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8th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
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These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with 8th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. - Abbott John. Pte. (d.7th Jun 1917)
- Allen Arthur. Pte. (d.25th Oct 1918)
- Bambury William George. Pte. (d.23rd Jul 1916)
- Beacham Rupert. Pte. (d.10th April 1918)
- Bennett Ernest Harold. Pte.
- Bishop Charles. Pte. (d.30th May 1918)
- Bishop Charles. Pte. (d.30th May 1918 )
- Bridger Harry Edward. Pte. (d.17th Apr 1918)
- Bunting Arthur. Pte.
- Carpenter Harry. Pte. (d.8th Jun 1917)
- Carton VC, DSO. Adrian. Lt.Gn.
- Chaplin Arthur. Pte. (d.20th September 1917)
- Clark A.. Pte. (d.7th Jun 1917)
- Eastman MM. Frederick William. Pte.
- Eyre Harry. Pte. (d.19th September 1918)
- Gage Frank William. Pte. (d.11th Sep 1916)
- Hargreaves Thomas. Pte. (d.18th April 1918)
- Harris Wilfred Henry. Pte. (d.3rd Apr 1918)
- Haviland Harold Sidney. Sgt. (d.24th Mar 1918)
- Hobson DCM - Distinguished Conduct Medal Harold. Private
- Langan William Henry. L/Cpl. (d.3rd July 1916)
- Large Frank. Pte.
- Lloyd John Herbert. Pte. (d.20th Sep 1917)
- Meredith Charles James. Pte. (d.27th July 1916)
- Millward J. H.. Pte. (d.8th Jun 1917)
- Morse Harry Lawson. Pte. (d.7th Jun 1917)
- Mundy Samuel. Pte. (d.9th Sep 1918)
- Mustoe MM Frederick William. Pte.
- Parkey Jabez. Pte. (d.10th Jul 1917)
- Pearce Wilfred. Pte. (d.3rd Jul 1916)
- Pottinger Frank. Pte (d.11th May 1917)
- Price Evan Henry. Pte. (d.20th September 1917)
- Starling F. G.. Pte. (d.2nd Dec 1918)
- Thombs Hubert. Pte. (d.4th October 1917)
- Walker John Thomas. Pte (d.22nd Sep 1918)
- Walters John Thomas. Pte. (d.8th Aug 1915)
- Ward MM. James Pailing. Pte. (d.18th Apr 1918)
- Ward Mark Witworth. Pte. (d.3rd Jul 1916)
- Watkins Lionel Joseph. Sgt.
- Wixey Frederick Thomas. Pte. (d.3rd July 1916)
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 8th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment from other sources.
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Pte. John Herbert Lloyd 8th Btn. Gloucestershire Regiment (d.20th Sep 1917) John Lloyd was a private in the 8th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment and was killed at Passchendaele on 20th of September 1917, aged 19. He is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery.
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Pte. Frank Large 10th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment  My great-grandfather Frank Large, was a labourer and platelayer with Great Western Railways and joined up with the 10th Gloucesters on the 9th of August 1914 aged just 21. He was one of the first to answer Kitchener’s call to arms. He went to France in August the following year. To the best of my knowledge from paperwork and accounts told by my grandfather Herbert Large, he went over the top on the 25th of September 1915 at Loos. His pension records detail several interesting things I would like to share:
- His records detail that he served in France for 38 months out of the 51 months the war ran.
- He was wounded in the left forearm by a bullet. My grandfather always said that the bullet went through his arm. Funnily enough, my grandfather was nicked by a bullet in the same arm in WW2 in the Far East with the Royal Marines.
- He received field punishment number one for being late on parade on at least one occasion; a few other times, he was confined to barracks.
- He was made lance corporal, but reverted to private at his own request.
- He is detailed as having moved to the 8th Gloucesters for a time.
- He is detailed as having worked as a stretcher bearer, or at least qualified as such as far as I can tell.
- He also was in the 74th Battalion of the Machine Gun Corps towards the end of the war. He has two service numbers, one for the Gloucesters and one for the MGC.
From family stories, he was one of the few to return to his village, where he found out that his fiancee had been killed by the Spanish flu. Whereas it was often the other way round for wives and fiancees to be left behind as the men were killed off.
He returned and worked on the railways and raised a family. He never spoke a lot about the war as many did not, but towards the end he spoke to my grandfather and a few funny stories came out. Most of them were about the acquisition of alcohol through various means.
I have his pension records, which are an interesting read.
I have a copy of the War diaries for the 10th Gloucesters which is also interesting to read and details an inspection by the King. One of the most poignant facts I observed with the diaries is the change of handwriting as the war progresses and officers are killed, often with the new writer detailing his predecessor’s passing and the details.
There was also a William Ingles who served with the 10th Gloucesters and won the DCM on the 25th of September but was killed two weeks later at the Hohenzollern redoubt. My great-great-grandmother’s maiden name was Ingles and I have often wondered if they were related somehow.
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L/Cpl. William Henry Langan 8th Btn. Gloucestershire Regiment (d.3rd July 1916)  William Langan was my great grandfather and I have letters relating to his death at the Battle of Albert on 3rd July 1916.
The text of those letters follows:
France
July 7th 1916
Dear Mrs Langan,
I regret to have to inform you that your husband was wounded on July 3rd at La Boisselle. The Regiment was taking part in a successful attack on the German trenches when he was hit. The wound is not a serious one and you will probably hear from him very shortly that he is in hospital and going on nicely.
Yours Faithfully
B. B. Vincent
8th Gloucesters
Infantry Record Office
No 7 District
Warwick
July 9th 1916
Dear Mrs Langan,
Just a few lines to express to you the sympathy of myself and my comrades, we were all very sorry when your husband was wounded as he was well liked and was always a good comrade.
I am returning to you the letters that have come, as I did not know his address and it would be a long time before they reached him.
We took the cigarettes you sent and shared them amongst the boys, as we would not send them back.
I hope he is going on alright, and please ask him to drop us a card sometimes to let us know how he is going on as all the boys would like to know.
Please remember us all to him.
Yours Sincerely,
Cpl. D. W. Summers,
Infantry Record Office
No 7 District
Warwick.
18th August 1916
With reference to your letter of the 17th xxxxxxxxxx asking for news of L/Cpl WH Langan. I have made enquiries everywhere but nothing definite can be found.
He was hit in La Boisselle whilst one Coy (Company?) was in action on the morning of the third. His wound was clean through the left shoulder just above the left breast. This was xxxxx and he started to walk back to the dressing station with the other walking cases. Since then nothing has been heard or seen of him, however, if by any chance I manage to obtain further news I'll let you know immediately. So that Mrs Langan may not be left in suspense.
H. W. N. Edwards
D. C. Coy
Infantry Record Office
No 7 District
Warwick.
Army Form B. 104/82A.
Infantry Record Office
Warwick Station
June 6th 1917
Sir,
It is my painful duty to inform you that no further news having been received relative to (No.) 11257 (Rank) L/Cpl (Name) William Henry Langan (Regiment) Gloucestershire Regt. who has been missing since July 3rd 1916, the Army Council have been regretfully constrained to conclude that he is dead, and that his death took place on the 3rd July 1916 (or since).
I am to express to you the sympathy of the Army Council with you in your loss.
Any articles of private property left by missing soldiers which are found are forwarded to this Office, but they cannot be disposed of until authority is received from the War Office.
Application regarding the disposal of any such personal effects, or of any amount that may eventually be found to be due to the late soldier's estate, should be addressed to The Secretary, War Office, London, S.W. and marked outside, Effects.
I am, SIR,
Your obedient Servant,
W. Gaunt
Lieut. for Br. General,
i/c Infantry Records,
No. 7 DISTRICT.
Officer in Charge of Records.
SUBJECT: Graves
Old Barracks,
Warwick
19 DEC 1917
From
The Brigadier General In Charge,
Infantry Records,
No. 7 District.
Mrs E. Langan
3 back of 89, Cromwell St.
Nechells Birmingham
I beg to inform you of the following particulars of the place of interment of the remains of the late
No. 11257 W. H. Langan Gloucestershire Regt.
who was killed in action with the Expeditionary Force, France on or since 3rd of July 1916
Buried La Boiselle. N.E. Albert
W. Farmfield
For Brigadier General,
i/c Infantry Records, No 7 District.
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Sgt. Lionel Joseph "Whacker" Watkins 8th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment Lionel Watkins was a very quiet man who happily worked on the Great Western Railway, when wars didn't interfere.
He lived in Gloucester all his life, but in 1915 joined the Gloucestershire Regiment.
He was an early member of the Territorial Army and held his rank of Serjent when he volunteered for overseas service. He trained in Wiltshire and then went out to the Western Front where he saw repeated action, and twice was there when officers gained Victoria Crosses for outstanding bravery. They were Captain Adrian Carton de Wiart and Acting Captain Manley James.
He never discussed his war service with his sons, but was able to talk about some of it with his eldest grandson, me. What he never mentioned was that he was shot during the battle where Capt James won his honour.
Researching his history, I was surprised to discover he was shot in the left arm on 22nd of April 1918, and was treated by the 59th Field Ambulance.
By the nature of the numerous horrific wounds that many soldiers suffered, his was a relatively minor one, and seems to have thought it was not worth mentioning.
I have been to various places on the Somme where I have been able to trace some of his movements. Now I have to return to France to find where the 8th Gloucesters reinforced the weakened line at St Quentin.
He could not have been seriously hurt because he was in action at Messines within a month, and eventually returned home safe and well to Gloucester where he duly married... and the rest is history, family, sons, grandsons and during WW2 he served in the Home Guard as CSM.
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Pte. Charles Bishop 8th Btn. Gloucestershire Regiment (d.30th May 1918 ) Charles Bishop is my Great Uncle and he had been forgotten until researching for a family tree.
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Pte. F. G. Starling 8th Btn. B Coy. Gloucestershire Regiment (d.2nd Dec 1918) Private Starling was the son of Mrs. Ellen Starling of 18 Almington St. Tollington Park, Finsbury, London, and the late W. H. Starling. He was 19 when he died and is buried in the Didam Protestant Cemetery, Gelderland, Netherlands.
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Pte. Charles Bishop 8th Btn. Gloucestershire Regiment (d.30th May 1918) Charles Bishop was my Husbands great uncle, we have been trying to find more information about him. His name is on the Soissons Memorial.
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Pte. Ernest Harold Bennett 8th Battalion, D Coy. Gloucester Regiment  My Grandfather Ernest Bennett survived WW1 but died on Christmas day 1944 whilst my father was in prisoner of war camp in Germany (Poland). I am trying to make a record of my family's history and whilst I knew my grandfather served in WWI I was not aware of his service details until I found these photos after clearing my family home following my mothers passing.
I am trying to put together facts regarding service of both.
I am not sure why my grandfather is in the group photo was in Ireland. It may be R&R following a period in France or maybe deployed to Ireland due to Independence troubles? I would like to know how I find out his story. He has written on the back: A few lads of 2 Hut, D coy Ballyvonare Camp, Co. ork, Ireland 30th Jun 1917.
Standing left to right, Pte. Daniels, Pte. Jones, L/Cpl. McKnight, Pte. Law, L/Cpl Greer, L/Cpl Avant.
Sitting, Pte. Osborne, L/Cpl Ann, Pte. Anflick, Pte. Chandler.
Lying Pte Bennett, Ptes Savage, Pte. Devlin.
All Gloucester Lads whohave seen active service in France.
The second photo is of my grandfather (sitting) and his brother Seymour who appears to be in uniform of a different regiment. Again I am interested in ascertaining rank & regiment.
Unfortunately I have no living relatives that can help.
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Pte. Arthur Bunting 8th Btn. Gloucestershire Regiment My great grandfather Arthur Bunting was in charge of the donkeys at the Somme. After his return he never told anyone about his time in the war.
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Pte. Harry Eyre 8th Btn. Gloucestershire Regiment (d.19th September 1918) Harry Eyre's remains were interred in the Chambieres French National Cemetery, Metz. A headstone erected in his hometown of Crowle suggests he died when he was a prisoner of war.
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Pte. Wilfred Pearce 8th Btn. Gloucestershire Regiment (d.3rd Jul 1916) Wilfred Pearce was killed in action in the Battle of the Somme at La Boiselle. He is remembered at the memorial to the missing at Thiepval.
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Pte. Samuel Mundy 8th Btn. Gloucestershire Regiment (d.9th Sep 1918) Samuel Mundy was born at Shipton, Hampshire in 1899. Samuel served in the 8th Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment and was killed in action on 9th of September 1918, 336 days after Samuel's brother, Walter, who died in action on 10 October 1917.
At enlistment at Andover, Hampshire, Walter went with his younger brother, Samuel, to enlist in the British Army. In the queue at the enlistment table, Walter deliberately stood directly in front of his younger brother for processing, giving all his details for the enlistment form. Walter's service number was 22384 and Samuel's was the number directly after ie. 22385. It is interesting to note that the brothers were mobilsed into different regiments, Walter in the Hampshire Regiment and Samuel in the Gloucestershire Regiment.
Samuel fought in The Battles of the Somme, 1916; operations on the Ancre, 1917; the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, 1917; flanking attacks in Battle of Arras (Bullecourt and Lagnicourt), 1917; Third Battles of Ypres, 1917; First Battles of the Somme, 1918; the advance in Flanders, 1918 and at Ypres and Cambrai, at Polygon Wood and the Menin Road, at Passchendaele and at Saint Quentin.
He fought under General Sir William Birdwood, Commander of the Fifth Army.
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Pte. John Thomas Walters 7th Btn. Gloucester Regment (d.8th Aug 1915) John Thomas Walters was a slipper maker by trade, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and great grandfather before him. They were a Welsh family, but moved around during the 1860-1890s until they settled in Clapham, Kingsholm area of Gloucester. He was nicked named Slipper Tommy or Tom by his family and friends. This was because all the oldest males in the family were called John and were all Cordwainers (shoe or slipper makers).
Even though a slipper maker by trade, Tom had also a record of being in the army. He was in the Boer War and joined the 3rd Btn. Gloucesters 1899-1901, but stayed on the army list to be called back right until 1911. He had married Sarah Brannan, who was a girl originally from Wrexham, Wales, but her parents came over from Ireland during the potato famine. Sarah and Tom had seven children (including my grandfather Jack Walters). They lived in Suffolk Street and later Columbia Street; I think they had several addresses around the Clapham.
John Thomas Walters was killed in action on 8th of August 1915. Records seem to have his death date wrong and his age, but after searching for months, I did manage to obtain a death certificate for him. We have no photograph of Tom and would love to put a face to the name. So proud of him.
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Pte. Charles James Meredith 8th (Service) Batallion Gloucestershire Regiment (d.27th July 1916) CharlesMeredith was born in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire in 1880. He was the son of Thomas and Emmeline(nee James) Meredith. He was married to Agnes Maria (nee Clapham) Meredith. His children were John, William T, Jack Thomas, Lillian May, and Leslie C J.
Private Meredith died from wounds he received from the Battle of the Somme in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, July 27, 1915. He is buried in the Cheltenham Cemetery.
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Pte. Frederick William Eastman MM. 8th Btn. Gloucestershire Regiment Frederick Eastman won his military medal for bringing in wounded and dead from no mans land under fire. He later told me as an old man that he was covered in blood but none of it was his own. tTere is no known citation to the MM award. He joined on the first naming of the 8th glosters. He was subjected to hard labour later downgraded to field punishment no 1 for striking a superior officer just after the battle of the Somme
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Lt.Gn. Adrian Carton VC, DSO. 4th Dragoon Guards (Royal Irish) Lieutenant-General Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart was a British officer of Belgian and Irish descent. He received the Victoria Cross when he was 36 years old, and a lieutenant-colonel in the 4th Dragoon Guards (Royal Irish) attached to the Gloucestershire Regiment, commanding the 8th Battalion, on 2/3 July 1916, at La Boiselle, France:
"For most conspicuous bravery, coolness and determination during severe operations of a prolonged nature. It was owing in a great measure to his dauntless courage and inspiring example that a serious reverse was averted. He displayed the utmost energy and courage in forcing our attack home. After three other battalion Commanders had become casualties, he controlled their commands, and ensured that the ground won was maintained at all costs. He frequently exposed himself in the organisation of positions and of supplies, passing unflinchingly through fire barrage of the most intense nature. His gallantry was inspiring to all."
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Pte. William George Bambury 8th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment (d.23rd Jul 1916) William Bambury was born in 1896 in Bedminster, Bristol the son of James Edward Bambury and Sarah Ann Edwards. He worked as a packer in W.D. & H.O. Wills Cigarette Factory in Bedminster. He lost his life on the 23rd of July 1916 and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
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Private Harold Hobson DCM - Distinguished Conduct Medal 8th Battalion Gloucester DCM for distinguished conduct under fire, 18/07/1915
Served in France during WW I
Served in the Home Guard during WW II
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Pte. Harry Carpenter 8th Btn. Gloucestershire Regiment (d.8th Jun 1917) Harry Carpenter was born in 1893 in Medmemham, Berkshire and enlisted in the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry, no.14299. He transferred to Glosters and was killed on the 8th June 1917. Harry is listed on Menin Gate, he was a cousin of mine.
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Pte. James Pailing Ward MM. 8th Btn. Gloucestershire Regiment (d.18th Apr 1918) James Paling Ward was born in Twyford, Leicestershire, son of George Paling Ward and Lydia Anne Ward. He is listed in the 1911 Tiddington Warwickshire census aged 16, living at home with his parents and employed as a Domestic Gardener. He enlisted at Birmingham and went to France with 8th battalion Gloucestershire Regiment on the 18th of July 1915. His award of the Military Medal for Bravery in the field was gazetted on 16th August 1917, having been notified in battalion special order of the day for 2nd July 1917. This was for his part during the Battle of Messines on 7th June 1917. The battalion war diary records:-
Wytschaete Beek Onraet Wood
7th [June] Attack launched at 3.10 a.m. by 19th Division
8.10 am. Battalion attacked Black Line in front of Onraet Wood & took its objective. Patrol pushed out & line in front of Oostaverne Wood also held.
3.10.pm. Further attack was launched against village of Oostaverne and Odonto Trench. Battalion took its objective and consolidated position. The result of the day’s operations was highly successful and over two hundred German prisoners were taken.
Private J P Ward was killed on 18th April 1918 when 8th Battalion was retreating during the great German offensive of April 1918. On the 18th April the battalion was withdrawing from its trenches near Beaver Corner, arriving in a field near Wippenhoek siding about 2 miles east of Abeele.
James Pailing Ward is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing at the Ypres area of Belguim. And also on the war memorial at Tiddington Warwickshire.
His brother, Mark Whitworth Ward also served in 8th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment. He was killed in action on 3rd July 1916, during the battle of the Somme.
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