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1st Division     1st Division was one of the first British formations to move to France, they remained on the Western Front throughout the war. It took part in most of the major actions: In 1914 The Battle of Mons and the subsequent retreat, including the Rearguard Affair of Etreux, The Battle of the Marne, The Battle of the Aisne including participation in the Actions on the Aisne heights and the Action of Chivy and First Battle of Ypres In 1915 the Winter Operations 1914-15, The Battle of Aubers and The Battle of Loos In 1916 they were in action during the following Battles of the Somme: The Battle of Albert, The Battle of Bazentin, The Battle of Pozieres, The Battle of Flers-Courcelette and The Battle of Morval. In 1917 they fought during The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line and the Second Battle of Passchendaele which was part of Third Battle of Ypres. In 1918 they were in action during The Battle of Estaires - Lys, The Battle of Hazebrouck, The Battle of Bethune, The Battle of Drocourt-Queant, The Battle of Epehy, The Battle of the St Quentin Canal, The Battle of Beaurevoir, The Battle of the Selle and The Battle of the Sambre, in which the Division fought the Passage of the Sambre-Oise Canal The Division was selected to advance into Germany and form part of the Occupation Force at Bonn. Divisional Order of Battle of the 1st Division 1st Brigade 1st Bn, Coldstream Guards left August 1915 1st Bn, Scots Guards left August 1915 1st Bn, Black Watch 2nd Bn, Royal Munster Fusiliers left August 1914 1st Bn, Cameron Highlanders joined September 1914 1/14th Bn, London Regiment joined November 1914, left February 1916 10th Bn, Gloucestershire Regt joined August 1915 8th Bn, Royal Berkshire Regt joined August 1915, left 2 February 1918 1st Trench Mortar Battery joined by 27 November 1915 1st Machine Gun Company formed on 26 January 1916, left to move into 1st MG Battalion 28 February 1918 1st Bn, Loyal North Lancashire Regt joined February 1918 2nd Brigade 2nd Bn, Royal Sussex Regt 1st Bn, Loyal North Lancashire Regt left for 1st Brigade February 1918 1st Bn, Northamptonshire Regt 2nd Bn, King's Royal Rifle Corps 1/5th Bn, Royal Sussex Regt joined February 1915, left August 1915 1/9th Bn, King's (Liverpool Regt) joined March 1915, left November 1915 1/5th Bn, King's Own (Lancaster Regt) joined October 1915, left January 1915 2nd Trench Mortar Battery joined by 27 November 1915 2nd Machine Gun Company formed on 26 January 1916, left to move into 1st MG Battalion 28 February 1918 3rd Brigade 1st Bn, Queen's left November 1914 1st Bn, South Wales Borderers 1st Bn, Gloucestershire Regiment 2nd Bn, Welsh Regiment 2nd Btn, Royal Munster Fusiliers joined November 1914, left February 1918 1/4th Bn, Royal Welsh Fusiliers joined November 1914, left September 1915 1/6th Bn, Welsh Regiment joined October 1915, left May 1916 1/9th Bn, King's (Liverpool Regt) joined November 1915, left January 1916 3rd Trench Mortar Battery joined by 27 November 1915 3rd Machine Gun Company formed on 26 January 1916, left to move into 1st MG Battalion 28 February 1918 Divisional Troops under the direct command of Divisional HQ 1/6th Bn, Welsh Regiment joined as Divisional Pioneer Battalion May 1916 216th Company, Machine Gun Corps joined 22 March 1917, left to move into 1st MG Battalion 28 February 1918 1st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps formed 28 February 1918 1st Divisional Train ASC 6, 13, 16 and 36 Companies 2nd Mobile Veterinary Section AVC 204th Divisional Employment Company joined 19 May 1917 at which time it was 6th Divisional Employment Company; renamed 14 June 1917 1st Divisional Motor Ambulance Workshop Unit joined by 30 January 1915, transferred to Divisional Train 7 April 1916 Divisional Mounted Troops under the direct command of Divisional HQ C Squadron, 15th (King's) Hussars left April 1915 B Sqn, 1/1st Northumberland Hussars joined 13 April 1915, left 18 April 1916 1st Company, Army Cyclist Corps left 15 June 1916 Divisional Artillery XXV Brigade, RFA XXVI Brigade, RFA left January 1917 XXXIX Brigade, RFA LXI (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA broken up 14 November 1916 1st Divisional Ammunition Column 26th Heavy Battery RGA left April 1915 V.1 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery RFA formed 30 January 1917, broken up 9 February 1918 X.1, Y.1 and Z.1 Medium Mortar Batteries RFA joined by 16 March 1916; on 9 February 1918, Z broken up and batteries reorganised to have 6 x 6-inch weapons each Royal Engineers 23rd Field Company 26th Field Company 1st (Lowland) Field Company joined December 1914, later renamed 409th Field Company 1st Divisional Signals Company Royal Army Medical Corps 1st Field Ambulance 2nd Field Ambulance 3rd Field Ambulance left for Guards Division 24 August 1915 142nd Field Ambulance joined 24 August 1915 13th Sanitary Section joined by 30 January 1915, left 2 April 1916 14th Aug 1914 1st Black Watch land in France  1st Battalion Black Watch land at Le Havre with the BEF as part of 1st Division. 16th Aug 1914 On the March 18th Aug 1914 Exciting Scenes  Tuesday 18th August: "Entrained Albershot at 5.30am, arrived Southampton and embarked on the "Welshman" . Southampton is packed with troops embarking on different ships. Some exciting scenes getting the horses aboard. There are about 500 horses on our boat." 1914 diary of James McFarlane, No.3 Field Ambulance 1st Division 18th Aug 1914 Massed Drums 19th Aug 1914 Cheering 19th Aug 1914 Concert 21st Aug 1914 On the March 22nd Aug 1914 On the March 23rd Aug 1914 On the March 23rd Aug 1914 Bivouack 24th Aug 1914 Artillery Duel 24th Aug 1914 A Difficult Day 25th Aug 1914 On the March 25th Aug 1914 Digging in 26th Aug 1914 On the March 26th Aug 1914 Confusion 27th Aug 1914 Wooded Country 28th Aug 1914 Very Hot Day 29th Aug 1914 At Rest 29th Aug 1914 Covering the Troops 30th Aug 1914 On the March 30th Aug 1914 Covering the Troops 31st Aug 1914 On the March 31st Aug 1914 Covering the Troops 1st Sep 1914 Outpost Duty 1st September 1914 Continued withdrawals 1st Sep 1914 A Hot Day 2nd Sep 1914 Rear Guard 2nd September 1914 Continued withdrawals 2nd Sep 1914 On the March 3rd Sep 1914 Advance Guard 3rd September 1914 Continued withdrawals 3rd Sep 1914 Retirement 4th Sep 1914 In Action 4th Sep 1914 On the Move 5th Sep 1914 An Excellent Position 6th Sep 1914 In Reserve 7th Sep 1914 On the March 8th Sep 1914 Enemy in Flight 9th Sep 1914 On the March 10th Sep 1914 Losses in the Morning 11th Sep 1914 Advance Guard 12th Sep 1914 On the March 13th Sep 1914 In Action 14th Sep 1914 In Action 15th Sep 1914 In Action 16th Sep 1914 Artillery In Action 17th Sep 1914 In Action 18th Sep 1914 Artillery In Action 19th Sep 1914 Reliefs Complete 20th Sep 1914 In Action 20th September 1914 Reliefs 21st Sep 1914 In Action 21st September 1914 Attacks 22nd Sep 1914 Reliefs 22nd September 1914 Reliefs 23rd Sep 1914 Into Reserve 23rd September 1914 Patrols 24th September 1914 Artillery Exchange 25th September 1914 Pontoon Bridge damaged 26th September 1914 Aircraft Assists 27th September 1914 Continuing action around bridges 27th Sep 1914 ombardment 28th September 1914 Bridges 28th Sep 1914 Relief 29th September 1914 Ongoing fighting on all fronts 29th Sep 1914 Under Shellfire 30th September 1914 September Intelligence Summary 30th Sep 1914 Under Shellfire 4th Oct 1914 Under Shellfire 7th Oct 1914 Enemy Fire 24th Oct 1914 Withdrawl 26th Oct 1914 On the March 27th Oct 1914 Entrenching 29th Oct 1914 Attack Launched 29th Oct 1914 Hard Fighting 30th Oct 1914 Shelling 30th Oct 1914 Hard Fighting 31st Oct 1914 Divisional HQ Hit 31st Oct 1914 In Action 31st Oct 1914 Hard Fighting   1st Nov 1914 In Action 2nd Nov 1914 In Action 3rd Nov 1914 The Kaiser's Visit 5th Nov 1914 Heavy Shelling 7th of November 1914  Messines Attack Slow 11th Nov 1914 Guns All Around 12th November 1914 Ongoing shelling and sniping 15th Nov 1914 Orders 16th Nov 1914 On the Move 16th of November 1914 On The Move 20th of November 1914 Battalion Inspection 22nd of November 1914 In the Line   23rd of November 1914 Refitting 21st Dec 1914 On the Move   22nd Dec 1914 Reliefs 31st Dec 1914 In Action   1st Jan 1915 In Action 1st Jan 1915 In Action 2nd Jan 1915 Reliefs 10th Jan 1915 Trenches Flooded 12th Jan 1915 Holding the Line   13th Jan 1915 Very Wet 20th Jan 1915 At Rest   21st Jan 1915 Reliefs   22nd Jan 1915 In the Line   23rd Jan 1915 Relief   24th Jan 1915 In Reserve   25th Jan 1915 In Action 25th Jan 1915 Artillery In Action 25th Jan 1915 Artillery In Action 25th Jan 1915 Good Shooting 25th Jan 1915 Swift Reinforcements   25th Jan 1915 In Action   26th Jan 1915 Reliefs   27th Jan 1915 Reflection 27th Jan 1915 Stand To   28th Jan 1915 Reports of Explosion 28th Jan 1915 In Reserve   29th Jan 1915 Reliefs   30th Jan 1915 Reliefs   31st Jan 1915 Officers 3rd Feb 1915 Reliefs   6th of February 1915  Three Germans Shot   11th of February 1915 Inspection of Billets 21st Feb 1915 Training 25th Mar 1915 Instruction   26th Mar 1915 Instruction 27th Mar 1915 Frost   29th March 1915 Front Line Training Rotation  6th County of London Brigade RFA report that the Return took place to War Station of officers who proceeded to Front on Thursday last. Major R R Wansbrough, Lt G Lyon Smith, Lt A F Yencken, Lt R Bruce, 2/Lt A F Blackwell, 2/Lt J A O Petro, proceeded with six NCOs and six telephonists for attachment to Regular Batteries in 1st and 2nd Divisions. War Diaries 29th Mar 1915 Spy Captured 29th Mar 1915 Orders 29th of March 1915 Quiet Time    1st April 1915 Int. Report for March 1915 Intelligence Report  6th County of London Brigade RFA Intelligence Summary by Lt Colonel R J Machugh for March 1915: From March 1st to March 16th, the Brigade was chiefly occupied in completing preparations for moving from War Station at Hemel Hempstead to join the Expeditionary Force in France. The Brigade moved on 15th to 17th March to Le Havre via Southampton. No casualties occurred to personnel on the journey. Four horses were injured on the train journey and one left behind at the point of embarkation. Two of these, the Adjutant's chargers, are to be sent on to rejoin the Brigade and a Driver was left in charge of the animals for this purpose, with instructions to bring them on to France when recovered. The move to France was carried out without incident and at the end of the month the Brigade was in billets at Lapugnoy. Between March 25th and April 1st all officers, with two exceptions, had experience in the Firing Line, having been attached to RFA Brigades in the 1st and 2nd Division. Much useful information was gained by these officers. The Medical, Veterinary, Supply and Transport Services were satisfactory during the month both during the period in England and in France. Signed R J Machugh Lt Col, 6th London Bde. RFA Thursday April 1st 1915. Lapugnoy, France. War Diaries 8th May 1915 Battle of Aubers Ridge   9th May 1915 Orders   24th of May 1915 Zeppelin under observation 16th Jun 1915 Reliefs   26th Jun 1915 Reorganisation 27th Jun 1915 On the March 29th June 1915 Formation Changes  Up to this date the 47th (London) Division, in which the 6th London Brigade is included formed part of the 1st Army Corps, commanded by Lt General Sir Charles Munro. From this date the 47th (London) Division, the 1st Division and 48th (South Midland) Division, form the 4th Army Corps, commanded by Lt General Rawlinson. The 4th Corps is still part of the First Army, commanded by General Sir Douglas Haig. 6th London Brigade RFA Report Major P.J. Clifton proceeded to England on 5 days leave. The 15th & 16th Batteries are attached to the 1st Division. War Diaries 30th June 1915 Battery Training 6th London Brigade RFA   The Hesdigneul Race Course has been allocated to the 6th County of London Brigade RFA on 3 days per week for Battery Training. A telegram was received stating that the 16th London Battery, being no longer required by the 1st Division would proceed tonight to Lapugnoy. At 2345 a further message was received saying that as the services of this Battery were still required, they would remain in action and would occupy the position F.30.c.4.0. Since going into action on the 21st of June, the 15th London Battery had been occupied principally in registering and retaliating. No work of great importance was carried out. During this period, Machine Gun posts were bombarded by the 15th London Battery and 8 direct hits were obtained. This was done at the request of infantry. Other targets engaged were Fort Hohenzollern (A29), The Haishes Cross Roads and Fosse 8 - at the latter target 37 rounds were fired on June 23rd and 8 rounds on June 25th: on this occasion 2 German observers disappeared. On June 27th, 95 rounds were expended (43 Rounds on B.25.b.6.7 and 54 rounds on A.30.b.3.8.) From Monday June 21st to Saturday June 26th, the 16th London Battery occupied the time in registering the zone A.28.c.2.2-A.21.d.4.1. For every one round fired by the Germans, 6 rounds were fired by the 16th London Battery. From June 26th to the morning of June 29th not a round was fired. During this period (on the night of June 28th) the left section was withdrawn and proceeded to the rest Line. The remaining section fired 40 rounds in 10 minutes on the evening of June 29th, in support of a demonstration and the exploding of 3 mines. On June 30th, the Battery was ordered back to Lapugnoy. This order was cancelled at the eleventh hour and the right section came into its new position (F.30.c.4.0) at 2200. J.H. Van Den Bergh 2/Lt Total Casualties to June 30 1915. Officer Wounded Lieut G. Lyon Smith 15th Lon Battery. Other Ranks Killed Gunner Whiting 15th Lon Battery. Died of wounds Bombardier Farrow 15th Lon Battery. Died of wounds Gunner Deverell 15th Lon Battery. Wounded Gunner Miles 17th Lon Battery. Wounded Gunner Darbyshire 15th Lon Battery. Died of sickness Dr Rossall 16th Lon Battery. Injured as a result of Shell fire. Bdr Maclaren 16th Lon Battery. Bdr Irons 17th Lon Battery. J.H. Van Den Bergh 2/Lt War Diaries 20th Jul 1915  Reliefs 24th Jul 1915  Instruction   24th Jul 1915  Reliefs 31st Aug 1915 Artillery 5th Aug 1915 Horse Show 14th Aug 1915 Enemy Aircraft 26th August 1915 Conference and Inspections  The OC. Brigade and Adjutant 6th County of London Brigade RFA attended the Divisional Artillery conference at Lozinghem. The Veterinary Officer Lt W.P.S. Edwards was attached to 1st Division; his duties will be performed by the ADVS, 47th Division, Capt. J. Abson. An inspection of the Technical Stores Wagon of the Ammunition Column was carried out. War Diaries 1st Sep 1915 Orders 2nd September 1915 Personnel changes  6th County of London Brigade RFA reports Lt W.P.S Edwards Army Veterinary Service returned from 1st Division. War Diaries 6th September 1915 Orders Received 25th Sep 1915 Attack Made   25th Sep 1915 In Action   25th Sep 1915 In Action   25th Sep 1915 Objectives Gained 25th Sep 1915 Assault Made   26th Sep 1915 Heavy Shelling   26th Sep 1915 Defensive Positions 26th Sep 1915 Attack Made   8th October 1915 Operational Order 31.   8th October 1915 Inspection 11th October 1915 Operational Order 31.   14th October 1915 Old German Front Line   14th October 1915 Reliefs   3rd November 1915 4th Corps. No.5120A. 14th November 1915 Reliefs 22nd December 1915 6th London Bde Batteries in Action   16th February 1916 Another Quiet Day  A quiet day and the 8th London Battery destroyed the tower of 11a German Observation Point. No more Germans were seen walking towards the new crater. During the night the 16th London Battery fired 25 rounds of shrapnel at saps in M.6.b and d with the 9th London Battery firing at saps in M.15.c and d. One section of each Battery came to its own Wagon Line as its positions are being taken over by the 1st Division. War Diaries 8th Jun 1916 On the Move 9th Jun 1916 Orders   9th June 1916 Orders Received   10th June 1916 Instruction 11th June 1916 Instruction 12th June 1916 Instruction 13th Jun 1916 Orders   13th June 1916 Instruction 14th June 1916 Instruction   17th Jun 1916 Orders 18th June 1916 Instruction   20th Jun 1916 Orders 21 Jun 1916 Orders 21st June 1916 Instruction   1st Jul 1916 Attack   18th July 1916 Operation Order No.9. 23rd Aug 1916 Preparations 24th August 1916 "C" Battalion 11th A. & S.H. relieves 6th/7th Royal Scots. Fusiliers   27th August 1916 Location "D" Battalion Reserve.   1st September 1916 Orders received   3rd September 1916  Assault Sucessful  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report: In the morning the Australians captured Mouguet Farm also the 1st Division occupied their objectives in High Wood. At 1200 the 14th Corps captured Guillemont and 15th Corps captured Ginchy. The French took Clery and reached within 1000 yards of Combles. Batteries fired intense heavy bombardments prior to the attacks mentioned above. War Diaries 3rd Sep 1916 In Action   3rd Sep 1916 Attacks Made 8th September 1916 Special Shoots  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery. A quiet day and the Batteries carried out a programme of special shoots. At 1745 the 1st Division attacked enemy trenches in High Wood. 47th Divisional Artillery cooperated with an intense bombardment for 15 minutes and then fired on trenches to North West of High Wood. 1st Division at first took their objectives but later dropped back on account of their flanks being exposed. A few prisoners were taken. War Diaries 10th of September 1916    13th of September 1916  17th of September 1916  18th of September 1916  20th of September 1916 Poor Conditions   21st of September 1916     22nd September 1916 No Resistance Met  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery at Mametz Wood. At 1030 Howitzer battery commenced firing 50 rounds an hour on Flers Line M.29.b.12 to M.23.c.70. (ceased firing at 1945). At 1300 transport was seen on Bapaume le Sarg road MEc and MHb heavy Batteries informed. Our Infantry (1st Division) the Welsh Regiment occupied Prue and Starfish trenches. Patrols sent out in front as far as 700 yards without meeting any resistance. War Diaries 22nd of September 1916  24th September 1916 Night Action  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report: Fairly quiet day and Batteries did very little firing only registration. Hostile shelling very little. B236 Battery relieved A236 Battery who in turn relieved C236 Battery. At night 2020 the 1st Division launched a local attack on the Flers Line which proved abortive. Batteries fired for most of the night. War Diaries 24th of September 1916    24th of September 1916 Orders   25th September 1916 Offensive Resumes  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report from Mametz Wood. At 1430 the Fourth Army resumed the offensive. The 1st Division attacked along the Flers Line and secured their objectives with very little trouble. They joined line with the New Zealanders in Goose Alley. The New Zealand Division on our right secured all its objectives; our troops securing Grid Trench in front of Guedecourt, Les Boeufs to the north of Morval. The French secured Fregicourt and Rancourt. Batteries kept up continuous fire all day on the barrages ordered by 47th Divisional Artillery. At night D236 Battery was shelled with lachrymatory (tear gas) and other shells suffering two casualties. War Diaries 25th of September 1916 Attacks   26th September 1916 Uneventful Day  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report from Mametz Wood. More or less uneventful day on our front. The Canadian Corps on our left captured Thiepval and 1500 prisoners. Batteries assisted by an intense bombardment at 1235 for a few minutes on the hostile trenches. At about 1900 D236 Battery was again shelled. 2/Lt Stephenson being wounded with one man killed and five others wounded. Major Pollard was slightly wounded in the hand but remained at duty. At 2330 1st Division assaulted hostile trench in M29 but failed chiefly owing to losing their way. War Diaries 26th Sep 1916 In Action   26th of September 1916    26th of September 1916  27th September 1916 Little Firing  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report: 47th Division relieved 1st Division in High Wood sector. Moderately quiet day. Batteries fired very little except for registration purposes, considerable defensive barrages. There were no infantry operations but artillery was fairly active. War Diaries 27th of September 1916    27th of September 1916  27th of September 1916 Orders   27th of September 1916 Attacks   27th of September 1916  30th of September 1916  30th of September 1916 Moves 30th September 1916 Paraded under Officer from 9th Gordons 19th of October 1916 Orders   25th of October 1916 Situation   12th of November 1916  15th Nov 1916 Reliefs 15th of November 1916  16th of November 1916    19th of November 1916  20th of November 1916  23rd of December 1916  24th of December 1916  24th of December 1916  27th of November 1916  29th of December 1916    31st of December 1916    1st Jan 1917 Moves 1st of January 1917    2nd of January 1917  4th of January 1917  5th Jan 1917 Orders 9th Jan 1917 Working Parties 10th Jan 1917 Moves 17th Jan 1917 Heavy Snow 19th of January 1917    22nd Jan 1917 Working Parties and Training 23rd Jan 1917 Moves 24th of January 1917  24th Jan 1917 Moves 31st Jan 1917 Very Cold Weather 6th Feb 1917 Reliefs 6th Feb 1917 Reliefs 7th of February 1917  7th Feb 1917 Reliefs 8th Feb 1917 Reliefs 9th Feb 1917 Reliefs Complete 10th Feb 1917 Hard Ground 11th Feb 1917 Quiet 12th Feb 1917 Quiet 1st Mar 1917 Training 19th Mar 1917 Consolidation 2nd July 1917 Inspection 10th Jul 1917 Bombardment   11th Jul 1917 Reliefs   26th of November 1917  24th Dec 1917 Reorganisation 21st Jan 1918 Course 5th Feb 1918 Course Ends 13th Feb 1918 Personnel 21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation 1st Mar 1918 Indirect Fire   3rd Mar 1918 Trench Raid   3rd Mar 1918 Indirect Fire 4th Mar 1918 Artillery Quiet   5th Mar 1918 Reliefs   6th Mar 1918 Relief Completed 7th Mar 1918 Indirect Fire 8th Mar 1918 Aircraft Active 9th Mar 1918 Enemy Aircraft 10th Mar 1918 Reliefs   1st Apr 1918 Hostile Artillery 2nd Apr 1918 Trench Raids 3rd Apr 1918 Quiet 4th Apr 1918 Orders 4th of April 1918 An Appreciation 5th Apr 1918 Moves 5th of April 1918 Command of the Line   6th Apr 1918 Relief Complete 6th of April 1918 A Difficult Relief 7th Apr 1918 Moves   7th of April 1918 A Relief Ordered   8th Apr 1918 Moves   9th Apr 1918 Artillery Barrage   10th of April 1918 Snipers   11th of April 1918 Enemy Guns Quieter   11th of April 1918 A Quiet Day   11th April 1918 Operations.   14th of April 1918 Dumps Destroyed   24th of April 1918 A Typical Front-Line Day   28th of April 1918 Demolition Plans   19th of September 1918 Enemy Guns Quiet   4th Nov 1918 Advance If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about 1st Division? There are:302 items tagged 1st Division available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War. Those known to have served with 1st Division during the Great War 1914-1918. Calder George Walter. L/Cpl. 1st Btn. Dean George Pocock Buxton. Sgt. 1st Btn. (d.31st Oct 1914) Ferguson Alexander Ogston. Pte. 1st Field Ambulance (d.20th Aug 1916) Ferguson George. Sgt. 2nd Btn. (d.15th Aug 1916) Fitts Sydney Albert. Pte. 10th Btn. (d.8th Aug 1916) Harris James. Pte. 1st Btn. (d.5th Nov 1914) Kavanagh Jeremiah. Cpl. 2nd Btn. (d.9th May 1915) Reed William. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.6th Jul 1917) Ridge Patrick. Pte. 1st Btn. (d.28th Jan 1915) Sheehy J.. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.10th Nov 1914) Watts Henry. Pte. 1st Btn. (d.31st October 1914) Wilde William Stanley. Pte. 4th Btn. (d.7th Apr 1915) All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website. 1st of September 2023 marks 24 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time. Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the Great War? Our Library contains many many diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. Looking for help with Family History Research?    Please see Family History FAQ's Please note: We are unable to provide individual research. Can you help? The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation. Announcements 22nd April 2024     Please note we currently have a massive backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 263973 your submission is still in the queue, please do not resubmit. Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to the Great War. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted. We are now on Facebook. Like this page to receive our updates, add a comment or ask a question. If you have a general question please post it on our Facebook page. World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great battalion regiment artillery Did you know? We also have a section on World War Two. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations. 1206088 Pte. Sydney Albert Fitts 10th Btn. Gloucestershire Regiment (d.8th Aug 1916) Sydney Fitts was my Great Uncle, and all I know about him is that he was injured at Somme and died of his wounds in Manchester. He is buried with his brother at Cheltenham Cemetery, Prestbury in a CWGC grave. (only his name appears on the stone). Barry Wilson Add to this record. 247149 Pte. Henry Watts 1st Btn. West Surrey Regiment (Queens) (d.31st October 1914) Henry Watts was born in 1891 and lived with his parents James and Rose Watts, four sisters and a brother, at Wrights Cottage, Acton Vale, London. His father was a labourer at a brickmakers. At some point his parents moved to Canada and were living in Richmond Street, Thorold Park, Thorold, Ontario, Canada. He served with the 1st Battalion, West Surrey Regiment (Queens). He was killed in action on the 31 October 1914 aged 25 years during the Battle of Ypres. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium. He is also remembered on the War Memorial, St Mary's Church, Acton, London. Caroline Hunt Add to this record. 220633 Cpl. Jeremiah Kavanagh 2nd Btn. Royal Munster Fusiliers (d.9th May 1915) Jeremiah Kavanagh, son of John & Mary Kavanagh (nee MacNamara) of 61 Clare Street, Limerick City, Limerick, Ireland, enlisted with his cousin Dennis Kavanagh (also a native of Limerick City) in the Royal Munster Fusiliers. Both were killed at the battle of Aubers Ridge on Sunday 9th of May 1915. Jeremiah has no known grave and both he and Dennis are commemorated on the war memorial at Bethune. The battalion suffered heavy losses during this action due to, according some sources, mismanagement, substandard equipment and munitions. Although several works have recently been written on this battle, it still remains an action that was conveniently forgotten by the British Army. Patrick A Kavanagh Add to this record. 220375 Pte. J. Sheehy 2nd Btn. Royal Munster Fusiliers (d.10th Nov 1914) J Sheehy was one of my paternal uncles. I have been led to believe he ran away from home to join the Army and he was underage at the time. The official records state that he was just 17 when he was killed near Ypres on 10 November 1914. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial. His parents were Michael and Mary Sheehy of 2, Upper Quarry Lane, Blackpool, Cork. Margaret Philomena Collier Add to this record. 219681 Pte. James Harris 1st Btn. Cameron Highlanders (d.5th Nov 1914) I am proudly named after my great grandfather Pte. James Harris a brave Scottish Soldier who died on 5th of Nov 1914 at Ypres. My great grandfather was 29 years old at the time of his death. he left behind a wife and two children, one of which was my late grandfather David Harris. My grandfather was eight years old at the time his father died, he grew up not knowing his father. His mother Agnes Harris never remarried and devoted her life to her children and later, until her own death, her grandchildren. War is filled with horror and tragedy but at times a necessary evil for good to succeed over evil. A wall that stops the spread of evil consuming the peace of the world and the security of its children. I can only imagine the horrors and fear that my great grandfather and his comrades endured. Each day and night withstanding treacherous cold fierce weather, entrenched in mud holding their position slowly driving back a relentless enemy. The deafening sounds of artillery fire exploding over head and around them. What courage and bravery each one of these brave men drew from the very depths of their souls that others shall be free. And how soon the free forget. My great grandfather never came home his body lays with his fallen comrades in a land that is not of his own, but one he died for. His body buried eternally at Tyne Cot cemetery. His Soul among the Brave and just. When life gets tough and we have doubts or fears, think about the courage of these brave souls and what they endured for us Perhaps you day is not so bad. God Bless all who serve for truth and freedom. James Harris Add to this record. 219497 Sgt. George Pocock Buxton Dean 1st Btn. Royal West Surrey Regiment (d.31st Oct 1914) My Grandfather, George Dean, husband of Ann Dean of 61 Sherwood St, Reading. He was an ambulance driver in Chiswick before the war. He served with the 1st Battalion, Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment during WW1 and died on the 31st October 1914. A memorial tablet in the shape of a shield was installed in the Fire Station & unveiled by the Vicar of Chiswick on 24 May 1921. Inscribed "In honoured memory of the following members of the Chiswick Fire Brigade who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-1918" - the 2 names on it were G.P.B. Dean and H. MacDonald. Add to this record. 218920 L/Cpl. George Walter Calder 1st Btn. Gloucestershire Regiment Lance Corporal George Walter Calder served with the 1st Battalion, the Gloucestershire Regiment during WW1. Lord Trevor Calder Add to this record. 218292 Pte. William Reed 2nd Btn. Royal Sussex Regiment (d.6th Jul 1917) Private William Reed served with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment during WW1 and died age 22 on the 6th July 1917. He is buried in Coxyde Military Cemetery. He was the son of Eliza Ruth Reed, 224 Bensham Lane, Thornton Heath, Surrey. Rob Reed Add to this record. 218234 Pte. Patrick Ridge 1st Btn. Queens Own Cameron Highlanders (d.28th Jan 1915) Patrick Ridge was born on 15/3/1887 at 20 Cumberland Street,Glasgow. At the age of 20, whilst living at 32 Portugal Street, he married his sweetheart Elizabeth(Lizzie)Murphy at St.Luke's church on 2/12/1907. Later, he joined the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders on 5/9/1914 when he was 27 years old. His recruitment papers state that he was 5'6", with a pale complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He also had a tattoo which I've discovered was two hearts with both their initials PR & EM, on the front of his left forearm. Patrick was in the 1st battalion but before he was sent to the front, he wrote a poem to his wife Lizzie. He seemed to have a presentiment of his coming fate in his words "and if I am amongst the dead" but says "my King and country need me". His date of entry on his medal card is recorded as 15/11/1914 and just over two months later,on 25/1/1914, he was seriously wounded at La Bassee in France. He was bayoneted in the chest and when his belongings were sent home to his wife, there was a bloody hole through his pay book that had been in his breast pocket. Sadly, he died three days later in no.1 casualty clearing station on 28/1/1915. He left a widow and four young children.The eldest was my Grandad John Ridge(age 8), Mary(age 4),James(age 2) and the youngest was baby Catherine, born only a few months earlier in October 1914. Patrick is buried in grave I.A.7 at Choques military cemetery, which is about 4km north-west of Bethune, on the road to Lillers in France. I have also seen his name mentioned in the rolls of honour books at the Scottish National War Memorial inside Edinburgh castle. The year 2015 marks the centenary of his death. Patrick may be gone but he is not forgotten. RIP x Carolynn Higginson Add to this record. 216150 Pte. William Stanley Wilde 4th Btn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers (d.7th Apr 1915) William Stanley Wilde, Private 6315, enlisted Wrexham and served in the 4th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He died of wounds age 24 on the 7th April 1915 and is remembered at Jarrow Library and is buried in Boulonge Eastern Cemetery. His medal card records the award of the 1914 Star, War and Victory Medals also that he died of wounds. William was born in Wrexham 1891 and his sister was Mrs Lilian Watt of 40 Northbourne Road, Jarrow. His father Joseph then 37 was a gas stoker from Oldham. His mother Elizabeth L then 32 was from Oxford. In the 1911 census the remainder of the family was living at 33 Hightown Road, Wrexham with the eldest sister Elizabeth Louise(31) single, as head of family, housekeeper, Thomas Henry(22)single, a gas labourer, William Stanley(20) single, a labourer as is George Albert(18). Lilian Alice (13) and Frances May(10) are both attending school. Vin Mullen Add to this record. 214008 Sgt. George Ferguson 2nd Btn. King's Royal Rifle Corps. (d.15th Aug 1916) George Ferguson, enlisted Jarrow and served with the 2nd Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps. He died age 26 on the 15th August 1916. He is remembered on the Triptych in St. Paul's Church, Jarrow and at the Thiepval Memorial. George was Born in Jarrow and was married to the late Mary Ann Hill Ferguson (nee Henderson)of Jarrow. In the 1911 Census. George is recorded as Private age 19 single (Officers Servant) born Jarrow. 1st Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps. New Barracks Gosport, Hampshire. Vin Mullen Add to this record. 214003 Pte. Alexander Ogston Ferguson 1st Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps (d.20th Aug 1916) Alexander Ogston Ferguson, enlisted Newcastle and served with 1st Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps and died age 25 on the 20th August 1916. He is buried ay Heilly Station Cemetery Mericourt - L'abbe. and also commemorated on the Triptych in St. Paul's Church, Jarrow. Alexander was born and lived in Jarrow, son of Alexander Ogston M. and Isabella Ferguson (nee Gibson) of 1 Hurworth Place Jarrow. Husband of Mary Brown Ferguson (nee Young) of 3 Hurworth Place Jarrow. In the 1911 Census the family lived at 1 Hurworth Place, Jarrow. Alexander Ogston Ferguson age 49 Elementary Teacher (Urban District Council) born Aberdeen, (married 30 years, children born 9, children living 7, children died 2), Isabella Ferguson wife age 48 born France, James Ferguson son age 29 Blacksmiths hammer driver in shipyard born Newcastle, Alexander Ferguson son age 20 Boilermakers labourer born Newcastle, Frances Ferguson daughter age 16 born Jarrow and David Ferguson son age 13 at school, born Jarrow. Vin Mullen Add to this record.

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