The Wartime Memories Project - The Great War

Those who Served - Surnames beginning with D.

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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

221096

L/Cpl. Sidney Driscoll

British Army 1st/22nd Btn. A Coy London Regiment

(d.7th June 1917)

Sidney Driscoll was the son of Mrs. Driscoll of 66 Barkworth Rd., North Camberwell, London.




215491

W.Eng. Charles William Driver

Royal Naval Reserve HMS Monmouth

from:Jarrow

(d.1st Nov 1914)

Charles William Driver who died aged 35 was born in Jarrow in 1879. He was the son of Joseph Driver from Jarrow, and the late Frances Johanna Driver (nee Cuthbertson). On the 1911 census Charles William Driver, age 31, Marine Engineer is listed as living with his widowed father Joseph Driver and family at 17 York Street, Jarrow.

Charles is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial and is commemorated on the Triptych in St. Paul's Church Jarrow.




250081

Gnr. Collis Driver

British Army 41st Brigade, 16th Bty. Royal Field Artillery

from:Sussex

(d.5th October 1918)

My great aunt, Constance Seymour, married Collis Driver on 26th of September 1917. He went back to war and she never saw him again. She never remarried. My brother and I are going to visit his grave in France on 5th October 2018.




1205854

Artf. Ernest Driver

Royal Navy HMS Hawke

from:Southsea, Hants.

(d.15th Oct 1914)

Ernest Driver drowned at Sea on the 15th of October 1914, aged 36. Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial in Portsmouth he was the husband of Emma Driver, of 2, Victoria Rd. North, Southsea, Hants.




238357

Pte. Frederick Charles Driver

British Army 7th Btn. Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment

from:Ipswich

The following transcription is of an oral interview recorded in 1972, in which Frederick Driver related to his Grandson Robert his experiences during the First World War, with the help of his wife Dorothy. Many thanks to his great-granddaughter Angela Scott for taking the time and trouble to listen to the tape and type out the following account into a readable document for future generations to read.

Track one: Joining Up

  • Dorothy: Tell him why you joined up.
  • Frederick: Why I joined up? I did, that's all.
  • Robert: Why did you volunteer?
  • Frederick: Just so we could go in the regiment of our choice, see.
  • Robert: Yeah.
  • Frederick: Then we get a choice of regiment, see.
  • Dorothy And your brother was in.
  • Frederick: If you waited later on, till 1916, you'd[ve] been forced to go. So you might just as well volunteer, you see. And I'd been used to horses and went on to the cavalry.
  • Robert: Surely you knew all about the people that were being killed in Flanders in '14 and '15.
  • Frederick: Yes. Well, we knew of course, of course you did. But you didn't know how many, did ya?
  • Robert: You didn't.
  • Frederick: No.
  • Robert: You thought it [was] just sort of a side-show,
  • Frederick: Pardon?
  • Dorothy: Well, you really, you really went in because Jack was in it, didn't you?
  • Robert: Yeah, yeah.
  • Dorothy: So he could get in the 5th Lancers.
  • Robert: Yeah, but you know, I've heard stories about women at the time, I mean, blokes who are walking around the streets without a uniform they were, er...
  • Frederick: Well, you're thinking about the white feather business.
  • Robert: That's it, yeah, the white feather.
  • Frederick: No, never see none of that.
  • Dorothy: Not in his time.
  • Robert: No?
  • Dorothy: No.
  • Robert: Yeah, but when conscription came in, that ended all that didn't it? I mean, you had to go anyway.
  • Dorothy: Yes, you had to go where they like to send ya. And them all in, in Ipswich and that, see, had to go in the Suffolk regiments.

    Track two: Dublin Uprising

  • When we got down to the town, the middle of Dublin down Sackville street opposite the post office, the General post office they opened fire on us, see, rotten shots all they hit was three men and three horses and as soon as they opened fire the old captain says about turn and went back to barracks and he said we're going out as soon as we can dismounted so we went out as infantry more or less just with bandoleers full of ammunition rifles we went and routed them out of the post office in the morning see before dinner, and in the mean time artillery were ordered up from the Curraugh and they brought the guns into the dock at Sackville street right opposite the lawcourts, they were in the lawcourts as well these Sinn Fieners in the post office and the lawcourts, lawcourts were at the bottom of the Sackville street and they opened fire and knocked the lawcourts down the artillery from the Curraugh and in the meantime we went and took up positions some in the old Jacob's biscuit factory and and all the places they were likely to be in you see, took them over and simply rounded them up., And within a fortnight we'd got them all rounded up look and there they still carrying on we quieted them down in a fortnight.
  • : - Yeah.
  • Yeah then after the war was over cause they started again that's when they formed the black and tans they're volunteers you know from England the black and tans were. And they had to clear em up again in the meantime they're clamouring for home rule and they got it see cause Ireland was partitioned wasn't it the south from the north.

    Track Three: The Western Front

  • Yeah, but when you, after you had joined up and that, I mean, what,
  • Robert: When did you first go over to France then?
  • Frederick: Umm. August 1916. August '16. We went over and we joined the Queens out there, you see, the Queens regiment. The 7th Queens. That was, the 55th Brigade. The 18th division we come up in.
  • Robert: What sort of ship did you go over in?
  • Frederick: Ooo, don't know, well, er, old freighter thing, you know.
  • Robert: Yeah?
  • Frederick: Yeah. From Folkstone we went, to Folkstone, to Boulogne.
  • Robert: And then you went up. Did you go straight to the front?
  • Frederick: And then we went...No, we had to go to...we stayed the night in Boulogne, up on the camp there. And the next day we had to go join the Queens. They were up, um, near Albert, place called Albert, out at rest at the time. Then we done some, done joined the battalion, you know. I was put on headquarters battalion, with Machine gun, headquarters machine gun. By going to headquarters They could put us anywhere, you know what I mean? To any company.
  • Robert: Yeah.
  • Frederick: See? A, B, C or D company. We could go anywhere. They could put us in the line, you see, or, which company was ever in the line you'd have to be with 'em, you see?
  • Robert: Can you, visualise now what it was like? I mean, can you visualise what it was like at that time?
  • Frederick: Well, plenty of shells dropping around. In as soon as you got in range, you know?
  • Robert: Yeah?
  • Dorothy: What about the time when you all pinched the bread from the bakers?
  • Frederick: Oh yes. Yeah, yeah. Well, we were going right up, right up into the, up in the front line, you see. We're going up right, going into the front line and we was way back at rest, and we was put in a billet, in an old bakery, you know? A bakery. One what was using, they were still in use; French bakery, see. And the old Baker he used to bake his bread, you know, during the night time, ready for sale the next day. And my brother, and another: an ol' Kelly, watched the old baker leave and then went and pinched his bread. We got the gun: we'd got gun limbers for Lewis gun, you know, and the guns had gone up on the horse limbers, you know? A horse wagon like. Our guns had gone up with them so our little gun carriages were empty. Two wheeler gun carriages, see, for a gun, carry the Lewis guns and ammunition see, plenty of ammunition. And they were empty. So what old, what my brother did, and the old Irishman, they stole the bread and went and put it in the trucks, empty trucks. They were all lined up beside a wall, you know, and they filled them up with bread. And the old Froggie come in daybreak and found his bread all gone. Played up merry Hell. French Police, he called the French Police up and our Police, you know; Military Police. Played up the Devil, he did. They looked everywhere. They searched our billet and everything. Packs - everything. Never found a loaf. And they were right in front of their noses, in the, in the gun trucks. Full of bread they were, yeah. Robert: What did you do with all that bread then? Frederick: We had a good feed. And the next day we got on the march up to the line, you know? And as soon as we got under shell fire the young captain he says, "Halt!", you know, "Fall out on the left of the road." And we opened up our gun trucks, you know, and out come the bread [laughs]. So, one of the boys picked up a loaf; "Would you like a piece, sir?", you know. We was all under shell fire then - only about two miles from the line. Yeah. And nothing was said about that. Never got into trouble over it at all, 'cause he never reported us, you see?
  • Dorothy: He asked, he asked where you got it from, didn't he?
  • Frederick: He knew. He knew, didn't he. All the officers knew, all the blokes knew, didn't they. But as soon as they was opened up it was a laugh. Everybody was eating the French toopang, you know, long loaves. Dorothy: See, didn't you get some cheese from somewhere for them?
  • Frederick: Pardon?
  • Dorothy: Didn't you get some cheese?
  • Frederick: Cheese?
  • Dorothy: Yeah.
  • Frederick: Oh, we had plenty o' cheese. Half the blokes wouldn't eat the cheese, you know. It used to lay about in the billets.
  • Robert: Where did you first go into action, then?
  • Frederick: Erm. When?
  • Robert: Where.
  • Frederick: Up at Thiepval. Thiepval on the ridge, at Thiepval. Thiepval, Mericourt, Grandcourt.
  • Robert: You was in all them places were you?
  • Frederick: Lotacourt. In front too,
  • Frederick: Yes, in front of that, we were cause.
  • Robert: Yes.
  • Frederick: 'Cause, April, when they went over, the Vimy Ridge, see, we was in front of that. Yeah.
  • Robert: What did you do in the line?
  • Frederick: Well, we just had to hold the line, you see - go in t' the front line. Plenty o' shellin' an' all that business, you know? On our way up he was dropping shells, gas shells of one sort or another. You know, all sorts.
  • Frederick: Several times we laid out in the shell hole, you know, with the old gun, between the two lines. Didn't mind it, and used to like it because the shells were going right over us, like that, see?
  • Robert: Yeah?
  • Frederick: All the heavy stuff, and light stuff an' all, goin' right over. If you was in No Man's Land you was the best off. Through that winter, anyhow.
  • Frederick: If you laid quiet a German patrol would pass you, perhaps. Bullets would be whizzing over the top of your heads. Zip, zip, zip, zip, you know. Just lay doggo for the night. Bloomin' cold though, frozen.
  • Dorothy: Jack got wounded?
  • Frederick: Oh yes he did, and a night or two before that.
  • Dorothy: Yes.
  • Frederick: When we were laying in support a shell came over: A whizz-bang. And we were in a fairly big trench, and... Both together in the front line, look, and a whizz-bang came over. What they call a whizz-bang - that was their light artillery. Good guns they were, similar to our twenty five pounder. And a shell - I could hear it coming. It hit the top of the parapet and burst. It blew my rifle right out of my hand. My brother got a bullet, behind his ear here in the neck.
  • Robert: Yeah?
  • Frederick: Yeah. Got back to Blighty with that. I took him back to the end of the trench. The old Sergeant Major, they were in the dugout there, I said, "Well, I'll take him back." He say, "You won't. You won't.", he say. "You'll stop in the front line" [laughs] So, he got back to Blighty, look. Another few days after that, then, I was captured.
  • Robert: You were captured in 1916 then?
  • Frederick: No, '17.
  • vRobert: When?
  • Frederick: 1917. February 1917. February '17.
  • Robert: Yeah?
  • Frederick: And that was a place called, er, Irles. I.R.L.E.S, Irles and that was too...we was... See, which I tell you what was happening: The Germans were falling back at that time, which they used to do. They'd pulled back on to better ground and that, you see - leave you in the muck and mire and shell, you see [laughs]. And (pause) Oh, a dawn patrol. When they were falling back, see; "Any volunteers for a dawn patrol?", so we all volunteered, with the old gun, you know, and just a rifleman or two, see, to go out before dawn, an hour before dawn. We was to go up the communication trench into Gerries front line; a village. And part right along the front of the village, a place called Irles, I.R.L.E.S., and went past the front of it and up his communication trench for about a mile, see. Never saw, never saw anything of them. They kept doggo, you know, they laid quiet, they let us come. And and all of a sudden they jumped. Some of them jumped out the trench, and we let the old, I let the old Lewis gun let 'em have it, you know, as they ran way. Then the old gun blocked, you know, which they would do, a Lewis. They used to jam. Two bullets used to. A couple of cartridges used to try to get in the [barrel at once], and that'd block, you see. Tried to get up the barrel. So when the old, stopped, and we were in their communications trench he simply come round us, you know, they come up from other trenches, 'cause they knew the trenches better than we did, you see. We was in their communications trench, therefore they got, they got, surrounded us, and just cut us down in the trenches as we were...see? They could get right, they could get forward or to the side of us or behind us - which they did do. Got right behind us, because we was through their lines, see. through their front line about two miles.
  • Frederick: ...A funny thing, where you used to talk about what would, what would happen to us. When we was in support, or quiet, or back at rest, used to think about what would happen to us. Somebody would say, "I shall get killed, I know I shall.", see, and they used to too... I said, I thought I wasn't. Something told me. Well, I didn't know what was going to happen, you know. What I mean, I wasn't going to get killed but I couldn't fathom out what was going to happen to me. But I was nearly a deader mate, I was nearly gone.
  • Dorothy: They saved his life.
  • Frederick: Yeah. Germans saved me life.
  • Robert: Yeah?
  • Frederick: You know, by binding up, you know. The blood was coming out in a stream like that out of my stomach here. They simply got my doings, you know, bound me up tight and that. And still the blood was coming through. So he took the...
  • Dorothy: Off another...
  • Frederick: Yeah. Another fella who was shot beside me, he weren't...he's right next to me. Right there, in the temple. And they took the bandages of his, you know, bound me up double lot, you know, really bound me up tight.
  • Dorothy: Didn't they put a stone in to stop it?
  • Frederick: No, not a stone. No, no. They bound it down solid, you know. That stopped the bleeding. And they... I wondered what the Devil they were going to do with me, you know. They took me out [of] the trench, lugged me out the trench, and they put me [on a] couple of oil sheets, laid a couple of oil sheets down and laid me in it, and they brought the sheets together, you know, at the top, and laced them through, and then put a pole through. That's how they carried me back, Germans. Good idea that, was no waiting for the stretcher bearers. They were smart in the trenches... They'd all had medical [training] and all that, they know exactly what to do. We lost a lot of lives through that you know, because our chaps didn't know what to do, you know. They'd all been trained in medical [first aid] you see, and I, I, pretty thirsty, I kept asking for water. They, they, you know what they done? Got a bit of bandage and dipped it in their coffee, you know. They'd coffee in their, they used to carry coffee instead of water in the water bottle. They dipped the bandage in the coffee and let me suck it. They wouldn't give me a drink you know, it would've been fatal, see. Although I'd lost a lot of blood, must o' done, 'cause I was sinking, you know. Felt I was.
  • Robert: You was wounded with a bullet?
  • Frederick: Pardon?
  • Robert: You was wounded with a bullet?
  • Frederick: Yeah, yeah. Bullet, yeah.
  • Robert: When you was surrounded, didn't you surrender or anything then?
  • Dorothy: Well, you didn't know, did you?
  • Frederick: No need mate, no need. No, no need to put your hands up or anything. Just taken over. You're, ain't it, you're finished, you know that, and the Gerry knows it too.
  • Frederick: Well, if you get into their lines anything could happen. Same thing would happen with a German patrol. They was pinched as well, just the same and that. That was only done so that each side should know where the others are, that's what they wanted to know
  • Dorothy: That was nothing for you to be up to your waist in water and mud was it?
  • Frederick: Cor, if you slipped off the duck board you was in it, you know. ..My feet were swollen so much they cut the boots off, and the trousers. They were rotten in blood, you know. They just tore that off, leggin's too, yeah.
  • Frederick: ou know that took us some a day and two nights to dig a bloke out.
  • Robert: Yeah?
  • Frederick: Yeah. To dig him out! The more you kept digging the deeper he kept sinking, you know. The water and the mud, we kept throwing it out. Dig behind him, we used to dig down behind him and put a blanket under the backside when you got him over. So you pull him back and lift him out with this blanket, see, 'cause the old mud and ooze and stuff was all...it used to hold you like glue. Just like glue.

    Track Four: Prisoner of war

  • Frederick: They took me into a dressing station you know, the Gerries did and that, and then into a horse ambulance, you know, course they were nearly all horses in them days see. And then we went up an old disused railway, you know, that had been cleared away and that. Was in a sunken, sunken road for about three or four miles up towards Cambrai. They took the rails up and used that as a road, see. And that un and that was deep, about as deep as this house perhaps, you know.
  • Robert: Mmm.
  • Frederick: Between two banks they used to use that for ambulances to go up and down, see, from the front line up to Cambrai. And even then they went, they took me from Cambrai up to Mons by train, you know.
  • Robert: Mmm.
  • Frederick: And their hospital there, what they call reserve hospital. Prisoners and Germans all went into the same hospital, see, in the clearing station like. Big clearing station; Mons. I remember I was operated on in that same evening. I laid there for a day or two before they moved me right up north to Munster, in an old Monastry that was supposed to be a hospital. We had our beds, was three boards with a straw mattrass on it. Bag o' straw, that was hospital, look [laughs].
  • Robert: What did you do there?
  • Frederick: I was in there several weeks. They kept the wound open for weeks. They used a bandage, you know, a sterilised bandage, used to tuck in, like that cause that was septic.
  • Dorothy: Did that turn septic?
  • Frederick: I reckon it did because I..., weeks and weeks they were poking this, these bandages in every day, see.
  • Dorothy: Yes.
  • Robert: Where did you go to prison camp, then? Where was you a prisoner of war?
  • Frederick: Pardon?
  • Robert: Where was you a P.O.W. then?
  • Frederick: All over, in different camps, you know. Er, from...Parsham was the name of one. Frankfurt, Franfforter, Maine. The, all different places, you know. Doblemann was another camp. And I used to volunteer to go out on the... It wouldn't do to stop in camp, you know, to, no. Volunteer to go out on working parties, see, on the farms or anywhere else.
  • Dorothy: What about the time you went where there was some ducks?
  • Frederick: Oh yeah, yeah. On a big farm we had, they had four ducks there. We managed to get them.
  • Dorothy: You was with... You was with Russians, weren't ya?
  • Frederick: We used to live in a big room, in a lock up, you know. Big room with a big old stove in, with twenty or thirty prisoners. [Among] twenty [of us there] might have been only four Englishmen and a few Frenchies, you know, and Russians, chiefly Russians. And Poles, yeah. So, two Englishmen, they took the, they took the bars apart, you know, from the window, and went out and got, pinched these ducks off the pond. They were locked up in a duck house on the pond, big pond, you know. And they went round the field so they shouldn't follow the feathers. and that, you know. Got 'em in a sack and brought 'em home. This old sentry had gone out, Saturday night it was. He'd gone down the town to have a drink, see, only one sentry. And we got a bucket and cooked these ducks, you know. Drawn, plucked 'em and put them in a bucket and boiled 'em up.
  • Dorothy: Ah. but how did you get rid of the innards?
  • Frederick: Ay?
  • Dorothy: You burnt all the innards.
  • Frederick: Buried the feathers and stomach and that, you know. Buried them.
  • Robert: How did you get on with the Germans in general then, at that time?
  • Frederick: Pretty well, you know. Yeah.
  • Dorothy: Bar once when you couldn't eat the potato soup.
  • Frederick: Oh yeah, yeah. That was on one job, couldn't drink the soup. It'd got maggots floating about on it. Potato soup, and a little bit o' meat here and there, but maggots. Seventeen Englishmen on that job, and we none of us, us Englishmen, wouldn't touch it, you know, wouldn't look at it. And so the old Sergeant Major what was in charge, German Sergeant Major, you know, he say, "You won't drink it?" "No, we're not going to have that!". He lined up seventeen sentries [and] he lined up us seventeen, here. He said, "If you don't, if you don't have the soup I'll shoot yer." See? One man: [One] sentry, we knew he doesn't do that, not on a big job like that, you know. We was, "No!" He stood, lined us up, he lined us the post, his sentries up, you know, and seventeen against seventeen. We stood there about half an hour. He got fed up. Thought what he would do I suppose, "You'll all get punishment. You'll all be confined to ground for twenty four hours." No blanket or nothing see. They had some underground, er, sort of barrack, you know what I mean? Purpose [built] for the job. So they put us down there for twenty-four hours. Just a drink of water. Coo.
  • Dorothy: And you had to go on sleepers, didn't yer?
  • Frederick: Ay?
  • Dorothy: Railway sleepers?
  • Frederick: Oh yes. Sent us up on the, sent us up on a job on railway sleepers, you know, iron sleepers they were.
  • Frederick: Pick them up beside the railway, about a foot of snow. As you picked them up so the blinkin' skin come off yer hand, frozen, you know what I mean? Sort of pulled the skin off your hands. Another rotten job, that was. But on the farm it was decent. The German people themselves hadn't got nothing to eat. That was all sent to the front line, see. They were actually starving beginning 1917, they were. The cows weren't getting any food, they couldn't give much milk. British people didn't know that, no. Nor did the troops at the front. If they.. .All the stuff used to go to them, see. The civilians weren't getting much. Children were as thin as rakes, all with rickets, you know. Then they wouldn't give in, see, not even right up to 1918 they wouldn't.



  • 245972

    Pte. Alfred Dronsfield

    British Army 1/4th Btn. Kings Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment

    (d.19th April 1918)

    Alfred Dronsfield was my great Uncle, he went to war with my Grandad James Dronsfield, who returned. As a child I remember when asked about the war he was not happy to talk about it. However I heard from a cousin that he was shot three times at Gallipoli. Having visited Uncle Alfreds grave in Festuberg I was moved to tears to realise just how young they were.




    226735

    Pte. H. Drope

    Canadian Army Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry

    Pte Harry Drope was a POW at Heilsberg. He walked 500 miles to Russia on after escaping on 13 June 1918.




    238960

    Maj. George Thomas Acton Drought

    British Army Royal Field Artillery

    from:Cheltenham, Gloucs.

    (d.15th June 1915)

    Major Drought was the husband of Louise L. Palmer (formerly Drought), of Ash Priors, Cheltenham, Gloucs. He was 34 when he died in London of wounds and is buried near the left corner of the Glenealy Church of Ireland Churchyard, Glenealy, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.




    230552

    Pte. William Frederick Drughorn

    British Army 10th (Stockbrokers) Batallion Royal Fusiliers

    from:Ifield Hall

    (d.15th July 1916)

    William Frederick Drughorn (b Rotterdam 8th July 1895) signed up, as a private, soon after war was declared on 4th August 1914, presumably in the City as he joined 10th (Stockbrokers) Battalion, service no STK76. By 21/8 there were 210 men rising to 1,600 by 27/8.

    He was working for his father, (my great grandfather) John Frederick Drughorn (JFD), who was a prosperous shipowner (of Rhine barges) and shipbroker. Father and son had moved from Rotterdam c1901, Drughorn Senior abandoning a wife and a daughter but with his new companion and their four daughters plus William and two sons from the first marriage. Originally they lived in Beckenham together, had a house in Piccadilly and bought Ifield Hall c1913; I have his naturalisation certificate signed by Home Secretary Reginald McKenna. In 1915 JFD was prosecuted for trading with the enemy (probably stitched up by competitors) and fined 1/-; he lost all his Rhine barges to the Germans.

    William was killed in action at Pozieres, Somme on 15th July 1916, aged just 21.

    In 1922 his father, JFD, was knighted for his considerable charitable work but probably paid Lloyd George's honours broker Maundy Gregory a large sum of money for a baronetcy; that contributed to the collapse of the last ever Liberal government. Why he wanted a baronetcy is a mystery as all his sons were dead by 1922 (I assume he was trying to divorce his wife, who had lost an infant boy to meningitis in 1907 and expected his mistress to marry him and produce a son and heir - he was cited in a highly publicised divorce case); He had married his Dutch girl ((my great grandmother Elizabeth) only in 1906 presumably because the first wife held out for more money in Holland)). The first wife died in Sobibor within a few days of Sir John passing in his bed at Ifield aged 80 in 1943; the Dutch daughter and her husband survived Sobibor and Aushwitz to claim against the estate from 1945 to 1951 as he had left large estate. Two mistresses also claimed!!

    William's death caused Lady Drughorn to live apart from Sir John, she in Beckenham and he at Ifield; JFD also had a love nest called the Wigwam in Gorleston on Sea where he built a golf course, still open. He also built Ifield golf course and was a great benefactor of Crawley. William is commemorated six times! His war grave at Pozieres Military Cemetery, the sundial that was at Ifield Hall is now in the family's possesion, on the war memorial in Ifield Church, on the war memorial plaque at The King's School Canterbury, on the Memorial gates to the park in Crawley town centre and on the gravestone of his three brothers (two who predeceased him and one who died in 1919) in Beckenham Cemetery.




    233940

    Sgt William Drumm

    British Army 2nd Btn Royal Inniskillen Fusiliers

    from:Inniskillen, Co Fermangh.

    (d.28th Nov 1916)




    300403

    A/RQMS Albert George Drummond

    British Army 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry




    246329

    Maj. Eric Grey Drummond

    British Indian Army 2/3rd Btn. Gurkha Rifles

    (d.14th November 1914)

    Eric Drummond was the son of Major General Henry R Drummond of the Royal Engineers). Records show that in 1900 he was serving with the Somerset Light Infantry, having been promoted on 28th September 1895 to 2nd Lieutenant and then on 16th November 1898 to Lieutenant. He was wounded in the Mohmand Expedition of 1897-98. In 1913 he left the service to become a Kings Messenger but rejoined at the outbreak of war serving with the 4th Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army, then attached to the 2/3rd Battalion, Gurkha Rifles. He was killed in action on 14th of November 1914, the day after he entered the trenches, aged 39 years. He is buried in Bethune Town Cemetery. A pupil of Bedford Modern School 1889-93, Eric is commemorated on the School War Memorial, which was unveiled in 1923 and in the Roll of Honour, published in The Eagle, December 1923.

    Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com




    215502

    Pte. George Augustine Drummond

    British Army 76th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps.

    from:Jarrow

    (d.6th Oct 1918)

    George Augustine Drummond died aged 25. He was born at St. Giles Midlothian, the son of of John and Maggie Drummond of 60 Cobden Street Jarrow. On the 1911 census, George Augustine Drummond age 18, Brass Tube Makers Labourer, is listed as living with his parents John and Maggie Drummond and family at 60 Cobden Street, Jarrow. He enlisted at Leith.

    George is buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Gouy.




    223063

    Pte. James Drummond

    British Army 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers

    from:Glasgow

    (d.16th May 1915)

    My Great Grandfather, James Drummond, who joined the Royal Scots at 19 yrs old in 1914 and was killed in action at the Battle of Festubert France on 16 May 1915 leaving his only son William aged 4 (my grandfather) an orphan as his wife Catherine had died previously. My grandfather was left with his bloodstained and holed army paybook and some letters written by his friend J Anderson and sent to his aunt Jean who was looking after little Willie while he was away fighting for King & Country.

    I include some excerpts from letters sent home. one in particular sent the day before he was killed where he mentions how lucky he is by "not stopping a bullet"

    Dear Aunt and Uncle

    I now take the pleasure of answering your kind and welcome letter and parcel I was very glad to receive it. Did you get the letter about Johnny Gallagher Garrety and Mather Mulhand that he has not come to this battalion he must have gone to the first battalion. You was saying I was very lucky that I have not stopped one but it will be a lucky one that will see it over. Bobby as you was telling me is he not thinking about coming out and having a shot of this ……….. as I have been holding it all the winter for Johnny G.

    Dear Aunt and Uncle I will now draw this letter to a close.

    From your nephew James.

    With love to Willie and Aunt and Uncle God spare Big Will’s strength to work and we will do a bit for him when he gets old.

    Dear Mrs Black

    I now write these few lines just to let you know that your nephew James Drummond got killed in action on Sunday 16 May he did not linger long he got struck with a shell and got killed instantly. Well Mrs Black all the men of this company express their feelings of regret and all his friends and especially his little son who will be left without any parents. I buried him at the same spot where he got killed we all went through a terrible day just after he died but it will cost a few more lives yet before we beat the Germans. The sergeant of the company got his parcel and divided it among all the men as they thought there was no use sending it back.

    Well Mrs Black I know it will be a hard blow to you but I had to let you know that he died fighting for his King and country and he was a good soldier. I think I will stop now as I can’t express our feelings any more. Hope you will answer this just to let me know you received it.

    I remain one of his chums.

    James Anderson

    To Mrs Black

    I received your kind and welcome letter and was glad to see by it that you received mind but was very sorry to hear you were lying ill but I hope by the time you receive this you will be alright again. I know it will be a long time before you get over it. As I told you before he died a heroes death far better than some able bodied men who I expect are still knocking about the street corners of Glasgow at the present time. But I don’t know what they would do if the Germans were coming to Britain. Well Mrs Black I am writing this letter and all the time the guns are roaring. We have just come out of the trenches for a few days rest I’ve been through a few battles myself but I have been home for a few weeks. I got wounded at the battle Aisne but if I get home again I will come through to you and let you know everything. I was making a cross for his grave but we got orders to shift I am very sorry to tell you that I did not finish it. You were asking me for his small book but we had to had it in to the Sergeant so you will get everything from Headquarters. The only thing we are frightened of now is poisonous gas they are using. Well I think I will draw to a close as I have no more to say. I hope to see you soon.

    I remain yours, most sincerely.

    Private J Anderson.

    Xxxxx to the little boy from me




    231043

    Drvr. James Drummond

    British Army 14th Div. Ammunition Column Royal Field Artillery

    (d.19th September 1916)




    263915

    Pte. Thomas Drummond

    British Army 75th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps

    from:Dumbie Dykes Road, Edinburgh

    Thomas Drummond was a stretcher bearer between 1915 & 1918 with 75th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps.




    251056

    Pte. William Dodd Drummond

    British Army 18th Btn. Lancashire Fusiliers

    from:Ashton under lyne

    (d.4th Nov 1916)

    William Drummond joined the army on the 9th of September 1915 with a fake age but was a tall lad so managed to get away with this, he fought with the 18th Lancashire Fusiliers in France where he died on the battlefield to a gunshot wound that went through his prayer book (which is in the family still covered in his blood) he was 17 when he died after one year and 2 months of service.




    247075

    Rflm. Frank Herbert Drury

    British Army 1/5th Btn. London Regiment

    from:Acton, London

    (d.24th June 1918)

    Frank Drury, born 31st of August 1899 in Acton, son of Arthur Miles and Theresa Drury. He initially enlisted with the 15th (Prince of Wales Own Civil Service Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment. Then transferred to the 1st/5th Battalion, London Regiment. He died of his wounds on 24th of June 1918 aged 18 years and is buried in Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France. He is remembered on the War Memorial, St Mary's Church, Acton, London.




    246752

    Pte. Jacobus Henry Drury

    South African Infantry 1st Regiment

    from:Citrusdal, Cape Province

    (d.19th October 1918)

    Jacobus Drury was the son of Thomas O'Brien Drury and stepson of H. J. W. Drury from Grootvlei, Citrusdal, Cape Province. He was 19 when he died and is buried in the Beaufort West (Christ Church) Old Cemetery, Western Cape, South Africa.




    260899

    2Lt. Lawrence G. Drury

    British Army 9th Btn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

    from:Rotherham

    (d.11th September 1918)

    Lawrence Drury appears on the War Memorial plaque inside Saxilby Church, Lincolnshire. I saw it when I was looking at the church as the place where many of my ancestors were married and some are buried in the churchyard. Lawrence was second/third cousin of my great-great grandmother Mary Ann Drury.

    During WW1 Lawrence served with the 9th Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and died 11th of September 1918 aged 28 years. He is buried in the Mont Huon Military Cemetery at Le Treport in France. Husband of Edith J. Drury, of 75 Whinney Hill, Rotherham.

    Mary Ann had also lost another relative (by marriage), also in 9th Battalion KOYLI, Reginald Muddiman, who died on 24th of October 1918 and is buried in the Poix-du-Nord Communal Cemetery Extension.




    229868

    Capt. Noel Drury

    British Army 6th Btn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers

    from:Dublin, Ireland




    1547

    Pte. William Drury

    British Army 2/5th Btn. D Coy. Leicester Regiment




    1031

    Pte. William Henry Drury

    British Army 1st Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment

    from:Lichfield

    My father Wiliam Drury was in the 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment from August 1914. He kept a diary for part of that time including the surrender and time as a prisoner of the Germans. It stopped until he came home at the end of the war:

    I, William H Drury reservist 1st Yorkshire Regiment was called away from my home at the outbreak of war with Germany. Along with thousands of others I went to my depot at York where I received my arms and equipment and proceeded to the barrack room where I changed into military clothing, and a few hours later we left here to join our regiment at Litchfield. Arriving there late at night we were given food and put into different companies and settled for the night. The following day we were joined by some more reservists and were very busy getting everything in working order.

    Our next move took us to Scotland to the town of Dunfermline. Arriving there on the Saturday afternoon we had a good reception and a plentiful supply of refreshments from the town people. Here we were billeted in the schools for the night and then moved into tents. The following days we were busy getting into war trim and here we received inoculation as a preventative against enteric fever. Our stay here lasted six days. Leaving the town we passed over the splendid Firth of Forth Bridge at night time, our naval comrades down below being very busy with their searchlights. We travelled in darkness all night. The following day we arrived at our destination that turned out to be the town of Cambridge. Here again we were given a splendid reception by the townspeople. We proceeded to one of the commons and soon had our tents up and got settled. Our stay here, which lasted three weeks, was very enjoyable, fruit round this district being very plentiful we came in for a good supply. We now got the order to leave here so packing our things we marched 13 miles to Newmarket and there entrained for Southampton. Our journey was a good one, the people of London giving us a good send off as we passed through. On our arrival at Southampton we embarked on the `Cawdor Castle' and steamed off the following morning. On the journey across we were escorted by three French warships their band playing the National Anthems of England, France and Russia.

    We disembarked at the seaport town of Saint Nazaire and proceeded to a rest camp and seven hours later we left here for the station where we were put in the carriage, given bully and biscuits and started on our long train ride, which lasted 36 hours. The journey took us through many noted places. We left Paris on our right, the Eiffel Tower being very noticeable in the distance, arriving at the town of Collumiers we left the train and it was here we got our first glimpse of the damage done by the German soldiers. Here also were a few German prisoners, they being taken on their retirement a few days previous. We proceeded to an old disused factory and were given food and a few hours rest and then left for a village 7 miles away called Cloupeck. Here we were billeted for two days. Now being on the line of communication we expected a move to the firing line any time. We heard here that the German Cavalry had been seen in a wood close by and our company were told to search for them but found nothing. From here we commenced a forced march doing about 25 miles a day. We passed miles of vineyards and peaches, the people giving us a good helping. The weather up to this had been splendid, but now rain set in lasting several days. Arriving at Vichy we had a two hours halt for tea and set off again, arriving at the town of Chateau Thierry where we spent the night in a hospital (the first bed since leaving home). The following morning we were off again and landed at night at the village of Harteneese. Here we received our first post from England. Leaving here the next morning we had another good days march and stayed for the night in an open field, rain coming down very fast we were soon soaked through. The following morning we were off again, this time our company doing rear guard. Here we met with our first real danger, the transport sending word back that the German Artillery were shelling the road in front. We again attempted to get through so splitting up into small parties we made a dash, getting through with the loss of only one life. We proceeded to the village of Bourg where we had food and were getting prepared for a rest when the enemy started shelling this place, we doing a hasty exit to the woods close by for safety. Here we had to take cover from the German aeroplanes and a gear artillery duel was on at the time. We now had our rest as we were going into the trenches at night. Six o'clock came and we fell in and were marched toward the trenches. Waiting here until it got dark we counted 12 dead horses and many other things. It looked like a busy time round here, a few good words of advice were given us by our officers. Up to our knees in mud we were taken quietly to the trenches to relieve the Coldstream Guards. We were getting nicely into our position when our advanced post came running in and reported the Germans advancing. This was the signal to open fire, which lasted one and a half hours. As the enemy trenches were only 300 yards from ours their rifle fire was very plain to see. The firing now ceased and our advanced posts were sent out again. We were kept busy all night bettering our trenches. Early next morning we were ordered to stand to. Here the General paid a visit to the trenches and was seen to be walking about as cool as ice. We could now see a few of our comrades who met their fate the night before. The morning opened with German Aeroplanes hovering above, showing our positions to their Artillery who opened a heavy shrapnel fire on us, their shells bursting 30 yards behind us (what luck) our Artillery replying. Now the fire of the big guns ceased our work started as the enemy's infantry started to advance but they were driven back with decent losses, our men and the French Turkos on our right fighting well. Still the enemy came again in much larger numbers their machine guns doing terrible damage amongst us. Things were now looking bad for us as our machine gunners and a lot of the men were put out of action. Matters came to a crisis when the Turkos who had fought well up to this started to retire leaving us to the mercy of the enemy who were much superior in numbers. Still we kept the enemy in check until our ammunition began to run out. Now the Turkos opened a heavy fire from their new position, but evidently there was a mistake for their shots were falling amongst our men. Reinforcements were sent up to us but owing to the deadly fire of the enemy it was very few who reached the firing line. A heavy thunderstorm came on now this making our position hopeless as our rifles became clogged with clay from the newly dug trenches. The Germans were now only 50 yards away and there was the choice of two things for us, either to be butchered or surrender, the latter being chosen.

    We were now prisoners of war and taking the wounded that could walk along with us we were split into two parties and marched to the enemies quarters where we left our wounded in the hospital. We were now joined by the other party who reported the German losses to be heavy ones as the dead men were piled four and five deep around their trenches. We were taken now to a field and searched, everything being taken away from us. Some French prisoners now joined our party and we commenced a 17 mile march, being made to carry the Germans pack on the way. On the journey we passed a transport, the soldiers hitting us with sticks and whip stocks. The French people offered us food and water but the Germans would not allow us to take them. While still marching in the dark a heavy motor car ran into our party but luckily there was no one injured. Arriving at our destination the town of Leon we were placed in a fort where our overcoats were taken from us and a lot more assaulting we had to endure. We passed the night in agony as the Germans kept kicking us while sleeping. The following morning 14 of us were picked out to work. We received a spoonful of coffee and were now taken to a deserted hospital giving this a thorough clean out. This finished we returned to our comrades where we received a plateful of soup and then set off for a town 18 miles away (good roads thank God). On the journey a halt was called near a turnip field, our lads making a raid on them, arriving at the town of Marle we were packed in a hay loft and received some bread and scilly and a good nights rest. The following morning we set off again this time to the station where we were put into wagons (72 in mine) and started for a town 30 miles away. In the morning we were shunted into a large siding and stayed here for 7 hours. When darkness came on we continued our journey which ended at a place named Origny en Thierache where we were again put in a hay loft until morning when we paraded and the first sixty men were left behind, the remainder setting off for Germany. We received half a loaf of black bread and a pot full of coffee and were then put to work loading ammunition and sacks of flour from a transport into a railway truck this lasting from 7 am until 8 pm at night with 20 minutes interval for food. A week passed like this when sickness overcame us, many men being put in hospital with dysentery.

    We were now split into two parties, one working day and the other night. Things became so bad that they sent the party to Germany leaving six of us behind working as a kind of housemaid to men on guard, the others working in the cookhouse. I got good food and a good wash (the first since captured 9 days ago). Again we were parted, 2 going to Cambria, 2 Marle and 2 staying here. We could see many things happen here (but least said soonest mended). Here we heard that an English soldier had died from wounds in the hospital and being the only two Englishmen in the place we asked permission to attend his funeral, which was granted us. We were marched with a party to the hospital where the coffin was placed on a farmer's cart. We waited here for one hour for the arrival of the parson, but he never came, so we were marched back to our quarters and did not see the last of our comrade after all.

    We were now attached to a German engineer company and a few days later we left here for the town of Laon, where we joined by our two comrades from Marle. We were now employed in the cookhouse where we received food and a good bed. A few days later we moved to a place called Noyon where we saw a German armoured train and lots of infantry being sent to the firing line. From here we returned again to Laon and two days later we were off again to a place called Margival, here the company were very busy making a landing stage for unloading the transport. Here we were only 300 yards behind the enemies artillery and there were thousands of their troops on the move, which looked like a retirement. It was now that we had to make a quick move, as our artillery starting shelling the station and we again went to Laon This company were now expecting a move to Russia and a few days later we commenced the journey which took three days. On the journey we passed through Belgium and many places where heavy fighting had taken place. We stayed a short time at Namur and Luttich. Continuing our journey we now arrived in Germany on Sunday where many Dutch women were to be seen in their picturesque clothing. We were an object of curiosity as we passed through the stations of Hanover, Minden and Posen. Around the latter place were miles of trenches and barbed wire entanglements, also big size guns.

    Arriving at Montivey we were shunted into some sidings and here we stayed for two months, the company being busy making a field railway into a Russia for carrying supplies to the troops. Here could be seen dozens of Red Cross trains passing to and fro. We now had a very good friend, a German Corporal, who could speak very good English, having lived in London for 5 years, this man reading the paper and letting us know how things were going on (all German victories). Our stay with this company ended here as a high ranked officer heard we were here and ordered us to be sent to a prisoner's camp. Leaving here on the 17th January we travelled to Hohenzalsa and changed here for Ginesen where we arrived at 11 am Sunday. We were taken to the Commander of the town and examined and then taken to a civil prison being followed by hundreds of people. Here we had a bath and changed into prison clothing and then made to wash our clothes which we handed to the women prisoners to be dried. This finished we were taken back to our cell, four of us being in one. Two days passed and we were getting ready for bed when we were ordered to dress as a guard had come to take us to a camp. After several changes we arrived at Sagan the following morning and were taken to some barracks where we expected to see some Englishmen. (What a shock, there were only Russians). Here we were given dry bread and tea and then taken for a bath. This finished we were taken to our new quarters, sleeping with some Russian students until a few days later the commander saw us and showed his hatred by having us placed in different companies. We were now living in artillery stables packed like herrings, 600 men in mine, as the place was only 150ft long, 14ft high, 28ft broad (what a living). We were soon stricken with vermin and lice as the washing accommodation was bad, there being only 4 small tubs for five and a half thousand men and two oz's of soap in 7 weeks. They now stopped us writing home, as there was fever in camp. Things passed on like this so we asked the officer to send us to an English camp but he replied that we must stop with our fighting comrades the Russians.

    In February we proceeded to a new camp, which had just been built only 2 miles away. Here we were placed 50 men in a room and things got a little better. One must condemn the German method of cruelty, striking men with bayonets and sticks for no cause whatever, one man being shot. Our diet now consisted of one mouldy loaf of bread for 5 men a day, with potatoes boiled with their skins on for dinner with a little minced horse flesh put in to make it taste. One can understand the hunger in the camp, the men digging in the refuse pits for any old food. We now got turnips added to our dinner, the Russians fighting in lumps for the peelings, the Doctor watching the distribution of the same. The weather up to this had been very bitter and, only having a blanket, it was difficult to keep warm. It was very amusing to see the tricks the Russians had for getting extra food and their efforts to dodge the German sentries. Now we were able to keep ourselves clean as there were fumigating machines and baths open. About this time there were thousands of Russians being sent to work in factory and farms.

    Things now became a little better for us we were in communication with home and received parcels of food, There now arrived 25 Algerians who had come from hospital, these men living in Africa when at home, we and them forming one company. On Thursday 24th of June we received a surprise visit from an English Minister who gave us a good sermon and told us he was the only minister visiting the English prisoners. On the 22nd of July we witnessed a very strange performance by one of the African prisoners, he passing a threaded needle through the ear, cheek, mouth and through the other cheek and ear, also needles and nails through the muscles of the arms. On the 11th day of July we received a letter smuggled by the Russian prisoners from some Irish men in another camp. These men told us that all Irish prisoners were put together in a camp at Remberg then the Germans led by a man named Sir Roger Casement and two priests from Rome and an American named Nicholson were trying every means possible to get them to take arms against England, offering them money and freedom. As these men refused they were split in to smaller parties and sent to different camps. Still these men were preached at and a few of them joined the enemy and were given uniform and sent to Berlin but they soon ran amok and were sent to camp again at Zossen. I heard later from a French sergeant who came from Zossen that most of the men had planned to give way and so have a cheap do at the enemy's expense. We were also asked our religion and when we answered we were protestants we were told if we had been Irish or Scottish men we should have to be sent home as Ireland and Scotland were in arms against England (but we knew better). We were also shown a German paper where a sea battle had taken place near Helgoland with large headlines 24 British ships caput (sank) to 3 of the enemy but the German soldiers say the they too have read between the lines. On the 7th of August the American Ambassador paid us a visit to see if we had any complaints to make. He said he would try and get us moved to an English camp. On the 7th of September we got another move to another camp a short distance away, 7 days later we were sent back to the old camp and joined by some more Algerians and one Indian prisoner. During the month of November we got another change, this time to the town of Gouletz. Here we were compelled to work. The work was making a reservoir and we received three pence a day for our labour but it was grand to get amongst some English men. Again these man had only arrived the day before and day after us having been working on land and in factories. The Commander here was very strict on us here on our first parade, one Sergeant and two Copl. received 3 days in a cell on bread and water for having woollen mufflers. As the month was November and was very cold this punishment was unjustified. We now received a weekly bath, also disinfection once a month. The worst thing about this was having to stand after bath for three to five hours, naked, about 50 men in a room, until our clothes were finished in the machine. As summer was getting near nearly all the prisoners were sent out working on farms, myself and four more being sent on a farm in May, here we stayed for a little over 7 months and when the work was finished we were returned for the winter in Lagar. The farms around here are nearly all being farmed by prisoners and refugees, we were lent to other farms for thrashing, it was rather strange working with French, Russians, Austrians, Polish and Germans. I returned to the camp on 6th January, following Monday we were taken on parade and the 300 English all had their boots taken from them.

    9th January, great commotion in the camp a fire having broken out, but it was soon put out. There are 4 to 6 men dying every day here from fever and consumption, but we English have had a large case of medicine sent from home so we are not as bad. No good a man giving rich here as he is only laughed at. I am now sent out to a farm again staying 5 months. I returned to Lagar once more sick. The farm hours are in summer 4 on a morning returning to 7 to 8 at nights, too long. It is strange how these German people keep going on the food they are receiving, mostly potatoes, 4 pounds of bread a week, 3 ounces of meat and butter a week. I thought slavery days were over but I find now that is not so in Germany as most of the masters are nothing else but bullies and the slave drivers. The spare women working on farms mostly receive 8 pence a day and the farm girls get 70 to 90, or about 12 to 14 pounds a year. I think it's about time the people of this land rose up against such cruel treatment. I am now sent out again, farm work staying half a year.

    Returned to Lagar 3 days later, sent out again driving post wagon. Returned again, three days later sent out again farm work.

    This is where the diary ends. There are just a few notes that are difficult to read at the very end. Looks like `Officer sweeping road Over co at Duneshire Bayonet wound in the hand. Teeth knocked out (this could explain why there are no more entries.) Personally he told me some of the other things that happened to him. When I asked how got a German Eagle tattoo all over his back , he told me the Germans did it as part of his punishment for escaping , I also believe that is how he lost his front teeth. He would not say more about it. During the WW2, he was too old for the army but went and volunteered for the Auxiliary fire Service in Leeds Yorkshire. He was with them when they went to Coventry when the Luftwaffe bombed there. He died in 1955, The Old Contemptibles attended his funeral.




    224162

    Sgt. George Edward Dry

    British Army 7th Btn. East Surrey Regiment

    from:Hackney London

    (d.10th May 1917)

    My great uncle George E Dry was a Sergeant in the 7th Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment and this past week (April 2015) we visited his grave for the first time in the beautiful CWGC cemetery at Duisans, near to Arras in France. What we still do not know is the circumstances of his death and this is some thing we are hoping to find out sometime soon. <[>In November last year we visited also for the first time the CWGC China Wall Cemetery near Ypres where my Grandfather Joseph Robert Dry is buried. He died from wounds in battle in 1915.

    In both cases we are only at the beginning of a journey, all be it a rather sad one, to discover more about the military service that my two relations experienced up to their untimely deaths. It is with a lot of personal regret that I was unable to talk to my late father about the war time exploits of his late father and uncle. I suspect this was partly a generational thing and also his own horrific memories of service with the Ghurka regiment in the Burma campaign in WW2.

    Whilst in Ypres we also took with us the hand written diary of my other grandfather who served in the Queen Victoria Rifles and happily survived the war. I mention this because we visited Hill 60 (also near to Ypres) and were able to trace in 'real time on the hill' my grandfather RSM Tom Forrest's exploits and valour in the fighting on Hill 60 in April 1915.

    If any one recognises the references to any of these three brave men I would be delighted to hear from you. As my historical researching progresses I'll be back to update the entry if I can. Having retired from work myself I have spent many hours with my wife researching our family history from back in the early 1800s. It was the period of the First world war that really pushed us to begin both an internet search and physical battle field sites visits in Belgium and France to trace the two brothers (my Grand father and great Uncle) who died and are buried across the channel.




    236279

    Rflmn. James Robert Dry

    British Army 7th Battalion Kings Royal Rifles

    from:London

    (d.20th Sep 1917)

    My grand father, James Dry served with the 7th Battalion Kings Royal Rifles, was sadly he was killed in action on 20th of September 1917. I have been researching for a few years the whereabouts of my Grand father's grave and in November 2014 visited his grave in the Perth Cemetery (China Wall) just outside Ypres. Such a sad and first meeting in nearly 100 years, by one of his ancestors. My father (a veteran of the Burma campaign in WW2) never met his father, as he was born a few months after my grand father was killed in action.

    Unfortunately, my father passed away some time ago taking with him all the horrific memories that he had from the WW2 and any information as to the circumstances of where in the Ypres area the 7th Battalion KRRC were engaged and how my Grand father paid the ultimate sacrifice. I intend to return to his grave with my children to pay our respects next September being the centenary year of his death. If any one could guide me as to where the information would be stored as to that fateful day (20.09.1917)so I can complete my record of ancestry that I want to make sure my family and grand children never forget the sacrifices that were made in both the world wars of the 20th century, so that we can enjoy freedom.

    'Lest we forget'




    251952

    Pte. Walter Hulton Dryburgh MM.

    British Army 46th Coy. Machine Gun Corps

    from:East Wemyss, Fife, Scotland

    (d.1st July 1917)




    1432

    Pte. Samuel Drydale

    British Army 2nd Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers

    (d.24th May 1915)




    220144

    L/Cpl. Alexander Rae Arthur Dryden

    British Army 10th Btn. Worcestershire Regiment

    from:95 Popes Road, Brixton, London

    (d.3rd Jul 1916)

    L/Cpl. Alexander Dryden served with the 10th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment and died on 3rd July 1916.




    300770

    Pte. George Dryden

    British Army 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry




    232

    Company Sjt Mjr. H. Drysdale

    Army 2/8th Btn. Durham Light Infantry







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