at 7 Watling Street, Canterbury with their two children - Walter aged three, and Alice, aged one. Walter senior is noted as being 28 years old, a postman by trade. His wife Minnie, was 31 years old, a British Subject born in the USA. I do not have access to the 1911 census but it would seem reasonable to assume that other children followed in the years between 1901 and Walter's untimely death in 1914. If he was 28 in 1901, he would have been about 41 years old in 1914.

Walter and Minnie's son, Walter Gilbert Mant, also served during WW1 and he survived. His pension record notes that he joined the Royal West Kent Regiment at Dover in September 1915, and was discharged in June 1916 as no longer physically fit for war service.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, WO 364, 1901 Census)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour
Soldiers Died in The Great War

22441 Pte George Feast, 5th Bn, Royal Irish Fusiliers

22441 Private George Feast of the 5th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers was killed in action on the 8th December 1915. George was 49 years old when he died; the son of Robert William and Eliza Feast, and the husband of F G Feast of 13, Caroline Place, East Road, Cambridge.

George, who was born in Ely and living in Hereford when he enlisted, originally joined the Bedfordshire Regiment (number 16491). That number dates to September 1914 and his Royal Irish Fusiliers number probably to October 1915.

George's medal index card notes that he arrived overseas in France on 3rd December 1914 and so it seems likely that he probably had prior military experience and was possibly a time-expired regular who re-joined shortly after Britain went to war. I can see no other explanation why a 48 year old private would be sent overseas so soon after joining up. I'll conjecture further that George was wounded or returned home sick whilst serving with the Bedfordshire Regiment in France, transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers in the United Kingdom, and subsequently served in Salonika. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Doiran Memorial in Greece.

L/8893 Pte Sidney Richard Patch, 1st Bn, East Surrey Regt

L/8893 Private Sidney Richard Patch of the 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, died of wounds on the 7th December 1914. He was 24 years old and the son Robert and Mary Patch of 114 Courthill Road, Lewisham, London.

Sidney Patch has a small entry in De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour which, however, adds nothing to the information above other than that he died at Bailleul. He is buried at Bailleul Communal Cemetery (Nord); grave reference A.17.

Far more information, of course, can be gleaned from Sidney's service record which survives as a burn document in the WO 363 series. He joined the East Surrey Regiment on 17th August 1906 aged 18 years and three months old, giving his trade as carpenter's mate. He was nearly five feet six inches tall, had a fresh complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. Tattoos of a flag and apple are noted on his left forearm.

Sidney certainly spent time overseas. Having served with the 1st Battalion in England for just over two years, he sailed for India. and service with the 2nd Battalion. On 19th October 1908 he was inoculated against typhoid at Mhow in India, and then given a second jab - still at Mhow - two months later. He'd arrived in the country on the 10th October and would do the bulk of his soldiering in India and Burma. He was treated for malaria in 1911 and during the course of his seven years with the Colours, paid several visits to hospitals for a variety of ailments which also included bronchitis. He left India in late November 1913.

Typically, for soldiers' service records of the time, Sidney's regimental defaulter sheet has a number of entries containing mostly - from today's perspective - trivial misdemeanours: being absent from rifle sentry, making an improper reply in the ranks, stating a falsehood to an NCO, not complying with an order and finally, being absent from the bungalow when section orderly. These entries probably explain why, on his discharge to the Reserve, he only had one Good Conduct badge and not the two to which he could have been entitled.

Having served his obligatory seven years with the Colours, Sidney was discharged to the Reserve on 1st December 1913 with one Good Conduct badge, a 3rd class certificate of education, and training in mounted infantry duties. He had also qualified as a marksman and had served 12 months with the regimental and garrison police. His conduct and character during his time with the Colours are described as Good.

Additional details - infrequently seen on surviving service papers - are included in Sidney's file. At the time of his transfer to the reserve his chest measurement was 39 inches, his waist was 32 inches and he had grown in stature. His height is recorded as five feet, 10 and a quarter inches. His helmet size is recorded as 21 and a half and his boot size as 8-4. He had also acquired more tattoos, described as "small figures, flags, heads etc, both forearms".

Sidney's service record is badly faded / water-damaged in places but he wasrecalled to the Colours on the outbreak of war and by 16th August 1914 he was in France. He was reported missing on 12th September 1914 and admitted to the 14th Field Ambulance with a gunshot wound to the head in November 1914 (the exact date is unclear). He died of his wounds at the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station at Bailleul.

On 29th March 1915, the Infantry Record Office at Hounslow returned Sidney Patch's last effects to his father in Lewisham. These are recorded as: 1 diary, 1 bundle of letters, 1 post card, 1 identity disc, 1 clasp knife, 1 pipe, 1 belt, 1 watch and chain, 2 Indian coins. These were acknowledged by Robert Patch on the 3rd April 1915.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, WO 363)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour
Soldiers Died in The Great War

28664 Pte Ivor Francis Gordon Rogers, 2nd Bn, Gloucs Regt

28664 Private Ivor Francis Gordon Rogers of the 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, was killed in action on the 6th December 1916, one of 154 soldiers to die on this date. He was the son of Walter William and Ellen Rogers, of Selsley, Stroud, Gloucestershire and was 20 years old when he died.

Ivor Rogers 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.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

77829 Bdr John William Ironmonger, RFA

Nearly 500 British soldiers died on this one day in 1917; 497 to be precise. 77829 Bombardier John William Ironmonger of 115 Battery, XXV Brigade, Royal Field Artillery was one of those casualties. He died of wounds on the 5th December 1917 and is buried at Duhallow ADS (Advanced Dressing Station) Cemetery at Ypres.

John Ironmonger was a regular soldier and an early arrival in a theatre of war. He had arrived in France on 16th August 1914 and had therefore been serving for over three years at the time of his death. His number dates to around April 1914 and therefore he was not very long into his army career when Britain went to war with Germany. He was originally from Nottingham.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

4797 Rfm Richard Arthur Rendell, 1st Bn, Rifle Brigade

4797 Rifleman Richard Arthur Rendell of the 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade, was killed in action on the 4th December 1914. He was a Somerset man, born in West Coker and enlisting at Somerset in September or October 1912.

Richard was just 19 years old when he died. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that he was the son of Richard and Ann Rendell, of Manor Street, West Coker in Yeovil, and his medal index card records that he arrived in France on the 19th October 1914; a young Old Contemptible. He would have been entitled to the clasp for his 1914 Star but this appears not claimed for him.

Richard Rendell is buried in Rifle House Cemetery at Ploegsteert Wood in Belgium; one of 228 casualties at rest there. He was the only Rifle Brigade casualty on the 4th December 1914.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

95489 Pte Horatio Fitzhughes, 5th Bn, King's (Liverpool) Regiment

Twenty two days after the Armistice was declared, 15 British soldiers died of their wounds. 95489 Private Horatio Fitzhughes of the 5th Bn, King's (Liverpool) Regiment, succumbed to his injuries on the 3rd December 1918.

Horatio was a Manchester man who had enlisted at Manchester. He had previously served with the Lancashire Fusiliers (number 19263) and appears to have enlisted under an alias. A note on his Commonwealth War Graves Commission record states that the family name was Hughes. His medal index card records Horatio Fitz-Hughes. No service record survives.

Horatio is buried at Terlincthun British Cemetery on the outskirts of Boulogne. The cemetery was begun in June 1918 and was chiefly used for burials from base hospitals.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

7672 Pte George Carter, 1st Bn, East Lancashire Regt

7672 Private George Carter of the 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, died of wounds on the 2nd December 1915. George was an old soldier who had joined the East Lancs in 1903 and who therefore almost certainly on the Reserve when war was declared in August 1914. His medal index card is a little faded but it looks as though he arrived in France on the 22nd August 1914 and was therefore entitled to the clasp for his 1914 Star (indicated on his medal index card).

George was born in Accrincton and was stll living there when he enlisted. He is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension (Nord).

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

Major Bernard George Dawson Biggs, 5th Bn, Durham Light Infantry

Major Bernard George Dawson Biggs of the 5th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, died in England on the 1st December 1916. He was the husband of Anne Isabella Biggs of 1 Flora Avenue, Darlington, and he is buried in Darlington West Cemetery.

Bernard had served overseas, arriving in France with the 5th DLI on 18th April 1915. He possibly died of wounds in the UK, or of sickness. His service record probably survives in one of the series for WW1 officers but until I see these, the circumstances of his death will be a mystery to me.

George was probably about 48 years old when he died. He was born in Lichfield, Staffordshire and appears on the 1901 census at 2 Cleveland Terrace, Darlington as (what looks like) a 32 year old bookseller and printer. He was also probably quite well off as he is noted as an employer. His wife Anne, was 44 years old in 1901 and the only other person noted for their household is Annie Brown, a 24 year old domestic servant. Ten years earlier, still living in Darlington, George appears as a 22 year old bookseller's assistant.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, 1891 and 1901 Census)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

SS/4480 Pte Thomas Russell Maddams, ASC

SS/4480 Private Thomas Russell Maddams of the 1st Labour Company, Army Service Corps, died on the 30th November 1914 in France. He had arrived there on 26th August 1914 and is buried at St Marie Cemetery, Le Havre.

Thomas was born at Thornton Heath in Surrey and enlisted at Croydon. There is scant military information about him - only his medal index card appears to survive - but both this source, and Soldiers Died in The Great War state that he died on 30th November (as opposed to being killed in action or dying of wounds). It seems likely therefore that he died as a result of either sickness or an accident.

Thomas's birth was registered in the June quarter of 1879 and he married Maud Violet George in the December quarter of 1908. The couple appear to have had at least one child - Francis L Maddams - whose birth would be registered in the first quarter of 1915

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, Free BMD)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

7535 Pte Horace Alexander Mansell, 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers

7535 Private Horace Alexander Mansell of A Squadron, the 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers, died of wounds on the 29th November 1917. He was a Londoner, born in Islington, and was 25 years old when he died. Horace had been in France since the 17th May 1915 and his number indicates that he had probably been in khaki with the 5th Lancers since September 1914.

Horace was the son of Mrs Rose M Mansell of 18, Yonge Park, Finsbury Park in London. His birth was registered in the December quarter of 1892 and he appears on the 1901 census as an eight year old boy living at 15 Clayton Street, Islington with his parents, six sisters and two brothers. The family appears to have originally settled in Walworth and then moved further north to Islington, probably in the mid 1880s. Horace's father was a carpenter by trade and appears on the 1901 census as an engineer joiner fitter.

Horace's medal index card omits his middle name but the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) records him as H A Mansell. He was one of 514 British servicemen to die on this date and he is buried in Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery in Manancourt, France.

CWGC states that, "The cemetery was begun in 1917 and used until March 1918, mainly by the 21st and 48th Casualty Clearing Stations posted at Ytres."

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, 1901 census, Free BMD)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

126 Rfm Derrick Allan Kirkpatrick Pile, 5th London Regt

126 Rifleman Derrick Allan Kirkpatrick Pile of the 5th London Regiment was killed in action on the 28th November 1914. He had joined the 5th London Regiment just a few months earlier, enlisting at Bunhill Row in the City of London on the 10th August 1914. Papers from Derrick's service record survive - unusually - in the WO 364 pension series at the National Archives.

Derrick gave his age as 18 years, eleven months and three quarters. There is no "trade or calling" noted and his address is given as 56 Wickham Road, Brockley, south east London. He was also born in Brockley. Derrick was nearly five feet nine inches tall and had a good physical development.

After less than three months in khaki, Derrick sailed for France, arriving there on the 4th November 1914. He was killed less than a month later and is buried at Lancashire Cottage Cemetery in Belgium.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, WO 364)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

11869 Pte William Sass, 6th Bn, Loyal North Lancashire Regt

11869 Private William Sass of the 6th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regt, was killed in action on Gallipoli on the 27th November 1915. He was born in Kirkdale, Lancashire and enlisted in Liverpool towards the end of August 1914. His number indicates that he was an original member of the 6th Battalion, the first service battalion to be formed by the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.

William arrived in the Balkans on the 15th June 1915 and therefore endured the privations of that desperate front for five months before he was killed; one of 14 Loyal North Lancs men to die on this date. He is buried in Green Hill Cemetery in Turkey.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

27947 Pte George Henry Tombs, 3rd Bn, Worcestershire Regt

452 British officers and other ranks died on the 26th November 1917. 27947 Private George Henry Tombs of the 3rd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment died of wounds on this day. He was the son of Walter and Harriett Tombs, of Bishampton, Worcestershire and the husband of Annie Tombs, of Inkberrow, Worcs.

George's number suggests that he joined the Worcestershire Regiment in January 1916. He is buried in Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

3/7710 Pte Alfred Samuel Hordle, 1st Bn, Dorsetshire Regt

I was travelling yesterday and therefore had no opportunity to update this blog.

3/7710 Private Alfred Samuel Hordle of the 1st Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment, was killed in action on the 25th November 1914. His number indicates that he joined the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battlion of the Dorsetshire Regiment and this is confirmed by his partial service record which survives in the WO 363 series at the National Archives.

Alfred joined the 3rd Battalion on the 21st August 1914. He was 36 years old, was a serving member of the National Reserve and already had prior service with the 3rd Battalion. He was a married man and was living in Poole, Dorset. Alfred was five feet five inches tall, had a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair.

Alfred's wife is recorded as Ellen Isabella Hordle although by the time Alfred's British War and Victory medals were sent to her in 1921, she had re-married and her surname was Foot. This information is also included on Alfred's entry in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's register. Ellen had previously received his 1914 Star (in 1919 when she was still Ellen Hordle) and also, in April 1915, Princess Mary's gift to the troops. Read about the history of the Princess Mary tin here.

Alfred was posted to the 1st Battalion on the 23rd October 1914 sailed for France the same day. He was killed just over a month later. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate at Ypres.

When Ellen Hordle lost her husband she also lost her income and Alfred's surviving papers bear testimony to the obvious hardships that she suffered. There is a note in his files dated June 1915 which states that she was in distressed circumstances, and a later appeal, undated and subsequently fire-damaged which gives a little more detail. It states that Ellen (aged 39) was receiving a pension of ten shillings a week, that she was crippled and also extremely deaf and therefore unable to earn a living for herself. The recommendation, signed by the recruiting officer at Poole, was that she should be receiving a pension of at least one pound per week and that her lameness was likely to get worse rather than better. There is no record on file as to whether Ellen Hordle's appeal was successful.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

18380 Pte Thomas Straughan, 11th Bn, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

18380 Private Thomas Straughan of the 11th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, was killed in action on the 24th November 1916. He was the son of Mrs M H Straughan of 3, The Leazes, Throckley, Newburn in Northumberland.

Thomas was born in Tynedock, County Durham, and he enlisted at Newcastle. His number indicates that he joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in December 1914 but he certainly didn't go overseas until 1916. He is buried in Pond Farm Cemetery, south west of Ypres.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

152633 Gnr Arthur James Arnold, Royal Garrison Artillery

152633 Gunner Arthur James Arnold of the 393rd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, died of wounds in England on the 23rd November 1918, one of 91 men to die on this date. He was 21 years old, the son of Mrs Eliza Frances Topp of Barford St. Martin in Salisbury.

Arthur had been born in Parkstone, Dorset but enlisted at Devizes in Wiltshire. He is buried in the cemetery of the pretty St John The Baptist church at Burcombe in Wiltshire. Click here for views of the cemetery. The War Graves Photographic Project has a photograph of his grave.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War
The War Graves Photographic Project

27136 Pte Granville Schofield, 11th Bn, Lancashire Fusiliers

27136 Private Granville Schofield of the 11th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, died of wounds on the 22nd October 1916. He was 36 years old and the husband of Mary Ann Schofield of 45 Rutland Street, Werneth, Oldham.

Soldiers Died in The Great War records that Granville was born in Oldham and enlisted at Hollinwood in Lancashire. He is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension (Nord), one of 4343 identified casualties. Bailleul was, according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, home to the 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 11th, 53rd, 1st Canadian and 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Stations and it seems likely that Granville died of his wounds whilst at one of these clearing stations.

The war memorial at Hollinwood, lists 141 men who died during the First World War and Granville Schofield is probably one of those remembered on it. His army number indicates that he must have joined the Lancashire Fusiliers around May 1916 and therefore he probably hadn't been overseas very long before he was fatally wounded. His joining date indicates that he was either conscripted or had previously attested under the Derby Scheme and was then called up.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

23142 Pte Edwin Hayward, 4th Bn, Worcestershire Regt

23142 Private Edwin Hayward of the 4th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, died of wounds on the 21st November 1915.

He had arrived in the Balkans on the 29th October that year and died in a hospital in Malta, presumably after being wounded at, and evacuated from, Gallipoli. Edwin was born in Arlingham, Gloucestershire and was still living there when he enlisted. His army service number indicates that he joined the Worcesters in June 1915, and Soldiers Died in The Great War tells us that he enlisted at Gloucester.

Private Hayward is buried in Pieta Military Cemetery on Malta. This from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission:

"From the spring of 1915, the hospitals and convalescent depots established on the islands of Malta and Gozo dealt with over 135,000 sick and wounded, chiefly from the campaigns in Gallipoli and Salonika, although increased submarine activity in the Mediterranean meant that fewer hospital ships were sent to the island from May 1917. During the Second World War, Malta's position in the Mediterranean was of enormous Allied strategic importance. Heavily fortified, the island was never invaded, but was subjected to continual bombardment and blockade between Italy's entry into the war in June 1940 and the Axis defeat at El Alamein in November 1942. At the height of Axis attempts to break Malta's resistance in April 1942, the island and her people were awarded the George Cross by King George VI. Malta's defence relied upon a combined operation in which the contributions made by the three branches of the armed forces and Merchant Navy were equally crucial. Although heavily pressed in defence, offensive raids launched from the island by air and sea had a crippling effect on the Axis lines of communication with North Africa, and played a vital part in the eventual Allied success there. There are 1,303 Commonwealth casualties of the First World War buried or commemorated at Pieta Military Cemetery, including 20 Indian servicemen who were cremated at Lazaretto Cemetery. Second World War burials number 166. The Commission also cares for 772 non-war graves in the cemetery and 15 war graves of other nationalities."

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

9288 Pte William Arthur Gardiner, 2nd Bn, Leics Regt

9288 Private William Arthur Gardiner of the 2nd Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, died of wounds on the 20th November 1914. William was a Londoner who had been born in Walworth and was living in Peckham when he enlisted. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission tells us that he was 20 years old, the son of William A and Elizabeth Gardiner of 2 Downe's Place, Peckham, London. His army number tells me that he joined the Leicestershire Regiment around early August 1911.

Arthur arrived in France on the 12th October 1914. He is buried in Le Touret Military Cemetery.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

1601 Tpr George Neville Forde Hawkes, Royal Horse Guards

1601 Trooper George Neville Forde Hawkes of Royal Horse Guards (The Blues), was killed in action on the 19th November 1914. Judging by his army number, George probably joined The Blues in January or February 1914, and he was on French soil by 15th August that year. He is buried in Sanctuary Wood cemetery, five miles east of Ypres town centre.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

9934 Pte George Snowling, 1/4th Loyal North Lancashire Regt

263 British soldiers lost their lives on the 18th November 1917 and 9934 Private George Snowling was one of these men. He was serving with the 1/4th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and was killed in action on this day.

Soldiers Died in The Great War notes that he had previously served with the Royal Lancaster Regiment (number 1492) and his medal index card notes that he first arrived overseas in Africa on the 16th October 1914.

George Snowling has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial on the Somme.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

31354 John Smith, 7th Bn, South Staffordshire Regt

330 British Army officers and British Army other ranks died on this day - 17th November - in 1916.

31354 John Smith of the South Lancashire Regiment was killed in action whilst serving with the 7th Battalion. He had previously served with the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 25661) and was born in Wolverhampton, enlisting there (assuming the South Staffs Regt was the first regiment he joined) in March 1916.

John Smith has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial on the Somme.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

94283 L/Cpl Arthur Cupis, Royal Engineers

94283 L/Cpl Arthur Cupis of the 175th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers was killed in action on the 16th November 1915.

Arthur was 46 years old when he died and may have had prior military service with the Royal Engineers. He arrived overseas in France on 27th April 1915. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission tells us that he was the husband of Emily Cupis of 11 Manor Park Road, East Finchley, London, whilst Soldiers Died in The Great War notes that he was born in Holloway.

Arthur is commemorated on a special memorial situated in Maple Copse Cemetery near Ypres. The memorial commemorates 230 casualties whose graves were destroyed.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War