Those Who Served
Pte. William Thomas Lacey . Royal Marine Light Infantry HMS Hussar (d.6th Aug 1914) |
Christopher Laffan . British Army Leinster Regiment from 22 West Essex Street, Dublin, Ireland I am trying to trace my grandfather's Regiment in the Army from circa 1909-1918. He served in Ranikhet, India. My mother,his daughter, was born there. Her name was Margaret Mary Laffan born February 6 1913. Her mother's name was Annie Laffan, nee Griffin.
He served in Ranikhet, India, his daughter, was born there. Her name was Margaret Mary Laffan born February 6 1913. Her mother's name was Annie Laffan, nee Griffin.
Editor's Note: Christopher served with the Leinster Regiment. Regiments can be traced from the WW1 Medal Cards, for further information please see our Family History FAQ page
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Private James Lafferty . British Army 1/1st Lothian and Borders Horse from Edinburgh (d.31st Dec 1918) All I can tell you is that James Lafferty was my mother's great uncle, who went through the whole war and was stationed in Solonaka in Greece and died on the 31st Decmber 1918 of Phuemonia aged just 23. What I can gather is a lot of soldiers over there at that time died from various ilnesses |
Pte. Ernest Alfred Laflin . British Army 16th (Service) Battalion, C Coy. Rifle Brigade from 9 Penryn Street St. Pancras (d.3rd Sep 1916) Ernest Alfred Laflin was born in 1886, he married Elizabeth Annie King in 1908 in Richmond Surrey and in 1911 he gave his occupation as General Assistant on the census, he had one daughter Bessie at this time born in 1900 and had a son born about 1915, also called Ernest
Ernest joined the 16th (Service) Battalion Rifle Brigade, C Company as a Private and was killed on the 3rd of September 1916 aged 30 years and is burried in grave V.F.37 Ancre British Cemetary, at Beaumont Hamel. The records note he was the son of Edward and Sarah Laflin of Camden Town, husband of Elizabeth A Laflin (nee King) of 1a Glenwood Road Harringey.
This address was also the address of Elizabeth's sister Ada Mary Board and her husband John Henry Board. The two sisters lived together throughout the First World War.
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Sjt. J. Laidlaw . Army 8th Btn. Durham Light Infantry |
Laing . Army 7th Btn. Durham Light Infantry |
Pte. Arthur Lake . British Army 2nd Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.12th Mar 1915)
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Gnr. Maurice Chevrier Lalonde . Canadian Expeditionary Force 46th Btn. Saskatchewan Regiment from 2,1406 Barclay St. Vancouver, British Columbia. (d.6th Apr 1918) Maurice Lalonde was the youngest of three brothers, all of whom joined up in the Great War with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Maurice was my Uncle, he joined the 49th University Canadians and then served with the 46th Btn. Saskatchewan Regiment and was in charge of a machine gun crew of three men, sadly they all lost their lives together during the Battle for Arras in France. He is buried in Rochlincourt, France where his grave is perpetually cared for.
His brothers, both members of the RFC then the RAF, survived the war and returned to Canada. Leon Arthur Lalonde one of the brothers was my father. |
Lt. Leonard William Henry Lamaison . British Army 2/5th Btn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment from Southwold, Kenley, Surrey (d.2nd Jul 1916) Leonard Lamasion was the son of the late William and Marian Lamaison, of Southwold, Kenley, Surrey. He was 40 years old when he was killed during an intense bombardment of the front line at Moated Grange, Laventie, his friend Lt Truman was killed and another friend James Budd was badly injured. His wife Charlotte Florence Barton (formerly Lamaison) lived at Esmeryl, Dehra Dun, India. He was buried in the Rue-du-Bacquerot no.1 military cemetery at Laventie |
Pte. D. Lamb . Army 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry Pte Lamb was wounded whilst serving at Heugh Battery during the Bombardment of the Hartlepools on the 16th December 1914. |
Pte. Thomas Lamb . British Army 2nd Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.1st May 1915) |
Ordinary Seaman Peter James Lambell . Royal Navy HMS Amphion from 6, Back Street, Woolwich, London (d.6th Aug 1914)
My great uncle, Ordinary Seaman Peter Lambell, went to HMS Ganges when he was 16. He served on HMS Donegal, Vivid and Magnificent and on 2nd April 1913 went to HMS Amphion. He died on his 18th birthday, the 6th of August 1914. He was the son of Peter James and Mary Lambell, of 6 Back Lane, Woolwich, London.
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Pte. John William Lambert . Australian Army D Coy. 33rd Btn. from Perth, Western Australia (d.7th Jun 1917) John Lambert was born in Sheffield, England and came to Australia when he was 23. He was married and was working in Manufacturing in Perth when he enlisted. He was killed on the 7th of June 1917 during the Battle of Messines and is listed amongst the missing on the Menin Gate in Ypres. |
Deck hand James Nicholson Lambie . from Fort St, South Shields (d.31st Oct 1915) My Dad was only 7 years old at the time his brother James Lambie was lost, but even in his 91st year, still cried when he recalled the time the family were told of the loss his brother "Jimma". A survivor had recalled seeing him clinging to a piece of wood, but he was never rescued. |
William Henry Bonser "Harry" Lamin . Army 9th Btn. C Company, 12 Platoon York & Lancaster Regiment |
Ord.Sea. Charles Edgar Lamprey . Royal Navy HMS Invincible from Devonshire (d.31st May 1916) Charles Lamprey was 18yrs old when HMS Invincible went down. Two other Lampreys went down with their ship at Jutland, one aged 15.5 the other 16 years old. |
Spr. J. T. Landrigan . Australian Imperial Forces 1st Australian Tunnelling Coy. |
John Lang . Army Royal Field Artillery My great grandfather was John Lang, a soldier with the RFA. I don't know much about him other than he was born in Scoltland. The connectin to Shorncliffe camp is that my grandmother was born there in 1908. On her birth certificate it says John was a bombadier.
John married a Kent girl from Warhehorne, Kate Mannings. On their marriage cert (1903)he gives his ocupation as gunner RFA. He was 33 at time of marriage.
Apparently John died when my gran was a child. The story goes that his gun back-fired while he was cleaning/inspecting it. I have not been able to find a death cert & have no idea which year this would have been.
If anyone can shed some light on this mystery I'd be most grateful.
Sharon |
V G Langford . British Army 119 MG Coy. Machine Gun Corps I am trying to find out what happened to the many men who had engraved names in the attic in our French Farm House in La Somme. We believe V G Langford is from 119th MG Company |
Pte. William Henry Langford . British Army 8th Btn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry from Normanton, W Yorkshire (d.1st Jul 1916) My mother was 2 days from her first birthday when her father was killed. He had come from Storridge in Worcestershire with his brother George Ernest, when the coal mines in Wales closed down and they wanted and found work in the West Yorkshire coal fields, living in Normanton W Yorkshire and marrying 2 cousins there.
My mother knew little of her father because her mother told her he was blown to pieces and never found, and she, mother, married again but died when my mother was just 14, in Normanton W Yorkshire leaving mum to leave school to look after 5 children - her step brothers and sisters.
It wasn't until I began researching my family tree that I found a photo of 'grandad' and also that he had a grave near ALbert in N France, being killed on July 1st 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
I always promised mum I would take her there but sadly she died before I managed it................ BUT
On June 27th this year, I am going across with a trip arranged by the British legion, to stay in the Somme area/Albert and to visit the graveyard where grandad is buried and see his grave.I'll stay in the Union Jack Hotel in Waterloo London at each end of my trip.
I cannot wait - it will be very emotional and I will only visit once - mum will be with me in spirit and I can add my visit to my Family Tree, with pride and thanks.
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Pte. Robert Langley . British Army Robert Langley is my Grandfather. He served on the western front and was gassed on the Somme. All his hair fell out and never grew back. He was a stretcher bearer and once had to fight hand to hand with a German in no man's land. I'm trying to find what Regiment and Batallion he was in. |
Major John Henry Langton DSO. British Army 1/4th Btn. Welsh Fusiliers from Cambridgeshire Served with the 1\4 RWF 2nd February 1917 through to end of hostilities, leading the Battalion as Lt Col in the final 100 days. |
2nd Lt. Owen Heckford Lapthorn . British Army 102nd Bde. D Bty Royal Field Artillery from "Glenelg," Gosport, Hants. (d.28th May 1917) |
Pte. John Larkin . British Army 2nd Btn. Royal Scots from Dumbarton, Scotland (d.9th Apr 1917) John Larkin was my great uncle he died on the 4th of April 1917 taking the village of Les-Mofflaines from the Germans.
I have found the cemetery in France where he is buried and intend to visit his grave very soon. I will be the first member of the family to visit his grave since his death. I found all his information om the Commonwealth War Grave Commission web site. |
W. Latimer . British Army 15th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles (d.1st Jul 1916) |
Daisy Lavender . Nursing Auxiliary from New Malden This is my Nan (my Mum's Mum) who is Daisy Rainsforth nee LAVENDER b. 21st March 1893 in Kingston-on-Thames.
Daisy worked 'in service' at 79 Eaton Place, Knightsbridge up until 1916 when she left her work there and went back to her home town of New Malden to help with the thousands of wounded soldiers coming back from France injured.
That is where she met my grandad ERNEST RAINSFORTH - 2/5th West Riding Regiment who had been badly wounded in battle in N France. As near as I can tell, Ernest was wounded around 9th March 1917.
Ernest was transferred to Malden Hospital, New Malden where Daisy had volunteered to be a nursing auxiliary. She met Ernest - fell in love with him - and married him in his home town of Gainsbrough on 16 March 1918.
This picture of Daisy was taken in Gainsbrough on 21st March 1918 just one week after her wedding to Ernest. It was taken on her 25th birthday.
Daisy certainly did her bit in the way of war work too.
Daisy was the sister-in -law of William RAINSFORTH mentioned - 5th Lincolns - Hohenzollern Redoubt.
She was the niece of Albert H DEAN who died at 10th Military Hospital France(he was her Mum's brother).
Daisy became the wife of ERNEST RAINSFORTH - my Grandad.
Daisy's great-great grandmother (Anne Howard nee EDLIN formerly TRUMPER b. 1800 of Harefield) was also the Gt Grandmother of Robert Edward RYDER VC so that makes Robert some kind of cousin to Daisy I think !!!!!!
Robert Edward RYDER's Mum was Jane Howard - grand-daughter of Ann Howard through Ann's son Robert Howard.
Daisy Lavender's grannie was Ann Maria Trumper b. 1853 d. 1925 whose father was Henry TRUMPER b. 1829 d. 1892 who was the son of Ann Howard nee EDLIN formerly TRUMPER b. 1800.
One last thing - my Nan's sister named Violet Lavender (my great-aunt) b. 1895 d. 1981 was an avid collector of all sorts of things in her youth. I have over 250 old post cards circa 1910 - 1930 which were a part of her collection. All are stamped and form a massive insight into what girls/ young women of her age in that era were like. The postcards have been invaluable to me in tracking the lives of both Daisy Lavender/Rainsforth and her sister, Violet Lavender during WW1 as they wrote and communicated with one another by post cards. |
Daisy Lavender . Nursing Auxiliary from New Malden This is my Nan (my Mum's Mum) who is Daisy Rainsforth nee LAVENDER b. 21st March 1893 in Kingston-on-Thames.
Daisy worked 'in service' at 79 Eaton Place, Knightsbridge up until 1916 when she left her work there and went back to her home town of New Malden to help with the thousands of wounded soldiers coming back from France injured.
That is where she met my grandad ERNEST RAINSFORTH - 2/5th West Riding Regiment who had been badly wounded in battle in N France. As near as I can tell, Ernest was wounded around 9th March 1917.
Ernest was transferred to Malden Hospital, New Malden where Daisy had volunteered to be a nursing auxiliary. She met Ernest - fell in love with him - and married him in his home town of Gainsbrough on 16 March 1918.
This picture of Daisy was taken in Gainsbrough on 21st March 1918 just one week after her wedding to Ernest. It was taken on her 25th birthday.
Daisy certainly did her bit in the way of war work too.
Daisy was the sister-in -law of William RAINSFORTH mentioned - 5th Lincolns - Hohenzollern Redoubt.
She was the niece of Albert H DEAN who died at 10th Military Hospital France(he was her Mum's brother).
Daisy became the wife of ERNEST RAINSFORTH - my Grandad.
Daisy's great-great grandmother (Anne Howard nee EDLIN formerly TRUMPER b. 1800 of Harefield) was also the Gt Grandmother of Robert Edward RYDER VC so that makes Robert some kind of cousin to Daisy I think !!!!!!
Robert Edward RYDER's Mum was Jane Howard - grand-daughter of Ann Howard through Ann's son Robert Howard.
Daisy Lavender's grannie was Ann Maria Trumper b. 1853 d. 1925 whose father was Henry TRUMPER b. 1829 d. 1892 who was the son of Ann Howard nee EDLIN formerly TRUMPER b. 1800.
One last thing - my Nan's sister named Violet Lavender (my great-aunt) b. 1895 d. 1981 was an avid collector of all sorts of things in her youth. I have over 250 old post cards circa 1910 - 1930 which were a part of her collection. All are stamped and form a massive insight into what girls/ young women of her age in that era were like. The postcards have been invaluable to me in tracking the lives of both Daisy Lavender/Rainsforth and her sister, Violet Lavender during WW1 as they wrote and communicated with one another by post cards. |
Private Barner Laver . British Army 3rd Bn. attached. 2nd Bn Essex Regiment from Billericay, Essex (d.22nd June 1917) There is no story - there cannot be. The man who would have been my Great Uncle didn't make it through. As a child I "inherited" his medals, the 'plaque' for his grave and the letters of thanks from the Palace. For many years these intrigued me until at last old enough to venture further afield on my own I set out for Billericay and discovered his name on the War Memorial. Research was not easy when I was younger and trips to St Katherines House to learn more foundered. The advent of the internet and my surprising ability to grasp it's techniques led to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission pages and the surprising information that Great Uncle had been quite close all the time having been interred at Felixstowe, Suffolk. Why Felixstowe? I think his Battalion of the Essex Regiment may have had a base in the area thus the wounded may have been afforded local burials. But why not take his body the relatively short distance back into Essex and to his home town? Maybe the cost was prohibitive or possibly the family were "annoyed" that this young man had gone off to war, perhaps against their desires. We will never know - the last person who could possibly have shed light on these times (my Grand Father - Barner's Brother) died in the 1960's even before my medal "inheritance" started my curious mind off on it's search. I am glad that I found Uncle and have been to visit his grave to "let him know" about the family that he could never have met. I often think about him even though I know so little about him. |
Capt. Charles Stewart Touzeau Lavers DFC.. Royal Flying Corps 1 Sqd. |
David James Laverty . British Army 12th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles from Ballytober, Bushmills, Co Antrim, |
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