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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Pte. Reginald Thomas Kerslake MiD.
Australian Army 34th Battalion
from:Bringelly, NSW
Reginald Kerslake was the son of John Charles Kerslake and Alice Maude Wolrich. He enlisted on 14th of December 1915 and was assigned to the 34th Battalion.
He sailed on the HMAT Horatio which left Sydney on 2nd of May 1916, arriving at Plymouth on 23rd of June 1916. He was admitted to Fargo Military Hospital on 18th of September 1916 suffering from bronchitis, until he rejoined his unit on 15th of October 1916.
He was promoted to Sergeant, then 2nd Lieutenant, then Lieutenant. He was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's despatch of 16th of March 1919 which was promulgated in the London Gazette No. 31448 of 11th of July 1919.
His brother was Charles William Kerslake, Regimental No. 3580 (33rd Australian Battalion,11th reinforcement. Both returned home.
Pte. Walter Kessell
British Army 2/4th Battalion Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry
from:Ludgvan, Cornwall
(d.30th October 1918 )
Walter Kessell was my great great Uncle. The youngest of his siblings. He signed up in 1914 in Truro from his home in Ludgvan, trained in Salisbury Plain and was transported travelled across India. His father died in 1915, his mother 1920.
Walter was one of a few who died of the epidemic of flu that took over his battalion at the end of the war. He never came home. He, along with a fellow soldier who died at the same time, (the influenza 12) were remembered in a service at St James Church in Delhi with a plaque unveiled.
His sister was my great grandmother who was married with children at his death and no one knew of Walter until I did my tree. I believe no one spoke of him through the family. I found his medals were returned in 1920 (presumably due to no next of kin being found although his war pension went to his mother, sister and next brother after he died)
I don't have a photograph but hold his memory now along with my family. His name is on the Ludgvan War memorial in Cornwall.
Cpl. Percy Ketch MM.
British Army 1/5th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
Percy Ketch, born 1898, is my grandfather in law. He died in 1964. He served with the 1/5th DLI and saw action as a machine gunner. He was injured in the shoulder whilst manning the machine gun for which he won the Military Medal.
Pte. George Albert Ketley
British Army 8th Btn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
from:Sheffield
(d.3rd Oct 1916)
My Great Grandfather Private George Albert Ketley died of wounds on the 3rd October 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. He is buried at Dernancourt Cemetery, near Albert, France.
Sgt. Robert Kett
British Army 2nd Battalion Cameronians Scottish Rifles
(d.4th May 1915)
We believe that Robert Kett was killed at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, he is buried in the Military Cemetery at Rue-Petillion, Fleurbaix which is located south of Armentières.
Pte. William Kett
British Army 3rd Garrison Btn. Royal Irish Fusiliers
from:Clashmore
(d.3rd May 1917)
Private Kett was the Husband of K. Kett, of Clashmore.
He is buried left of the church at the entrance in the Clashmore Church of Ireland Churchyard, Co. Waterford, Ireland.
Pte. Alf. Kettle
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Blyth
(d.1st July 1916)
Alf Kettle is named on the Thiepval Memorial
Pte. George Kettleband
British Army 10th Battalion Cheshire Regiment
from:Bingham, Notitnghamshire
(d.7th June 1917)
Pte. George Kettlewell
British Army 25th (Tyneside Irish) Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Newhill, West Melton, Rotherham
(d.15th Apr 1918)
George Kettlewell was a member of the 25th Battalion (Tyneside Irish), Northumberland Fusiliers. He had previously been Private 43933 in the 6th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. At the time of his death, his Battalion, part of 102nd Brigade and the 34th Division, were involved in the Battle of Lys. Their war diaries record that between the commencement of the battle (7th April) and the 13th April they had taken such heavy casualties, in a fighting retreat, that, on the 13th April, the Brigade was reorganised into a Battalion and the Battalion was reorganised into a Company.
Official records show that George Kettlewell (aged 19) died of his wounds at the No.3 Canadian General Hospital, which was situated at Dannes-Camiers. He is interred at the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.
Sgt. George Kettley
British Army City of London Yeomanry
from:Faversham, Kent
I have the Victory Medal of Captain George Kettley of the Royal Defence Corps plus service record and also a photograph. He served as 9939 & 300238 Sgt in the 1/5th London Rifle Brigade and City of London Yeomanry from 1898 to 1916, thereafter being commissioned into the Royal Defense Corps. In 1918 he was apparently C.O. of the POW Camp for German Officers at Ripon. I wonder if anyone has any further information on him ?
Pte. Arthur Kew
British Army 1st Btn. Border Rgt.
from:South Stoke, Oxfordshire
(d.27th January 1917)
Arthur Kew was my great uncle. He was born in 1892 in South Stoke near Oxford. Before joining the army he was a waggoner on a local farm. He was one of at least three brothers who served during WW1.
Arthur's brothers served in local county regiments but Arthur enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery before transferring to 1st Btn. Border Regiment. On 27th January 1917 he was part of an attack on Landwear Trench, south of le Transloy. The attack was successful but Arthur was killed. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing.
Pte. Samuel Kewley
British Army 6th Btn. South Lancashire Regiment
from:Seaforth, Liverpool
Samuel Kewley was the son of Thomas Henry Kewley and Mary (nee Brown). He was one of six serving brothers, two of whom unfortunately died in the war. Samuel Kewley enlisted in the South Lancashire Regiment at Seaforth on January 9th 1915 and served in Gallipoli and Egypt. He also spent some time in India in a hospital. Due to sickness, Samuel Kewley was discharged on August 16th 1917.
Pte. E. Key
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Dipton
E Kay suffered facial wounds in France
Pte. Edward Key
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Dipton
Ernest Shadrack Key MM.
Australian Imperial Force 36th Btn.
My Great Grandfather Ernest Key was in the 36th during the Battle of Messines.
His diary reads: 7th Thursday - Hopped over at 3:10 in the morning, objective taken without a hitch, heavy casualties. We were carrying up ammunition and sundries all day. Terribly knocked up, buried twice myself, very badly shook up. A bit of sleep late at night.
Sapper Herbert Key
British Army Royal Monmouthshire Engineers.
from:Offley Brook, Staffordshire
My Grandfather Herbert Key served as a reservist in both the 2nd campaign of the Boer War in Africa and WW1. I don't know where he was situated in either instance, however I do know that he joined the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers to fight in WW1.
He was discharged and sent home in June 1916 suffering from TB, he died on 1st December 1918 and is buried in Eclleshall's Holy Trinity Churchyard. However he does not have his name on his grave and to add insult to injury another man was buried on top of him in error. I wrote to the vicar of the church last year asking if we could place a small name plaque in his memory on the grave but I didn't receive a reply. How shameful for a man who served his country and gave his life through disease probably contracted in the trenches to be treated so shabbily, but I don't give up easily.
Spr. Herbert Key
British Army Royal Monmouthshire Engineers Royal Engineers
from:Offley Rock, Eccleshall, Staffordshire
(d.1st Dec 1918)
My grandfather, Herbert Key, served as a reservist in the Boer War and WW1. He was discharged on the 24th June 1916 and returned home suffering from TB. He died on the 1st December 1918 in Stafford Infirmary. My father William Harry, who was Herbert's youngest child was seven years old when his father died.
Herbert was buried in Eccleshall's Holy Trinity Churchyard in an unmarked grave. I have been trying for a few years since my cousin Audrey showed me where he was buried, to get something done about putting his name on his grave. Herbert may not have died by bomb, bullet or bayonet, but he died as a result of having served his country no less than anyone else. It is time he was honoured accordingly.
Editor's Note:- His pension record, following his discharge in June 1916, states that he was being discharged because he was no longer physically fit enough. It confirms the above stating that the Tuberculosis was caused by exposure to the cold and wet and he had a chronic cough. He had enlisted on 7th December 1914 and, at the time, he was 45 years old with a wife, Sarah Alice (nee Talbot) who he had married in 1898, and 5 children.
Pte. Hugh Key
British Army Royal Berkshire Regiment
from:Lincoln
Hugh Key served with the Royal Berkshire Regiment. All I have are the plaque presumably sent to families of all who died, and what I assume to be general service medals in a box, which gives his rank, service number and regiment.
Pte. Jacob Rita Key
British Army 1st Btn. Suffolk Regiment
from:Brandon Bank, Cambs.
(d.8th May 1915)
Jacob Key was one of my grandmother's older brothers. Two others were also killed in action. She campaigned to have the plaque bearing their names salvaged when the church in which it had been put up was deconsecrated. She succeeded. She was also proud that he was commemorated on the Menin Gate. David, who died in September 1916 is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial and Frederick, died 8th August 1918, on the Ploegstraat memorial. None of their bodies were ever found. I have visited them all.
As my grandmother was the daughter at home during the war, and the one who could read, which her parents couldn't, imagine how she had to deal with imparting the news contained in letters from the army.
Pte. Alfred James Keylock
British Army 11th Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers
from:Rhayader
(d.29th Sep 1919)
My grandmother Emmeline Price was the sweetheart of Alfred Keylock. He was one of several siblings who had been orphaned in early life and raised in a home in Bristol, although he had been born in Tewkesbury. Emmeline’s father Richard Price had adopted Alfred and at the date of his enlistment he was working as a Farm Labourer at Noyadd in Rhayader. He enlisted at Knighton on 1st of July 1916 and sent to Kinmel Park near Liverpool for training. He embarked on the Franconia at Devonport for the Balkan theatre on 1st of September 1916, and joined his unit on the 13th of that month. The 11th Battalion were involved in fighting against Serb forces at Dorian just before the armistice with Bulgaria was declared at the end of September 1918. Alfred lost his battle with pneumonia and malaria at the 4th General Hospital just days before. He was buried at Lambert Road Military Cemetery in Salonika.
L/Cpl. Sydney J. Keys MM.
British Army 11th Battalion Sherwood Foresters
from:Kensworth
(d.16th September 1917)
Sydney Keys enlisted in February 1916 in Derby. He gave his place of birth as Kensworth and his residence as Huthwaite. He served with the 11th Battalion Sherwood Foresters and was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. It was whilst with his battalion on the Western Front that on 15th/16th September 1917 he was killed by shell fire, his body was buried where he fell. However, he has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Notts Free Press, 5th October 1917 reported, Huthwaite Hero's Death Military Medallist killed in Action. After being the recipient of the military Medal as recently as June last, the news of his death in action has come as a great blow to the many friends of private S. Keys, 35438. B Company, 11th Sherwood Foresters, a well-known Huthwaite figure. He lived with his sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Hughes, of Ashfield Street, Huthwaite, by whom the following letters have been received last Friday and Monday respectively:
Dear Mrs. Hughes,- It is with deep regret that I have to inform you of the death of Private S. Keys. He was in my platoon and was killed in the front line by shell fire on the 15th. His death was instantaneous and he suffered no pain. During the short period I knew him I always found him a good soldier, who did his duty well. He was buried next day, and I have lost a good man whose place will be very difficult to fill. I wish to express my sympathy with you and your family in this sad bereavement. These are all the details I can give you. J. Greville, 2nd. Lieut.
"It is with deep sympathy that I write to tell you that your brother, Private S. Keys, 35438, was killed in action on September 16th. and was buried by his battalion near where he fell. The place will be sent to you. He has died a hero, and I know that he is mourned by many pals. But "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." R.I.P. May I again offer to you and all his folk at home my sincere sympathy in your great bereavement.- Yours faithfully, J.K. Jones, (Chaplain C.E.).
Notices also published by the Mansfield Recorder dated 5th October 1917, Private Keys was born at Kensworth, near Luton, and was 26 years old. He came to Huthwaite eight years ago and lived (as stated) with his married sister. He joined up in February, 1916, and being in a low medical class he was in England ten months, and was then put in class A. Three months later he was sent to France. In June he was awarded the Military Medal for remaining at his post, though wounded, and setting a good example to his comrades. His pre-war employment was as a barman, and by reason of his quiet unassuming disposition he had many friends, and the step-brother (Corporal W. Dean), of the Bedfords, has won the D.C.M., but lost his left arm and has had twelve months in hospitals.
Lt. Leonard Maurice "Keysor" Keysor VC
First Australian Imperial Force 1st Battalion
from:Australia
Sgt. James Keywood DCM.
British Army 8th Btn, X Coy, 6 Platoon Duke of Wellington Regiment
from:71 Annerly Street, Denaby Main, Denaby, S Yorks
Sgt James Keywood was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous gallantry on August 27th 1917, "in leading a Platoon of 36 men to attack a German stronghold which was holding up the advance of the Battalion at Peolcopell. The attack was very successful and heavy losses inflicted on the enemy, the result of which was to ease the resistance to the battalion."
John Keywood
British Army Royal Horse Artillery
from:London. .
My grandfather, John Keywood, was born in Dec 1895 in London. He served with The British Royal Artillery, during the Great War. We know he lied about his age in order to be allowed to join up and was in the Battle of the Somme, in the Royal Horse Artillery. Can anyone help us find any information about him?
L/Cpl. Leonard James Keyworth VC.
British Army 24th (The Queens) Btn. London Regiment
from:Lincoln
(d.19th Oct 1915)
An extract from the London Gazette, dated 2nd July, 1915, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery at Givenchy on the night of 25-26th May, 1915. After the assault on the German position by the 24th Battalion, London Regt, efforts were made by that Unit to follow up their success by a bomb attack, during the progress of which 58 men out of a total 75 became casualties. During this very fierce encounter Lance-Cpl Keyworth stood fully exposed for 2 hours on the top of the enemy's parapet, and threw about 150 bombs amongst the Germans, who were only a few yards away."
Born in Lincoln on 12th August 1893, Leonard James Keyworth was the son of James and Emma Keyworth of 22 Coningsby Street, Lincoln. He tried to join The Lincolnshire Regiment at the outbreak of war in 1914. Rejected, he successfully joined the 24th County of London Battalion, the London Regiment (the Queen’s) Territorial Force as a private on 16th September 1914. Following six months’ basic training in London, Leonard headed to the front line in France.
On the night of 25th/26th May 1915 the battalion had made a successful assault on a German position and were trying to follow it up with a bomb attack against fierce opposition. In a letter home to his sister, Leonard modestly described his actions on the battlefield. ‘I can tell you we have had a very rough time. We entered the trenches at 6.30 on May 25th, and were told to mount the trenches and commence straight away an attack on the German trenches about 250 yards away. This attack we made without our artillery’s covering fire. Our lads went at it with great determination, and were soon successful. I was with the bombing party, and was the only one to come through without a scratch. I went along a ridge on my stomach and threw bombs into a German trench, my distance being about 15 yards. Men were shot down by my side. Still I continued, and came out safe. I was at once recommended to my officers, who posted it to the colonel. It is supposed to be for bravery, but I cannot understand where it came in, as I only did my duty. But how I came out God only knows. Some of our men who were slightly wounded, and who have come back, could not believe that I came out alive.’
This modest account belies the fact that Leonard was key to the success of the action that day. A fellow soldier recalled seeing Leonard refuse to give in even whilst under heavy enemy fire. He said: 'Seeing that we were done for, Keyworth laid hold of all the bombs he could get, and springing on to the enemy parapet, kept pelting them with bombs just as if he were taking shots at an Aunt Sally. It was a mercy that he escaped, for all the time the Germans were shooting at him madly. He kept it up for over two hours, and his audacity paralysed the whole German counter-attack.â€Â
Lance Corporal Keyworth received the Victoria Cross from the King at Buckingham Palace in July,1915. After the ceremony, he was interviewed by a reporter from the Daily Mail: "Leonard was given a hero’s welcome.on 14th July 1915 when he returned to Lincoln. Crowds of people flocked to see him as his train arrived in the city and he, his family, the Mayor and Sheriff, were escorted through the streets by the Territorials. The crowds delayed their progress, it took half an hour to get to his home on Coningsby Street The Mayor gave a speech and then Leonard was carried shoulder-high to his door, as the crowds cheered."
Sadly on 19th of October 1915, he was shot in the head and was taken to the Stationary Hospital at Abbeville and died from his wounds, he was just 22. Three days after his death, his final letter home arrived at his parent’s house. It read: ‘I expect you will be wondering what has become of me. We have had quite a busy time. I hope you both are quite well, in fact, all Coningsby Street. How is Lincoln looking now? I wish I could pay it a visit. I am glad to say I am in the best of health and happy to know we are doing our best against the Germans and doing it well… We are fighting as Britons should do, and it is for our King and country.’
Khalasi Abdul Khaliq
Royal Indian Marine
(d.25 Jul 1916)
Khaliq Abdul served in Remembered at . WW1
Subedar Khudadad Khan VC
British Indian Army 129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis
from:Pakistan
Khudadad Khan was the first native-born Indian to win the VC for an act of bravery on the 31st of October 1914, at Hollebeke, Belgium. Born in the village of Dab in District Jhelum of the Punjab Province, Khudadad Khan was a Sepoy in the 129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis, British Indian Army, part of the Indian Corps, which was sent to France in October 1914. The 129th Baluchis were rushed to the frontline to support the hard-pressed British troops. On 31st of October, two companies of the Baluchis bore the brunt of the main German attack near the village of Gheluvelt in Hollebeke Sector. The out-numbered Baluchis fought gallantly but were overwhelmed after suffering heavy casualties. Sepoy Khudadad Khan's machine-gun team, along with one other, kept their guns in action throughout the day, preventing the Germans from making the final breakthrough. The other gun was disabled by a shell and eventually Khudadad Khan's own team was overrun. All the men were killed by bullets or bayonets except Khudadad Khan, who despite being badly wounded, had continued working his gun. He was left for dead by the enemy but despite his wounds, he managed to crawl back to his regiment during the night. The Germans had been held up just long enough for Indian and British reinforcements to arrive. They strengthened the line, and prevented the German Army from reaching the vital coastal ports. For his matchless feat of courage and gallantry, Sepoy Khudadad Khan was awarded the Victoria Cross.
"On 31st October, 1914, at Hollebeke, Belgium, the British Officer in charge of the detachment having been wounded, and the other gun put out of action by a shell, Sepoy Khudadad, though himself wounded, remained working his gun until all the other five men of the gun detachment had been killed." London Gazette 4 December 1914.
Sepoy. Khudadad Khan VC.
British Indian Army 129th Btn. Duke of Connaughts Own Baluchi Regiment
from:India
Khudadad Khan was born in the Punjab (now in Pakistan) in 1887. His family were Pathans who had moved to the Punjab from the North-West Frontier between India and Afghanistan. He joined the army as a sepoy or private soldier for the sake of regular pay and a chance of honour and glory.
In October 1914, almost immediately after arriving in France, the 129th Baluchis were among 20,000 Indian soldiers sent to the front line. Their job was to help the exhausted and depleted soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) to prevent the advancing Germans from capturing the vital ports of Boulogne in France and Nieuwpoort in Belgium. If the Germans could manage to take Boulogne and Nieuwpoort, they would choke off the BEFs supplies of food and ammunition, and the Allies would lose the war.
The 129th Baluchis, with whom Khudadad Khan was serving as a machine-gunner, faced the well-equipped German army in appalling conditions - shallow waterlogged trenches in which to take cover, a lack of hand grenades and barbed wire, and a dire shortage of soldiers to man the defensive line. They were also outnumbered five to one. When the Germans attacked on 30 October, most of the Baluchis were pushed back. But Khudadad Khan's machine-gun team, along with one other, fought on, preventing the Germans from making the final breakthrough. The other gun was disabled by a shell, and eventually Khudadad Khan's own team was over-run. All the gunners were killed by bullets or bayonets except the badly wounded Khudadad Khan. He pretended to be dead until the attackers had gone on - then, despite his wounds, he managed to make his way back to his regiment. Thanks to his bravery, and that of his fellow Baluchis, the Germans were held up just long enough for Indian and British reinforcements to arrive. They strengthened the line, and prevented the German army from reaching the vital ports.
Sepoy Khudadad Khan recovered from his wounds in an English hospital, and three months later was decorated by King George V at Buckingham Palace in London with the Victoria Cross. He was the first Indian to receive the award. Khudadad Khan returned to India, and continued to serve in the Indian Army.
Sowar Ranjha Khan
British Indian Army 36th Jacob's Horse
from:Shahpur, Punjab
(d.21st May 1917)
Ranjha Khan was the Son of Khan Muhammad, of Kalra, Shahpur, Punjab. He is buried in the Munster Haus Spital Prisoners of War Cemetery in Germany.
Sbdr. Shahamad Khan VC.
British Indian Army 89th Punjabi Rifles
Shahmed Khan was 36 years old, and a Naik in the 89th Punjabi Rifles, British Indian Army, serving on the Tigris Front in Mesopotamia, when he was awarded the VC:
"Shahamad Khan was in charge of a machine-gun section 150 yards from the enemy's position, covering a gap in the New Line at Beit Ayeesa, Mesopotamia on 12th/13 April 1916. After all his men, apart from two belt-fillers, had become casualties, Shamahad Khan, working the gun single-handed, repelled three counter-attacks. Under extremely heavy fire, he continued to hold the gap, whilst it was being made secure, for three hours. When his gun was disabled by enemy fire, he and the two belt-fillers continued to hold the ground with their rifles until they were ordered to retire. Along with the three men who were sent to his assistance, he brought back to his own lines, his gun, ammunition and a severely wounded man. Eventually he returned to remove all remaining arms and equipment, except for two shovels. But for his action, the line would undoubtedly have been penetrated by the enemy."
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