Blog Stats
- 68,669 hits
-
Join 107 other subscribers
Follow me on Twitter
My Tweets
Category Archives: WW1
The Wipers Times
A new comedy drama starring Michael Palin is set to tell the true story of how troops during the Great War found a bout of humour on the battlefield using an abandoned printing press. Nina Koo-Seen-Lin takes a look at … Continue reading
Posted in Centenary, Television, WW1
Tagged BBC, Centenary, michael palin, wipers times, Ypres
Leave a comment
‘The Glorious First of July’
97 years ago today the Somme campaign began after a week long artillery bombardment. Initial reports of British and Commonwealth troops’ progress were promising and were reported positively in the British press, the full extent of the nearly 60,000 casualties … Continue reading
Posted in Somme, WW1
3 Comments
From Yeoman to Tunneller
My final post on the MacDuff family’s war experiences focuses on Donald MacDuff. Son of Peter and younger brother of William, Donald had a very interesting army career. On the face of it his war record seems quite strange; he … Continue reading
Posted in Research, WW1
Tagged Arras, Gallipoli, Royal Engineers, Scottish Horse, Somme, tunnelling
3 Comments
‘The Colonel’ – My Great Great Grandfather in the Black Watch
In previous posts I have written about my search for details of my Great Great uncle, William Brown MacDuff, who was killed in Belgium in December 1917. However as I started looking into my family tree in more detail, it … Continue reading
Posted in WW1
Tagged Black Watch, Fife, Lochgelly, MacDuff, Peter MacDuff, Royal Highlanders, Somme, Ypres
4 Comments
The 1st Queen’s At Gheluvelt
“October 31st and November 1st will remain for ever memorable in the history of our country, for, during those two days, no more than one thin and straggling line of tired-out British soldiers stood between the Empire and its practical … Continue reading
‘Thomas Hardy’ of Festubert
Whilst searching for biographies of officers of The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment in The Times, I came across a story that grabbed my attention entitled ‘Thomas Hardy of Festubert’. The story begins with an incongruous entry in the London … Continue reading
Posted in Festubert, Surrey Regiments, WW1
Tagged 1915, festubert, Queens, Surrey, WW1
Leave a comment
The Battle of Loos
Today marks the 97th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Loos, the British ‘big push’ of 1915. The battle was the first time some of Kitchener’s volunteers saw action – for many it would also be the last. … Continue reading
Posted in Gas, Loos, WW1
Tagged 1915, East Surrey, Gas, Loos, Propaganda, Queens, Surrey, WW1
5 Comments
Armistice Day in Ypres
Last November I travelled to Belgium with Leger Holidays on their ‘Armistice Day in Ypres’ tour. The reason for this was primarily to visit Tyne Cot for the first time, where my Great Great Uncle, William MacDuff, is commemorated. However … Continue reading
May you sleep well in the earth of beautiful France
Corporal William Stuart Barnett, KIA 7.9.14 William Stuart Barnett was born in Sutton, Surrey, in 1892. His father, a jeweller and silversmith, died when he was just three years old. After leaving school William worked as a Pawnbroker’s assistant and … Continue reading
The Youngest Lieutenant Colonel
Eric Gordon Bowden was killed on 22nd July 1918. At the time of his death he was Lieutenant Colonel of the 11th Battalion The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment), aged just 24. His Commonwealth War Graves Commission entry reads “Lt. … Continue reading
Posted in WW1
Tagged Bowden, Hardyman, Queens, Remembrance, Surrey, Youngest Lieutenant Colonel
1 Comment
ww1geek 