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South Lancashire Regiment Regular Battalions: 1st Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment 2nd Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment 3rd Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment Territorial Force: 4th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment 5th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment 14th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment 2/4th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment 2/5th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment 3/4th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment 3/5th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment Kitchener's New Army: 6th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment 7th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment 8th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment 9th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment 10th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment 11th (St Helens Pioneers) Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment 12th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment 13th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment 15th (Transport Workers) Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment 16th (Transport Workers) Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment 17th (Transport Workers) Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment 18th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment Want to know more about the South Lancashire Regiment? There are:6956 items tagged South Lancashire Regiment 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 South Lancashire Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. Aaron John. Pte 2nd Btn (d.13th Apr 1918) Acheson Joseph. 2nd Lt 2nd Btn. (d.7th Jun 1918) Ainsworth John. L/Cpl. 10th Btn. Amos MM. Joseph. L/Cpl. 5th Btn. Andrews DCM. Thomas Joseph. Rflmn. 1/5th Btn. Archbold James. Pte. 6th Btn. (d.5th Apr 1916) Ashby Edward Love. Sgt. 11th Battalion (d.1st August 1917) Astley Hugh. Sgt. 7th Btn. (d.24th Dec 1916) Ayles Frederick Norman. Pte. (d.13th Nov 1914) Ayles Fredrick. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.13th Nov 1914) Ball Stephen John. L/Cpl. 11th Btn. (d.16th Aug 1917) Balmer John J.. Pte. 7th Btn. Balshaw Charles Arthur. Cpl. 2nd Pontoon Park (d.1st Dec 1917 ) Bell J.. Pte. 7th Btn. (d.10th Jun 1917) Bell MC. Samuel Edward. Capt. 7th Btn. (d.19th Nov 1916) Benbow John Henry. Pte. 1st/5th Battalion (d.17th Oct 1916) Bennett James. Pte 2nd Btn. Bentley Fred. Pte. 6th Btn. (d.19th July 1917) Bernes Michael. L/Cpl. 2nd Btn. (d.24th Oct 1914) Betts Charles Alfred. Sgt. 7th Battalion Boam S.. Pte. 7th Btn. (d.10th Jun 1917) Boland Harold George. L/Cpl. 2nd Btn Bowker Sydney. Pte. 2nd Btn (d.15th Apr 1918) Brady James. Sgt. 2nd Battalion (d.6th November 1917) Brady John. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.6th Jun 1915) Brady Lawrence. Pte. 1st Btn. (d.9th Oct 1917) Brady William. Pte. 11th Btn. (d.25th Jun 1917) Brewer MID James Angus. Capt. 9th Btn. (d.18th Sep 1918) Brogan Henry. Pte. 8th Btn. (d.7th Jul 1916) Burrows Frederick. Cpl. 2nd Btn. (d.20th September 1914) Burton R.. Pte. 6th Btn. (d.19th Feb 1917) Camps Thomas William. Sgt. 8th Battalion Cherrett Hubert. Lance Corporal 1st/4th Batn. A Company (d.4th Jun 1917) Clift William. Pte. 13th Btn. Coleman Richard. 7th Btn. (d.10th June 1917) Collings Wallace. Pte. (d.27th October 1917) Corrigan MM Bernard. Pte.. 1st/5th Btn. (d.4th Dec 1917) Counsell James. Cpl. 8th Battalion (d.10th July 1916) Cummings Fred. Pte. 6th Btn. (d.4th Jul 1916) Davies Daniel. Private (d.21st Aug 1918) Dewett Edmund. Pte. 6th Btn. (d.2nd December 1915) Doherty Charles Leonard. 5th Battalion, C Company Dolman Richard. Pte 6th Btn. (d.7th Aug 1916) Doody Michael James. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.21st April 1919) Douglas Ogden Samuel. Pte 9th Battalion Downing Thomas. Pte. 6th Btn. (d.19th Feb 1917) Dunn Herbert. Pte. 7th Btn. (d.7th Jun 1917) Duxbury Thomas. Cpl. Evans Peter. Pte. 7th Btn. (d.7th Jun 1917) Evans Reginald Arthur. 1/5th Btn. (d.17th Sep 1918) Fairclough John. Pte. 7th Btn. (d.8th June 1917) Feeney Wilfred Joseph. L/Cpl 7th Btn (d.24th of September 1917) Fellows James Edwin. Pte. 7th Btn. (d.10th Jun 1917) Ferguson Alexander. Pte. 8th Battalion (d.3rd Nov 1915) Findley M. V.. L/Cpl. 7th Btn. (d.10th Jun 1917) Fleming Harry. Pte. 1st Btn (d.14th July 1919) Fleming Harry. Pte. 1st Btn. (d.14th Jul 1919) Ford Frederick. Sergeant 7th Battalion Formby Edward. Pte. 17th Btn. (d.2nd Nov 1918) Foster F.. Pte. 7th Btn. (d.10th Jun 1917) Fox Brabazon Hubert. Mjr. 9th (Service) Battalion Furnaess Ernest George. Pte. 8th Btn. (d.29th August 1916) Galley John. Pte. 7th Btn. (d.13th July 1916) Game David James . Sgt. 6th Btn. Gillbanks George Edward. Pte 2nd Btn. (d.21st Oct 1916) Goodier MM. Thomas. Pte. 6th Batt Goodwyn Charles Ivor. Pte. 2nd Btn (d.22nd Mar 1918) Green George. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.3rd Sep 1916) Green Malcolm Charles Andrew. Lt.Col. 2nd Batalion (d.17th Nov 1914) Guthrie MM, MID. Terence. Pte. 1st Btn. A Coy. (d.15th Sep 1918) Haddock Wilfred Spence. 2nd.Lt. 9th Btn. D Coy. (d.16th July 1917) Hamilton Harry. Bglr 1st/5th Btn (d.1st Dec 1917) Handley Thomas Frederick. L/Cpl 8th Btn. (d.11th October 1916) Harradine David. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.21st October 1916) Harrop Frederick James. Pte. 6th Btn. (d.25th May 1917) Hatton William. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.10th Apr 1918) Hough Herbert. Pte. 7th Btn. Howarth John. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.29th April 1918) Hufton H.. Pte. 7th Btn. (d.10th Jun 1917) Hulme Samuel. Pte. 7th Battalion (d.6th April 1916) Hutting William. Pte. 2nd Btn. Jeffers Samuel. Pte. 7th Battalion (d.29th June 1917) Johnson DCM. John William. Pte. 5th Btn. (d.2nd Aug 1916) Jones MID John George. Cpl. 2nd Btn. (d.15th Oct 1914) Jones R. M.. Pte. 6th Btn. (d.21st Dec 1917) Judges Frederick William . Pte. 8th Btn. (d.17th Jun 1917 ) Keegans John. Pte. 7th Btn. Kewley Samuel. Pte. 6th Btn. Kirkham Bernard . Cpl. 2/4th Btn (d.1st Nov 1917) Leach John Chapman. Pte. 1/4th Battalion (d.11th April 1918) Lewis Alfred. Pte 2nd Battalion (d.3 Jul 1916) Lewis Griffiths. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.26th Jun 1916) Lofthouse John. Pte. 6th Btn. (d.25th Feb 1917) Ludlam John Thomas. Pte. 7th Btn. (d.1st Nov 1916) Mayers Wilfred. Pte. 7th Battalion (d.24th August 1917) McCann John. Pte. 2nd Btn (d.25th Dec 1914) McClymont James. Pte 2nd Battalion (d.22nd March 1918) McDonnell Myles. Pte. 1st Btn. (d.23rd Oct 1918) Miller Edward. Pte. 8th Battalion (d.10th July 1916) Miller Walter Charles. Pte. Moore Frank. Pte. 11th Murphy Charles. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.18th May 1918) Myers James Thomas. Pte. 1/5th Btn. (d.3rd March 1915) Myles Edward James. Pte. 6th Btn. Naylor John. Pte. 7th Btn. (d.20th Aug 1916) Newall Thomas. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.27th August 1915) O'Brien Joseph. Pte. 6th Btn. (d.5th April 1916) O'Hare Felix John. Pte 2nd Btn. (d.8th Jun 1915) Parker Robert Thomas. Pte. 1st Battalion Parker William Donald. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.7th October 1918) Parkes William Arthur. Pte. Parkinson Edgar. Pte. 1/5th Btn. Parsonage John. Sgt. 3rd Btn. Peacocke Herbert P.. 2nd Lt. 8th Btn. (d.3rd July 1916) Pearce Alfred George. L/Cpl. 11th Btn. B Coy. Percival George William Garnett. CSM. 7th Battalion (d.8th July 1916) Phelan Daniel. Sgt. 8th Btn. (d.23rd Feb 1917) Phelps Thomas Edgar. Pte. 2nd Btn Pickup James Frederick. Cpl. 2nd Battalion (d.21st Aug 1918) Plant John Thomas. Pte. 8th Btn. (d.3rd Jul 1916) Platt Percy. A/Cpl. 6th Btn. (d.26th April 1916) Prescott Henry. Pte. Prescott Richard. Pte. 6th Btn. (d.26th July 1915) Prescott MM. William. Pte. 11th (St Helens Pioneers) Btn. Preston Thomas. Pte. 3rd Btn. Price James. 6th Btn. Price James. Pte. 6th Btn. Pritchard M Milt. Issacc Thomas. Private 2nd Btn. Pullen Ernest John. Pte. 2nd Battalion (d.3rd July 1916 ) Regan Henry. Pte. 8th Battalion Rennells W. J. M.. 2nd Btn. (d.28th March 1915) Reynolds George. L/Cpl. 8th Btn. (d.21st October 1916) Rice John. 3rd Btn. (d.5th July 1916) Riding William. Sgt. Rigby Joseph. Pte. 2/4th Battalion Roberts Wallace. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.26th April 1918) Rogers John. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.9th Mar 1917) Rowe Harry. L/Cpl. 7th Btn. (d.9th Jul 1916) Rucastle I.. Pte. 7th Btn. (d.10th Jun 1917) Saunders George. Pte. 2nd Btn. Scally Edward. Pte. 6th Btn. (d.9th Apr 1916) Sefton Joseph. A/Cpl Shellam Harry. Pte Sherman William. Pte. 8th Btn. (d.15th Jul 1916) Short MM. Patrick Etherington. Pte. 96th Coy. Skyes Thomas. Pte. 4th Btn. Smith Alfred A.. Pte. 1st/4th Btn. (d.17th Sep 1917) Smith John. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.14th June 1917) Sowerbutts Nathaniel. Pte. 7th Btn. (d.10th Jun 1917) Speake John Higgin. CSM. 6th Btn. (d.16th Apr 1916) Speake William Henry. Pte. 1/5th Btn. Stewart William. Pte. 8th Btn. (d.14th June 1917) Stiddard Sidney George. Pte. 12th Btn. (d.2nd Sep 1918) Stockton Randall Richard. Pte. 8th Btn. (d.24th Oct 1916) Taylor Herbert. L/Cpl. 7th Btn. (d.21st July 1916) Thomas John Lister. 8th Battalion (d.21st October 1916) Thompson Walter. Pte. 2nd Battalion (d.13 July 1916) Tranetr Joseph. Pte. (d.1st Oct 1918) Trotter MC. Alick Dunbar. Capt. 9th Btn. (d.18th Sep 1918) Tye MM Robert. Serj. 2nd Battalion (d.13th August 1917) Unsworth Cyril Joseph. 2nd Lt. 7th Btn. (d.7th Jul 1916) Vernon Joseph. Pte 7th Btn (d.5th Jul 1916) Vickers Charles. Pte. 3rd Btn. (d.31st Oct 1918) Waite William Charles. Pte. 2nd Battalion (d.14th April 1918) Walsh Patrick. Pte. (d.6th October 1917) Watton Stanley Victor. Second Lieutenant 3rd/7th Btn. (d.27th Aug 1916) Webber MID. Henry. Lt. 7th Btn. (d.21st July 1916) Welsby Samuel. Cpl. 4th Battalion Wignall John. Pte. 11th Btn (d.16th July 1917) Wilcox John Thomas. Pte. 7th Battalion (d.22nd July 1917) Wild John Tucker. Pte. 8th Btn (d.29th May 1918) Wilding Mons Star George. Private, then Lance Corpo 7th (Service) (d.22nd/23rd Nov 1916) Williams Arthur. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.1st Jun 1918) Williams John Arthur. Pte. 7th Btn. Winterburn Fred. Wright Harold. Pte. 8th Btn. (d.16th October 1917) Yates QM. Thomas. Pte. 6th Btn. (d.10th Nov 1915) Zorn Charles Jacob. Pte. 6th Btn. (d.9th Apr 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 More South Lancashire Regiment records. 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. 1206628 L/Cpl. Alfred George Pearce 11th Btn. B Coy. South Lancashire Regiment One day in September 1914, three young men went to enlist in the British Army caught up in the fever of war. One of these men was Alfred George Pearce. He, with his wife, managed a public house in Liverpool and had four small children. When he returned home and told his wife, she was furious and said "What did you do a stupid thing like that for!" In his going away photograph his cap badge is from the Cheshire's but he is recorded as being transferred to 11th Battalion in December 1916. During his training he had to go down the mines to be toughened up. His time in the mines was cut short as an accident resulted in him having a couple of broken ribs. His daughter Ruby told us how she enjoyed peeling his skin from his back after he had a cast removed. Because he was a countryman from Hampshire originally, he was assigned to the section that looked after the regiments horses. They had at one stage a horse shoe on the back of their jacket. The losses were so heavy they turned the horse shoe round in case it improved their luck. In the end the horse shoe was abandoned. On the march to the front line, they saw some awful sights. Bodies lining the sides of the roads and families trying to escape the ravages of war. During the march forward, they stopped overnight at a French village were they were billeted in a barn full of hay and straw. They all settled down for the night. The hay providing a little comfort as they thought. Next morning they were all coming out in scabies. The Germans had sprayed the hay and straw with the infection before they left the area. Consequently all the regiment had to strip off in the village square, their uniforms burnt, and they were painted with Gentian violets. Not a very pleasant experience, but great amusement to the ladies of the village. He told of their instructions not to attempt to pick up anything like pens from the ground, or kick dead rats, as they could all be booby trapped. Alfred George Pearce survived the war unscathed and lived to a ripe old age of 98. He always said never go to war even if it means running away to Ireland. Alfred's father, Joshua, was from Ecchingswell in Hampshire. [1901 Census]. Suzanne Dalewicz-Kitto Add to this record. 1206463 Pte. William Hutting 2nd Btn. East Yorkshire Regiment Private William Hutting served as N°9849, 2nd East Yorkshire Regiment, 83rd Brigade in 28th Division He changed units at the end of 1915 and went to the Machine Gun Corps with the n°176806. After he changed another time the unit for going to the South Lancashire with the n°8855. It's the only information have find about this solder. I found his toothbrush near Arras Thanks if you have any another information about this soldier. michel Add to this record. 1206440 Lt. Henry Webber MID. 7th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment (d.21st July 1916) Herny Webber was killed in action on the 21st of July 1916, aged 67 and is buried in the Dartmoor Cemetery in France. Son of William Webber, M.D., and Eliza Webber (nee Preston), he was the husband of the late Emily Webber (nee Morris). Native of Horley, Surrey. For over 40 years a member of the London Stock Exchange. Henry Webber is the oldest known battle death recorded for the First World War. The WW1 soldier who went to war in his 60s By Jasper Copping With permission of The Daily Telegraph In his poem, Wilfred Owen lamented the “doomed youth” who lost their lives in the slaughter of the First World War. But it seems that the ultimate sacrifice was made not just by the young. Almost a century on from the outbreak of the conflict, a tale has emerged of how a 67-year-old soldier became Britain’s oldest known combatant victim. Henry Webber was far older than the maximum age to serve in the army, but had eventually succeeded in lobbying the authorities to allow him to join up. He had been motivated by a desire to serve with his three sons, who were all serving. But in a twist of fate, all three were to survive the conflict, while Webber was to die on the Western Front. His tale has emerged in response to a series of supplements, published by The Sunday Telegraph in advance of this summer’s centenary of the outbreak. His great grandson, Paul Bellinger, also 67, from Woldingham, Surrey, responded to an appeal for readers’ stories. Mr Bellinger, who was raised by his father in South Africa, only discovered the story himself, at the age of 59, when he found his mother had had two more children, in Britain. Along with his newly-found step sister Ann, he has unravelled much of the story of their great grandfather, and has since visited his war grave in France. Mr Bellinger, a producer for the American television show 60 Minutes, said: “What a resourceful individual he was. His is a fantastic story and to find out that I had that sort of history in my family was a great revelation.” Webber was born in Tonbridge, Kent, in 1849, and was educated at Tonbridge School and Pembroke College Oxford, graduating in 1870. Two years later, he joined the Stock Exchange - of which he was to remain a member for 42 years. He became a member of the firm of Norman Morris and Co and 1874 he married the eldest daughter of Norman Morris, one of the firm’s senior partners. The couple went on to have four sons and five daughters and settled in Horley. Webber became a very active member of local society, as one of the original members of Surrey County Council and the first chairman of the parish council. He was also involved in the administration of a local hospital, became chairman of directors of the Horley Gas Company and served as a county magistrate, church warden and president of the local Boys Scouts Association. A keen sportsman, he was an accomplished shot, a master of the Old Surrey and Burstow Hunt, a talented cricketer - scoring 200 runs aged 59 - a member of the MCC, and the first captain of Gatwick Golf Club. After the outbreak of war, in August 1914, he tried to join his sons in uniform. He was repeatedly turned down, as he was more than 20 years over the age limit. He first volunteered to serve 'in any capacity’ but when rebuffed he recruited a company of 'rough riders’ - fellow-horsemen like himself - and offered the unit complete to the army. Again, he was turned down. But he persevered was eventually given a commission, on 26 July 1915. Whether this was in recognition of his persistence or because he lied about his age, is unclear. After a brief training period at Park Royal, north west London, he was sent to France as a battalion transport officer. He served with the 7th South Lancs battalion and was apparently accepted by its younger officers. It was said that many comrades were unaware of his true age, although his commanding officer apparently found that his own father and Webber had rowed together at Oxford in the same year, over half a century earlier. His role involved helping in the build-up for the Somme offensive, which started on July 1st 1916. He and his unit were not involved in the initial attack, but took part in following actions, including the capture of La Boiselle on July 3rd 1916. Two weeks later, on July 17th he wrote a letter to his old school: “Fifty one years ago I got my colours in the XI and last week 51 years ago was bowling against the old boys and looking on some of them as “sitters” and in the “sere and yellow leaf”. “Yet here I am a Lieutenant in HM army having to salute three sons if I meet them out here, a Colonel and two Majors. I am 1st Line Transport Officer to this Battalion and we have been plumb in the centre of the picture during the last ten days and gained no end of “kudos” and also a very severe mauling. “I am so far extraordinarily fit and well, though, when I tell you that for four consecutive days I was either on my feet or in the saddle for twenty one hours, out of twenty four, you will see that there is a bit of work attached to the job.” Four days later, before the letter was received, he was dead. On July 21st the 7th Lancs moved up to relieve a battalion in the front line near Mametz Wood. That night Henry Webber took supplies as usual with the battalion transport. Leaving his men to unload the horses, he went over to where the commanding officer was talking to a group of officers. However, at that moment, the area - a mile or so east of Albert - came under attack and a shell landed nearby. Webber was among 12 men - and three horses - which had been hit, suffering a head wound. He, along with the others, was taken to a dressing station, but never regained consciousness and died that night, just over a month after his 67th birthday. Following his death, his family received messages of sympathy from the King and Queen and the Army Council, which was unusual for a lieutenant and apparently a reflection of his age and eagerness to serve. His Commanding Officer wrote “He was so gallant and full of energy. We all had the greatest admiration and respect for him.” He was also mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig’s despatches of the 4th of January 1917. Within two years, his widow too had died, according to the family having been unable to recover from her husband’s death. The three sons all survived. His eldest, NW (Tommy) Webber CMG DSO (& 9 Mentions in Despatches) rose to become a brigadier general and had a distinguished war career ending up as chief of staff to the commander of the Canadian Corps and was later managing director of the Army & Navy Stores group. The other two were Maj H.H. Webber RGA and Major Leonard Morris Webber RFA. s flynn Add to this record. 1206425 Sgt. David James Game 6th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment Sgt. David James Game served with the 1st Battalion South Lancs 1904-1913 [7yrs India], 2nd Battalion South Lancs BEF 1914 [Battle of Mons] and 6th Battalion South Lancs BEF 1915-1919 Gallipoli and Mesopatamia My grandfather was born 23rd August 1888 in Cambridge, he was one of 9 children, his parents moved to Leamington around 1899, and they lived in Bedford Street. Grandad enlisted with the 1st Battalion South Lancs in 1904 aged 15 years old, he was under age, on his service record he put his DOB as 1886, he served 9 years, 7 of them in India, he left in 1913 to join his brothers in Canada. Unfortunately war broke out and Grandad was back to the UK, he was now with the 2nd Battalion South Lancs as the 1st Battalion served the war in India. Being in the regular army he was with the BEF [British Expeditionary Force] who were sent out to France whilst the New Army was being trained. I am able to piece together my grandfather’s experiences from himself, his service records and the War Diaries. Having served in France between 5 August and 22 November 1914, Grandad was truly "An Old Contemptible". He was also entitled to wear the clasp & rose to his 1914 Star Medal, awarded to all those who served under fire with the original British Expeditionary Force. By European standards the peacetime British Army was very small, but what it lacked in numbers it made up for in quality. Its Regular soldiers were long-time service professionals, confident in their marksmanship and discipline, and intensely proud of their Regiments. In comparison with the largely conscript continental armies, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) of 1914 was indeed ‘a rapier among scythes’ Grandad took part in, the battles of Aisne and La Bassee, From 12th to 29th October 2nd South Lancashires experienced severe fighting and heavy casualties at the Battle of La Bassée, on the 21st October under cover of the mist, the Germans penetrated the front of the South Lancashires, on this day alone they lost seven officers and over two hundred men , but despite determined German attacks the battered line never broke. First Battle Ypres: 2nd South Lancashires joined the 1st Loyal North Lancashires in the Ypres fighting, withstanding repeated attacks at Nonne Boschen 11th-13th Nov. The battle swayed back and forth as fresh German divisions were committed and, with ever decreasing numbers, the British Regular Army fought almost literally to the death, constantly attacking , withdrawing and counter attacking. The line held but at a terrible cost, both battalions being reduced to barely company strength. "Although names are given to periods of fighting, it is not possible to describe them as battles. It was a period of continuous, prolonged, ruthless encounter hardly interrupted at night. Our troops had no rest. They were out-numbered, out-gunned and opposed by a determined, skilful and implacable enemy. The fighting was largely individual. The casualties were so heavy that units lost their identity and were roughly grouped under brigades. The troops fought in shallow trenches and shell holes, and in terrible weather conditions. In addition to wound and death casualties, they suffered from frozen feet and knees and from rheumatism. Repulse of German attacks was a daily commonplace. Hourly shelling, to which no reply was possible, owing to shortage of ammunition. Only at night could supplies be brought up and wounded removed. As soon as dusk fell, Ypres was crowded with vehicles passing in and out... It was at Nonne Boschen on the 13th Nov my granddad was wounded, he was returned home to England. In July 1915 he was with the BEF attached to the 6th Battalion South Lancs on his way to Gallipoli, they sailed from Avonmouth in June 1915, landed at Cape Helles (Gallipoli) 7-31 July, then moved to Mudros. Landed at Anzac Beach 4 August 1915. They were in action in The Battle of Sari Bair, The Battle of Russell's Top and The Battle of Hill 60, at ANZAC. It was here in Gallipoli he was promoted to Sergeant. They were evacuated from Gallipoli and went to Egypt via Mudros. February 1916 he was on his way to Mesopotamia, the 6th Battalions of the East Lancashires, South Lancashires and Loyal North Lancashires, veterans of Gallipoli, were sent to Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) . They landed at Basra in March 1916. They formed part of the 38th (Lancashire) Infantry Brigade of the 13th (Western) Division of Kitchener’s New Army Here they had to acclimatize into the extreme weather conditions. Even so, with temperatures regularly exceeding 50 deg.C, death and illness from heat-stroke were common and dysentery, malaria and other tropical diseases were endemic. Grandad was used to the high temperatures, from his time spent in India, he partook in the battles here, and he finally returned home in March 1919. He was so very lucky to have survived all this, to come home, due probably to his expert pre war training. He married Ellen Donald in 1920. On his return home from the Great War to a home fit for heroes, he found 2 1/2 days a fortnight work, digging trenches" for pipes. In 1923 - 1926 he joined the East Lancs as a private. Re-enlistment was encouraged by the short-term offer of a considerable financial incentive, this enabled my grandparents to eventually buy their home in Coventry. I believe he was truly a remarkable man. Pat Evans Add to this record. 1206320 Pte. George "Dodger" Green 2nd Btn. South Lancashire Regiment (d.3rd Sep 1916) George Green was a private who had previously fought in the Boer war. He was still on the reserve list and received call up papers on the day war was declared. He fought with the BEF and was injured in his right arm during an assault in the Richbourg area. He was admitted to the hospital on 15th October 1914. It is not know when he rejoined his company. He died on the 3rd September 1916 on the Somme near Thiepval where his company were trying to take the Liepsig Redoubt. The picture of him was taken on a ward at the hospital and his wife Sarah wore it around her neck in a locket all her life. She never re married. Paul Green Add to this record. 1206119 Capt. Samuel Edward Bell MC. 7th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment (d.19th Nov 1916) Samuel Bell died of wounds on the 19th of November 1916, aged 19 and is buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery in France. He was the son of Mrs. and the late Edward Bell, of Holywood, Galloway Rd., Fleetwood, Lancs. Native of Fleetwood s flynn Add to this record. 1205935 Cpl. John George Jones MID 2nd Btn. South Lancashire Regiment (d.15th Oct 1914) John George Jones was killed in action on the 15th of October 1914, aged 29. Buried in Bethune Town Cemetery in France, he was the husband of H. E. Armstrong (formerly Jones), of 24 Prince St., Haworth Brow, Keighley. Native of Scarborough, Yorkshire, he had lived in Burnley since the age of six. s flynn Add to this record. 1205781 Pte. Harry Fleming 1st Btn South Lancashire Regiment (d.14th July 1919) Harry Fleming died of Cholera on the 14th of July 1919 and was buried in Nowshera Military Cemetery. He is cCommemorated on the Delhi War Memorial (India Gate) in India. s flynn Add to this record. 264355 Pte. John J. Balmer 7th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment John Balmer served with the 7th South Lancashire Regiment. After 3 months overseas he was returned to the UK and admitted to hospital on 9th of October 1915 suffering from the effects of old fracture right ankle. He was discharged from hospital on 23rd of October 1915 and returned to duty. His religion is recorded as Church of England. Add to this record. 263206 Pte. William Prescott MM. 11th (St Helens Pioneers) Btn. South Lancashire Regiment William Prescott is my Grandfather on my mother's side. He was in the St Helens Pioneers in the first world war. His regiment would build and repair the trenches and duckboards. On 1st of December 1917 he was awarded the Military Medal for "Gallantry in action in the field" I have a copy of the war diaries of the South Lancashire Regiment but it does not contain any more information as to what the action was. All I know is that he was stationed in Zillebreke at the time. I also have a copy of his Gazette. Michael Owen Add to this record. 263002 Cpl. Charles Arthur Balshaw 2nd Pontoon Park Royal Engineers (d.1st Dec 1917 ) Charles Balshaw was born in Wigan and lived in Newton-le-willows, Lancs. He enlisted with the South Lancashire Regiment in Warrington. Charles was killed in the land between the two rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, Mesopotamia, building a pontoon. His body was never found. Charles was the brother of my Grandma Elizabeth Ellen Balshaw. Her husband Ben Hartley was a colliery motor driver above ground at Doncaster. He was a Medic in the 1st World War and in 1916 was shot through left lung and stomach during a cease fire on the Somme. He died in 1936. Leslie Mort Add to this record. 262655 Pte. William Arthur Parkes South Lancashire Regiment Grandad, William Parkes was, according to his daughter, a 'boy soldier' and a 'crack shot'. According to the 1939 census he was recorded as 'incapacitated ex serviceman'. We are not sure if he received his leg wound while on active service, or, as rumoured by family, while training others. In WW2 he did serve in the Home Guard. Add to this record. 262371 John Rice 3rd Btn. South Lancashire Regiment (d.5th July 1916) My great uncle, John Rice, is buried in Puchevillers Cemetery Somme France. Married to Sarah of Upper Parliament Street, Liverpool. Terry Rice Add to this record. 262365 Pte. Myles McDonnell 1st Btn. Cheshire Regiment (d.23rd Oct 1918) Myles McDonnell was born in 1882 in Dublin, Ireland. He was the eldest son of Peter and Catherine McDonnell. In the 1901 Irish Census, when he was 18, he was recorded as living with his parents at 38a Francis Street in Merchants Quay District, Dublin along with his sisters Mary (21), Christina (6), and brothers Andrew (13) and Daniel (9). He married Margaret O’Brien on 4th January 1902 at St. Johns Church, Clontarf, Dublin. Their daughter Jane was born in 1903 in Dublin. Between 1905 and 1911, he and his family immigrated to England and settled in Bootle, Liverpool. In the 1911 census in England he can be found living with his family in 67 Boreland Street (off Marsh Lane), Bootle. He was employed as a dock labourer after working as a pavour in Dublin. 3 more children followed his arrival from Dublin, Peter born in 1912, Kate born in 1914, and Margaret born in 1917. During the war, Myles moved to 17 Police Street Altrincham, Cheshire, working in the Ammonia and Soda works at Lostock Gralam, Northwich, Cheshire. The company produced salt, ammonia soda, sulphuric acid, and ammonia nitrate for the Ministry. This meant he was a protected worker and had an exemption certificate, Number 4207. However, in January or February of 1918 he left the Soda works and took up employment with Manchester Council Waterworks as a boiler attendant (fireman). Subsequently, this meant that his exemption certificate was withdrawn, and he was conscripted into the army at Chester on 29th of April 1918, joining the 14th South Lancashire Regiment. On the 11th June 1918, he was transferred to 3rd South Lancashire Regiment, retaining his regimental number. On the 1st October, he was posted to France. After arrival in France, he was transferred to the 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment with a new regimental number of 68233. In the early hours of 23rd of October 1918, he was killed in action during the Battle of the Selle, when his company was tasked with the objective of taking the German held village of Beaurain, just north of Le Cateau. He is buried in Amerval Communal Cemetery Extension, Solesmes, France. Myles McDonald Add to this record. 261677 Pte. Frederick James Harrop 6th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment (d.25th May 1917) James Harrop was killed in Mesopotamia and is buried in Basra. Carol Swain Add to this record. 260171 Pte. Frederick William Judges 8th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment (d.17th Jun 1917 ) Frederick Judges is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing in Ypres. Matt Brown Add to this record. 260047 Pte Alfred Lewis 2nd Battalion South Lancashire Regiment (d.3 Jul 1916) Alfred Lewis, a labourer, enlisted at the age of 34 on 30th Jun 1915 in Liverpool. After training he embarked at Southampton on 3 Jan 1916 and joined No. 5 Infantry Base Depot, Rouen on 4 Jan 16. He proceeded to the Front on 20 Jan 16, where he joined the 2nd Battalion. He was killed in action on 3 Jul 1916 during the unsuccessful attack on the Leipzig Salient on the Thiepval Spur in the Battle of the Somme. He left behind a widow and five children. Tim Smith Add to this record. 257934 L/Cpl Wilfred Joseph Feeney 7th Btn South Lancashire Regiment (d.24th of September 1917) Wilfred Feeney was my great Uncle via my great Grandmother Ellen who was adopted by his family. He was exactly the same age as her so they grew up together. In WW1 Wilfred served with the 7th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment. He died in the 3rd Battle of Ypres on 24th of September 1917 and the only information I have about him is on the attached image below, from a book called "Fallen in the Fight" about Farnworth soldiers. Wilfred is buried Locre Hospice Cemetery II. B. 27. Belgium. Amongst his meager returned possessions was a lock of a woman's hair. Darren Birchall Add to this record. 257858 Pte. William Donald Parker 2nd Btn. South Lancashire Regiment (d.7th October 1918) William Parker was my grandfather's brother. Joined up aged 16 in 1914. He was taken prisoner April 1918 at the Battle of the Lys and was held behind the German rear lines. During a British air raid on 7th of October 1918 a bomb was dropped near to his billet shattering the windows, a piece of glass hit and killed him. To have served the whole war only to be killed accidentally within 5 or 6 weeks of the end of the war was tragic. David Brown Add to this record. 257834 Pte. John Howarth 2nd Btn. South Lancashire Regiment (d.29th April 1918) John Howarth served with the 2nd Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment in WW1. He died 29th of April 1918 aged 32 years and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium. Husband of Jessie Howarth of 973 Atherton Road, Hindley Green, Wigan, Lancs. Ann Whittome Add to this record.

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