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6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry
The 6th (Service) Battalion Somerset Light Infantry was raised at Taunton in August 1914 as part of Kitchener's Army and was attached to 43rd Brigade, 14th (Light) Division. They proceeded to France in May 1915 and served on the Western Front throughout the war. They took part in The Action of Hooge, in which the Division became the first to be attacked by flamethrowers, and The Second Attack on Bellewaarde. In
1916 they fought at Delville Wood and Flers-Courcelette in the Battles of the Somme. In
1917 They were involved in The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, the Arras Offensive
and the Third Battles of Ypres. In 1918 they suffered heavily in The Battle of St Quentin and
The Battle of the Avre, due to the heavy casualties the Division was withdrawn to the rear and on the 14th of April 1918 the 6th Somerset Light Infantry formed a composite unit with the 5th Battalion, Ox & Bucks Light Infantry, the unit was reduced to cadre strength two weeks later. On the 18th of June they transferred to the 16th Division and returned to England. On the
20th June the 6th Somerset Light Infantry was reconstituted and absorbed 13th Bn, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, they returned to France on the 1st of August 1918, landing at Boulogne, as part of 49th Brigade 16th (Irish) Division and joined Second Army. They were in action in the Final Advance in Flanders.
18th Feb 1915 Training
21st May 1915 On the Move
22nd May 1915 Rest Camp
23rd May 1915 An Arduous March
24th May 1915 On the Move
28th May 1915 On the March
29th May 1915 Inspection
30th May 1915 On the March
31st May 1915 Trench Digging Duties
1st June 1915 Digging Support Trenches
2nd June 1915 Trench Digging Continues
3rd June 1915 Enemy Sniper
4th June 1915 German Shell Fire
5th June 1915 Troops on Skyline Attract Shell Fire
6th June 1915 A Quiet Day
7th June 1915 Casualties
8th June 1915 Trench Digging
9th June 1915 Quiet Day on the Front
10th June 1915 Machine Gun Sent to Trenches
11th June 1915 Orders Received
12th June 1915 Trench Duty
13th June 1915 All Quiet in the Trenches
14th June 1915 Trench Duty Over
15th of June 1915 Return to the Trenches
16th of June 1915 All Quiet
18th of June 1915 Hospital
19th of June 1915 Treacherous Departure from the Trenches
20th of June 1915 New Orders Received
21st Jun 1915 Orders to Attack
21st of June 1915 On Short notice to Move
22nd of June 1915 Orders Received
25th of June 1915 Trench Duty
26th Jun 1915 Shelling
26th of June 1915 A Busy Day
27th of June 1915 Enemy Spy Activity
28th of June 1915 Heavy Enemy Shelling
29th of June 1915 Reliefs
30th of June 1915 In Billets
15th of July 1915 Orders Received
18th of July 1915 Reliefs
19th of July 1915 Courage Under Fire
20th of July 1915 Work Hindered by Enemy Shell Fire
21st of July 1915 Reliefs
22nd of July 1915 Battalion Relieved from Trench Duty
23rd of July 1915 Dugout Improvements
24th of July 1915 Dugout Improvement Continues
25th of July 1915 Heavy Shelling
26th of July 1915 Battalion Moves to Billets
27th of July 1915 Rest Day
28th of July 1915 Battalion Inspected
29th of July 1915 A Quiet Day
30th of July 1915 Stand to Arms
31st of July 1915 Heavy Casualties
1st of August 1915 Battalion Stands To
2nd of August 1915 Continuous Bombardment
3rd of August 1915 Bombardment of Enemy Lines
4th of August 1915 Sniper Activity
5th of August 1915 Reliefs on the Way
6th of August 1915 On the Move
7th of August 1915 Rest Period
10th of August 1915 Reliefs
11th of August 1915 Back in the Trenches
12th of August 1915 Repairing Trenches
13th of August 1915 Enemy Artillery Active
14th of August 1915 Friendly Fire Incident
15th of August 1915 Heavy Action
16th of August 1915 Reliefs
17th of August 1915 Shot for Desertion
20th of August 1915 Orders Received
21st of August 1915 A Rest Period
27th of August 1915 Orders to Move
29th of August 1915 On the Move
30th of August 1915 Woods Evacuated
30th August 1915 Battalion Evacuates the Wood
31st of August 1915 Nothing New to Report
31st August 1915 A Quiet Day
1st September 1915 Trench Duty
2nd September 1915 Heavy Artillery Bombardment
3rd September 1915 In the Trenches
4th September 1915 A Quiet Day on the Front
5th September 1915 Activity Increases on the Front
6th September 1915 Trench Repairs
7th September 1915 Relieved from Trench Duty
14th September 1915 Fatigues and Defence Work
15th September 1915 New Orders Received
16th September 1915 A busy day for the Battalion
17th September 1915 A Quiet Day
18th September 1915 Heavy Artillery Bombardment - Little Damage
19th September 1915 Artillery Active on Both Sides
20th September 1915 Unexpected Trench Relief
21st September 1915 Fatigue Party Sent to Trenches
22nd September 1915 Operational Orders Received
23rd September 1915 Order
23rd September 1915 Commanding Officer Issues New Orders
23rd September 1915 Orders
24th September 1915 On the Move
25th Sep 1915 In Action
25th Sep 1915 Attack Made
25th September 1915 In Action
25th Sep 1915 Attack Made
26th September 1915 Quiet Day
27th September 1915 Enemy Firing Stopped to Allow Wounded to be Brought In
28th September 1915 Relieved from Trench Duty
29th September 1915 Battalion at Rest
30th September 1915 On the Move
3rd October 1915 Orders
4th October 1915 Orders Received
4th October 1915 New Orders Received
4th October 1915 On the Move to St Eloi Trenches
12th October 1915 Guides Allocated to Meet Incoming Battalions
12th October 1915 Brigade Relief Inbound
12th October 1915 Battalion Relief Orders
14th Oct 1915 Reliefs
15th October 1915 Messages
16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme
20th October 1915 Enquiry
24th October 1915 Missing Post
1st November 1915 Heavy Rain and Mud
2nd November 1915 New Paths Continue to Sink into the Mud
3rd November 1915 Heavy Rain and Muddy Conditions Hamper Training Efforts
4th November 1915 Advanced Warning Received to Move to Trenches
8th November 1915 Battalion's Efforts Hampered by a Sea of Mud
11th November 1915 Somersets Relieve 7th Rifle Brigade
12th November 1915 Gale Force Winds
13th November 1915 Worsening Weather Impacts Working Parties
14th November 1915 Weather Clearing
15th November 1915 Bad Weather Continues
16th November 1915 Orders Received to Move
17th November 1915 Miserable Weather
18th November 1915 Orders Received to Relieve 71st Infantry Brigade
19th November 1915 Trenches in Poor Repair
20th November 1915 Busy Day in the Trenches
21st November 1915 A Quiet Day in the Cold
22nd November 1915 Cold Weather Continues
23rd November 1915 Releifs
24th November 1915 Reliefs on the Way
25th November 1915 Uncomfortable Billets
26th November 1915 Snow and Freezing Conditions
27th November 1915 Preparing for Inspection
28th November 1915 Freezing Weather
29th November 1915 Quiet Day
30th November 1915 Repairs under gunfire
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
2nd Mar 1916 Objective Captured
1st Apr 1916 Reliefs
2nd Apr 1916 Shelling
25th Apr 1916 Reliefs
8th May 1916 Reliefs
12th May 1916 Quiet
21st May 1916 Reliefs
22nd May 1916 In the Trenches
3rd Jun 1916 Reliefs
5th Sep 1916 Reliefs
16th Sep 1916 6th Somersets in action 6th Somerset Light Infantry attacked Flers-Courcelette on the Somme at 09:25
11th of April 1917 Reliefs
24th of April 1917 Orders
1st July 1917 Sports recreation
2nd July 1917 Brigade training
3rd July 1917 Range firing practice
4th July 1917 Range firing practice
5th July 1917 Training
6th July 1917 Military training
7th July 1917 Company training
8th July 1917 Warning Order
8th July 1917 Move pending
9th July 1917 Addenda
9th July 1917 Orders
9th July 1917 March Table
9th July 1917 Billeting Party Instructions
9th July 1917 Orders Received
9th July 1917 Operation Oder for Move.
10th July 1917 Amendments to Orders
10th July 1917 Administrative Orders for move
10th July 1917 Instructions
10th july 1917 Orders for Billeting Party
10th July 1917 Operation Order No.120.
10th July 1917 March Table to accompany 43rd Light Infantry Brigade Operational Order 120. Dated July 10th 1917
10th July 1917 Administrative Orders for the Move.
10th July 1917 On the March
10th July 1917 Entraining at Doullens
10th July 1917 Entraining At Candas
11th July 1917 Operation Orders
11th July 1917 Resting
12th July 1917 On the Move
13th July 1917 Inspections
14th July 1917 Parades, physical training
15th July 1917 Church parade
16th July 1917 Drill
17th July 1917 Bayonet fighting, musketry
18th July 1917 Parades
19th July 1917 Brigade concentration march
20th July 1917 Training
21st July 1917 Parades
22nd July 1917 Church & Sport
23rd July 1917 Tactical exercise
24th July 1917 Parades
25th July 1917 Inspection by C.O.
26th July 1917 Inspection by General Plumer
27th July 1917 Parades
28th July 1917 Route march
29th July 1917 Bad weather
30th July 1917 Parades
31st July 1917 Parades
1st August 1917 Weather prevents all activity
2nd August 1917 Intermittent training
3rd August 1917 Bad weather
4th August 1917 Warning order received
5th August 1917 Orders
5th August 1917 Operational Order
5th August 1917 Operational Order 121
5th August 1917 March Table
5th August 1917 Amendment O.O.121
6th August 1917 On the March
7th August 1917 Parades
8th August 1917 Bayonet practice
9th August 1917 Training
10th August 1917 Route March
11th August 1917 Bayonet practice
12th August 1917 Church Parade
13th August 1917 Route March
14th August 1917 Working Party
14th August 1917 Operational Order
14th August 1917 Amendment
14th August 1917 Operational Order 122
14th August 1917 March Table O.O.122
15th August 1917 On the March
16th August 1917 At Rest
17th August 1917 On the Move
17th August 1917 Operational Order
17th August 1917 Operational Order 123
17th August 1917 March Table O.O.123
17th August 1917 Operational Order
17th August 1917 Operational Order 124
18th August 1917 Parades
19th August 1917 Reconnoitre
19th August 1917 Operational Order 125
19th August 1917 Amendment O.O.125
20th August 1917 Relief
20th August 1917 Operational Order
20th August 1917 Map Hooge
20th August 1917 Operational Order 126
20th August 1917 Communications
20th August 1917 Orders
20th August 1917 System of Supply
20th August 1917 Stores & Dumps
21st August 1917 Front line operations
21st August 1917 Operational Order
21st August 1917 Message
22nd August 1917 In Action
22nd. August 1917 Narrative of Operations
23rd August 1917 In Action
24th August 1917 Operations
25th August 1917 On the Move
25th August 1917 Message
25th August 1917 Extract from Operational Order
25th August 1917 Map of Advance
25th August 1917 Transport
26th August 1917 Baths and equipment cleaning
27th August 1917 Kit inspections
27th September 1917 Relief Table for O.O.133
28th August 1917 New clothing
28th August 1917 Operational Order
29th August 1917 New billets
29th August 1917 Operational Order
29th August 1917 Operational Order 128
29th August 1917 March Table
29th August 1917 Instructions for Move.
30th August 1917 Parades
31st August 1917 Congratulations
1st September 1917 Commanding Officer inspection
2nd September 1917 Brigade move warning
2nd September 1917 Brigade move warning
3rd September 1917 Fighting and platoon drill.
3rd September 1917 Operational Order
3rd September 1917 Operational Order
3rd September 1917 Orders
4th September 1917 On the March
5th September 1917 Regimental classes
6th September 1917 Snipers on range
7th September 1917 Respirator Inspection
8th September 1917 Bathing
9th September 1917 Recce of Defences
10th September 1917 Band and Bugles bathed
11th September 1917 Ranges
12th September 1917 Working Parties
13th September 1917 Working Parties
13th September 1917 Operational Order 130
13th September 1917 March Table
14th September 1917 Training
14th September 1917 Operational Order
14th September 1917 Operational Order
15th September 1917 On the March
16th September 1917 C.O.Inspection
17th September 1917 Working parties & training
18th September 1917 Working parties & training
19th September 1917 Training - Work parties
20th September 1917 Orders
20th September 1917 Operational Order 131
20th September 1917 Battalion reliefs as O.O.
21st September 1917 Work parties
22nd September 1917 Quiet night
23rd September 1917 Defence Scheme
23rd September 1917 Quiet night again. Work parties
24th September 1917 Operational Order
24th September 1917 Relief orders received
25th September 1917 Trench repairs
26th September 1917 Trench work
27th September 1917 Operational Order 133
27th September 1917 Relief Table for O.O.133
27th September 1917 Operational Order received
28th September 1917 Insructions
28th September 1917 Amendment
28th September 1917 At ready
29th September 1917 New Camp
30th September 1917 Church Parade
25th Mar 1918 Fierce Attack
13th Sep 1918 6th Somersets in action 6th Bn Somerset Light Infantry involved in action in the field at Auchy-Lez-Bassee.
29th August 1915 Battalion Departs Watou
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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Those known to have served with6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry during the Great War 1914-1918.
- Adams Charles Edward. Pte. (d.16th Sep 1916)
- Adams Charles Edward. Pte. (d.16th Sep 1916)
- Barrett William. Pte. (d.23rd April 1916)
- Bawdon Ernest. Pte. (d.16th September 1916)
- Bayes Percy Frederick George. Pte. (d.6th June 1918)
- Brace Douglas. Pte. (d.28th Sep 1916)
- Bullock Thomas Henry. L/Cpl. (d.16th September 1916)
- Burfield William Thomas Riley. Pte.
- Carcary Arthur Henry. Pte. (d.6th July 1915)
- Carswell Thomas. Pte.
- Clift Charles George. Pte. (d.16th September 1916)
- Conlon John. Pte. (d.22nd Oct 1917)
- Davies Bertam Nixon. L/Cpl. (d.11th of September 1918)
- Durnford Henry Charles. Pte. (d.16th September 1916)
- Ellis William Henry. Pte. (d.21st Mar 1918)
- Evans Joseph Henry. Pte. (d.22nd Aug 1917)
- Garland James Henry Hill. Pte.
- Griffin Arthur. Pte.
- Hancock Albert Herbert. Pte. (d.13th May 1918)
- Harrison Herbert C.. Pte. (d.27th Aug 1917)
- Hewlett William. Sgt.
- Hobbs MID Victor. Sgt.
- Horton John Henry. Pte. (d.25th September 1915)
- Jefferies Alfred L.. Pte. (d.1st Nov 1916)
- Lenthall Frederick William . Pte. (d.19th July 1915)
- Mackmurdo James Harold. Pte.
- Mail William James. Pte. (d.20th Sept 1916 )
- Maughan Robert. L/Cpl. (d.16th September 1916)
- McMurtie G. D. J.. Capt.
- Miller Maurice Epton. Pte. (d.21st Mar 1918)
- Milton Joseph John. Pte. (d.16th Sept 1916)
- Newsum Henry George. Pte. (d.23rd October 1917)
- Nunn Walter Francis. Pte.
- Osment John James. Pte. (d.18th Aug 1916)
- Parker Edwin John. Sgt.
- Phillips Louis. Pte. (d.19th Aug 1915)
- Poole Thomas Henry. Pte.
- Price Harold Percy. Pte. (d.25th May 1918)
- Roberts Robert A. Sgt. (d.16th Sep 1916)
- Rogers Edwin. Pte. (d.24th Oct 1917)
- Rowles Ernest Albert. Pte. (d.5th March 1917)
- Sansom Ancel Croydon. Pte. (d.18th January 1917)
- Simmons Samuel Frederick. Pte. (d.28th Sep 1916)
- Skrine Henry Langton. Capt. (d.25th Sep 1915)
- Stephens Alfred Thorn. Pte. (d.23rd Apr 1918)
- Tavener George William. Pte. (d.22nd Aug 1916)
- Titheridge Walter J.. Pte. (d.11th May 1918)
- Upshall Theophilus. Pte. (d.16th September 1916)
- Warman John. Pte. (d.21st May 1917)
- Welsford Ernest George. Pte. (d.24th August 1916)
- Wilson John. Pte. (d.11th April 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 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry from other sources.
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Pte. John Conlon 6th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry (d.22nd Oct 1917) John Conlon married Ethel Cartwright in March 1917, his marriage certificate states he was serving with the 4th Training Reserve Battalion, Hampshire Regiment at that time. He served on the Western Front with the 6th Somerset Light Infantry and lost his life at the 3rd Battle of Ypres. He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.
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Pte. Charles Edward Adams 6th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry (d.16th Sep 1916) Charles Adams was my great-grandfather. He died at the age of 29, leaving behind a wife and three children, the youngest of whom was my grandfather who was only seven months old.
He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
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Pte. Charles Edward Adams 6th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry (d.16th Sep 1916) Charles Adams was my great-grandfather. He died at the age of 29 leaving behind a wife and three children, the youngest of whom was my grandfather who was only seven months old. He is buried in Thiepval, Somme in France.
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L/Cpl. Robert Maughan 6th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry (d.16th September 1916) Robert Maughan was born in 1893. He was the first born of the family. He was an ex coal miner from Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland.
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Pte. Frederick William Lenthall 6th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry (d.19th July 1915) Frederick Lenthall was a distant relative of Australian Lenthall's living in Sydney, we only found out about him when visiting the Bedford House Cemetery.
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L/Cpl. Bertam Nixon Davies 6th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry (d.11th of September 1918) Bertram Davies was the husband of Dorothea Broscomb. I found the information about him, rank, etc., on an Islington web site. He served with the 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry in WW1. He died 11th of September 1918 aged 40 years and is buried Cambrin Military Cemetery in France.
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Pte. Thomas Carswell 6th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry Thomas Carswell was taken POW at Jussy, France in 1918.
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Pte. Ernest George Welsford 6th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry (d.24th August 1916) Ernest Welsford was one of four members of the Welsford family of Wells. The others were his father, brother and a cousin. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
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Pte. James Harold Mackmurdo 6th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry James Mackmurdo was not a relative of mine but he did write in my grandmother's autograph book and signed as can be seen in the photograph. This was in June of 1917 at Matlock in Derbyshire maybe he was training nearby or just passing through I do not know.
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Pte. Walter Francis Nunn 6th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry Walter Nunn served with 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.
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Pte. Henry George Newsum 6th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry (d.23rd October 1917) My uncle Henry Newsum served in WW1 with Northamptonshire Regiment 24536, The Wiltshire Regiment 203518, and Prince Albert's Somerset Light Infantry 204281.
He was injured twice and was killed in action in Flanders on 23rd October 1917 whilst serving with the 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry.
He is remembered in:
St Michael's & All Angels Church Walthamstow, St Martin's Chapel, Wells Cathedral and on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium.
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Pte. William Barrett 6th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry (d.23rd April 1916) William Barrett is my great grandfather. He worked as a glass blower in a bottle factory in Bristol, before joining up in August 1914.
Serving as Private 10241 of the 6th (Service) Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry, his unit sailed to France on 21st May 1915.
He was wounded at the Second Battle of Bellewaarde, a diversionary attack to the east of Ypres for the larger offensive at Loos between 25th and 28th September 1915.
William was evacuated back to the UK and on recovery was re-deployed to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment, Pte 16207. The Battalion he was to have joined was already besieged at Kut Al Amara in Mesopotamia (Iraq). William was part of a group of reinforcements attempting to break through and relieve the British forces trapped in Kut.
The last attempt to break through the Turkish lines was the Battle of Sanniyat. British artillery had failed to keep the Turkish troops away from their lines, who were able to fire directly into the advancing British forces struggling over open and flooded ground. Their attack failed with terrible losses. Kut surrendered on 22nd April 1916.
William died from wounds on 23rd of April 1916, leaving his wife Sarah and daughter (my grandmother) Florence aged 6.
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Pte. Harold Percy Price 6th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry (d.25th May 1918) Harold Price served with 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry.
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Pte. William Henry Ellis 6th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry (d.21st Mar 1918) William Ellis fought at the Somme, he was registered missing, presumed dead. His Widow was paid £21.
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L/Cpl. Thomas Henry Bullock 6th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry (d.16th September 1916) I found Thomas Bullock's death plaque and did some research to find he died during the Battle of the Somme - the attack on Gird Trench on 16th September 1916.
He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. I do not have any further information. Maybe someone else does?
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Pte. Percy Frederick George Bayes 6th Btn Somerset Light Infantry (d.6th June 1918) Percy Bayes was a joiner in peacetime.
He was known to be in a Construction Corps and served with the 6th Somerset Light Infantry based at Montrescourt.
He was captured at Moy de l'Aisne on 21st of May 1918 during the German attack called Operation Michael and died as a POW at German Military Hospital 21D. He was buried at Bohain then re-buried in the 1920's at Premont Military Cemetery.
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Pte. Ernest Bawdon 6th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry (d.16th September 1916) Ernest Bawdon is my third cousin. He was shot by a German sniper whilst tending to an injured officer in no-man's-land on 16th September 1916.
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Pte. John Henry "Mad Jack" Horton 6th Btn., "D" Coy. Somerset Light Infantry (d.25th September 1915) John Henry `Mad Jack' Horton was my great grandfather and was a glass blower by trade. His name is amongst many of his Battalion on the Menin Gate Memorial.
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Pte. John Warman 6th Btn. (d.21st May 1917) John Warman enlisted in the London Regiment and went on to served with the 6th Somerset Light Infantry.
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Pte. William Thomas Riley Burfield 6th Btn., D Coy. Somerset Light Infantry William Burfield was born on 1st of October 1877 in Blaenavon in Wales, but moved to Taunton (and later Yeovil) as a boy with his family. In 1903 he married (Florence) Ethel Hockey in Norton-sub-Hamden and they had five children: Wilfred b.1903, Daisy b.1906, Leslie b.1910, Nora b.1914 and (Stanley) Norman b.1919.
William was a painter and decorator by trade and signed up for the Yeovil Territorials before WW1 started. The Yeovil Territorials were incorporated into the 6th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry when war broke out and, despite already being 37 years old, William joined up (he may have lied about his age and claimed to be 34 in 1914 and not 37 as he really was).
William was a very fit man for his age and he first saw action in France in August 1915 in D company, and he fought on the Western front for two years before being invalided out of the Somerset Light Infantry in August 1917 at Ypres at the age of 39.
Thereafter he served out his time in the Labour Corps before returning home to Montacute where he died of pneumonia on 1st March 1921, aged just 43. According to his son Wilfred, William's lungs were damaged in the Great War (presumably by gas) and this may have been a contributory factor in his death at what was a relatively young age.
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