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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Stok1. James William West
Royal Navy HMS Lucia
from:Lincolnshire
(d.2nd Jul 1916)
The story has it that James West fell from a mast and a pole went through his eye, killing him.
Pte. John Edmund West
British Army 6th Btn. Lancashire Fusiliers
from:Colne
(d.28th Nov 1917)
My Great uncle John died from gun shot wounds on a hospital ship on its way to Malta on 28th of November 1917 He was a private in the Lancashire Fusiliers 11th Battalion.
He is on the Loos memorial but they have his name wrong. They have him as John Edward West and not Edmund which is a long standing family name. I have his birth, marriage and death certificates but you cannot quite make his name out, but you can tell its not Edward. Edmund is a long standing family name going back to the 15th century. They will change it if I can provide definite proof. It would be nice to get his name put right seeing as he gave his life for his country.
Pte. Joseph West
British Army 6th Btn. York and Lancaster Regiment
from:88 Wembrey Street, Harpurhey, Manchester
(d.8th November 1918)
Joseph West was the eldest son of Thomas and Mary Jayne West. The family had tragically lost several children in early childhood so he was very precious. His younger brother Henry was my father. No one really talked about Uncle Joseph but we knew of his death because my father had his large commemorative penny with his name and number on it. This is still in the family, but with one of his nephews in Australia. He has seven nieces and nephews in the Manchester area and we will celebrate his life and sacrifice on the 11th November 1918 at Christ Church, Harpurhey Manchester where he is remembered on a memorial inside the church. Unfortunately we do not have any photographs of him.
Pte. Nicholas West
2nd Btn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers
from:Dublin
Lt/Col. Richard Annesley West VC DSO MC
British Army attd. Tank Corps North Irish Horse
from:Chelsea, London
(d.2nd September 1918)
Richard West was killed in action on 2nd September 1918 aged 40. He had also served in the South African War and was the son of Augustus E. and Sarah West, of Whitepark, Co. Fermanagh; husband of Maude E. West, of 14, Trafalgar Square, Chelsea, London.
An extract from the Second Supplement to The London Gazette, No. 30982, dated 29th Oct., 1918, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery, leadership and self-sacrifice. During an attack, the infantry having lost their bearings in the dense fog, this officer at once collected and re-organised any men he could find and led them to their objective in face of heavy machine-gun fire. Throughout the whole action he displayed the most utter disregard of danger, and the capture of the objective was in a great part due to his initiative and gallantry."
Richard Walter George West
Royal Navy
from:Gosport
Pte. Robert West
British Army 2nd Btn. Royal Scots Fusiliers
from:Glasgow
I don't know much about my father's time during WW1 I have his regimental numbers, he was Pte 40420 Robert West in the Royal Scots Fusiliers and 6157 in Royal Scots. He was wounded in 1917 and sent to Yeovil Hospital. Any help would be appreciated.
Sea. Robert West
Royal Naval Reserve HMS Albemarle
from:6 Beacon Terrace, Ferryden, Angus
(d.31st March 1916)
This is the story of how the tragedy of the death of an only son during the First World War started a link between two families which has lasted for over 100 years.
Robert West was the only son of Robert West, fisherman, of 6 Beacon Terrace, Ferryden, Angus. He joined the Royal Navy during the First World War and served in HMS Albemarle, a Duncan Class battleship. He was invalided ashore in Newport, Gwent and died in hospital there on 31st March 1916. His father visited him in hospital and was befriended by a Welsh family, Mr and Mrs Griffith. He attended the military funeral at St Woolos cemetery, Newport . The West family in Ferryden kept in touch with the Griffith family in Newport and after their death with the next generation. Betsy Paton (nee West) sister of Robert West, continued to write every Christmas until her death in 1977.
In 1997, Daniel Paton, son of Betsy Paton (West) visited the grave of Robert West at Newport and noticed a poppy cross on the grave. In 2001 Mrs Mary Bramley of Caerlon Gwent, niece of Mrs Griffith, wrote to the Montrose Review to enquire about surviving relatives of Robert West. Daniel Paton, who now lives in the house in Ferryden where Robert West lived, replied and the correspondence between the families resumed and continues over 100 years since Robert West died.
Lance Corporal William West
British Army 3rd Btn. Rifle Brigade
from:4 Clifton Terrace, Southampton
(d.12th Jan 1915)
William died aged 31 and is remembered at the Ploegsteert Memorial, he has no known grave. William was married to Daisy (nee Boulter), my grandmother, unfortunately I was only 4 when my grandmother died so I have little information with regard to William.
Pte. William West
British Army 5th Btn. Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
(d.9th Apr 1917)
Billy West, was my great uncle who was killed in action at the Battle of Arras aged 20. There is little else known about him other than he was in the 5th Battalion, Oxford and Bucks and is buried in the Tolloy Cemetery.
Pte. William Henry West
British Army 7th Btn. Gloucestershire Regiment
from:Bristol
William West of 7th Gloucestershires was wounded by a shell.
Pte. William James West
British Army 1/4th Btn. King's Own Regiment
from:Accrington
(d.20th Nov 1917)
My Great Grandmother Clara Roberts was William West's wife. I wouldn't be here if he hadn't sacrificed his life. Clara remarried to have my Grandmother.
Pte Sidney George Westall
British Army 1st Btn Royal Warwickshire
from:Birmingham
(d.25th April 1915)
Sgt. William Herbert Westall
British Army 61st Btn. Machine Gun Corps
from:Croydon, Surrey
(d.23rd March 1918)
William Westall was the son of William Thomas and Emma Westall of Keeper's Lodge, Selsdon Park, Croydon.
Lt. Edward Worsley Westbrook
British Army 8th Battalion Manchester Regiment
from:Silver Hill, Hyde, Cheshire
(d.8th Nov 1915)
Sergeant Patrick Westbrook
British Army 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry
from:St George's London
(d.24/09/2018)
Sgt. W. Westby
British Army 150th (Rotherham) Heavy Battery Royal Garrison Artillery
from:Warwick Street, Rotherham
Seargeant W. Westby (150th R.G.A.), whose home is in Warwick Street, Rotherham, sends us the following interesting record of the 150th (Rotherham) Heavy Battery since it's formation up to the present time, when it is keeping watch on the Rhine. He writes:
It is now possible to give a short review of the part which both the 150th (Rotherham) Heavy Battery played in the war. For nearly two and a half years the battery was fighting on the Western front, taking part in most of the big battles during that time, including the last gigantic offensive by General Sir Herbert Plumer's Army, which immediately preceded the signing ot the Armistace. The Battery has, at different periods, served in all five Armies which constituted the British Expeditionary Force, and except for that short portion of the line between Arras and Baupaume, has been in action in all sectors between the Belgians in the North and the French on the South.
It will be recalled that the unit was formed in October 1915, and in its ranks were some of the finest young fellows the town could give. After a period of some seven months training the Battery was sent to France in the middle of June 1916. After spending about six weeks in what was, at the time, a rather quiet part of the line (in front of the Messiness Ridge), they entrained for the Somme, which was the begining of a long period of real hardship and continuous fighting.
Looking back to the days spent in that vast wilderness of death and desolation, it seems almost a miracle that so many men were spared. Delville Wood, Montaubau, and High Wood will always remain grim memories to those who were there. The Battery was never out of the fighting zone from the day it came into action at Mametz for the Somme offensive in July 1916, till the great German attack in March, 1918. When the unit came out it was equipped with four guns, but at High Wood another section was added, making six guns.
When the Germans retired on the Hindenburg line the 150 "Heavies" followed them up through Perenne to Nurin and Revelon, harassing the enemy day and night, and assisting the capture of Trescault, Beaucamp, Gouzeacourt, Villers Guislain, and Gennelieu. The summer months were spent in the area, being engaged chiefly in counter battery work and "sniping" at the traffic and other targets visible from the O.P.
In September 1917, the Battery moved to the Ypres salient to take part in the offensive which was in progress there. No one who was present during the attack on Passchendaele Ridge, which lasted until December 1917, will ever forget the unexampled sacrifices and the trying ordeals that befel the fighting forces on those stricken Flanders plains. The very mention of such places as St. Julien, Poelcapielle, Kitchener's Wood, Zonnebeke, and many others will instantly conjure up in the minds of those men scenes of the greatest heroism. The conditions were appalling, but they revealed a spirit of comradeship between the men that was both wonderful and inspiring. Never were men called upon to undergo greater hardships and never was the call of duty more nobly answered.
The more or less quiet but anxious period from the begining of January to the opening of the Boche offensive in March, 1918, was spent near the famous "Hell Fire Corner" at Ypres.
On 22nd March, 1918, the guns were pulled out of the Ypres area and tracks were made for the Somme once more. As the Hun offensive was being gradually held up, however, the Battery were kept in reserve in the Lens area, and so remaind till the enemy onslaught in the valley of the Lys.
The Battery came into action again at Mount Bernenchon on the 10th April, 1918, and spent a very exciting week. With practically no infantry in front, the artillery had to fall back. Teams were standing by ready harnessed, and on the order of limber-up the guns would withdraw to another position in the rear, drop their trails, and re-commence firing. Then the order to limber-up would come again, and the process would be repeated. This sort of thing went on for some days until the enemy was held.
The period which followed these latter events, up to the begining of the fourth and final battle of Ypres, was compaitively un eventful. Bursts of fire at irregular intervals were kept up night and day on the enemy's roads and communications, and this was one of the chief factors in the withdrawal from the Bethune area back to the Aubers ridge.
The only disagreeable part of this period was that the Battery became "marked" by a German counter-battery group, and was repeatedly subjected to terrific bombardments lasting sometimes nearly 24 hours. Fortunately the guns were scattered, and, when these hurricane bursts were on, there were usually one or two guns which could carry on retaliatory fire.
On the 28th September, 1918, the Battery, having travelled north again to take part in the last big offensive, came into action at Belgian Battery Corner (immediately behind Ypres), and from that date until the Armistace was signed was one long series of successes and conquest advances.
The Battery, which is now considerably depleted in numbers owing to the large number of miners being demobilised, is at Sehlebusch, Germany a few miles east of Cologne, ready for all emergencies. Nevertheless, it is the ardent hope of everyone that the guns have boomed their last.
To merely say that the number of rounds fired by the Battery was 110,426 will convey little to people who have not had experience in the serving of heavy guns; but when it is remembered that each shell had to be handled many times before actually fired, some idea of the vast amount of labour entailed will be apparent to all.
Considering the lengthy time in the fighting zone, the casualties have been surprisingly few. Twenty three men have been killed or have died of wounds, and 65 men have more or less seriously wounded. In addition, however, at least another dozen men who first came to France with the Battery have been killed whist serving in other units.
Though, happily, quite a good percentage of the original men of the unit still remain, all the officers who were with the Battery at Rotherham have gone. Major Grepe was succeeded by Major Weatherhead who, during 18 months he was commanding the Battery, was held in the highest esteem by all ranks. Since December 1917, the unit has been grouped under the 10th Brigade R. G. A., under Colonel a.S. P. McGhee. Major B. Lamb who was the O. C. from March to November, 1918, will long be remembered for the kindly interest he took in the men and his thoughtfulness and consideration in all matters affecting their welfare and safety. For a short period after the signing of the Armistace Captain W. W. Bentley was in command, and at the moment Captain W. F. Towson, who joined the Battery in France in 1916, is the O. C. Captain H. P. Dick, who joined the Battery at Rotherham, remained with the unit throughout the period of action, but was transferred in November to the G. H. Q. Training Centre.
Appended are detailed particulars of the Battery's movements and activities on the Western front:
- Landed in France 17th June 1916.
- Opened fire at Neuve Eglise, 29th June, 1916.
- oved to Rouge de Bout (Laventie), and opened fire on 18th July, 1916.
- Returned to Neuve Eglise and thense to Petite Pont, 24th July, 1916.
- Entrained for the Somme on 2nd August, and came into action at Mametz, 8th August, 1916.
- Advanced to Montaubau, 12th September, 1916 and then to Delville Wood. In 24 hours at Montaubau 1206 rounds were fired.
- Moved to High Wood, after being shelled out of Delville Wood, 3rd November, 1916.
- Withdrawn on 2nd December, 1916, to Franvillers, and came into action again at Le Forest, 9th December, 1916.
- Pulled out from Le Forest on 13th March, 1917, and moved to Foiles.
- Came into action 15th March, 1917.
- German retreat to Hindenburg line. The Battery moved to Bray sur Somme, 18th March, 1917; Suzanne 20th March; Combles, 24th March; Clery, 29th March; Nurlu, 30th March; and came into action at Equancourt 2nd April, 1917.
- Moved to Railton, 6th April, 1917.
- Advanced to Villers Guislain, 16th May, 1917.
- Battery moved to Ypres, 26th September, 1917.
- Opened fire from English Farm ( St. Jean), on 27th September, 1917. ( In one day at this position 1077 rounds were fired).
- Moved to Kitchener's Wood (st. Julien)' 12th Octore, 1917. (From this position18,249 rounds were fired).
- Left Kitchener's Wood on 14th December, 1917, and Christmas was spent at Boeschepe (near Poperinghe).
- Moved into action as a silent battery, near Hell Fire Corner, on 19th December, 1917, and did not open fire until 26th December.
- ulled out from Ypres area, 22nd March, 1918.
- Moved to Westoutre, 23rd March, 1918.
- Moved to Caudescure on the 24th and Barlin on the 25th March.
- Battery came into action at Mount Berenchon 10th April, 1918; at Eeleme, 11th April, 1918; at Ham-en-Artois, 12th April; at Marbecque, 18th April, and at Bas Hamel, 28th April.
- oved to Divion to G.H.Q. Reserve 17th May, 1918, and then to Gouy Servians, 31st May, 1918.
- Four guns came into action again on 19th June, 1918, at Vendin-les-Bethune; two guns being in reserve positions at Lenglet.
- Moved on Annezin on 11th June, 1918.
- attery advanced to Mount Bernenchon on 20th August, 1918; to Locon, 1st September, 1918, and to Vielle Chappelle, 6th September, 1918.
- Left Bethune sector 17th September, 1918. Arrived at Taunay on the 18th, on the way to Ypres once more, and at Beauverde Wood on the 21st.
- Battery removed to Belgian Battery Corner on the 25th, and came into action on the 28th September, 1918. (1298 rounds were fired by five guns in 24 hours from this position, which is the Battery record).
- Battery advanced and came into action at Zillebeke and Hill 60 on 29th September 1918; near Becelaere, 5th October, 1918; Vigfwegen, 14th October, 1918; near Ledeghem, 15th October, 1918; at Marke, 19th October, 1918; Belleghem, 23rd October, 1918; Knokke, 28th October, 1918, and Auseghem, 5th November, 1918.
- The Battery was at the latter place, which is between Coutrai and Renaix, when the Armistice was signed on 11th November, 1918.
Total rounds fired by the Battery in different areas:
3rd January 1919
- June and July, 1916 - Messines Area - 725
- August 1916, to March 1917 - Battle of the Somme - 33,380
- March 1917, to May 1917 - German retreat on the Somme - 4,363
- May 1917, to September 1917 - Villiers Guislain - 1,903
- Sept. 1917, to March 1918 - 3rd Battle of Ypres - 24,254
- April, 1918 to September, 1918 - Battle of the Lys - 39,094
- September, 1918, to November 11th, 1918 - 4th Battle of Ypres - 6,707
- Total 110, 426
Pte. Henry Westcott
British Army 25th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:15 Faulkland Road, Oldfield Park, Bath, Somerset
(d.28th Apr 1917)
Harry Westcott was the husband of Mary Jane 'Jenny' Westcott (nee Elliott) and she was my maternal grandmother's first cousin so this makes 'Uncle Harry' and 'Auntie Jenny' my third cousins. Harry's parents were Tom and Rhoda Westcott who, at the time of Harry's death, lived at 1 Orchard View, Taunton, Somerset. Uncle Harry and Auntie Jenny's home was 15 Faulkland Road, Oldfield Park, Bath, Somerset and Auntie Jenny and my grandmother originated from the Swansea area.
Harry died, aged 33, on 28 April 1917 in France and he is Remembered with Honour at the Arras Memorial. Sadly, Harry never saw his first child, Queenie. She grew up, never married and continued to live with her mother in Bath. Queenie died at the age of 44, before her mother. Auntie Jenny continued to live in Bath and died on 8 March 1968, aged 84. Throughout their lives, Auntie Jenny and Queenie stayed close with my grandparents. They often came to stay at the farm near Banwell, Somerset and likewise they were visited in Bath by our family, myself included. With the deaths of Uncle Harry, Auntie Jenny and Queenie, it is the end of their line as there were no other children. Therefore, I feel it is even more important to preserve their memory.
Last week we visited The Tower of London and were overwhelmed by the beautiful poppy display, knowing that one of these poppies represents Harry. It was good to be there with thousands of other people to pay our respects and say a prayer. We are thankful to everyone who gave their lives, or survived, in conflict and, in Harry's memory, we purchased one of the poppies. I am still looking for more information or photographs and I hope to be able to add them in the near future. If anyone else can help, that would be wonderful. Thank you for this opportunity to share our story and memories of Harry.
Pte Leonard George Westcott
British Army 13th Batallion East Lancashire Regiment
from:Wincanton
Pte. Leonard George Westcott
British Army 13th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment
from:Totnes
Private Mark Westcott
British Army King's Royal Rifle Corps
from:Exeter,
My grandfather, Private Mark Westcott served with the King's Royal Rifle Corp. The only record I have is that he was awarded the 1915 Star, the War Medal, and the Victory Medal, which has given me his Service Number and Corps. Apparently he stayed enlisted after the war and retired in service. He died in 1949 in Exeter, but, according the family legend, he joined up in 1914 and returned home in 1928.
Gnr. William Jacob Westerland
British Army 335th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery
from:Cardiff
My grandfather William Westerland was born in 1894 and was of Finish origin. I heard stories of him being gassed during WW1 so would be interested to find out when this happened. I have extracts of his diary.
Pte. Lewis Western
British Army Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Bradford, Yorks
Lewis Western born 1900 served in KOYLI and the Northumberland Fusiliers. He enlisted 4.8.1918 and served in Britain, France, Germany was driver of mule team with ammunition carrier. I have pictures of him with cap badge Blazing bomb. He was discharged at York on 12/4/1920.
Pte. George Hiram Westgarth
British Army 10th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
from:Tredegar, Wales
(d.16th Dec 1917)
In 1965, aged 15, I sat with my grandmother Gladys Chapman nee Westgarth and her older brother Albert Westgarth - who had served in Gallipoli and Passchendaele - as they told me about the Great War.
Gladys told me, about her frightening experience just before Christmas 1917. She was walking along the footbridge crossing the main Cardiff to London railway line, at Adamsdown, when her brother George Westgarth came walking toward her. She said "Hello George, I thought you were still in France. Are you on leave?". With that she told me: "He just stared at me, smiled and walked straight through me...later we learnt that he had been killed at Passchendaele on the night of 15th/16th December 1917, with his brother Albert alongside him. Gladys then recalled her father, Henry Philipson Westgarth, waiting for his "three boys" to return from the war, but dying from flu before only two returning.
George, a collier in South Wales, had originally signed up with the Welsh Regiment, returned to mining in South Wales, and then joined the Durham Light Infantry in June 1917 and was killed 6 months later at Spree Farm, Ypres.
Albert Westgarth then recounted some of his memories of that night. He told me that they had saved some of their rations of beer. He had crawled from his position to meet his brother George. He told me that night a barrage came across and they were hit, lying alongside each other. When Albert came to and woke up the following morning he said "George was gone, dead". Albert took his brother's blood soaked papers - his only memento. When I asked Albert more about his experiences he gave a long hard look and said: "I have seen, experienced and smelt things I hope that you never have to". When I asked him "what smell?", he gave me a far away and haunting look and said: "Rotting flesh. Men and horses. Rotting stinking flesh.".
Pte. Thomas Westhead
British Army 7th Btn., B Coy Royal Munster Fusiliers
from:Ryhill, West Riding
Pte. Robert Westhorp
British Army 9th Battalion Gordon Highlanders
from:Hartlepool, Co. Durham
(d.29th August 1916)
Off.Stwd. Frederick Westlake
Royal Navy HMS Sir John Moore
from:125 Hurst Street, Oxford
Whilst looking through papers from my late father, I found a birth certificate stating my grandfather, Frederick Westlake's, profession. I knew he had been in the Navy but not which ship he had served on. The birth certificate was dated 1st February 1917, and names his profession as Officers servant Royal Navy HMS Sir John Moore. We also know that he served on HMS Repulse. We are not sure when his service began but have some documents dated August 1922 and June 1923. We have looked up who served on Repulse and his name isn't included, but we have original documented proof of his service.
Pte George Westle
British Army 19th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers
(d.11th Jul 1916)
Westle, George. Private 19/1604, Killed in Action near Albert on 11th July 1916. Aged 20 years.
Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 10 B 11 B and 12 B. CWGC record shows his service number as 18/1564, believed incorrect as this would indicate he was a member of the 18th Northumberland Fusiliers whereas he is clearly shown in the 19th records.
Son of the late Edward and Elizabeth Westle.
From the 19th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers Roll of Honour.
Sjt. Edward Harold Westley
British Army 8th Btn. Middlesex Regiment
from:London
My father, Ted Westley, served with the 8th Middlesex and was also in the Lancashire Fusiliers. As I am a retired invalid I spend a great deal of time building my family tree and would like to get as much info on my Dad as possible. I think he was awarded medals but have no info on them. All I do know is he was at the Somme and Ypres and was badly wounded in the chest.
When he came home he later became instructor at Hounslow TA. Centre I also remember he won the Bisley shot one year but cannot confirm this. He did try to get sign up in the second war at the age of 40. but owing to his job they would not let him. One thing I know is he loved every bit of his service.
George William Westley
British Army 10th Btn. Essex Regiment
from:London
Page 32 of 77
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