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41st Division    41st Division was formed at Aldershot in September 1915. The majority of the units that comprised the division were originally locally raised ones, primarily from the south of England. The division was inspected by king George V and Field Marshal Lord French on 26th of April 1916. The units of 41st Division moved to France between 1st and 6th of May 1916 and by 8th May had concentrated between Hazebrouck and Bailleul. The division then remained on the Western Front until October 1917 and took part in the following engagements: 1916 The Battle of Flers-Courcelette - Somme The Battle of the Transloy Ridges - Somme 1917 The Battle of Messines The Battle of Pilkem Ridge - Third Battles of Ypres The Battle of the Menin Road - Third Battles of Ypres Operations on the Flanders coast On 7 November the Division was notified that it was to be transferred to Italy. The move (by train) began five days later and by 18 November all units had concentrated north west of Mantua. The Division took over a sector of front line behind the River Piave, north west of Treviso, between 30 November and early on 2 December. 1918 On 28 February 1918 the Division concentrated in Campo San Piero, preparatory to returning to France. By 9 March it had completed concentration near Doullens and Mondicourt. The Battle of St Quentin - Somme The Battle of Bapaume - Somme The Battle of Arras - Somme The Battles of the Lys The Advance in Flanders The Battle of Ypres - Final Advance in Flanders The Battle of Courtrai - Final Advance in Flanders The action of Ooteghem - Final Advance in Flanders The forward units of the Division were at Nederbrakel, Tenbosch and on the line of the River Dender near Grammont when the Armistice brought fighting to an end. Selected to join the Army of Occupation, the Division began to move on 18 December, going via Enghien - Hal - Braine 'Alleud - Sombreffe - Temploux - north of Namur and Huy. On 6 January the move was completed by train and on 12 January the Division took over the left section of the Cologne bridgehead.Demobilisation began; on 15 March the Division was retitled as the London Division. The Great War cost 41st Division 32158 men killed, wounded or missing. Order of Battle of the 41st Division 122nd Brigade 12th Btn, East Surrey Regiment (Bermondsey) 15th Btn, Hampshire Regiment (2nd Portsmouth) 11th Btn, Royal West Kent Regiment (Lewisham) disbanded March 1918 18th Btn, King's Royal Rifle Corps (Arts and Crafts) 122nd Machine Gun Company joined May 1916, moved to 41st Battalion MGC March 1918 122nd Trench Mortar Battery joined June 1916 123rd Brigade 11th Btn, Queen's 10th Btn, Royal West Kent Regiment (Kent County) 23rd Btn, Middlesex Regiment (2nd Football) 20th Btn, Durham Light Infantry (Wearside) left for 124th Brigade in March 1918 123rd Machine Gun Company joined June 1916, moved to 41st Battalion MGC March 1918 123rd Trench Mortar Battery joined June 1916 124th Brigade 10th Btn, Queen's West Surrey Regiment (Lambeth) 26th Btn, Royal Fusiliers 32nd Btn, Royal Fusiliers disbanded March 1918 21st Btn, King's Royal Rifle Corps (Yeomen Rifles) disbanded March 1918 124th Machine Gun Company joined June 1916, moved to 41st Bn MGC March 1918 124th Trench Mortar Battery joined June 1916 20th Btn, Durham Light Infantry (Wearside) joined from 123rd Brigade March 1918 Divisional Troops 13th Btn, East Surrey Regiment (Wandsworth) left October 1915 23rd Btn, Middlesex Regiment (2nd Public Works) joined as Divisional Pioneer Bn October 1915 238th Machine Gun Company joined July 1917, left October 1917 199th Machine Gun Company joined October 1917, moved to 41st Battalion MGC March 1918 41st Battalion MGC formed March 1918 Divisional Mounted Troops B Sqn, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry left 31 May 1916 41st Divisional Cyclist Company, Army Cyclist Corps left 28 May 1916 Divisional Artillery CLXXXIII (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA broken up November 1916 CLXXXVII Brigade, RFA CLXXXIX Brigade, RFA left January 1917 CXC Brigade, RFA 41st Divisional Ammunition Column RFA (West Ham) V.41 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery, RFA formed July 1916; disbanded October 1917 X.41, Y.41 and Z.41 Medium Mortar Batteries, RFA formed May 1916; in April 1918, Z broken up and batteries reorganised to have 6 x 6-inch weapons each XIII Belgian Field Artillery Regiment attached January to May 1917 Royal Engineers 228th (Barnsley) Field Company 233rd (Ripon) Field Company 237th (Reading) Company 41st Divisional Signals Company Royal Army Medical Corps 138th Field Ambulance 139th Field Ambulance 140th Field Ambulance 84th Sanitary Section left April 1917 Other Divisional Troops 41st Divisional Train ASC 296, 297, 298 and 299 Companies 52nd Mobile Veterinary Section AVC 41st Divisional Motor Ambulance Workshop left May 1916 6th May 1915 On the Move 7th May 1915 On the Move Jul 1915 Training Instruction Jul 1915 Billets 28th of February 1916 Changes to the Front   1st May 1916 On the Move 2nd May 1916 On the Move 3rd May 1916 On the Move 3rd May 1916 On the Move 4th May 1916 On the Move 4th May 1916 On the Move 5th May 1916 On the Move 5th May 1916 On the March   5th May 1916 On the March 6th May 1916 Inspection 7th May 1916 Demonstration   7th May 1916 Gas Helmets 8th May 1916 Concentration 8th May 1916 Inspection   8th May 1916 Instruction   9th May 1916 Orders 9th May 1916 On the March   9th May 1916 Change of Billets   10th May 1916 Orders 10th May 1916 Instruction   10th May 1916 In Billets   11th May 1916 Preparations 11th May 1916 Instruction   12th May 1916 School of Instruction 12th May 1916 Instruction   12th May 1916 Instruction   13th May 1916 Postponement 13th May 1916 Instruction   13th May 1916 Instruction   14th May 1916 Trench Raid 14th May 1916 Instruction   14th May 1916 Instruction   15th May 1916 Instruction 15th May 1916 In Billets   16th May 1916 Construction Work   17th May 1916 Gas Alert 17th May 1916 Route March   17th May 1916 Training 18th May 1916 Orders   18th May 1916 Test Alarm   18th May 1916 Training 19th May 1916 Gas Alert   19th May 1916 Training 20th May 1916 Training 21st May 1916 Instruction   21st May 1916 Training 22nd May 1916 Instruction   22nd May 1916 Training 23rd May 1916 Instruction   23rd May 1916 Training 24th May 1916 Training 25th May 1916 Training 26th May 1916 Training 27th May 1916 Gas Alert   27th May 1916 Training 28th May 1916 On the March   28th May 1916 On the March 29th May 1916 Reliefs   30th May 1916 Quiet   30th May 1916 Reliefs 31st May 1916 Quiet   31st May 1916 Machine Guns Active 1st Jun 1916 Observation Balloon   1st Jun 1916 Quiet 2nd Jun 1916 Quiet   2nd Jun 1916 Bombardment 3rd Jun 1916 Quiet   3rd Jun 1916 Artilery in Action 4th Jun 1916 Reliefs   10th Jun 1916 Working Parties   11th Jun 1916 Reliefs   12th Jun 1916 Quiet   13th Jun 1916 Quiet   14th Jun 1916 Quiet   15th Jun 1916 Quiet   16th Jun 1916 Gas Alert   17th Jun 1916 Gas Alert   18th Jun 1916 Gas Alert   21st Jun 1916 Working Parties   22nd Jun 1916 Gas Alert   23rd Jun 1916 Working Parties   24th Jun 1916 Reliefs   25th Jun 1916 Holding the Line   26th Jun 1916 Quiet   27th Jun 1916 Quiet   28th Jun 1916 Quiet   29th Jun 1916 Quiet   30th Jun 1916 Trench Raid   2nd Jul 1916 In Action  At 0100. B Coy. 18th DLI moved up to the front line. (D Coy. attached to A) 0330. 66 reinforcements reported at HQ and joined their Coys. 0830. 2 Platoons C Coy. in Monk with 4 MG of MG Co. and 2 MG in Dunmow. 1330. Brigade instructions to occupy front line from K.35.a.3.7 to K.29.c.80.95 with 1 Co. 4 L.G. by day, with 2 Coys 8 L.G. by night, remainder & HQ to hold north & south Monk. This completed by 2.40 pm and Brigade informed. 1500 - 1530. Special bombardment by our artillery during which 2 off. 9 OR C Coy. were wounded 1 OR C Co. killed. 1830 - 1900. Special bombardment by our artillery. 2020. Brigade informed that enemy was at ----- ----- shells ---- in North Monk. 40 wounded chiefly of 16th West Yorks were collected by C Coy. in front line. 2300. Kings Own on right of 18th DLI and wiring in front. 2306. Germans reported to be seen carrying up Gas Cylinders to front line. 2330. GOC 93 I.B. instructs 18 Btn DLI to send remainder of D Coy. back to Bus. Late. Brigade warn 18th Btn DLI of possible gas attack, front line to hold on. 18th West Yorks to send 2 Coy’s one to North Monk, one to South Monk and 2 remaining Coy’s to move up later. 16th West Yorks to remain in Dunmow, 15th West Yorks in Maitland. Information also received that 2 Brigades of 48th Division with 3 Battalions of 29 Division will attack hostile line from River Ancre to Pt 29 at 3.30am. Artillery to bombard enemy’s line. The National Archives 18th DLI War Diary Appx.1 WO95/2361/1 26th of July 1916 Orders 27th of July 1916  109th Brigade Enters the Line   14th of August 1916 Drills 1st Sep 1916 Training 2nd Sep 1916 Training 3rd Sep 1916 Training 4th Sep 1916 Training 5th Sep 1916 Transport Moves   6th Sep 1916 On the March   7th Sep 1916 Training   11th Sep 1916 On the March   12th September 1916 Creeping Barrage   13th Sep 1916 Reliefs   13th Sep 1916 Instructions   14th September 1916 Orders Received 14th September 1916 123rd Infantry Brigade Order 31.   14th Sep 1916 Reliefs   14th Sep 1916 Orders   14th Sep 1916 Instructions   15th Sep 1916 Sucess  15th (Portsmounth) Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, as part of the 41st Division, attacked and gained Flers on the first day with the assistance for the first time of tanks. The 41st Division Memorial is in Flers. 15th Sep 1916 In Action   15th Sep 1916 Attack Made   15th Sep 1916 Orders   16th Sep 1916 Reorganisation   17th Sep 1916 Reorganisation   18th Sep 1916 Reliefs   19th Sep 1916 Reorganisation   20th Sep 1916 Reorganisation   21st Sep 1916 Training   22nd Sep 1916 Training   24th Sep 1916 Training   27th Sep 1916 Training   28th Sep 1916 Bad Weather   6th Oct 1916 Mines Exploded   27th January 1917 Reliefs 10th February 1917 Battery Activity  236th London Brigade, Royal Field Artillery report "The Field Marshall, Commander in Chief awarded the French decoration "Medale Militaire" to Corporal W. P Noel HQ Staff. At 1400 D236 4.5 Howitzer Battery took part in one hours bombardment by all 47th and 41st Division Field Howitzers of the area opposite trenches of left Battalion of Right Brigade 47th Division. A registration by aeroplane by D236 Battery was also attempted at 1530. 2/Lt T Ballantyne C236 Battery was evacuated to 2nd Casualty Clearing Station." War Diaries 23rd February 1917 Movements 26th February 1917 Reliefs 1st Mar 1917 In Reserve 2nd Mar 1917 In Reserve 3rd Mar 1917 In Reserve 4th Mar 1917 In Reserve 5th Mar 1917 Reliefs 6th Mar 1917 Training 7th Mar 1917 Training 1st April 1917 In the trenches   1st May 1917 Barrage 2nd May 1917 Some Shelling 3rd May 1917 Conference 7th May 1917 Artillery Active 14th May 1917 Reliefs 15th May 1917 In the Line 16th May 1917 Visit 17th May 1917 Recce 18th May 1917 Recce 19th May 1917 Recce 22nd May 1917 Relief 23rd May 1917 Recce   23rd May 1917 At Rest 24th May 1917 On the March   25th May 1917 Training   26th May 1917 Practice Attack   27th May 1917 Training   28th May 1917 Training   29th May 1917 Training   30th May 1917 Training   30th May 1917 Appendix "I" - Operational Order No. 9.   31st May 1917 On the March   31st May 1917 Relief Completed 8th Jun 1917 In Action  War Diary for the 13th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, 7th June 1917: The assembly trenches were reached by 13th Middlesex at about 2 a.m. At 3.10 a.m. several large mines were exploded. The 41st Division went over the top & captured the Red Line (1st Objective). The intense bombardment lasted all the morning & during that time the Blue (Damm Strasse) & Black Lines (2nd & 3rd Objectives) were taken by the 41st Division. At 11.30am The 13th Middlesex Regiment moved forward to Ecluse Trench & Old French Trench. At 1.30pm The 13th Middlesex moved forward to the Black Line (present front line & jumping off line for 73rd Bde). Within a few minutes of arrival the Battalion went over the top (3.10 p.m.) under an excellent barrage. Disposition:- Right Front, B Coy under Capt. R.S. Dove Left Front, A Coy under Capt. F.J. Stratten Right Support, D Coy under 2/Lt Dawkins Left Support, C Coy under Lt Roberts Moppers-up - commanded by 2/Lt C.W. Wallis (D Coy) & 2/Lt R.W. Phillips (B Coy). Our objective was known as the Green Line. Battalion front extended from the front edge of Ravine Wood on the right via Olive Trench to the Hollebeke Road on the left. The objective was gained without much difficulty, the Coy on the right consolidating well in front of Ravine Wood & Verhaest Farm. Owing to the Division on our left not coming forward with us, A Coy was left with their flank in the air, & had to perform a difficult movement to protect themselves. They were therefore unable to consolidate the left half of Olive Trench. C Coy (Left Support Coy) had to be called on to assist A Coy (Left Front) to form a defensive flank. During the first day the enemy’s artillery was erratic & the Battalion suffered more from lack of water than from anything else. During the attack about 100 unwounded & 20 wounded were captured, mostly in the Ravine. Also 5 Machine Guns, 1 Trench Mortar & a large quantity of material. The prisoners included 2 Officers. war diary 28th Jul 1917 Patrol   22nd Sep 1917 Reliefs 23rd Sep 1917 Reliefs 24th Dec 1917 Reorganisation 21st Jan 1918 Course 5th Feb 1918 Course Ends 11th Feb 1918 Working Parties and Training 13th Feb 1918 Personnel 21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation 1st Mar 1918 On the Move 2nd Mar 1918 On the Move 3rd Mar 1918 On the Move 4th Mar 1918 On the Move 5th Mar 1918 On the Move 6th Mar 1918 Into Billets 7th Mar 1918 In Billets 8th Mar 1918 In Billets 16th Mar 1918 Training 17th Mar 1918 Reorganisation 19th Mar 1918 Orders 20th Mar 1918 Orders Received 21st Mar 1918 On the Move 22nd Mar 1918 On the Move 23rd Mar 1918 Shelling 23rd Mar 1918 Hard Fighting 24th Mar 1918 Gas 24th Mar 1918 In Action 25th Mar 1918 Counter Attack 25th Mar 1918 Enemy Attacks 25th Mar 1918 Enemy Advance 26th Mar 1918 Orders 27th Mar 1918 At Rest 28th Mar 1918 Reorganisation 29th Mar 1918 Reliefs   29th Mar 1918 Orders 30th Mar 1918 Relief Completed 31st Mar 1918 Harassing Fire 1st Apr 1918 Reliefs Completed   12th of April 1918 Heavy Fighting   14th of April 1918 A Withdrawal   19th of April 1918 A Successful Raid   26th of April 1918 Kemmel Hill Lost   26th of April 1918 Defence Works    9th of May 1918 An Extended Front 17th of May 1918 Harassing Fire   18th May 1918 Relieved 18th K.R.R.C. on the night of 17th/18th. 30th June 1918 Operation Order No.7.    1st August 1918 Trench improvements 2nd August 1918 Relocation and Award of MM 3rd August 1918 rest day and bathing 4th August 1918 Church Parade and commendations 5th August 1918 Routine Training and appointments 8th August 1918 Reliefs 9th August 1918 Back into the trenches 10th August 1918 Normal situation in the trenches 11th August 1918 Relief in trenches 12th August 1918 Positional defense 13th August 1918 Ongoing trench routines 14th August 1918 Ongoing trench routines 15th August 1918 Gas attack on HQ 16th August 1918 Quite day in trenches 17th August 1918 Ongoing actions 18th August 1918 Enemy attack repulsed 19th August 1918 Situation normal 21st August 1918 Relief successful. 22nd August 1918 Routine in reserve position 24th August 1918 Situation normal 26th August 1918 Relief in trenches 27th August 1918 Situation normal 29th August 1918 Relief and relocation 30th August 1918 Move to billets 30 Aug 1918 Reliefs 30 Aug 1918 Patrols Push Forward   31st August 1918 Rest,cleaning and bathing 1st September 1918 Rest, bathing and clothing issue 1st Sep 1918 Reliefs 2nd September 1918 Reliefs Complete 3rd September 1918 Reserve Area 4th September 1918 Standby awaiting orders 5th September 1918 Relieved unit in trenches 6th September 1918 Heavy shelling in trenches 7th September 1918 Ongoing Action 8th September 1918 Relieved unit in trenches 9th September 1918 Situation normal 11th September 1918 Adjustment to Line 12th September 1918 Relieved from trenches 13th September 1918 Enemy Artillery active 14th September 1918 Relief and relocation 15th September 1918 Enemy Artillery active 16th September 1918 Battalion on working parties 18th September 1918 Move to Lappe Area 20th September 1918 Rest and cleaning up 21st September 1918 Bathing and new clothes. Enemy artillery casualties 23rd September 1918 Training and cleaning up 27th September 1918 Move to Dominion Camp 28th September 1918 Further moves 29th September 1918 Attack Made 30th Sep 1918 Ongoing Action 1st Oct 1918 Ongoing Action  10th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment left Houthem at 0910 and got to the camp off the cross roads at 1330, Remained here until 1600 and were heavily shelled during this period. The whole Brigade then marched to America Camp (?) through Tenebrielen and were in full view of the Boche who was only 1500 yds away in Comines. Heavy barrage was put down by the enemy, which caused a certain amount of casualties. The Battalion rested at America Camp for the night. war diaries 1st of October 1918  Allies Attack   2nd Oct 1918 Intensive Action 3rd Oct 1918 Rest period 7th Oct 1918 Reliefs 10th Oct 1918 Battalion Relief 11th Oct 1918 Battalion moves 14th of October 1918  A Busy Day   15th Oct 1918 Rest day 16th Oct 1918 Rest and relocation 16th of October 1918 Advance to Courtrai   16th of October 1918 Across the Lys   16th Oct 1918 In Action   17th Oct 1918 Shelling 19th of October 1918 Four Pontoons   20th Oct 1918 On the Move 20th of October 1918  Pushing On   21st Oct 1918 Further moves 21st of October 1918 Orders to Advance   23rd Oct 1918 Further Action   24th Oct 1918 Ongoing Action 24th October 1918 Operational Order. Ref map sheet 29.   25th October 1918 Further actions   25th of October 1918 Heavy Fighting All Day   26th October 1918 Patrols 26th of October 1918 Enemy Retiring Slowly   27th October 1918 Rest period 28th October 1918 Rest period and reinforcements 28th of October 1918 On the Move   29th October 1918 Rest period 31st October 1918 Rest period 1st November 1918 Move to Billets 2nd November 1918 Rest day 3rd November 1918 Exercise in attack 4th November 1918 Further moves 4th of October 1918  Reports and Reliefs   5th November 1918 Situation unchanged 6th November 1918 More shelling 7th November 1918 Shellinng 8th November 1918 Move to support front line 9th November 1918 Final Advances across the Scheldt   10th November 1918 Advance 11th November 1918 Armistice Day 12th November 1918 CO's Inspection and compliments 13th November 1918 Battalion move 14th November 1918 Training and move preparations 17th November 1918 Special Order No. 1. 18th November 1918 Forward positions 19th November 1918 Rest day 20th November 1918 Further moves 21st November 1918 Cleaning and training 23rd November 1918 CO's Inspection 24th November 1918 Divisional Medals presentation 25th November 1918 Training, Sports and Amusement Committee formed 30th November 1918 Concert and Post War activity If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about 41st Division? There are:317 items tagged 41st Division available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War. Those known to have served with 41st Division during the Great War 1914-1918. Adamson Joseph Edgar. Cpl 26th Battalion Hadley Edgar William. Pte. 26th (Bankers) Btn. (d.4th Oct 1916) Miller Frederick Thomas. Rfmn. 21st Btn. (d.14th Aug 1917) Robinson Walter. L/Cpl. 20th Btn. (d.21st Sep 1917) Watters Albert. Gnr. 189th Brigade (d.10th Jun 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 The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website. 1st of September 2024 marks 25 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time. Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the Great War? Our Library contains many many diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. Looking for help with Family History Research?    Please see Family History FAQ's Please note: We are unable to provide individual research. Can you help? The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation. Announcements 19th Nov 2024     Please note we currently have a massive backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 264989 your submission is still in the queue, please do not resubmit. Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to the Great War. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted. World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great battalion regiment artillery Did you know? We also have a section on World War Two. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations. 260053 Gnr. Albert Watters 189th Brigade Royal Field Artillery (d.10th Jun 1917) Albert Watters was killed at the Battle of Messines. Add to this record. 254154 Cpl Joseph Edgar Adamson MSM. 26th Battalion Royal Fusiliers Joseph Adamson was a soldier with the 26th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. He was awarded the Meritorious Medal. 26th (Bankers) Battalion was formed of bank clerks and accountants in London by the Lord Mayor and the City of London, then moved to Marlow. In Nov 1915 they moved to Aldershot and joined the 124th Brigade of the 41st Division. They embarked for France in May 1916 and the Division was engaged in various action on the Western Front. Keith Newman Add to this record. 220636 Pte. Edgar William Hadley 26th (Bankers) Btn. Royal Fusiliers (d.4th Oct 1916) Edgar Hadley was my Great Uncle who served in the 26th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. Edgar was born on the 9th January 1896 and he died during the Battle of the Somme sometime between 4th October and 5th November 1916 aged just 20 years old. It is most probable that he died at the Battle of Transloy Ridge. The documentation from the war graves commission lists a number of different dates for his death during the Autumn of 1916. He was the elder son of Clara and the late William Reece Hadley from Erdington in Birmingham. His Mother had the words "Thy will be done" placed on his gravestone which is situated at the AIF Burial Ground, Grass Lane, Flers. Deborah Martin Add to this record. 220510 Rfmn. Frederick Thomas Miller 21st Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.14th Aug 1917) Fred Miller died in France, about one mile from the border with Belgium, in August 1917, during the Third Battle of Ypres (known as Passchendaele). This was another attempt to break through the German line of trenches and bring the war to an end. It did not succeed. The war continued for another 15 months. Fred Miller was the oldest child of Henry and Elizabeth Miller, who lived in Poplar, in the East end of London. Henry was born in Poplar and worked as a painter, mainly in the shipbuilding yards in the dock area, but also in the building industry. His own father had been in the same trade, originally at Gravesend, in Kent, moving to Poplar in the early 1860s. Elizabeth was also born in the East end, but had been a domestic servant in the city centre. They married in 1896 and Fred was born on 28 June 1898. When the war started in August 1914, Fred was 16. He would have been at work for two years. He now had four younger brothers - Thomas, Charles, Sidney and Henry, and a younger sister, Grace. Just before he joined the Army, he was working at a clothing shop in East India Dock Road. We do not know whether he volunteered for service or just waited for his turn to be ‘called up’ under the compulsory military service scheme introduced in 1916 but we know he was taken into the King’s Royal Rifle Corps as Rifleman 27542 of the 21st Battalion. He would have joined with no illusions – his mother’s brother, a very frequent visitor to the house, was a regular soldier and had been killed in the first few weeks of the war. His Army record was probably destroyed along with thousands of others during the Second World War when a bomb hit the Army Records Centre but he would have done his basic training in England in 1916, and he certainly came home on leave before he went out to France. One of his brothers remembered him leaving, saying to them, ‘Look after Mother’. We know he died of wounds in No 11 Casualty Clearing Station near Godeswaersvelde (a French village one mile inside the Belgian border, near Hazebrouck) on 14 August 1917. He was 19 years old. The family were told that he had been shot by a German sniper. The exact circumstances are not known but they understood that he was a Signaller, so he may have been out of the trench, working on telegraph lines. His battalion had fought in the second phase of the battle (Pilckem Ridge, which finished on 2 August) and was probably in preparation for the third phase of the battle in September. The Battalion War Diary records that 3 Officers and 26 Other Ranks were killed in August but gives no real clue as to how Fred received his deadly wounds. The Battalion was taken out of the front line on 6 August and returned on 10 August, spending the next three days ‘consolidating the line’ with various working parties. On the morning of the 14th, ‘a raid was attempted against enemy dug outs’ but the raiding party returned with only ‘slight casualties’. Fred may have been among them, or he may have been hit during one of the ‘working parties’ in the previous few days. He must have arrived in the Casualty Clearing Station within a few days of his death because the wounded who survived the first few days were sent to hospitals much further behind the lines. Thousands died, on both sides, in the September attack and if Fred had not been killed a few weeks earlier, he might well have been killed then. The Cemetery where he is buried is one of the many smaller military cemeteries in that part of northern France – some 900 graves. It must have been very close to the Casualty Clearing Station. In 1917 the grave was marked with a wooden cross, and family were sent a photograph of it with very brief details written on the back. A little later, headstones were placed there with details of the dead and a short verse chosen by the family. The verse on his stone reads ‘How I miss the sunshine of your smile Mother’. Back home, it was the custom for the bereaved family to put a little display in the window of their house – a picture of the soldier, some flowers, and a slogan, ‘For King and Country’. The Miller family did this too but, no royalists, made their slogan, ‘For Home and Country’. - Edward Miller Add to this record. 214018 L/Cpl. Walter Robinson 20th Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.21st Sep 1917) Walter Robinson, L/Cpl 203818 , served in 20th Btn. Durham Light Infantry and was killed in action, age 30, on the 21st September 1917. Remembered by his wife, father and mother, brother Leo in France, sister Daisy and brothers Arthur and Fred, POWs in Germany. He was the son of George and Sarah Robinson of Aycliffe. Husband of Catherine Robinson nee Young. Aycliffe Village Local History Society Add to this record.

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