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1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
The 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers were in Portsmouth at the outbreak of war in August 1914. They proceeded to France landing at Le Havre on the 14th of August 1914. Serving with the 9th Brigade, 3rd Division, BEF. They remained on the Western Front throughout the conflict, seeing action in most of the major battles. They saw action in The Battle of Mons and the rearguard action at Solesmes, The Battle of Le Cateau, The Battle of the Marne, The Battle of the Aisne, at La Bassee, Messines and the First Battle of Ypres. They took part in the Winter Operations of 1914-15, The First Attack on Bellewaarde and the Actions at Hooge. In 1916 they took part in The Actions of the Bluff and St Eloi Craters then moved to The Somme for The Battle of Albert, The Battle of Bazentin helping to capture Longueval, The Battle of Delville Wood and The Battle of the Ancre. In 1917 They were at Arras, seeing action at Battles of the Scarpe and The Battle of Arleux. They moved north to the Flanders and were in action during The Battle of the Menin Road and Battle of Polygon Wood during the Third Battle of Ypres. Then moved south and were in action at The Battle of Cambrai. In 1918 They were in action on The Somme, in the Battles of the Lys, the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and the Battle of the Selle. After the Armistice 3rd Division advanced into Germany as part of the Occupation Force.
5th August 1914 Mobilization
11th August 1914 Advance Party arrives
14th August 1914 Quartering Arrangements Completed
16th August 1914 Movement Orders
17th August 1914 On the Move
18th August 1914 On the Move
19th August 1914 Changes in quartering arrangements
20th August 1914 Changes in quartering arrangements
21st August 1914 Taking up stations in assigned areas.
22nd August 1914 Taking up stations in assigned areas.
23rd Aug 1914 1st Northumberlands defend the Canal
23rd August 1914 German attack crosses Canal
23rd Aug 1914 Hard Action
24th August 1914 Withdrawals
25th August 1914 Ongoing Retirement
26th August 1914 In Action
26th August 1914 Retirement
26th August 1914 Ongoing Retirement
27th Aug 1914 Rear Guard
27th August 1914 Continued withdrawals
28th Aug 1914 Rear Guard
28th August 1914 Initial Intelligence Report
29th August 1914 Ongoing Retirement
30th August 1914 Demolitions on withdrawals
31st August 1914 Continued withdrawals
4th September 1914 Enemy across the Marne
6th September 1914 Attack Made
7th September 1914 Attack progressing
8th September 1914 Ongoing Battles
9th September 1914 Ongoing Action
10th September 1914 Davance
11th September 1914 Continued progress
12th September 1914 Bad Weather
13th September 1914 Strong Opposition
14th September 1914 Further Advance
15th September 1914 Ongoing Action
15th September 1914 Shelling
16th September 1914 Difficulties
17th September 1914 Heavy Bombardment
18th September 1914 Night Attacks
19th September 1914 Attack Repulsed
20th September 1914 Ongoing Action
20th September 1914 Reliefs
21st September 1914 Attacks
22nd September 1914 Reliefs
23rd September 1914 Patrols
24th September 1914 Artillery Exchange
26th September 1914 Aircraft Assists
26th Sep 1914 Conflicting Information
27th September 1914 Continuing action around bridges
28th September 1914 Bridges
29th September 1914 Ongoing fighting on all fronts
30th September 1914 September Intelligence Summary
1st October 1914 Commencement of Move
11th Nov 1914 In Action
11th Nov 1914 Enemy Attack
12th Nov 1914 Machine Guns Active
15th Nov 1914 Counter Attack Suceeds
24th Dec 1914 Reliefs
18th Feb 1915 Reorganisation
21st Feb 1915 Misty Day
22nd Feb 1915 Thick Mist
23rd Feb 1915 Infantry Make Attack
24th Feb 1915 Artillery Support
26th Feb 1915 Reliefs
27th Feb 1915 Conference
28th Feb 1915 Shelling
30th Apr 1915 Under Shellfire
6th Jun 1915 Reliefs Complete
11th Jun 1915 Recce Made
12th Jun 1915 Recce
14th Jun 1915 Communication
15th Jun 1915 Into Position
15th Jun 1915 Preparations
16th Jun 1915 Attack Made
16th Jun 1915 Preparations
7th Sep 1915 Houses shelled
16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme
1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets
11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment
10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens
9th February 1916 Call Ups
6th March 1916 Casualties being evacuated for exhaustion and frost bite.
9th of March 1916 Orders
14th March 1916 Reliefs
18th March 1916 Grenadiers and a proportion of Signalers proceeded to the trenches to relieve the specialists of 1st. N.F.
19th March 1916 At 1700 hours the Battalion marched to trenches at St. Eloi via Reninghelst - La Clytte crossroads - Cafe Belge - Voormezeele
27th Mar 1916 Attack Made by 1st Northumberlands
27th March 1916 Six mines were successfully exploded.
22nd of April 1916 Gas
23rd of April 1916 Orders
24th of May 1916 Orders
27th of May 1916 Reliefs
14th July 1916 Attack Made
14th July 1916 Attack Made
15th July 1916 Consolidation
16th July 1916 Trench Work
17th July 1916 New Emplacements
18th July 1916 Heavy Shelling
22nd of July 1916 Front Adjustment Completed
10th September 1916 Reliefs
29th October 1916 Reliefs
14th November 1916 Reliefs
22nd December 1916 Shelling
30th March 1917 On the March
31st March 1917 Reliefs
1st May 1917 Orders Received
28th September 1917 Gas shells.
30th October 1917 Reliefs
20th November 1917 One of our aeroplanes brought down.
9th December 1917 Recce
11th December 1917 Sunken road heavily shelled.
12th Dec 1917 Orders
31st of January 1918 Training
21st March 1918 Bombardment
28th Mar 1918 Terrific Attack
31st of March 1918 Relief Completed
26th June 1918 Trench Work
1st Aug 1918 Some Shelling
1st Aug 1918 Dispositions
1st Aug 1918 In Support
2nd Aug 1918 Hostile Artillery Active
2nd Aug 1918 Shelling
3rd Aug 1918 Quiet
3rd Aug 1918 Shelling
4th Aug 1918 Orders Received
4th Aug 1918 Shelling
5th Aug 1918 Patrols
5th Aug 1918 Reliefs
6th Aug 1918 Some Shelling
6th Aug 1918 On the Move
7th Aug 1918 HQ Moves
7th Aug 1918 Reorganisation
8th Aug 1918 Training
9th Aug 1918 Training
10th Aug 1918 Visit
11th Aug 1918 Church Parade
12th Aug 1918 Training
13th Aug 1918 On the Move
14th Aug 1918 In Billets
15th Aug 1918 Training
16th Aug 1918 Football
17th Aug 1918 Training
18th Aug 1918 On the Move
19th Aug 1918 Orders
20th Aug 1918 Into Position
21st Aug 1918 Attack Made
22nd Aug 1918 Counter Attacks
23rd Aug 1918 Attack Made
25th Aug 1918 Shelling
26th Aug 1918 In Trenches
27th Aug 1918 In Trenches
27th Aug 1918 On the Move
28th Aug 1918 Reinforcements
29th Aug 1918 Into Support
30th Aug 1918 Reliefs
31st Aug 1918 In Action
2nd September 1918 On the Move
27th October 1918 Battalion moved from the Ecaillon and took over line of resistance East of Ruesnes
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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Those known to have served with1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers during the Great War 1914-1918.
- Alexander William. Pte. (d.16th Sep 1914)
- Andrews Norman. Pte. (d.22nd December 1916)
- Ayre Robert. A/CSM. (d.24th Oct 1918)
- Beech Edward. Pte. (d.16th June 1915)
- Bell John Henry. Pte. (d.3rd May 1917)
- Bellerby John Henry. Pte. (d.26th Feb 1915)
- Berry Henry Patterson. L/Cpl. (d.24th March 1918)
- Blackbird George. Pte
- Blue Alexander. Pte (d.3rd May 1917)
- Bolam MM. John. Pte.
- Boothman Alexander Robertson. Pte. (d.22nd Feb 1915)
- Boyes James. Cpl. (d.22nd Feb 1915 )
- Broderick John. Pte. (d.27th Oct 1914)
- Burden Herbert Francis. Pte. (d.21st July 1915)
- Campbell Henry W. Pte (d.24th Sep 1916)
- Carr Harry. Pte. (d.1st Nov 1914)
- Coates William. Pte.
- Cockburn George. Sgt (d.20th Nov 1917)
- Cowles Albert Victor. Pte (d.11th Jul 1916)
- Cullen Edward. Pte. (d.27th Sep 1918)
- Davis George William. A/Sgt
- Dixon Matthew Burnett. Pte. (d.25th Oct 1918)
- Dykes Thomas. Pte. (d.14th April 1915)
- Felton John. Pte. (d.8th Oct 1918)
- Fenwick Ralph William. Pte. (d.10th February 1917)
- Foster William Henry. Pte. (d.18th Sep 1918)
- Gilhooley MM. John. Sgt. (d.28th Mar 1916)
- Gillborn DCM Leonard. A/CSM. (d.15th Nov 1914)
- Gorman Hugh. Pte. (d.27th Mar 1916)
- Graham Dougald. Pte. (d.12th Apr 1918)
- Graham Henry. Pte. (d.1st March 1915)
- Harding James Henry. Pte. (d.16th Jun 1915)
- Hare Aaron. Pte. (d.29th Mar 1918)
- Hobbs Lionel Arthur. L/Sgt.
- Holmes William. Pte. (d.16th Jun 1915)
- Holmes William. Pte. (d.16th June 1915)
- Johnson Percy Richard. L/Cpl. (d.19th Apr 1918)
- Johnson William. L/Cpl. (d.30th Mar 1915)
- Johnson William. L/Cpl. (d.30th March 1915)
- Joyce James. Pte. (d.16th June 1915)
- Kearney Luke. Pte. (d.9th Nov 1914)
- King Michael. Pte. (d.18th Jan 1915)
- Knox Arthur Victor. Lt. (d.6th June 1917)
- Lavery Joseph. Pte. (d.10th Nov 1916)
- Lundy Albert James. Pte. (d.19th Sept 1914)
- MacDonald Thomas Graham. Pte (d.22nd Apr 1917)
- Marsh Thomas Oswald. Cpl. (d.18th Aug 1916)
- McGrevy Harry. L/Cpl. (d.14th September 1914)
- McLaughlin Patrick. CSM. (d.27th Mar 1916)
- McLellan William. Pte. (d.8th Nov 1914)
- Melville Abert. Pte. (d.16th Jun 1915)
- Mirfin Walter. Pte. (d.26th October 1914)
- Murray Peter. Pte. (d.25th Mar 1918)
- Myers Herman Fieldhouse. Pte. (d.27th Sept 1918)
- Nix Alfred Alaxander . Sgt.
- O'Neill James. L/Cpl. (d.16th March 1915)
- Owens Samuel. Pte. (d.22nd Aug 1917)
- Priest George. L/Cpl. (d.15th June 1918)
- Rangecroft John Whalley. L/Cpl. (d.9th May 1916)
- Rudd Charles Flower. Cpl. (d.9th Jan 1915)
- Russell Robert. Cpl. (d.17th Dec 1916)
- Sanders Abner Edwin. Pte. (d.1st Nov 1914)
- Sanders Abner Edwin. Pte. (d.1st Nov 1914)
- Scott Wiiliam Thomas. Pte. (d.27th July 1915)
- Scully William. Pte. (d.16th June 1915)
- Shimeld Percy. Pte. (d.23rd-25th August 1918)
- Smith George Norman. Pte (d.22nd May 1918)
- Souter James. Pte. (d.28th Feb 1915)
- Wallace William. Pte. (d.16th June 1915)
- Warner Richard Samuel. Pte. (d.5th Aug 1918)
- Watts Charles. Cpl. (d.9th Apr 1918)
- Weldon MM Foster Thomas. Pte. (d.23rd December 1916)
- White Alexander. Pte. (d.9th April 1917)
- Whittaker Henry. Pte. (d.14th Jan 1917)
- Widdowson Joseph. Sgt. (d.19th May 1915)
- Wilkinson Mathew. Pte. (d.8th Nov 1914)
- Wilson Joseph Edgar. L/Cpl. (d.6th May 1918)
- Woods Frederick. Pte. (d.3rd May 1917)
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers from other sources.
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Pte. William Henry Foster 1st Btn. Northumberland Fusliers (d.18th Sep 1918) William Henry Foster was my mother's brother. Now it is 100 years since the start of the 1st World War I just want anyone friend or relative to know that he is remembered.
No one ever visited his grave at Terlincthun Wimille, France that I know of but he is remembered. I think of him often.
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Pte. Dougald Graham 1st Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.12th Apr 1918) Dougald Graham died on the 12th of April 1918, aged 22 and is buried in the Etaples Military cemetery in France.
He was the son of Mr and Mrs Peter and Mary Graham, of 45 Calder Street, Motherwell, Lanarkshire. Dougald had a brother John who was killed in action.
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Cpl. Robert Russell 1st Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.17th Dec 1916) Robert Russell died of wounds on the 17th of December aged 20 and is buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery in France.
He was the son of Mrs Russell of 118 Percy Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
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Pte. Frederick Woods 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (d.3rd May 1917) Fred Woods was born in Hucknall Torkard, now known simply as Hucknall, Nottinghamshire in 1898. In 1911 he was living in Stamford at 39 St Paul's Street (now demolished) with his parents Frank Woods and Mary Ann (nee Hodgett) Woods, his sister Lucy (11) and brothers Frank (8) and Bertie (4). His father was a fitter at Martins Cultivator Company – both his parents and all his siblings were born in Stamford.
In 1901 the family had been living at 2 Reynolds Court, St George’s Street. At the time of that census his father was a soldier serving in South Africa in the Second Boer War.
Following in his father's footsteps Fred enlisted for military service in Sleaford joining the 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. Details of his early service have not been located. From the WWI Casualty Records we learn he served in France & Flanders. On 3rd of May 1917 at the age of 19 he was wounded and presumed killed during the Arras Offensive during the Third Battle of Scarpe.
Having no known grave and based on his relevant military service, Fred has recently been accepted for commemoration on the Arras Memorial.
He is also remembered on the Stamford Memorial and St George's Church Roll.
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Pte. Alexander White 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (d.9th April 1917) Alexander White is my great uncle who died 9th of April 1917 and buried at Duisan British Cemetery, Etrun France. My grandfather Alexander's brother died also 1917.
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L/Cpl. Harry McGrevy 1st Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.14th September 1914) Harry McGrevy was the son of Henry and Margaret McGrevy. Husband of Ruth McGrevy and father to Margaret McGrevy. His brothers Arthur and James McGrevy were also both killed in action.
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Pte. Richard Samuel Warner 1st Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.5th Aug 1918) Sam Warner is remembered on the War Memorial in Alne Church, York.
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Cpl. Thomas Oswald Marsh 1st Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.18th Aug 1916) Thomas Marsh served with the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers.
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Pte Thomas Graham MacDonald A Squadron 1st Btn Northumberland Hussars (d.22nd Apr 1917) We never knew this Grandfather but recently three generations of us visited his graveside in Aubigny-en-Artois. A very moving and poignant
time.
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Pte. Edward Cullen 1st Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.27th Sep 1918) Edward Cullen was my great great uncle. He was born in 1899, son of Patrick and Mary Cullen of 86 St Anne Street, Birkenhead.
He was a Private in the 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. Edward was Killed in action in Flanders on the 27th of September 1918 at the age of 19. His body was never found.
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Pte. William Scully 1st Battalion, W Coy. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.16th June 1915) William Scully was a professional soldier having joined up in late 1912. He was declared killed in action on the 16th of June 1915 after an attack on the German trenches. His body is yet to be found. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate.
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Pte. Percy Shimeld 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (d.23rd-25th August 1918) Percy Shimeld was my mother's brother. He joined up under age and was just 19 when he was killed in action near Achiet le Grand.
He has no knowm grave but his name is commemorated on the Memorial at Vis-en-Artois.
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Sgt. Joseph Widdowson 1st Battalioin Northumberland Fusiliers (d.19th May 1915) Joseph Widdowson enlisted around 1902 and probably entered the Reserve around 1910 or 11. He re-enlisted at Newark and entered theatre on 2nd of November 1914 serving in Y Company, 1st Northumberland Fusiliers.
The battalion had been heavily engaged in October around Herlies and at Messines on 1st of November and were at that time fighting at Herenthage Chateau. On 16th of June 1915, he took part in the attack on Bellewaarde Ridge as part of an attempt by 9th Brigade to break through the German lines and reach Bellewaarde Lake. The War Diary lists him as missing, but he was actually wounded and a prisoner of war.
Joseph succumbed to his wounds on the 19th of June 1915 and was buried in the German Military Cemetery at Ledeghem. After the war his body was reinterred in the Harlebeke New British Cemetery.
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Pte. Norman Andrews 1st Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.22nd December 1916) Norman Andrews was born on 22nd November 1887 to William and Martha Carlisle Andrew at 17A Ashfield, Horton, Bradford. The ninth of eleven children, nine of which survived childhood. His birth certificate also states that his father was a postman.
He first appears on the 1891 census aged 3 and living at 324 Barkerend Road, Bradford, in the parish of St Peters and East Bradford Parliamentary Constituency. His youngest brother, Arthur Edward was yet to be born. Two older siblings, William Ernest and Florence had already passed away. William Ernest died on 3 September 1883 aged 4 from scarlet fever and convulsions which he had endured for three days. Florence died on 22 April 1882 aged 1 from an inflammation of the chest which she had endured for 9 days. Their father was the informant and present at the death of both his children. No record has yet been found for Norman on the 1901 census, but he features on the 1911 census. At this time he is 23 and living at 28 Fitzroy Road, Bradford together with his mother, aged 60 and 5 unmarried siblings. He is recorded as being single, a patternman working in stuffs. He was involved in the manufacture of worsted.
During World War I, Norman played his part for King and Country. He served in both the 8th and 1st Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers, his rank being that of Private. On 21st of September 1915, he disembarked in the Balkans and for his participation in this conflict was entitled to the decoration of the 1914-15 Star.
Norman did not survive the war and was killed in action on the Somme on 22n d of December 1916. The Northumberland Fusiliers Diary for December 1916 records little action for that month, the actual battle of the Somme having ended on 18th of November. In December the battalion comprised working parties repairing trenches and delivering rations to the front lines. The entry for the day on which Norman was killed reads as follows,
"22nd of December 1916 Owing to the heavy going and the darkness of the night it was found impossible to carry all rations to front line companies without some parties doing 3 journeys to the ration dump. The enemy shelled the right (X boys) front in the afternoon one shell breaking down the roof of one of the big dug-outs burying 10 men. After working 1.9 hours all but 3 men were got out, one of whom was killed. R.E. assistance did not arrive until 8 hours after the dug-out was blown in. As it was impossible to get at the remaining 3 men, who it was known must be dead, the systematic re-building of the dug-out was begun. It is thought that the breakdown was due to there being some shell holes on the top of the dug-out which had not been filled in."
Norman is buried in Courcelles-au-Bois Communal Cemetery.
The entry in the cemetery records reads, Son of William and Martha Andrews, of 27 Silverhill Drive, Thornbury, Bradford, Yorkshire. Remembered with honour. The inscription on his tombstone reads
"He sleeps with England's heroes in the watchful care of God."
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L/Cpl. Percy Richard Johnson 1st Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.19th Apr 1918) Dick Johnson served with the 1st Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers.
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Pte. Michael King 1st Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.18th Jan 1915) Michael King was born 8th February 1891 in Newcastle-on-Tyne, Northumberland. A son of William John King and Isabella (nee: Spoor). Sadly, this couple also lost another son, Charles Thomas King, to the Great War. Michael was killed in action at Ypres in Flanders. He was survived by his wife, Emily Annie (nee Driscoll) and his son, Thomas King.
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Lt. Arthur Victor Knox 5th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.6th June 1917) My Great Uncle, Arthur Knox of 5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, attached to 1st Battalion, was killed in action on the 6th of June 1917 in France. His body was never recovered. Remembered at Arras Memorial, France.
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A/Sgt George William Davis 1st Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers Speaking with my father one time, he mentioned that his uncle, George William Davis's, medals had been handed down to him, so I immediately asked to see them. What I found was a little treasure trove, because it wasn't just the medals, but a small package with lots of goodies inside. In addition to his medals, there was something I had never seen before, a silver War Badge and the certificate to match it by name and serial number: B38666.
The package also contained his Soldier's Small Book with his enlistment and discharge details, an Active Service Testament with a date of 21st January 1915, a book titled Trench Orders British Salonika Army, a book titled A Short History of the Fifth Fusiliers from 1674 to 1911 and a book titled Balkan Army Uniforms. Plus a pack of playing cards advertising Scissors Cigarettes.
Additionally, there were two letters, one detailing the formation of the Fifth Fusiliers Old Comrades Association, dated 15th November 1913 and the other dated 30th March 1950 from Depot Fifth Fusiliers thanking George for donating items to the Museum.
Also included were two postcards, the first unsent is a tale of Brocton Camp (research tells me this was in Staffordshire), which was used as a staging camp during the war. The other is dated 25th August 1916 with a stamp saying On Active Service. This was sent to his wife living in Kings Langley at the time.
So now I turned my attention to the medals and War Badge, and what a fascinating collection it is. From left to right there are: North West Frontier 1908, India; 1914 Star with clasp 5th August to 22nd November 1914; British War Medal; Victory Medal; Defence Medal 1939-1945.
George enlisted on 23rd December 1903 at Woolwich, hence the 1908 medal, and was discharged on 5th November 1918. So the Defence Medal was for service in the Home Guard, and I've still to do that research.
The medal ribbons were in a very poor state, so I arranged with my Father to have the medals remounted and placed in a display box. The original medal ribbons were returned to us, and a good job too. When I pealed back the old ribbons, I found the original ribbon bar underneath. The 1914 Star with clasp entitles the recipient to wear a silver rosette on the medal ribbon bar when not wearing their medals and there was the rosette! The Silver War Badge was issued in the United Kingdom and the British Empire to service personnel who had been honourably discharged due to wounds or sickness from military service in World War I. The serial number is stamped on the back of the badge and in this instance matches the certificate dated 29th November 1918 issued to G W Davies. And this is part of the problem of ancestry research, because his surname is spelt Davis. The problem doesn't stop there either; some of the medals have his name spelt Davies as well! No wonder ancestry research can be so frustrating, but I will keep on digging.
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Pte. John Bolam MM. 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers John Bolam is my great granddad.
He was a regular soldier before the Great War and was posted to Hilsbrough Barracks in Sheffield were he met my great grandma Jessie around 1910.
Not 100% sure on what happened during the war years as he changed battalions with in the Northumberland Fusiliers around 6 times, my guess is because of the heavy losses. He was also a military medal winner and it was published in September 1917 in the news paper. From 3rd party information family it was for taking out a gun position on his own because everyone was killed on the journey.
I'm currently researching information on him to build up is journey
Would be great to find the whole truth and his journey on the western front
I'm also a soldier and have served in the recent wars and I have a lot of respect for these guys my experiences are nothing compared to these guys.
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Pte Albert Victor Cowles 1st Btn Northumberland Fusiliers (d.11th Jul 1916) Albert Victor Cowles was my grandfather's brother. Albert was 19 years old when he was killed in action on the Somme. He has no grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Monument. The 1911 Census states that Albert was 14 years of age and at that time, was working as a Pony Driver at Tinsley Pit, Sheffield. One of Albert's older brothers - David - was killed in 1915 at Gallipoli. My grandfather John survived the war, but as he suffered the effects of gassing in the trenches, he was never strong again and died in 1935 aged 45 years - as much a casualty of WWI as his brothers.
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