Category Archives: Research

1st Queen’s Epitaphs

Recently I’ve been doing some more research into the 1st Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). The battalion had a chapter in the regimental history, published in the early 1920s, but other than that little has been written about its experiences … Continue reading

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For England and Alice

In 1915 an interesting story appeared in several newspapers, concerning L/8863 Sergeant Cecil Robert Newman of the 2nd Battalion The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Cecil was born in Twickenham but lived in Mitcham. He was a pre-war Regular soldier … Continue reading

Posted in 1914, First Ypres, Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment, Remembrance, Research, Surrey Regiments, WW1, Ypres | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Tragedy of War

My research into the men named on Carshalton war memorial uncovered some sad stories, but one particularly tragic one in my eyes is that of Frederick Baldwin. Frederick was born in Carshalton and lived with his parents on Stanley Road. … Continue reading

Posted in 1915, Carshalton, CWGC, Loos, Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment, Remembrance, Research, Surrey Regiments, War memorials, WW1 | Leave a comment

Meteren isolated grave

I’ve written previously about a single First World War grave located near to where I live, but they do occur on the continent as well. ‘Meteren isolated grave’ is the description on the CWGC website of the lone grave of … Continue reading

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Some day, some time we’ll understand

On my recent trip to the battlefields of France and Flanders, I spent some time visiting the graves of men who were killed alongside my Great Great Uncle during a night attack on 2nd December 1917. One hundred men from … Continue reading

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In the Footsteps of the 1st Queen’s

At the end of May I ventured once more to the battlefields of Flanders. There was no specific reason for my trip, more a desire to return after nearly nine months away, for what might be my only visit this … Continue reading

Posted in 1914, 1917, 1918, CWGC, First Ypres, Passchendaele, Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment, Remembrance, Research, Surrey Regiments, WW1, Ypres | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Haig Homes

Douglas Haig and his Housing Legacy When I first started my journey researching my family’s involvement in the First World War, I never expected that my ‘day’ job and my ‘hobby’ might ever cross paths. Yet now more than ever, … Continue reading

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The gory details

I am often struck when reading newspaper reports or personal accounts from the war at just how frank they can be, in a way that you just would not see in newspapers these days. These accounts often include the ‘gory … Continue reading

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‘The position was a helpless one’ – The 2nd Sherwood Foresters at Ennetieres, 20th October 1914

The accounts that officer prisoners of war had to give when they returned from captivity make for fascinating reading. Not only can they flesh out the sometimes sparse and clinical war diary entries, but they can give an insight into … Continue reading

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A Lucky Escape

I am often struck when reading the recollections of soldiers in the First World War how much luck, providence, fate – call it what you will – seems to factor in their accounts. As such the following story caught my … Continue reading

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