Remembering Loos - 96 years ago today

On the 25th September 1915, 96 years ago, nearly 10,000 British army officers, NCOs and other ranks laid down their lives for King and Country. This was the opening day of the Battle of Loos and the majority of the 9661 men who died on this day, died in the assault towards Loos.

1310 Rifleman Joseph Hart of the 8th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Post Office Rifles) was one of the casualties on that day. He was born in Westbourne Park and was living at Notting Hill when he enlisted in late January or early February 1911. Like the majority of the men in the battalion he was probably a postman by trade. Joseph was 23 years old, the son of Edward and Fanny Elizabeth Hart of 23 Silchester Terrace, Notting Hill, London. He is buried in St Mary's Advanced Dressing Station Cemetery at Haisnes.

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

9309 Pte Thomas Wilken Cairns, 1st Bn Northumberland Fusiliers

The Battle of Mons - 97 years on

Ninety-seven years ago on the opening day of the Battle of Mons, 23rd August 1914, 9309 Private Thomas Wilken Cairns of the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action. He was one of 277 officers and men of the British Army to die on this day.

Thomas was born in Sunderland and was living there when he enlisted with the regiment in 1903. He was probably on the Reserve when Britain went to war in August 1914 but his medal index card reveals that he arrived overseas on the 13th August. Ten days later he was dead. Thomas has no known grave and is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial.

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

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Image from Wikipedia