17015 Pte Harold E Probert, 16th Bn, Royal Warwickshire Regt

17015 Private Harold Edwin Probert of the 16th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, was killed in action on the 27th May 1917. He was 30 years old, the son of William and Eliza Probert of 44, Broughton Road, Handsworth, Birmingham.

Harold's number dates to the 2nd or 3rd March 1916. He was almost certainly a Derby Scheme volunteer who had originally attested in December 1915 and been called up in March. His number does not belong to the series that was initially begun for the 16th Battalion (3rd Birmingham Pals) and if his service record is anything like those of some of the other men who joined up at the same time, he could have found himself overseas as early as the 13th June 1916. Harold's service record does not survive and so it is difficult to be precise about his exact movements. He is buried in Roclincourt Valley Cemetery.

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

539 L/Cpl Frederick Clarence Doyle, 15th Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Soldiers Died in The Great War (SDGW) records that 491 British NCOs and men, and 36 officers died on this day, 25th July, in 1916. 525 men; the equivalent of half an infantry battalion. Even today, so long after the shattering events of 1914-1918, such First World War statistics are staggering.

539 L/Cpl Frederick Clarence Doyle of the 15th Royal Warwickshire Regiment was one of these casualties, killed in action on this day. SDGW records that he was born in Sparkbrook, Birmingham and enlisted in Birmingham. His number indicates that he was an original member of the the 15th (Service) Battalion (2nd Birmingham) and probably joined up in mid September 1914.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records Frederick's number as 15/539 but adds no further information other than his place of burial: Danzig Alley British Cemetery, Mametz; grave reference I.A.3.

Frederick was 23 years old when he died. His birth was registered in Warwickshire in the December quarter of 1892 and he appears on the 1901 census living with his parents and siblings at 114 Grove Road, Yardley, Sparkhill. The household in 1901 comprised John W Doyle (head, aged 46, a solicitor's clerk), his wife Edith M Doyle (aged 35) and their four children: William J Doyle (aged 13), Edith C Doyle (aged 11), Frederick (aged 8) and Dorothy G Doyle aged 3. All the family members are recorded as having been born in Birmingham.

In 1891, when the previous census return had been taken, John Doyle and his family (with Frederick yet to arrive) had been living at Alfred Road, Yardley, and employed a servant. Edith Doyle's sister, Amy Hulse aged 12, was also at the family address.

The 15th (Service) Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment was raised by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham and a local committee in September 1914. On 5th October 1914 it moved to Sutton Coldfield and then, in June 1915, to Wensleydale as part of the 95th Brigade in the 32nd Division. In August it moved to Codford on Salisbury Plain befoire proceeding overseas, arriving in France on 21st November 1915. That's the date on Frederick's medal index card which also indicates that he was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals; medals he would never wear.

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

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, BMD, 1891 & 1901 census returns)
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in the Great War
British Regiments 1914-18 - Brig E A James OBE, TD

Birmingham Pals badge from the Terry Carter collection.