7660 Pte Henry William Emberson, 1st Bn, DCLI

 

I am pleased to remember here, 7660 Private Henry William Emberson of the 1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry who was killed in action on 22nd October 1914 aged 29.

 

Henry enlisted at Warley in Essex and judging by his regimental number, he joined up in October 1903, probably for three years with the colours and nine on the reserve. This would have meant that he was a reservist in August 1914 and, recalled to the colours, was probably at the regimental depot by 5th or 6th August 1914.  His medal index card shows that he arrived in France on 21st August 1914 and after nearly eight years on the reserve, getting back into the swing of army life (and more to the point, marching on the cobbled pave of Belgium and France) must have come as a shock to the system.

 

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that Henry was the son of William and Elizabeth Emberson of 7Auckland Road, Leyton.  Soldiers Died in The Great War also notes that he was born at Leyton and was living in Leyton when he enlisted. His body was never identified and he is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial.

 

The war diary for the 1st Battalion DCLI states that on the 21st October, the battalion held back several German counter-attacks during the day, the last of which came at 2am on the 22nd. This 2am attack is possibly when Pte Emberson was killed, because at 3am the DCLI were relived and moved back into reserve. Although they were called back up later on the 22nd, they were not engaged and there is no mention of any casualties for the rest of the day.

The Commonwealth War Graves it shows that 10 privates and two lance-corporals of the 1st Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry were killed that night. They were Privates:  8348 Coughlan, 7660 Emberson,  7270 Flay, 10262 Higgins, 4990 Innes, 10003 King, 7888 Miller, 7333 Robbins, 8450 Smith and 8515 Wake. The two lance-corporals were 7110 Twiselton and 8786 Denton.

 

My thanks to William Williams who contacted me about Private Emberson having read my post on Issachar Allen, also of the 1st DCLI, who was killed the previous day, 21st October 1914. William writes, "I have tried to find out as much as I can on Henry and was lucky enough to find his medals. I was able to buy them and now every remembrance Sunday, I wear them in his memory."

 

Henry Emberson's medal index card courtesy of Ancestry.

 

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Killed in the Gretna Green train crash

Private Laurence Henry, 7th Royal Scots, remembered in Shetland's Roll of Honour.

Robert Eunson & Stewart Eunson

Remembering brothers Stewart Eunson and Robert Eunson who both died of meningitis, two months apart in 1915. Their photos and potted profiles appear in the Shetland Roll of Honour.

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

7090 Cpl Michael Gleeson, 2nd Bn, Royal Irish Regiment

7090 Corporal Michael Gleeson of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, died ninety-nine years ago today, on the 9th March 1915.

Michael Gleeson's medal index card notes that he was a Prisoner of War and that he died on 9th March 1915.  It is possible that he was captured in 1914 - most PoWs captured in 1914 have this fact recorded on their medal index card whereas many later PoWs do not.

Soldiers Died in The Great War and Ireland's Memorial Roll both note Michael's place of birth as Cowley in Oxfordshire, the former also noting that he was living in Bath, Somerset when he enlisted.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists Michael Gleeson as George Arthur Gleeson, further recording that he was the son of Ellen Elizabeth Gleeson, of 14 Beecham Cliff Place, Holloway, Bath, and the late John Gleeson. His age is recorded as 32 years, meaning that he must have been born in around 1883.

I think it likely that Michael was a career soldier who joined the Royal Irish Regiment in the first half of 1901 - his army number certainly dates to this period - and that having completed his army service he signed on for a further four years as a Section D reservist.  He was certainly one of the first original members of the BEF to arrive overseas, landing in France on the 13th August 1914.

Michael is buried in the Berlin South Western cemetery, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission noting, "In 1922-23 it was decided that the graves of Commonwealth servicemen who had died all over Germany should be brought together into four permanent cemeteries. Berlin South-Western was one of those chosen and in 1924-25, graves were brought into the cemetery from 146 burial grounds in eastern Germany. There are now 1,176 First World War servicemen buried or commemorated in the Commonwealth plot at Berlin South-Western Cemetery."

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

2862 Rfm Ernest Henry Jones, 12th London Regt

2862 Rifleman Ernest Henry Jones was killed in action on this day, 10th February 1915, 99 years ago. He was 17 years old at the time of his death and was living in Walthamstow when he enlisted. According to his regimental number, this must have been around the 7th September 1914.

Ernest's medal index card notes that he arrived in France on Christmas Eve 1914.  He was the son of E. Morgan Jones and Annie Jones, of 24 Tower Hamlets Road, Hoe Street, Walthamstow, London.  He has no known grave and is commemorated on panel 54 of the Menin Gate memorial in Ypres.

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

27/231 Sgt Timothy Fay, 27th Northumberland Fusiliers

According to Soldiers Died in The Great War, 1,256 British officers and men died on this day, 14th April, in 1917.  The majority of these men would have been killed in the fighting around Arras which, five days earlier had cliamed the lives of, amongst others, the poet Edward Thomas.

27/231 Sergeant Timothy Fay of the 27th (4th Tyneside Irish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, died of wounds on this day.  He is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery. His number indicates that he was an original member of this battalion who joined it in December 1914.  He was born in Newcastle in 1889 and enlisted there at the age of 25.  He was a married man, a labourer according to the 1911 census, married to Margaret Ann Fay (nee Grieveson).  A two-year-old son, James Fay, appears on the 1911 census and there were at least two daughters, Susannah (born in 1914) and Agnes W (born in 1917).  There is also a Margaret A Fay who was born in 1911 and who was also probably a daughter.  No service record survives for Timothy but he certainly did not go overseas until 1916 and when he landed in France he was an acting sergeant.

Agnes Fay, born after her father died, was either stillborn, or died shortly after birth.  Her birth and death were both recorded in the September quarter of 1917.  Either way, Margaret Fay suffered a double bereavement in 1917 losing her husband and baby daughter, and her young family, the oldest of whom would have been no older than eight years, would have to grow up without their father.

After the war ended, Margaret re-married.  Her marriage to John J Dixon is recorded in Newcastle-on-Tyne in the June quarter of 1919.  The couple would have five children of their own: Thomas (born in 1921), William (born in 1923), Christopher (born in 1927), Elizabeth (born in 1928) and James (born in 1931).

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

Walter Leonard Nixon

Remembering my grandfather, Walter Leonard Nixon, who was born 119 years ago today on the 1st February 1893.  A First World War veteran who served with the Royal Garrison Artillery, he was much loved by his family and, 32 years after his death, is still remembered with much fondness.  He sparked my interest in the WW1 and my one regret is that I did not ask him more about it.  Happy Birthday. May God rest his soul. 

2nd Lieut Charles Alfred Pigot-Moodie, 6th Bn, Rifle Brigade

2nd Lieut Charles Alfred Pigot-Moodie of the 6th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, was killed in action on the 14th January 1915.  He was the son of George and Rosa Pigot Moodie and was born at Westbrooke, Rondebosch, Cape Province, South Africa.  The cutting above is taken from De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour.

Charles Pigot-Moodie is buried in Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery. His brother's son, John Peter Pigot-Moodie, is recorded as a Second World War casualty.

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


Sources:


WW1 Medal Index Cards
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers - FREE
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission - FREE

11/11/11

Remembering our dead today. In particular, Rfm John Frederick Nixon, KiA on the 3rd October 1918.

At the Going Down of the Sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Light a Light of Remembrance on the Imperial War Museum's Centenary Wall.

30724 Pte George Rolfe, 9th Bn, Suffolk Regt

30724 Private George Rolfe of the 9th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment was killed in action on the 10th October 1916; one of over 650 British Army officers and men to die on this day. He was born in Depden Green, Suffolk and enlisted at Bury St Edmunds. He was 27 years old, the son of Thomas and Annie Rolfe, of Bury Road, Depden. George has no known grave and is commemorated on the imposing Thiepval Memorial on the Somme.


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


Sources:


WW1 Medal Index Cards
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers - FREE
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission - FREE

Imgae courtsey of Paul Reed and borrowed from his page on the Thiepval Memorial.

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

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

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

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

1st July 1916 - 95th anniversary

Remembering today, the men of the British Empire who gave their lives for King and Country on the 1st July 1916. I remember in particular the veterans I interviewed who were there on the Somme on that bright but fateful day ninety-five years ago today.

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

13241 Pte Harry V A Hull, 1st Bn, Beds Regt

13241 Private Harry Valentine Alexander Hull of the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment was killed in action ninety-six years ago today. He was born and bred in Markfield, Leicestershire and enlisted at St Albans in early September 1914. His medal index card notes that he arrived overseas on the 11th March 1915. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (which appears to have transposed his middle names and records him as Harry A V Hull) notes that he was 19 years old when he died and was the son of Harry Hull, of Birch Hill, Copt Oak, Markfield, Leicester. He is buried in Tuileries British Cemetery in Belgium.

Two other 1st Battalion men also died the same day. They were, 10308 Acting Lance Corporal Charles Gunn and 14413 Private William Jackson. William is buried in Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery whilst Charles Gunn has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres.


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

21877 Gdsmn William D Matson, 3rd Bn, Grenadier Guards

21877 Guardsman William Dunn Matson of the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards was killed in action on the 29th March 1916. He was born in Brotten, Yorkshire and enlisted at Whitby in the second week of January 1915. William was 21 years old, the son of John and Margaret Matson of Brotton. He is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery in Belgium.

William was one of our Grenadier Guardsman to die on the 29th March 1916. The other three men, all of whom died of wounds, were:

14250 Gdsmn Arthur Edwin Hine, 1st Bn, enlisted Feb/Mar 1909
18420 Gdsmn Arthur John Lane, 2nd Bn, enlisted Sep 1914
17106 Gdsmn James Frederick Parker, 2nd Bn, enlisted Aug 1914

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

32976 L/Cpl William Eaglesham, 14th HLI

3,025 British Army officers and men died on the 23rd March 1918 and 32976 Lance-Corporal William Eaglesham of the 14th (Service) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry was one of these men. He was killed in action.

William was born in Camlachie, Lanarkshire and he enlisted at Glasgow. He is buried in Douchy-Les-Ayette British Cemetery in France.

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

79607 Pte Jacob Sarfaty, RAMC

79607 Private Jacob Sarfaty of the 37th General Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps was killed in action in Salonika on this day, the 12th March, in 1917. He was 29 years old and the son of Mordecai and Jean Sarfaty of 60 Sydner Road, Stoke Newington, London. Jacob was born in Tower Hamlets and was living in Stoke Newington when he enlisted. On this, the 94th anniversary of his death, he is not forgotten.

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