G/7050 Pte Arthur Airth, 4th Bn, Middx Ret

G/7050 Private Arthur Airth of the 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, died in Bailleul, France on the 15th June 1915, probably as a result of sickness. He was born in Hackney, was living at Maida Vale, and enlisted somewhere in London. His number indicates that he enlisted for wartime service only in early January 1915, and his medal index card shows that he arrived overseas in France on the 7th April that year. He is buried in the Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension (Nord).

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

18101 L/Cpl Walter Anderson, 15th Bn, Royal Scots

Edinburgh-born 18101 Lance-Corporal Walter Zerub Baillie Anderson of the 15th Battalion, Royal Scots, died of wounds at Number 8 Casualty Clearing Station, Bailleul on the 3rd April 1916. He was 28 years old, the son of the late Andrew Hislop Anderson, of 14 George Street, Edinburgh.

Walter came from a large family. Surviving papers in the WO 363 series at the National Archives indicate that in October 1919 he was survived by three brothers and seven sisters. Their ages in 1919 ranged from 44 to 27.

Walter enlisted at Edinburgh on the 3rd November 1914. He was a clothier by trade and was living with his father at George Street. He was five feet, six and a half inches tall, had a pale complexion, grey eyes and brown hair.

William Anderson and Sons Ltd was an established firm of "clothiers and military tailors" and still survives today as Kinloch Anderson. Information on a company brochure states, "Formerly William Anderson and Sons Ltd, and an independent company for over five generations, Kinloch Anderson has been known and respected for over a century in Scotland's Capital City, as makers and retailers of fine clothing and Highland Dress. Originally as civilian and military tailors, Kinloch Anderson developed a particular expertise in Tartans and Kiltmaking and tailored officers' uniforms for all the famous Scottish regiments."

Walter remained in Britain until the 7th January 1916, sailing for France the following day.

On the 10th April 1916, William Hislop Anderson, Walter's oldest brother, wrote to the Paymaster of the 15th Battalion, Royal Scots at The Hamilton Barracks in Hamilton. The letter was written on headed paper from the company's Glasgow office at 106 Hope Street. William wrote:

Dear Sir

A gentleman called on me today and informed me that my brother, lance-corporal W B Anderson, 18101 15th Royal Scots, had been struck by a bullet in the head and seriously wounded last Sunday night. As I have had no intimation of this from any other source I will be greatly obliged if you will let me know at the earliest moment possible if you have any information on the matter.

Thanking you in anticipation...

There is no reply amongst Walter's surviving papers but of course, at the time William was anxiously enquiring about his brother, Walter had already been dead for a week.

In December 1916, nine months after his death, Walter's personal effects were returned to William in Edinburgh. These are listed as: disc, letters, razor, brush, watch, photo, knife, pouch, notebook, purse, testament, mirror, pipe, torch-light, keys, writing case.

Walter Zerub Baillie Anderson is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension (Nord) in France.

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

20141 Pte Robert Liversedge, 9th Bn, KOYLI

20141 Private Robert Liversedge of the 9th Battaliuon, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, died on the 2nd March 1916. He was a native of Leeds and is buried in the Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension (Nord).

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

Sources:

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

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