Category Archives: WW1
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
Posted in 1917, CWGC, Remembrance, Research, WW1
Tagged east kent regiment, nine elms, shot at dawn, the buffs, william munday
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A Missing Sergeant – updated
Once again time seems to have flown by since my last post, for a number of reasons. Family life and the day job have taken precedence, and a lot of my free time was spent preparing for my role as … Continue reading
Posted in 1915, Black Watch, CWGC, Research, Somme, WW1
Tagged Authuille, Black Watch, Hammerhead Sap, John Marnock
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He Made the Great Sacrifice for King and Country
So reads the epitaph on the grave of Second Lieutenant Alfred Claude Gant, 2nd Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who was killed less than a month before the war ended, aged 21. He lies in Busingy communal cemetery, about 15 … Continue reading
Posted in 1918, CWGC, Remembrance, Research, WW1
Tagged 2/KRRC, 2nd KRRC, AC Gant, Alfred Claude Gant, Gant, KRRC, KRRC Chronicle, Selle, Sneinton
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‘The bayonet was freely used’ – The 3/4th Queen’s at the Battle of Broodseinde 4th October 1917
The 3/4th battalion of The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) was a territorial battalion that been formed in 1915 and went overseas in June 1917, joining 62nd Brigade, 21st Division, in August. Although the battalion spent some time in the … Continue reading
Posted in 1917, Passchendaele, Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment, Surrey Regiments, WW1
Tagged 3/4th queen's, broodseinde
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Alfred Pollard VC
Today marks the centenary of the action for which Second Lieutenant Alfred Oliver Pollard was awarded the highest decoration for gallantry, the Victoria Cross. During this centenary of the First World War a commemorative paving slab is being laid in … Continue reading
Posted in 1917, Arras, Centenary, Gallantry, Wallington, War memorials, WW1
Tagged Alfred Oliver Pollard, Arras, Gavrelle, HAC, Honourable Artillery Company, Pollard, VC, Victoria Cross
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‘A mad scheme in my opinion’: The 1st Queen’s attack on the Hindenburg Line 23/04/1917
The 1st Battalion of The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) did not participate in the opening phase of the Battle of Arras from 9th April, but on 15th April as part of the ‘fresh’ 33rd Division, moved into support north … Continue reading
An Arras Mystery
Today marks the centenary of the death of Private Harold William Baker, 20th Royal Fusiliers, one of the men commemorated on Carshalton war memorial and who I wrote about in my book. Harold lived locally and attended St. Olave’s school … Continue reading
The 1st Queen’s 1914 Star Medal Roll
It has been a while since I last posted on here but I’ve been trying to fit in my ongoing research into the 1st Battalion The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) when time allows. One project I recently completed was … Continue reading
Posted in 1914, First Ypres, Projects, Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment, Research, Surrey Regiments, WW1, Ypres
Tagged 1914 star, 1st Queen's, medal roll, Queens, Research, Surrey, WW1, Ypres
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Sutton’s Somme campaign casualties
In my last post I listed the 38 men from Sutton and the surrounding area who lost their lives on 1st July 1916. On Remembrance Day, as the centenary of the end of the Somme campaign approaches, I thought it … Continue reading
Posted in 1916, Carshalton, Centenary, Remembrance, Somme, War memorials, WW1
Tagged Carshalton, Cheam, Remembrance, Somme, Sutton, Wallington, WW1
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Sutton and the Somme, 1st July 1916
Like communities up and down the country, Sutton and the surrounding area were hugely impacted by the Battle of the Somme. Ten men from Sutton (representing 2% of the names on Sutton memorial) and 20 from Carshalton (8% of the … Continue reading
Posted in 1916, Research, Somme, Surrey Regiments, War memorials, WW1
Tagged Belmont, Carshalton, Cheam, Somme, Somme100, Sutton, Wallington
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