The Wartime Memories Project - The Great War

Great War>Allied Army>



If you enjoy this site

please consider making a donation.


    Site Home

    Add a Story

    Add Your Photos

    Events

 Features

    Those Who Served

    Allied Army

    Central Powers Army



    War in the Air

    Prisoners of War

    The Royal Navy



    Central Powers' Navy



    Women at War

    Day by Day

    Can you Answer?

    World War Two

 Submissions

    How to add Memories

    Add Your Story

Got a Question?         Please add it to:                TWMP on Facebook

    Printable Memories Form

 Information

    Help & FAQ's

    Volunteering

    News

    Contact us

    Great War Books

    About


Research your own Family History.





World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great

The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)



The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) can be traced back to 1685 and were a regular army unit, not to be confused with the London Regiment, who were a territorial formation.
Battalions during the Great War 1914-1918.




Those known to have served with The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) during the Great War 1914-1918.

Select a story link or scroll down to browse those stories hosted on this site.

The 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 get in touch.





Announcements

Do you have any friends or relatives who are over 95 years old?
Please could you ask them if they have any recollections of childhood during The Great War or in the years immediatley after the war? We would like to preserve these memories before it is too late. We are also looking for recollections from the previous generation, please do ask elderly relatives if they recall any tales of life during the Great War told to them by older family members or friends and enter their recollections so that they can be preserved in our archive.
Looking for help with Family History Research?

     Please read our Family History FAQ's

Thanks to everyone who attended our event

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.
April 2012

    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.

World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great


746

Act Cpl Cecil Hearnden Royal Fusliers

My father served in WW1 having falsified his age to join up, he enlisted with the London Regiment and served with the Royal Fusilers and later the Army Service Corps. He was in the reserve at start of WW2 and went to France with the BEF, he was wounded and captured, ending up in Stalag XXB.

If anyone has any information on his service during the Great War I'd be very grateful.



778

Pte. Thomas Harold Bentley West Yorkshire Regiment

Fantastic website! It has helped me research my maternal grandfather's Army service in WW1. He was Pvt Thomas Harold Bentley who served in the West Yorkshire Regiment, KOYLI, Labour Corps,RF. He served on the Western Front. Also the site has helped me research my great uncle: Pvt George Eaddie, RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps). He served in Eqypt, Sulva Bay, Dardernelles, and the Western Front. God Bless you both.



185707

Captain Isaac Henry Woolf "Jack" Barnato (d.25th Oct 1918)

Isaaac Barnato was a Captain in Royal Air Force. He had formerly served with the Public Schools Battalion of The Royal Fusiliers, whom he joined as a Private. He died of Influenza at home 25 October 1918, he was 24.



139648

Lt. John E. Holloway 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers, City of London (d.7th May 1915)

John 'Jack' Richardson, born in 1893, was the son of the headmaster of Shaftesbury Road Elementary School in Forest Gate, East London. After the outbreak of WW1 he battled red-tape to be allowed to fight, despite a heart problem.

"The battalions now at Malta are going to France. Were I only there! But for evermore will I pity the unemployed."

He managed to join the newly formed 2nd Batallion of the City of London Fusiliers as a Lieutenant, and embarked for France on 17th March 1915. "We passed torpedo boats at Portsmouth and minesweepers. Cruisers and one submarine going on the surface with a long trail of black smoke coming out of the back - it looked uncanny creeping along, like a long, black water snake."

He wrote regular letters to his fiancée, May Larby (my grandmother - the daughter of a local police constable) which have been published as "There Are No Flowers Here", available from www.lulu.com. All the quotes I have included are from this book.

Here are some excerpts that might be of interest. "My dear girl, I am writing this on Sunday morning with the British shells passing over our heads, the German snipers occasionally potting at us and aeroplanes sailing round and being followed by white puffs from the smoke bombs fired by the anti-aircraft guns. These white puffs look for all the world like pieces of cotton wool. I came into the trenches for four days last night about 6.30. We marched along a railway line and then a road with just one or two bullets whistling here and there but with no casualties. We got safely into our breastwork and then followed a continual fusillade from the German trenches 400 yards in front of us, rifles, star bombs, and a search light. The result was nothing as far as we were concerned. Still, it was a fine experience. I, with a second lieutenant and two men were employed in building a bombproof shelter with sandbags and boards, corrugated iron etc.. The 2/Lieut.,to whom I am, of course junior, and I went on duty of inspection of the whole line of the trenches from 1-3 p.m.and got to sleep at 3.30, to be roused at 5.0 this morning by the “Stand To” when every man has to stand by his arms for an hour. The Germans giving us quite a rifle bombardment as a “reveille”. They keep this up more or less all day and night. They are just waking up again now. The rest of the morning we have had nothing in particular to do except fire sometimes at the Germans and keep our heads below the parapet. The British 4.7 guns have just started sending shells over us on to (one just gone) the German lines. The last just burst over their trench. The Germans are using a trench mortar now, but not on us, on the trenches to our right. The whole of the country here is desolate - the farms mere skeletons and the fields ploughed with earthworks. But, do you know May, I don't feel at all strange - almost exactly as if all the shots were blank and we were on field manoeuvres. I thought I should feel fearfully funky, but some how I don't. Besides it's such lovely weather today and the fellows here are jolly decent. I've even begun sketching the ruined houses etc. I must send you them when I manage to do some worth the transit. We stay here in the trenches 4 days and then have 4 in billets. The latter are quite nice and we live in comparative luxury, although shells come quite close and knock corners off houses and break windows.( We just rushed into a dugout because an aeroplane coming over our trench was shelled and we're afraid of the shrapnel pieces - however none came). What strikes me most is that the natives still stay with their homes and work in the fields even in the zone of fire. In the town the majority of the shops are open again, but it has a desolate look. My love, I musn't tell you where I am, because my letters are not read and they trust me not to say anything censorable. But I can say we have Germans in a horseshoe round us and we are in one of the most advanced trenches of the Allied line. Swank!

My dear, this letter is very incoherent but I am writing things down as they occur to me. I am too lazy today to compose. Still, I hope you will find it interesting. And, comrade, do not be more anxious about me than you can help. There is really very little danger here and I am thoroughly enjoying myself. The business doesn't seem nearly so horrible now I am here. I'm in that frame of mind which is prepared to take the whole thing as a game, and a good one too. Anyhow I'm glad I'm not funky. Comrade, please write to me soon and tell me all about yourself and how you are and what is happening. Now I am here I know nothing about the war!"

"It's now 11.30. The Maxims are going all along the line tonight and they make a fearful din. Last night was quite exciting. A sergeant and I crawled along in front of the trench to inspect the barbed wire entanglement - and it was cold - the ground all frosty and sparkling in the moonlight. Fortunately the enemy were quiet and we got very few shots, though they must have been able to see us quite plainly. Later I took out half a dozen men to put up some fresh wire and still few shots came our way. Very considerate of the Saxons who are opposite. During the night we were shouting across to them and they to us! “how do you do,” said they - many of them speak English; they wanted a game of football on Easter Monday. “Bully beef” was another cry of theirs. These “conversations” went on for quite an hour and not a shot fired. They woke up today however and plenty of sniping has gone on, and they at Maxims tonight."

"Yesterday we had a little diversion. Two German and two British aeroplanes were over us at once and the sky was literally filled with bursting shells - over a hundred were counted at one time. One of the Germans was hit, but he got back to his own lines. We heard today that another had been brought down in our “Billets” town itself. The change of pencil in this letter was due to my rushing out to see if a passing biplane was English or German. If it is an enemy we all fire and drive him off - otherwise he finds our range and shells come over later. It was British." "But my dear, I've got a splendid sergeant just come back from hospital of the name of Macleod. He's the son of an Indian judge and as mad as a hare, though awfully useful and full of ideas and energy. We two went out last night to prospect the German front and we have plans against their snipers and listening post. Of this, more anon. Unfortunately he is likely to get a commission and I shall lose him."

"Yesterday afternoon I spent some time sniping from a plate at the Germans and I think I managed to worry them. You see we have square iron plates put in the parapet with a hole just big enough to put a rifle through and they form jolly good loopholes. After putting several through the German sniping hole opposite me and splitting the sandbags round about I got a reply - and this was rather too good. It caught the stock of my rifle and sent the splinters and pieces of earth through my loophole and they caught my left hand slightly. However, very little damage was done and after getting it dressed by the stretcher bearers, to whom I went, I walked down to the Field dressing station and got it seen to again. I returned to the trench but the Captain insisted on my going down to see the Medical Officer in the evening and so spoiled my plans with Sergeant Macleod of which I told you." "While I was away our artillery gave them five minutes rapid shrapnel fire and our men blazed off rapid rifle fire. The sergeant I spoke about got so excited that he jumped up on top of the parapet to fire at the Germans. Luckily he wasn't hit nor did we have any casualties. Of course it would be my luck not to be there, but I expect we shall repeat the experiment later on." "The night before last I went out with Macleod and a private to look at a wagon standing in front of the German lines, in which we thought there was a sniper. We crawled out about 250 yds. along the side of a ditch - very, very cautiously and lay and watched. But there was no sniper - only German shells came flying overhead, though of course they couldn't do us any harm. To make sure I then crawled on for 20 yds. or so and just as I got flat on the ground the “Bosches” sent up a flare which fell quite close to me - of course they saw me and when I turned to go back to the other two, shots began to come our way, though you know it is very difficult to aim in the dark with any certainty so there wasn't really very much danger. We all slid into the ditch and then a machine gun opened fire on us, or rather where they thought we were. We slowly made our way down the ditch, and the mud and water came up over the thighs, and the Germans, thoroughly alarmed, for they could hear our splashing as we went, sent up flares and rattled off with rifles and machine gun. Half way down the ditch was a bridge, and here they thought we should have to come out of the ditch and crawl along to pass, so they set the machine gun on it. Fortunately they were wrong - there was about 2 ft. between the top of the water and the top of the bridge, so we could just get through and make our way right to our own trench, accompanied with flares and musketry. So worried were the Germans that they sent up a red flare which is a signal to their own men an attack is expected! There's quite a “Three Musketeers” touch about that, isn't there? But we cost them quite a lot in ammunition etc. and quite annoyed them. More than this there has been little happening - we had some fifteen shells over two nights ago, two of which slightly damaged the trench but there was no harm done. Since we've been up I think there have been two casualties in the whole Battalion. You know we're nearly as safe as you who cross London streets daily."

"Really my dear, Macleod is a very useful man and I'd rather be out at night with him than anyone. He is not the sort who would get jumpy and let off his gun at awkward moments or do things like that."

On Sunday April 25th. 1915 Jack was wounded while reconnoitering at night in front of his trench with his sergeant. He died of these wounds on Friday May 7th. 1915. He was 22 years old.



142211

Pte Harry Eugene Turner 3rd Battalion Royal Fusiliers

The above soldier was my father who enlisted in 1906 and served until 1919. I would be pleased to find any army records of his regimental service.



991

Pte. William Bainbridge Bailey 13th Btn. Durham Light Infantry

I have been doing some research into my great-grandfather who fought in the Great War.

His name was William Bainbridge Bailey. Rank: Private. He fought with the 13th Durham Light Infantry at Contalmaison on the Somme and also with the Northumberland Fusiliers in many fronts, including the Third Battle of Ypres.

There is some confusion with the Battle of Contalmaison; his war diary (now in the University of Leeds) says he fought on the 4th August 1916. However the websites I have researched show the Battles of Contalmaison were in July 1916. If anyone has any information on this I would be grateful. I would also love to hear about any connections with my grandfather.

Main Events from 1915 – 1917

Joined the Royal Fusiliers on November 1915, aged 19. Transferred to Northumberland Fusiliers June 24th (part of Tyneside Scottish Regiment). Arrived in France July 15th. Transferred to 13th Durham Light Infantry in Franvilliers. Fought at Albert in front line 28th July. Said there were very heavy casualties. August 1st was deployed to Contalmaison (part of the Somme front). 4th August attacked Contalmaison at dusk (hit by machine gun bullet in right thigh and lay in no-man’s land for three days). 7th August crawled back to trenches. Sent home to England for treatment 13th August.

Served in reserve Northumberland Fusiliers four miles from Hull. Transferred to Northumberland Fusiliers (Tyneside Scottish) 9th January 1917. Deployed to Armentiers. 11th February went on bombing raid at Armentiers. Not injured although the battalion suffered heavy casualties.13th February came back to battalion at Gadewelde. 9th April (Easter Monday) went over top at Arras. 24th April left Arras reserve and went to front line. Had a rough time taking position and Battalion suffered heavy casualties. 30th April, just one hour before being relieved, the unit was shelled heavily. Had a very narrow escape, five men killed next to him and two wounded.

After being in and out of hospital with a skin disease, he returned to Northumberland Fusiliers. 5th July left for front lines at Peronne. 8th July went to front for four days. Said it was ‘very hot’ with no let up at all. Went over the top just East of Hardecourt. Captured 600 yards of enemy trench.

7th October deployed to Ypres. 16th October was sent to Ypres front line (Passchendaele). Night of 16th October was hit with shrapnel in both legs and right arm. Sent to Number 2 Canadian General Hospital, had three operations and left leg was amputated just above knee. Left for England, or in his words, ‘Back to Blighty.’

Overview

  • - Trained with Royal Fusiliers
  • - Fought for Durham Light Infantry at Albert and Contalmaison (The Somme).
  • - Fought for Northumberland Fusiliers (Tyneside Scottish) at: Armentiers, Arras, Peronne, Hardecourt and Ypres. (Passchendaele).

    War Reminiscences

  • “Enough of War”
  • “I realized how close God always is to us, one always feels a little reserved about one’s own experience, suffering and hardships. Never boast. And your never alone in trouble.”

    Main Reminiscences

  • - Laying alone in no-man’s land.
  • - Crossing channel for third time in a paddleboat when he encountered a mine. Suffered worst sea-sickness but said, “Navy, good work.”
  • - Etaples, never ending stream of men.
  • - Doing gas guard.

    His Lucky and Unlucky Fridays

  • - Born on Good Friday April 3rd 1896.
  • - Sworn into the army Friday November 19th 1915.
  • - Left England for France Friday July 14th 1916.
  • - Wounded at Contalmaison Friday August 4th 1916
  • - Home on sick furlough Friday October 1916.
  • - Left leg amputated Friday November 12th 1917.



    • 1001

    Private Herbert James Boyer 22nd Battalion London Regiment (d.3rd Sept 1918)

    Herbert James Boyer died in WW1 and the CWGC records show he fell on 3rd September 1918. He was a member of the 22nd Battalion, London Regiment and is buried in the Heilly Station Cemetery. Mericourt-L'Abbe. I believe he enlisted initially in the 5th Royal Fusiliers (G/25502). I am related on my mother's side, and have obtained replicas of his medals, which I will frame along with the relevant cap badges.



    204881

    Lt. Graydon William Goldsworthy MC. 3rd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment

    Graydon Goldsworthy was my uncle and I am serching for his records. I have a copy of him joining in 14/11/1915, commisioned 4/9/1916, awarded M.C. 21/1/1919, retired 10/10/1921. I have recently received from his daughter, copies of his hand wrtten letters sent home to his parents from the trenches in France between Nov 1915 and Feb 1916.



    204798

    Pte. James Cleave Todd Wooler 10th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (d.14th Sept 1918)

    My great uncle James Wooler died on the 14th of September 1918 near Trescault while using a lewis machine gun, he was shot dead is friend Pt Ayling was captured by the Germans. My uncle's body was never found, so this year I tried to find more about him, got in touch with the commonwealth war graves commission. I got old local papers from 1918 with his death in it but He had no death certificate, so I sent all info to them, they got in touch with the Ministry of Defence and they are going to put his name on war memorial at the Vis-en-Artois memorial in a few months time. A lot of hard work help from a lot of good people and all worth it. I'm glad I did it, he wont be alone any more.



    204694

    Pte. Kenneth Weeden 8th Btn. Royal Fusiliers

    Kenneth Weeden was my late father's younger brother who family conversations indicate he was killed within a short time of arriving at the front. He was, I believe, just 17 years old. There is a memorial to him in St Giles's Church, Ickenham, Middlesex. I have previously tried to find more details of his army service with no success. Does anyone have any information, please?



    204603

    Pte. George Collins 9th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (d.7th Jul 1916)

    I don't know about any events in his life but when I discovered that my great uncle George Collins was killed at the Battle of the Somme I was very emotional. I will try to find more relatives who I know served in both wars.



    176807

    Pte. Thomas Edward Stanbridge Royal Fusiliers

    I would love to find out more about the service of my much loved uncle, Thomas Stanbridge. As the only surviving family member I would like to put a little something about him on record somewhere. I just have two service medals, an embroidered postcard "To my Mother" containing slip of paper saying "a kiss from France". Also a black and white postcard of 36 men with two bicycles and a tan and black mongrel arranged on the steps of possibly a town hall, each man has signed the back and there is an index of who was who.

    I know Uncle Tom's lungs were never very good after the war and he was very sad, never married and lived with my Grandmother all his life. The only stories he told were that he was asked to take an officer's horse back to camp and no account to ride it - but he rode it and it bolted and there was Trouble. Also, coming back for rest he was in a long queue in a tunnel in the trenches and someone in the queue coming out as they shuffled past one another offered him a drink as he looked "done in". He promptly passed out and was passed over everyone's heads to the rest area. So he never pretended to be a hero in the war! That is all I know, wish there was more.



    142742

    Pte. Walter Arthur Tompkins Royal Fusiliers (d.30th June 1917)

    I am trying to find out where my mother's uncle, Wally Tompkins was killed.



    140371

    Staff Sgt. William Albert Wright 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers (d.7th Dec 1917)

    My Grandfather William Wright was killed at Cambrai on the 7th December 1917 and his name is on the memorial at Cambrai, but if there is anymore information anyone can give me I would be very appreciative.



    147653

    Pte. Monthem Frank "Monty" Wood 6th Btn. Royal Fusiliers

    Monty is listed as Frank Wood in all official records, apart from the local Booklet: Southall Men Enlisted 1915 where he is listed on page 59, serving with the Royal Fusliliers, 6th Battallion, No 14737 Pte Wood, M. F.



    204975

    Private Albert Samuel Rose 10th Btn. "A" Coy. Royal Fusiliers (d.26th May 1916)

    Albert Samuel Rose known as Sam by his family, is my Great Uncle. He was born 19th November 1895. He was the only boy of 12 children. He died aged 20. He has a grave in Berles-Au-Bois graveyard in France. I only found one old photos of him and have no other information about him. He was awarded 3 medals and I have a copy of his medal roll. He had the Victory medal, British medal and the 1915 Star. Where these medals are I have no idea. I would love to be in possession of them or have photo evidence of them. I know that all medals were inscribed at the back. If anyone knows about my great uncle or has any other information, it would be greatly accepted.



    205094

    Pte. James C. T. Wooler 10th (Service) Battalion Royal Fusiliers (d.14th Sep 1918)

    James C T Wooler was my Great Uncle. I cant find which battle he died in, records just say Trescault. He was working a lewis machine gun when he shot through the head, His body was never found and this year I got onto the War Graves Commission and sent them information about my great uncle, they got in touch with Ministry of Defence and his name is being put on the addenda panel on the Vis-en-Artois memorial in France in a few months.

    My other great uncle was killed in November 1917. My Grandad was a volunteer who joined in Sept 1914 and survived the war, I can't find his army record, I have tried for a least a year.



    207004

    Pte. Thomas William Hobbs 2nd Btn. Royal Fusiliers (d.26th Oct 1917)

    Tommy Hobbs was my wife's grandad. He was 24 years old when he died leaving a wife and 3 children, one whom he never saw. He died in the 3rd Battle of Ypres and is commemorated at Tyne Cot Memorial.



    206634

    Cpl. Sidney Arthur O'Dell 26th Btn. Royal Fusiliers

    My grandfather, Sidney A. O'Dell of Walthamstow, London, served in the Army Pay Corps during the first years of WW1. After war broke out in 1914 he tried to enlist into Kitchener's Army but was rejected on account of his flat feet, and the fact that he was a married man with a child. Instead he served in the Army Pay Corps for around two years.

    Later in the war when they relaxed their standards he enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers 26th Battalion in early 1917 and went to France in July 1917 to take part in Passchendale. Later that year his Regiment was sent to North Italy to bolster the Italians against the Austrians, returning to France in February 1918. He was severely wounded in the leg in March 1918 resisting the German offensive and repatriated to England to recover but did not serve in France again.



    1507

    Lt. Charles John Casey 15th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles

    Charles John Casey was my Grandfather. He was an Officer cadet and then a Lieutenant in the 15th Battalion RIR from early 1916 until at least July 1918. My research into his army days has so far revealed the at he was a school teacher by profession and enlisted initially as a Private in the 18th Btn Royal Fusiliers (1st Public Schools) at Epsom, Surrey on the 11/09/1914, age 26.

    They landed in France on the 14/11/1915, and he fought there with the Fusiliers until the 24/04/16 when the battalion was disbanded owing to 'many men having gone to take commissions'. My Grandfather left the Fusiliers as a Corporal, presumably on that date.

    The next we hear of him is in the London Gazette on the 7th July 1916, as 'Cadet Charles John Casey made temp 2nd Lt.' This is in reference to the RIR, and his 14-15 Star medal card confirms the 15th Battalion. There is a final mention in the Gazette for him on the 7th January 1918, which reads 'C.J.Casey temp 2nd Lt. to Lieut.'

    I currently have the 15th battalions War diary on order from the National Archives, so will be interested to see if there are any first hand accounts of things he actually did in France. Obviously both I and his son, my Father, have the greatest of admiration for his wartime service and so are very interested to find out as much as we can. My Grandfather died in 1967.



    207200

    Pte. James Wilson 4th Battalion The Royal Fusiliers (d.11 Nov 1914)

    James was born in Gale Street, Poplar, East London, which was not a nice place in 1884. He came from a poor family who had just arrived from Liverpool, his father Edward a Galvanized Roofer and his Mother Mary.

    In 1901, James was incarcerated under Reformatory Act Victoria 29-30 on the Reformatory ship "TS Cornwall" which was moored off the River Thames at Purfleet, West Thurrock, Essex. On his release he joined the 2nd Battalion of the London Regiment and served in Jubbulpore, Central Province, India.

    At the outbreak of the First World War, James returned and was sent to France as part of the BEF II Corp, 3rd Division, 9th Brigade, 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers. He fought at Mons before arriving at Ypres. He was on the front line on the Menin Road when the German 4th Guard Grenadiers attacked on what became known as the Battle of Nonne Boschen Wood in the First Battle of Ypres. James was killed during the main attack which overwhelmed the 4th's lines on the 11th November 1914. As with many that day, his body was never found and his name appears on the Menin Gate Panel 6 and 8. His medal card states that his father requested his 1914 Star.



    207187

    Private George Ewart Bishop 17th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (d.12 Apr 1918)

    The Commonwealth War Graves Commission gives his age as 19 years when he met his death on 12th April 1918. Records say that he was shot and taken prisoner, but died of his injuries. There is a grave (IV.C.5) for him in Niederzwehren Cemetry,Germany.



    207428

    2nd Lt. Frederick John Weare 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (d.9th Oct 1918)



    207595

    Cpl. George Ansell 1st Btn. Royal London Fusiliers (d.21st March 1918)

    George Ansell joined the 1/19th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and trained at St Albans, before going to France and joining the 1st Btn. He was killed on the 21st of March 1918 fighting with a company of the 2/2 Btn Royal London Fusiliers at Travesty, France. His c/o Capt. Harper wrote a citation recording his bravery before his death. Stating that George had killed many advancing enemy before being shot by a sniper. Unfortunately, there is no record on the Roll of Honour of the 2/2 Btn as he was lent from the 1st Btn.

    I remember a photo of him at my grandmother's before WW2, when at the age of 5yrs. Sadly his photo was lost during the war. Are there any photos of the 1/19th TA Regt who did their training at St Albans, North London in 1914 before they went to France in March 1915?



    207638

    Pte. Luke Mizon 3rd Btn. Royal Fusiliers

    Little is known about Luke Mizon (my great, great grandfather) and I am still researching the family history. What we do know is that he was born in 1860 and died in 1929. He joined the army on 6/12/1914 and was discharged due to sickness on 20/3/1916. I understand the Royal Fusiliers joined with the 86th Brigade and 29th Division and were part of the Gallipoli Campaign. Luke survived and was discharged upon return to England in March 1916.



    1722

    L/Cpl. Patrick Joy 4th Btn. Royal Fusiliers (d.23rd Aug 1914)

    David Joy (left) with brother Patrick in 1914

    My Great Uncle Patrick Joy served with 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers and was killed in action soon after this photograph was taken, at Mons on the 23rd of August 1914, he was 21 years old. My Grandfather David H Joy served with 1st Field Ambulance, RAMC.



    1737

    Fus. Herbert Samuel Mills 31st Btn. Royal Fusiliers

    Herbert Samuel Mills 31st Royal Fusiliers

    Little is known about Herbert Samuel Mills (my grandfather) except that he served and survived WW1, however he lost his left arm in an explosion. He is believed to have belonged to the 31st Royal Fusiliers.

    Herbert is on the left hand front row, sixth from left.





    Recomended Reading.

    Available at discounted prices.



    Hard as Nails: The Sportsmen's Battalion of World War One

    Michael Foley


    This is the history of the Sportsmen's Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 23rd service battalion, which consisted almost entirely of men from the world of sport or entertainment. The battalion was privately raised and took men up to the age of 45. The battalion included a champion boxer, cricketers, footballers, MPs and the author John Chessire. They were men who did not need to serve in the First World War but had an unquestioning sense of duty. The history is enhanced by the letters and drawings by John Chessire, giving a first-hand account of their experiences. A man from the upper classes, a writer, poet and artist, he chose to serve as a private so he could do his duty, even when it conflicted with his religious beliefs and love for his family. The book covers the battalion's beginnings in London and progression to Hornchurch, France and then Germany. It includes their time at Vimy Ridge, at the Somme and at the Battle for Deville Wood.





    Can you help us to add to our records?

    The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them


    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?

    If so please let us know.

    Do you know the location of a Great War "Roll of Honour?"

    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.




    Celebrate your own Family History

    Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Great War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc.

    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.





    Links






    The Wartime Memories Project is a non profit organisation run by volunteers.

    This website is paid for out of our own pockets and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources.

    If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running.


    Hosted by:

    The Wartime Memories Project Website

    is archived for preservation by the British Library




    Website © Copyright MCMXCIX - MMXII
    - All Rights Reserved