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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Pte. Frank Albert George Preston
British Army 255th Coy. Machine Gun Corps
from:Kentish Town London
(d.28th November 1917)
Frank Preston was born in 1898 the son of Edward and Jane Preston of 20 Haverstock Road, Kentish Town, London. He died age 19 and his name appears on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France on Panel 12 & 13.
Pte George Preston
British Army 1st Btn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
from:Walsall
(d.23rd Jul 1916)
George Preston served with the 1st DCLI
L/Cpl. Herbert Preston
British Army 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers
from:Pontypool, Wales
My grandfather, Herbert Preston, was born in Glascoed, North Monmouthshire, Wales on 23rd April 1890. He is listed on the 1911 Return of Military Personnel aged 21 as a Lance Corporal of the South Wales Borderers. I believe that he was stationed at the Artillery Barracks in Pretoria South Africa. I do not know the date he enlisted but his occupation is listed as a miner.
According to the Medal Card, Herbert was in the Royal Field Artillery and served in France from 30th December 1915. He was commissioned as an officer, 2nd Lieutenant on 20th October 1917. Herbert was awarded the Victory Medal, British War Medal and 1915 Star and completed his service on 23rd May 1920. Herbert married in South Africa in 1922 and died in 1937
Lt. J. F. Preston
British Army 1/7th Btn. London Regiment
Pte. James Routledge Preston
British Army 13th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment
from:9 Beconsfield Ave, Cornwall st. Hull
(d.25th May 1916)
James R. Preston was a son of Hornsea, East Yorkshire, England. He was born 1880 or 1881. He voluntered to go to war December 1914 aged 34. He was a widower with 3 children, we believe two girls and a boy. He died in France, we believe on the Somme on 25th May 1916.
His children were brought up by his sister Sarah. We have found out he has a grave within the Sucrerie Cemetery in France. We wonder why he voluntered at the age he was, having 3 children with no mother. He is my partner's great grandad and every year we go to Hornsea on Rememberance Sunday where my partner leaves his Poppy at the Memorial Garden. I think one day he would like to go to France to see his great grandad's grave.
My mother has told me that her father voluntered to go to fight in the great war aged 17 (he lied about his age). She says he went to Selonika and he rode horses. Of course he lived and went on to marry my Grandma and have 6 children. I have been told he was Mustard gassed and had problems with his chest all his life, dying in his late 50s or early 60s.
We remember them even though we never knew them, we're pretty sure they would be unaware of what was to come or of their fate would be. The very least we can do is honour them and never forget them.
Pte. John Thomas Preston
British Army 1/5th Btn. Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
from:22 Georgian st, Farnworth
(d.16th March 1917)
John Preston served with the 15th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.
Pte. John Preston
British Army 2nd Btn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
from:Alloa, Clackmannanshire
(d.12th Oct 1916)
Private Joseph Edwin Preston
British Army 5th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
from:Yarm North Yorkshire
(d.21st Nov 1918)
Pte. Joseph William Preston
Royal Air Force No 1 School of Navigation
from:Ampleforth
(d.9th November 1918)
Joseph Preston was born on 19th May 1900 at Ampleforth. His parents were William Preston and Annie Nalton. William was a coal gas maker and would have worked at the College, which produced its own gas.
Joseph was a van driver when he joined up on 22nd August 1918, 3 months after becoming 18. He joined the newly-formed Royal Air Force. On 29th of August 1918, he was posted to the 1st School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping.
Data from Ampleforth War Memorial Research project by Ryedale Family History Group.
Pte. Percival Howard Preston
British Army 5th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment
from:Bourton-on-the-Water
Battle of the Somme Poziers Bridge was where my grand-father Percy Preston was captured in WWI. He was born in 1883, the eldest of nine children. I have a postcard copy of a water colour depicting the family cottage with its idyllic surroundings. The Cotswold village of Bourton-on-the-Water had on its outskirts the river Windrush in which cool waters he loved to paddle. Depicted also, is a lone fisherman casting his rod by the old curved bridge, all this enclosed and encircled by a range of tall, graceful, trees of various shades of leaf.
He left school, aged fourteen, and was trained as a master tailor under the watchful eye of my grandfather. No doubt he rode his much loved racing bike everywhere, including to the local Drill Hall where he finally completed twelve years in the TF Territorial Force as one of the Originals in the 5th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, formed April 1st, 1908.
Early into 1916 he was fed as a replacement into France, leaving behind a pregnant wife and young daughter my mother was born on 4th September, 1916. Between 23rd and 27th of July 1916, he was captured on the barbed wire while fighting in the Battle of the Somme at the Battle of Poziers Bridge, and was a POW in Germany for two and a half years.
In 1918 he returned home to Bexhill, in Sussex, and my mother was told he was her new daddy whereupon, studying his pale face and gaunt appearance, she stated, I don't like you. He was in stark contrast to the fresh pink faced officer with very white teeth who fed her chocolate. She recalled his trembling fingers holding his tape measure when fitting his children's new school uniforms and the Sunday dinner thrown into the garden, where the family cat enjoyed the surprise and my mother was glad it wasn't wasted. In 1939, the family's tiny radio gave the news were at war with Germany, whereupon he burst into tears and rushed upstairs.
On leaving the South Coast and setting up a small shop in Stroud, Gloucestershire, he suffered from agoraphobia and would venture timidly next door where the local barber gave him a shave and haircut. Aged 81 years and clad in his best smart Sunday suit, he returned home one day after his usual stroll. With the 18 year old tabby cat purring on his lap, and his trusty bike in the hall, he died of a heart attack while sharing a cup of tea with his beloved wife.
Pte. Simon Preston
British Army 20th (Tyneside Scottish) Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Dawdon, Seaham Harbour, Durham
(d.1st Jul 1916)
Simon Preston was born in 1892 at Trimdon Foundry, Durham, the eldest son and one of eight children of Thomas Preston,a coal miner, and Jemima Henderson. In 1911 the family were living at 7 Wynyard Street, Dawdon, Seaham Harbour, Simon aged 19 was a miner, coal putter underground. In 1914 he married my Aunt, (my father's sister), Florence Beatrice Bailey I believe at St Hild & St Helen's Church Dawdon. They had no children.
He enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers, 20th (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion. He was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1st July 1916, his medal card records him as presumed dead. Simon is commemorated at The Thiepval Memorial and also on a Memorial Plaque in the Dawdon Miners Lodge. Simon's brother Thomas born in 1898 in Trimdon, enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers, 22nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade, he was killed 5th June 1917 and is commemorated at the Sunken Road Cemetery, Fampoux, France, and also on a Memorial Plaque in the Dawdon Miners Lodge.
Pte. T. Preston
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Dunston
Pte. Thomas Preston
British Army 22nd (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Dawdon, Seaham Harbour, Durham
(d.5th June 1917)
Thomas Preston was born in 1898 at Trimdon Foundry, Durham, one of 8 children of Thomas Preston, a coal miner, and Jemima Henderson. In 1911 the family were living at 7 Wynyard Street, Dawdon, Seaham Harbour, Thomas aged 13 was a shoolboy.
He enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers, 22nd (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion. He was killed 5th June 1917 and is commemorated at the Sunken Road Cemetery, Fampoux, France, and also on a Memorial Plaque in the Dawdon Miners Lodge.
His brother Simon was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1st July 1916. Simon is commemorated at The Thiepval Memorial and also on a Memorial Plaque in the Dawdon Miners Lodge.
Thomas Preston
British Army 20th (Tyneside Scottish) Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
(d.6th June 1917)
Thomas Preston was born in 1898 in Trimdon, Durham, one of eight children of Thomas Preston, a coal miner, and Jemima Henderson. In 1911 the family were living at 7 Wynyard Street, Dawdon, Seaham Harbour. Thomas served with the Northumberland Fusiliers, 2Oth Tyneside Scottish Btn and was killed on 5th June 1917. He is commemorated at the Sunken Road Cemetery, Fampoux, France, and also on a Memorial Plaque in the Dawdon Miners Lodge. Thomas's older brother Simon, born in 1892 in Trimdon, enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers, 22nd Tyneside Scottish Btn.
Pte. Thomas Preston
British Army 3rd Btn. South Lancashire Regiment
from:Stockport
My Grandfather, Thomas Preston, was in the 3rd South Lancs Regiment. Signed up on 20/11/15. He contracted "Trench Feet" and was sent home to hospital to recover. He won the War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Pte. Wallace Preston
British Army 9th Battalion West Yorkshire Regt. (Prince of Wales Own)
from:48 Sedgewick Street, Bradford
(d.12th June 1917)
Wallace Preston was born on 22nd March 1891 in Bradford, the son of Mary Elizabeth Inglehearn who later married John William Preston who regarded Wallace as his own son, giving him his surname. In 1911 Wallace was a wool comber operative working for a wool combing company. He joined up on 23rd August 1915, first serving in the Balkans before being sent to Belgium where he died of wounds on 12th June 1917 aged 26. He is buried in Cabin Hill Cemetery, Heuvelland West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
2nd Lt. William Carter "WC" Preston
British Army 8th Battalion 8th Border Regiment
from:Far Sawrey.
(d.10th Apr 1918)
William Carter Preston was a farmer's son from Far Sawrey. He studied and worked as an architect before the First World War he joined the Army as a volunteer. From all my research he was a good man, a man of great integrity pride and honour in serving his country in this hour of need. He was well liked by his friends in the 8th Border Regiment who gave William the nickname WC and dearly loved by all his family even today we feel his loss.
He died among friends on the 10th of April 1918 as a result of a direct hit from a artillery shell. Never Forgotten
2nd Lt. William Carter "WC" Preston
British Army 8th Btn. Border Regiment
from:Fold Farm, Far Sawrey, Lancashire
(d.10th Apr 1918)
William Carter Preston attended the old grammar school, Hawkshead Studies and became an Architect. In 1914 he joined the 8th Battalion, Border Regiment as a Private and was in all the battles until he was killed in action on 10th April 1918. William was wounded twice, and died as a result of a direct hit by a German artillery shell on his position at Laclytte, Reninghurst. At the time of his death, aged 24, he held the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.
We have no grave to mark his passing he is remembered by his family to this day for the sacrifice he made so that we are and will remain free, in the land we love. He is commemorated with Honour on the Ploegsteert Memorial, in Belgium, on the Ambleside Memorial, St. Mary's Churchyard and in St Peters Church Far Sawrey
Cpl William Henry Preston
British Army 8th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
(d.7th August 1915)
Pte. Herbert Prestwich
British Army 1st Btn. Border Regiment
from:Milnrow, Rochdale
(d.30th Sep 1918)
Pte Herbert Prestwich died of his wounds on 30 September 1918. He is buried at Haringhe (Bandaghem) Military Cemetery near Poperinghe, Belgium, he was 20 years old.
Pte John Pretswell
British Army 1st Btn. Scots Guards
(d.14th Sep 1914)
John Pretswell is an ancestor I found through genealogical research into my birth mother's family. I was placed for adoption in Glasgow when I was an infant. He would have been part of the original British Expeditionary Force and an early casualty of the Great War. He died in the First Battle of the Aisne. His grave is located in the Villers-En-Prayeres Communal Cemetery in France.
Cpl. Frederick Luce Pretty
British Army 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade
from:Vauxhall, London
In 1914 Fred Pretty signed up to the 1st Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (light infantry) before the war started. He signed up to the army because he couldn’t get work; he was only 16. You had to be 17½ to join up, so he told them he was old enough and in those days they didn’t ask for proof.
Born to a poor family in Vauxhall, London, he had 4 brothers and 6 sisters. He was the third eldest. His mother had 13 children but 3 died young. His father was a scaffolder. His father and two elder brothers also went to war - and came home alive, but one brother suffered from terrible shell shock and died a year after he returned.
Fred’s battalion was one of the first regiments to go to France when war was declared and he fought in France right through until six months before the end of the war. He fought in all the major battles in France including the Somme and Ypres. He got bayonetted in the wrist in a bayonet charge; he killed the German who charged him. He also got a couple of shrapnel wounds in his leg. He was gassed during a German raid and spent time in hospital. He only returned home on leave once during the whole war but instead of resting he was put to work by the army loading and unloading.
Six months before the end of the war he went out with a raiding party to capture German soldiers (to interrogate them). They were expecting only a few enemy soldiers in the trenches but instead they found the trenches full of Germans getting ready for ‘the Last Push’. Many of the British soldiers were killed as they couldn’t surrender quickly enough. He was captured as a prisoner of war. He should have been sent to a prisoner of war camp however the Germans were losing the war at this point and were short of manpower so, despite this being illegal, they used their prisoners in the field to help move ammunition and guns. They had to sleep in the muddy fields and were given just a slice of bread and jam to eat. But this was just the same food that the German soldiers had to eat as supplies were so low. Everyone got the same meagre food, sometimes when one of the British prisoners had been pronounced a hopeless case by a doctor Fred would steal their food to give to another prisoner to help them survive. He could have been shot for doing this if he had been caught.
On one occasion whilst working for the Germans as a prisoner he saw another group of British prisoners so he worked his way along to them inconspicuously. He sat talking to one of the men and then realised he recognised him, they had been at school together as young boys. In a quirk of fate, this man later married Fred’s sister and they became brothers-in law.
Fewer than half of Fred’s comrades survived, succumbing to German gunfire, British shelling and pneumonia. Living in such atrocious conditions Fred caught pneumonia. He was treated by the German doctors on the battle field and they cured him. He said he had great admiration of these doctors as they treated the prisoners as well as their own soldiers.
He was then sent to a P.O.W. camp in Pozen, which is now in Poland, although then it was still Germany. This was a new camp filled with prisoners from the battle fields; injured, ill, dying, all British. Fred was one of the lucky ones who recovered and once well he assisted the doctors in treating the patients by changing dressings. They were still there three months after the war had ended. They had heard rumours of the war ending before so they couldn’t trust them. The camp was very isolated – no one knew they were there.
Eventually Fred, with an officer in charge and another prisoner was sent to Berlin to be told that there was no record of this P.O.W. camp which was why they hadn’t been liberated! They didn’t send their own German soldiers as they were so undermanned. Doctors and Red Cross nurses were sent to rescue the prisoners, it would have taken days to reach them, probably using horse and cart. The men were malnourished and very thin and were given lemon barley water to build them up – Fred recalls how it simply bloated the skin up; you could push a finger into the flesh and the dent would just stay there!
Back home his parents had been told that he was Missing In Action and they thought he was dead. The first they knew of his survival was when he arrived home and knocked on the door. One of his sisters answered and cried out, “It’s Fred! It’s Fred!” and his mother came running with a baby in her arms (which would have been his youngest sister). He was only 20 when he returned. Everyone was crying and shouting; one of the children was sent to the pub to get his father and tell him this great news that his son had returned from the war alive. His son (Isabella’s Grandfather), also called Frederick Pretty, now aged 84 told us about his father, of whom he is very proud. He said his father, although he was only a small man, was tough but fair and was always ready to help others.
Back from the war he was unemployed, again. Eventually he got a job as a driver, as he was one of the few people who knew how to drive. He worked for Fiat driving and delivering Fiat truck chassis. Later he worked for Meux’s Brewery as a driver where he stayed until WWII. He never spoke about his war experiences; saying that those who did never experienced what it was really like. He said he would rather forget.
Pte. Howard S. Pretty
British Army 8th Btn. Duke of Wellington West Riding Regiment
I came across a diary that was passed down through our family. It was created by a family member in 1915/16 at a WW1 hospital called Grove House in Harrogate. Our family member was a nurse there and had servicemen describe their experiences through the diary. Entries include the Gallipoli experiences of Pte Pretty of the 8th Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment. This man's descendants,I am sure would be interested, I hope it may reach the family at some stage.
Pte. A A M Price
British Army Royal Berkshire Reginment
In the 1970s I bought some medals from a jumble sale, over the years and many different house moves, these medals resurfaced again. They are the 1914-1915 star, British war medal and Victory medal awarded to Private A A M Price (13588) Royal Berkshire Regiment. Nowadays I do family history, anyway these medals got me thinking, who was the man named on the medals and maybe relations of this man might be researching his history? If he survived the ww1 and had children there could be 3 more generations after him to present day? So the main question here can I reunite the medals with the correct family, or find out a bit more history about the man the medals his war.
Pte. Arthur George Price
British Army 9th Battalion Norfolk Regiment
from:45 Clumber Street, Shirebrook, Nottinghamshire.
(d.8th Oct 1918)
Arthur Price was the beloved 2nd son of Albert & Phoebe Price. Who was killed in action in France on 6th October 1918 in his 23rd year. He is buried at High Tree cemetery, Montbrehain, France.
Pte. Arthur Alision Markham Price
British Army Royal Berkshire Regiment
Arthur Price served in WW1 between 1914-1919, he survived the war. I have done a family history and am trying to find any living relations. He married a Marquette Brown, last census or polling info still living until 1950s. They had a daughter Emily Price born 1918, family living in Brent Wembley and Harrow. I am not related, but I have his war 3 medals, which I've had for more than 40 yrs, I collect coins, used to go to a coin shop in Harrow, bought them there around the 1970s. I would love to put a face the medals or find any living relations so the medals could be returned, as this is a piece of history for the family.
Pte. Ernest Price
British Army 2nd Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
(d.8th May 1915)
Pte. Evan Henry Price
British Army 8th Btn. Gloucestershire Regiment
from:Mountain Ash
(d.20th September 1917)
Pte. Eynon Price
British Army 53rd (Welsh) Casualty Clearing Station Royal Army Medical Corps.
from:Tylorstown (Rhondda), Glam
(d.4th May 1917)
Eynon Price served with the Royal Army Medical Corps and was attached to 53rd (Welsh) Casualty Clearing Station during WW1. He was killed in action 04/05/1917, aged 28, and is buried in Deir El Belah War Cemetery, Palestine. He was the son of David G. and L. E. Price of Ferndale (Rhondda). Husband of Margaret Price, of 38, Derist, Tylorstown (Rhondda), Glam.
Pte. F. J. Price MM
British Army 15th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles
Page 41 of 48
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