Tuesday 30 August 2011

2530 Cpl Frank Kilsby, 1/8th Worcs Regt

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

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

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Monday 29 August 2011

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

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

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

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

Sources:
Ancestry (MIC)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission


Saturday 27 August 2011

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

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

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

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

Sources:

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



Naval & Military Press