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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Pte. E. Caine
British Army 1st Btn. Dorset Regiment
Pte Caine was a prisoner in Gustrow POW Camp.
Pte. Evan Idwal Caine
British Army 68th Coy Machine Gun Corps
from:Primrose Hill, Llanbadarn Pawr, Aberystwyth, Wales
(d.9th Jun 1917)
Pte. Hugh Caine
British Army West Yorkshire Regiment
from:Worth Village, Keighley, West Yorkshire
My Grandad, Hugh Caine was of Irish descent from County Claire. In the Great War he was shot in the neck but survived. Just wondering where he was treated for his injuries?
Pte. Matthew Caine
British Army 11th Battalion Manchester Regiment
from:New Springs, Wigan
(d.17th Aug 1917)
Matthew Caine was a father of 4 who died aged 34. Before joining the army, he worked as a collier for the Wigan Coal and Iron Co. He enlisted in October 1914. He was a stretcher bearer with the Manchester Regiment. He was killed whilst trying to save one of his comrades, 17th August 1917. His body was never found. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
John Duffett Caines
British Army
from:Bristol
John Duffett Caines was said to have originally lied about his age to join the Army. He took part in a display as a member of an Royal Field Artillery trotting team. He later became a railwayman and was a civilian at the outbreak of World War One. He quickly rejoined and was said by his son to be on "the second boat over".
Pte. P. Cairnie
British Army 1st Btn. Royal Scots Fusiliers
(d.28th Dec 1916)
Pte Cairnie was executed for desertion 28/12/1916 and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Somme, France.
Cpl. E. Cairns
British Army 11th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles
(d.1st July 1916)
Corporal Cairns is buried in Mill Road Cemetery, Thiepval, Grave XIV E8.
Pte. George Cairns
British Army 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
Sgt. Hugh Cairns VC.
Canadian Expeditionary Force 46th Saskatchewan Regiment
(d.2nd Nov 1918)
Hugh Cairns was born in 1896 in Ashington, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England. In 1911 the family emigrated to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. On August 2, 1915 at age 18, Hugh Cairns enlisted with the 65th Battalion and returned to England in June 1916. On June 30th, Sgt. Cairns was transferred to the 46th Battalion before proceeding to France.
The Website http://members.shaw.ca/flyingaces/cairns/ gives an account of the actions for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross:
Sergeant Cairns, had two brothers in the army during the Great War, Henry Cairns and Corporal Albert Cairns; the later having been killed on September 10, 1918, age 23, during the battle of Cambrai. Albert and Hugh were said to have been inseparable, and one of Sgt. Cairns’ comrades recalled that “Hughie said he’d get fifty Germans for that” adding, “I don’t think he ever planned to come back after Abbie got killed.” Only Cairns’ almost fanatical desire to avenge his brother’s death can explain his actions seven weeks later.
"Sgt. Cairns was in charge of a platoon during the advance near Valenciennes, France. About 300 yards north of Aulnoy, when he was advancing down the Famars road, a machine gun opened on his men from a house on the side of the street. The fire was coming from a window upstairs. Sgt. Cairns seized a Lewis gun and rushed into the house. Dashing upstairs in face of fire turned on him, he killed the crew of five and captured the gun. The Canadian line advanced. It swung across the Famars road to the south side where, in front of an old French cemetery, they were held up again by fire from a strongly-held machine gun post. Again Sgt. Cairns rushed forward alone, firing his gun from the hip as he went. He silenced and captured two enemy guns, killing 12 Germans and taking 18 prisoners. Once more the Canadian line moved on, routing out the Germans from the houses and sending back scores of prisoners.
In the outskirts of Valenciennes, in an old brickfield, the advance was again stayed by a battery of field guns firing point blank, and a large number of machine guns. Sgt. Cairns was wounded in the shoulder, but notwithstanding, he led a small party of his men around the position and outflanked it. Working his way to within 75 yards of the guns he took careful aim and killed a large number of the enemy gunners, causing 50 others to surrender. Seven machine guns, four field guns and one trench mortar were captured. The objective was gained and the line of railway in the city of Valenciennes consolidated. The two front lines of the attacking companies had instructions to push out patrols to ascertain whether or not the enemy were evacuating and to gain other information of military importance. Sgt. Cairns accompanied Lieut. J. P. G. MacLeod; D. S. O., with a small patrol to exploit Marly, a suburb east of Valenciennes. Cairns noticed a considerable number of the enemy in a courtyard surrounded with buildings, and with Lieut. MacLeod, pushed forward to the gate, where they came face to face with about 60 Boche.
The Germans, seeing the Canadian officer and the sergeant with his Lewis gun, threw up their hands when ordered but before they could be disarmed one of them gave the signal that the two men were alone and, as he approached Sgt. Cairns as if to surrender, a German officer drew his pistol and shot Cairns through the stomach. Sgt. Cairns immediately dropped to his knees and fired upon the German officer, killing him instantly. The other Boche then took cover behind boxes and piles of debris and began firing on the two Canadians. In spite of the fact that he had received his fatal wound, Cairns got his gun into action. Again he was wounded in the hand and arm, but bleeding and in great pain he continued to operate his gun. Then another shot blew away the trigger and mangled his hand. Twenty Boche ran forward to overpower him. Seizing his broken gun, he hurled it into the face of the nearest Hun, then staggering to the gate, collapsed unconscious.
In a moment the remainder of the patrol came running to the courtyard and a skirmish took place, during which Lieut. MacLeod dragged away the insensible form of the hero, placing him on a door to use as a stretcher. During this evacuation enemy fire was taken from the flank killing one of the stretcher bearers and wounding Sgt. Cairns yet again. They carried him back to the Canadian line and then to the field hospital where he died the next day. A spirit of recklessness had animated Sgt. Cairns from the moment of attack that day. His superior officer had suggested he not to go into action; as he had seen a great deal of fighting in all the engagements; but he absolutely refused to be left behind. His brother had been shot at his side a few weeks before and he seemed possessed with the idea of avenging his death. Sgt. Cairns led four skirmishes that day on which more than 50 Germans paid with their lives for the death of his brother. It had been a day of incredible achievement for the 21-year old Canadian soldier. One of heroic service which won him the last Victoria Cross awarded for actions during World War I. He was buried on the field of honour."
As a one-time Saskatchewan resident, I now live in Paris, I am deeply in love with Military History. While reading a recent WWI history of France at war I saw a photo of a tank named after Hugh Cairns which had been donated by the citizens of Saskatoon to France and was simply amazed by it. I also found a photo of it in Saskatoon’s Local History Room. I find this is a wonderful example of Canadian/prairie spirit and reaching out to others. I am thus saddened that there isn’t more about this story. I am trying to discover the fate of this tank called ‘Ville de Saskatoon” and/or ‘Hugh Cairns’ (there is a street named after him here in France) and looking for anyone who might have leads or ideas about where to look. Did it ever get to France, was it demolished, buried or sold for scrap? Is it sitting in someone' backyard, or in a forgotten museum? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Sgt. Hugh Cairns VC.
Canadian Expeditionary Forces 46th Btn. Saskatchewan Regiment.
from:Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
(d.2nd Nov 1918)
High Cairns died of wounds on the 2nd of November 1918 and is buried in the Auberchicourt British Cemetery in France. He was the son of George H. and Elizabeth D. Cairns, of 832, Avenue G North, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
An extract from The London Gazette, No. 31155, dated 28th Jan., 1919, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery before Valenciennes on 1st November, 1918, when a machine gun opened on his platoon. Without a moment's hesitation Serjt. Cairns seized a Lewis gun and single-handed in the face of direct fire, rushed the post, killed the crew of five, and captured the gun. Later, when the line was held up by machine-gun fire, he again rushed forward, killing 12 enemy and capturing 18 and two guns. Subsequently when the advance was held up by machine-guns and field guns, although wounded, he led a small party to outflank them, killing many, forcing about 50 to surrender, and capturing all the guns. After consolidation he went with a battle patrol to exploit Marly and forced 60 enemy to surrender. Whilst disarming this party he was severely wounded. Nevertheless he opened fire and inflicted heavy losses. Finally he was rushed by about 20 enemy and collapsed from weakness and loss of blood. Throughout the operation he showed the highest degree of valour, and his leadership greatly contributed to the success of the attack. He died on the 2nd November from wounds."
Bty Sjt Mjr. J. Cairns
British Army 102nd Bde. D Bty Royal Field Artillery
(d.28th May 1917)
Rflmn. J. Cairns
British Army 11th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles
(d.21st September 1917)
Rifleman Cairns is buried in Metz-en-Couture Communal Cemetery British Extension, Grave II.C.20.
L/Cpl. James Lawson Cairns DCM. MID.
British Army 9th Btn. Royal Scots
from:Roydon, Langholm, Dumfriesshire
Lawson Cairns was posted to France, departing by train from Edinburgh and arriving at Le Havre on February 26th 1915. He was made a Medical Orderly on 22nd March 1915 and continued in this role throughout the war. His niece has 2 diaries written in pencil starting on 26.02.1915 and ending on 2nd Dec. 1917. He survived the war & received the DCM when he stayed with a wounded man for 2 days and a night in "no-mans' land. He was also mentioned in dispatches. He was gassed sometime during the war and his health was damaged in later life. He refused a commission as he was anti-war. His niece has transcribed the diaries and intends to donate a copy to the Royal Scots' Museum at Edinburgh Castle.
James C. Cairns DCM
Australian Imperial Force 44th Btn.
My Great Grandfather, James C Cairns, was awarded the DCM for his actions on the 26th August 1918. He was involved in supplying the Australian Army with provisions by horse drawn wagons. Units at Villers-Bretonnuex were 44th Australian Division A.F. Battalion, 51st Highlanders and 12th Battalion A.F. Cheshire Regt.
Pte. James Cairns
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
James cain was discharged in 1917
Sgt. James Cairns
British Army 2nd Btn. Argyll & Southern Highlanders
from:Edinburgh
(d.20th Jan 1916)
Dominic Fusco was my grandfather's brother, my great uncle, He joined the army under an assumed name, James Cairns because his name was Italian. His brother Antonio Fusco also went through WW1 in the Scots Guards as James Ramsay but he survived the war.
Pte. John Cairns
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Sunderland
Pte. Matthew Cairns
British Army 25th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers
(d.26th Apr 1917)
My great uncle, Matthew Cairns, Northumberland Fusiliers, 25th Battalion (Tyneside Irish) was killed in action on the 26th of April 1917. He is remembered on the Arras Memorial
Pte. Michael Mitchell Cairns
British Army 9th. Btn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
from:Laraghaleas, Eglinton, N. Ireland
(d.1st Jul 1916)
A memorial stone to Michael Mitchell Cairns is in the church yard of St. Canice's Church in Eglinton, Co. Derry, where I now reside, This man was my grand father's elder brother. I have in the past researched my family and I had a printout of the 1911 Ireland census. My grandfather, William Cairns, is on the family list as is an older brother of his entered as Mitcheal Cairns, who was 18 in 1911. On the headstone he was in the 9th. Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, number 26700. He enlisted in Londonderry and was 24 years old when he was killed at the Somme on the first day of the Battle, 1st. July. He is also named on the Thiepval Memorial as one of the missing. I have been trying to find out his enlistment date and hopefully a picture of him.
Pte. Owen Cairns
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Marley Hill
Owen Cairnes took part in Trench raids on the night of the 5th-6th June 1916
Driver Arthur John Cakebread
British Army 4b Res Bde Royal Field Artillery
from:Sydenham, Kent
Pte. Percy Caldecoat
British Army 4th Btn. Yorkshire Regiment
(d.13th Oct 1918)
Percy Caldecoat died 13th October 1918. His name is inscribed on a screen wall in the Worms (Hochheim Hill) Cemetery in Germany.
L/Cpl. George Walter Calder
British Army 1st Btn. Gloucestershire Regiment
from:Bristol
Lance Corporal George Walter Calder served with the 1st Battalion, the Gloucestershire Regiment during WW1.
Cpl. John Joseph Calder
British Army 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
served with 18th & 19th DLI
Pte. Peter Calder
British Army 1st Battalion Royal Scots
(d.22nd May 1915)
Peter Calder is remembered in Ypres at the Menin Gate. He was killed at the age of 26. Son of the late John Calder.
Spr. William Garvie Calder
British Army 219th Field Company Royal Engineers
from:Fraserborough
(d.30th September 1918)
I found Wullie Calder , a fellow Sapper, in Joncourt British Cemetery in France as I searched for my Great Grandfather, Pte Thomas Galloway of the 10th Btn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Wullie is the only Sapper laid to rest in the small cemetery and I'm glad I found him a 100 years to the day that he fell in battle.
His Unit, the 219th Field Coy RE, smashed through the Requeval Bridge obstacles and bridged the canal to enable the Division to reach the east bank then on up to Joncourt through the Hindenburg Line were he was struck by machine gun fire alongside the Argyll's.
The inscription on his gravestone reads,
THY TASK IS O'ER SWEET MEMORIES OF THEE WILL LIVE FOR EVERMORE Sappers don't die they just regroup to the bar in heaven.
Gnr. Donald Calderhead
British Army 108 Heavy Battery Royal Garrison Artillery
from:Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland
(d.16th Feb 1917)
Donald Calderhead is buried At Etaples Military Cemetery in France. He was the son of John Calderhead and Mary Wotherspoon of Wishaw
Pte. Ebenezer Calderwood
British Army 25th Tyneside Irish Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Hull
(d.9th April 1917)
Ebenezer Calderwood was born in Govan in Glasgow and was a relative of mine. I have a photo of his grave in Flanders. I really don't know much about him as my research has not concluded and I would like to see a picture of him if there is one. He was in the 25th Bn Tyneside Irish.
John Richmond Caldicott
British Army 7th Btn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
from:Coventry
Pte. D. Caldwell
British Army 9th Btn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
(d.1st Jul 1916)
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