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The Lancashire Fusiliers



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Research your own Family History.

Search Military records - find your family



Campaign to preserve the view of Hill 60

The City Council of Ieper has granted planning permission for the building of a large "family house" directly opposite the pedestrian entrance to the Hill 60 site, blocking the view of the town of Ypres and the contested land on which so many fought and died.

This goes against Ieper Council's long standing policy:

"...as long as these land parcels remain unbuilt they preserve the vista which the Germans had from Hill 60 and which immediately makes clear why this place was so heavily contested....."

For more information on how to take action and to sign the petition please click here.

World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great
The Lancashire Fusiliers can be traced back to 1688 and today form part of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
Battalions during the Great War.
  • 1st Battalion
  • 2nd Battalion
  • 3rd Battalion
  • 4th Battalion
  • 6th Battalion
  • 7th Battalion
  • 8th Battalion
  • 2/5th Battalion
  • 3/5th Battalion
  • 5th (Reserve) Battalion
  • 2/6th Battalion
  • 6th (Reserve) Battalion
  • 2/7th Battalion
  • 7th (Reserve) Battalion
  • 2/8th Battalion
  • 8th (Reserve) Battalion
  • 9th (Service) Battalion
  • 10th (Service) Battalion
  • 11th (Service) Battalion
  • 12th (Service) Battalion
  • 13th (Reserve) Battalion
  • 15th Battalion The 1st Salford Pals
  • 16th (Service) Battalion, The 2nd Salford Pals
  • 17th (1st South-East Lancashire) (Service) Battalion
  • 18th (2nd South-East Lancashire) (Service) Battalion
  • 19th (3rd Salford) (Service) Battalion
  • 20th (4th Salford) (Service) Battalion
  • 21st (Salford) (Reserve) Battalion
  • 22nd (Reserve) Battalion
  • 23rd (Service) Battalion
  • 24th Battalion



Oct 2009 - Please note we currently have a large 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.



List of those who served with The Lancashire Fusiliers during The Great War





Sergeant Gilfred "Gilly" Abbott 6th Btn. Lancashire Fusiliers

My Grandfather Gilfred Abbott served with the 6th Lancashire Fusiliers and we would welcome any information on any known activities during the war. His son Geoffrey Abbott joined the same battalion, the same regiment during World War Two. Any information on either my grandfather or my father would would be appreciated. Hoping for a response



James Burns 15th Btn Lancashire Fusiliers (d.1st Jul 1916)

My Great Uncle, James Burns, served with the 1st Salford Pals, his regiment number was 10728. He was killed on the 1st July 1916, his death certificate said Missing-in-action, presumed dead. I had found in war records in the regimental book, that he was listed as Died of wounds so in 1995, armed with a copy of this, and a letter, the Mod did give permission to change his Death certificate to read, "Died of wounds." I found the picture I have attached in an album that had belonged to my Great Grandmother Elizabeth, James was her only son. Elizabeth's husband James, who also served in France, was shot and lost the use of his right arm in 1915. This injury meant his trade as a shoemaker was no longer possible.

Having found the picture, my father recalled that as a child his mother had told him James died on the 1st July, so we got into communication with the War Graves commission and located James's details. His name is on the Theipval Memorial, so my husband and baby son visited, just to say hello and hopefully let him know that his family never forgot him, and the newest Great, Great nephew had passed along to say hello.

I have lots of research on his movements and a little history of the young man, before he went off to war. I think your site is a wonderful way of keeping their memories alive and educating the young.



Company Quarter Master Charles Tancred 2nd/6th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers (d.7th Nov 1918)

I have only just found out that my great uncle Charlie, served in WW1. He joined in 1908, left the army in 1913, and re-joined in 1916 into the Lancashire Fusiliers. I have got the dates of what his Battalion did from the time they landed in Le Harve on the 26th Febuary 1917. I have never seen so much movement of a Battalion, fighting, resting , moving, fighting, one that sticks out the most is Passchendaele. He was there in all that horrible battle called the "The third Battle of Ypres", fighting all those times and surviving as well. To be told he went into hospital at Rhouen in Oct 1918 with bad flu, to eventually die of pneumonia on the 7th Nov 1918, 4 days later we all know what happened there. I feel honoured and privileged to know that these people did and had to go through, may their memory never be forgotten



Sergeant John Heywood Lancashire Fusiliers (d.27 Apr 1916)

John "Jack" Heywood was married to my Grandmother's sister, Elizabeth Alice Clough. The following is the text of an undated newspaper clipping describing his death: "Killed by a Sniper" "The death in action is announced of Sergt. John Heywood, Lancashire Fusiliers. He leaves a wife and seven children, who live at 75 Gate st, Bolton. News of the casualty is conveyed in a letter from Capt. J.C. Metcalfe of the same regiment, who writes -- "I cannot tell you how exceedingly sorry I am at the death of your husband. He has been under me ever since the regiment was formed, and I have always liked him and had the greatest confidence in him. He was always cheerful and in times of difficulty showed what he was really worth." A message was also received from a comrade who states that Heywood was shot through the mouth by sniper on April 27th. The deceased soldier, who had previously served 13 years in the army, fought in the Soudan, South African and Boer wars, and holds medals for each. He re-enlisted in September, 1914, and after training a number of recruits at Salisbury Plains, Aldershot, and Codford, he went to the front in September, 1915. Prior to enlisting he was employed by Mr. W. Cunliffe, contractor, Deane-rd. He was very well known in the Deane-rd district and is on the Roll of Honour at the Savior's Church."



C.S.M. William Wilson 1st Btn. (d.25th Apr 1915)

My great uncle Bill Wilson, was killed on on the 25th April 1915 on Lancashire Landing beach at Gallipoli. I would like to find out details of N.O.K. & his service.

His brother Charles also a C.S.M. in the 2nd K.O.S.B.was killed at Mons in the opening shots of W.W.1 in August 1914. My great grandparents had previously lost a son in the Boer War in the 1st K.O.S.B. As they were an Army family they took the loss of 3 sons with stoicism.



Pte. A Redford 20th Battalion (d.15th April 1917)

I knew nothing about Pte. Redford, while doing my family tree I found were he was buried and went over to France to see his grave stone and leave flowers. I just want to pay my respects to him, and put him name on here. He will never be forgotten.



Pte. Hugh Kenworthy 11th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers (d.16th May 1916)

Hugh Kenworthy was my great great grandfather. The family never knew where he was killed and as far as they knew he had no known grave. I have been online today searching the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and have found that he is buried in a French cemetery in Ecoivres. He was killed at Vimy Ridge on May 16 1916. I have let my mother know and she is going to tell the rest of the family. Hopefully we will be able to visit his grave soon.

Hugh left a wife and 8 children, some of whom ended up in the workhouse until rescued by their grandmother. Hugh was not forgotten!! We are trying to find out how he died, although at least we now know where he is.



Pte. Arthur William Mackie 1st Btn. Lancashire Fusiliers

I am trying to trace the battles my Grandfather, Arthur Mackie was involved in during the WW1. We believe he had his 18th birthday in the trenches, we are pretty sure it was at the Somme.



Dalton E. Colins 2nd Btn. Lancashire Fusiliers

I'm trying to find any information regarding a young man called Dalton E Collins. I recently bought a poetry book and on the flycover was the name Dalton E Collins, Bristol 1917, 2nd Lanc Fus and I'm fascinated as to what became of this man. Please can anyone help in any way? I have submitted his name into the national archives with no luck. I realise its a long shot but I so want to find out what became of him and his war record.



Pte. Joseph Bryant 2nd/8th Btn. (d.10th Aug 1917)

Joseph Bryant was born in Moonee Ponds which is in Victoria, Australia, in 1895 he joined the Lancashire Fusiliers in England. He was injured in 1917 and sent to the hospital in le Treport, he died there on the 10/08/1917 of his wounds. He is buried in the Mont Huon Military Cemetery.



Sjt. Edward Harold Westley 8th Btn. Middlesex Regiment

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.



Pte. William Henry Cooper 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers (d.12th Apr 1918)

William was 36 years old when he was killed, his name is remembered at the Ploegsteert Memorial in Belgium. He left a widow Charlotte and two children. William was killed in the Spring offensive near or at Vieux Berquin on the 12th April 1918.





God's Own: 1st Salford Pals, 1914-1916

Neil Drum & Roger Dowson


This superbly researched book looks at the story of the raising and training of the Pals. It then moves on to their first experiences in France, and concludes with their destruction on the First Day of the Somme. Throughout there are numerous references to officers and men, and many first hand accounts, both of which combine to make it a fascinating account. This first section then ends with biographies of all the casualties, many of them accompanied by a photograph and some in great detail. The second part of the book is a complete roll of every officer and man that served with the 15th Lancashire Fusiliers from formation until 1st July 1916. It gives basic details of every soldier; some men have lengthy entries. A wonderful piece of research!
More information on: God's Own: 1st Salford Pals, 1914-1916



Salford Pals , A History of the Salford Brigade: 15th, 16th, 19th and 20th Battalions Lancashire Fusiliers

Michael Stedman


Salford was late in recruiting for its Pals battalions, with many of its men already joining Territorial units and a new Pals battalion in Manchester. Yet within a year it had raised four Pals battalions and a reserve battalion. Raised mainly from Lancashire's most notorious slums, the men trained together in Wales, North East England and on Salisbury Plain, they had great expectations of success. On the 1st of July 1916 the Somme offensive was launched and in the very epicentre of that cauldron the first three of Salford's battalions were thrown at the massive defences of Thiepval - the men were decimated, Salford was shattered. Michael Stedman records the impact of the war from the start on Salford and follows the difficulties and triumphs. Whether the actions small or great the author writes graphically about them all. Unusual photographs and a variety of sources make this both a readable and a scholarly account.
More information on: Salford Pals , A History of the Salford Brigade: 15th, 16th, 19th and 20th Battalions Lancashire Fusiliers



Ghosts on the Somme: Filming the Battle, June-July 1916

Alastair H. Fraser, Andrew Robertshaw and Steve Roberts


The Battle of the Somme is one of the most famous, and earliest, films of war ever made. The film records the most disastrous day in the history of the British army - 1 July 1916 - and it had a huge impact when it was shown in Britain during the war. Since then images from it have been repeated so often in books and documentaries that it has profoundly influenced our view of the battle and of the Great War itself. Yet this book is the first in-depth study of this historic film, and it is the first to relate it to the surviving battleground of the Somme. The authors explore the film and its history in fascinating detail. They investigate how much of it was faked and consider how much credit for it should go to Geoffrey Malins and how much to John MacDowell. And they use modern photographs of the locations to give us a telling insight into the landscape of the battle and into the way in which this pioneering film was created. Their analysis of scenes in the film tells us so much about th
More information on: Ghosts on the Somme: Filming the Battle, June-July 1916



From Messines to Third Ypres: A Personal Account of the First World War by a 2/5th Lancashire Fusilier

Thomas, Floyd


the story of just a few weeks between May 1917 and July 1917 as experienced by a subaltern of the Lancashire Fusiliers. It is a detailed account where personalities and small events seem to fifi ll its pages to become tellingly signififi cant-whole lifetimes seem to pass in months. Life in the trenches is recorded with all its dangers, tragedies and discomforts punctuated by lighter moments, as we share the inexorable build-up to the big attack and the fury of war that changed and ended lives in minutes. This is a first rate, intimate and personal account of the Western Front warfare the British infantry knew.
More information on: From Messines to Third Ypres: A Personal Account of the First World War by a 2/5th Lancashire Fusilier






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Did your relative live through the Great War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial?

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We are very keen to track down these often forgotten documents and obtain photographs and transcriptions of the names recorded so that they will be available for all to remember.

Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice.




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Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.





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