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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

37th Division



   The 37th Division was raised for the Sixth New Army in March 1915. It was originally known as 44th Division. A War Office decision to convert the Fourth New Army into training units and to replace 16th (Irish) Division in Second New Army led to it being promoted. It was renamed 37th Division and joined Second New Army. Divisional HQ was established at Andover on 12th of April 1915. In April 1915 the Division concentrated at Cholderton on Salisbury Plain and on 25 June the units were inspected by king George V at Sidbury Hill. On 22 July 1915 the Division began to cross the English Channel and by 2 August all units were concentrated near Tilques. The Division then remained on the Western Front for the remainder of the war and took part in the following engagements:

1916

  • The Battle of the Ancre

1917

  • The First Battle of the Scarpe, including the capture of Monchy-le-Preux
  • The Second Battle of the Scarpe
  • The Battle of Arleux
  • The Battle of Pilkem Ridge
  • The Battle of the Menin Road Ridge
  • The Battle of Polygon Wood
  • The Battle of Broodseinde
  • The Battle of Poelcapelle
  • The First Battle of Passchendaele

1918

  • The Battle of the Ancre
  • The Battle of the Albert
  • The Battle of Havrincourt
  • The Battle of the Canal du Nord
  • The Battle of Cambrai
  • The pursuit to the Selle
  • The Battle of the Selle
  • The Battle of the Sambre
At the Armistice on 11th of November 1918 the Division was in the area of Le Quesnoy. After moving back to the Bethencourt - Caudry area, it moved on 1st December 1918 to Charleroi. Demobilisation began on Boxing Day and by 25 March 1919 the Division ceased to exist.

The Great War cost 37th Division 29969 men killed, wounded or missing.

Order of Battle of 37th Division

110th Brigade

110th Brigade (Leicester Tigers Brigade) transferred to 21st Division on 7 July 1916

  • 6th Btn, Leicestershire Regiment
  • 7th Btn, Leicestershire Regiment
  • 8th Btn, Leicestershire Regiment
  • 9th Btn, Leicestershire Regiment
  • 110th Machine Gun Company joined 4 March 1916, moved to 37th Bn MGC February 1918
  • 110th Trench Mortar Battery formed on 13 June 1916 from two sections that arrived in March

111th Brigade

111th brigade was attached to 34th Division between 6 July and 22 August 1916

  • 10th Btn, Royal Fusiliers
  • 13th Btn, Royal Fusiliers moved to 112th Brigade 4 February 1918
  • 13th Btn, King's Royal Rifle Corps
  • 13th Btn, Rifle Brigade
  • 111th Machine Gun Company joined 4 March 1916, moved to 37th Bn MGC 4 March 1918
  • 111th Trench Mortar Battery formed 2 July 1916 from two sections that joined in May

112th Brigade

112th Brigade was attached to 34th Division between 6 July and 22 August 1916

  • 11th Btn, Royal Warwickshire Regiment disbanded 7 February 1918
  • 6th Btn, Bedfordshire Regiment left 21 May 1918
  • 8th Btn, East Lancashire Regiment disbanded 4 February 1918
  • 10th Btn, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment disbanded 4 February 1918
  • 112th Machine Gun Company joined 4 March 1916, moved to 37th Bn MGC 4 March 1918
  • 112th Trench Mortar Battery formed 1 July 1916 from two sections that joined in May and June
  • 13th Btn, Royal Fusiliers joined from 111th Brigade 4 February 1918
  • 1st Btn, Essex Regiment joined 4 February 1918
  • 1/1st Btn, Hertfordshire Regiment joined 11 May 1918

63rd Brigade

63rd brigade joined from 21st Division in exchange for 110th Brigade on 8 July 1916

  • 8th Btn, Lincolsnhire Regiment
  • 8th Btn, Somerset Light Infantry
  • 4th Btn, Middlesex Regiment
  • 10th Btn, York & Lancaster Regiment disbanded 4 February 1918
  • 63rd Machine Gun Company moved to 37th Bn MGC 4 March 1918
  • 63rd Trench Mortar Battery

Divisional Troops

  • 9th Bn,Btn, North Staffordshire Regiment Divisional Pioneer Battalion (attached to 34th Division in 1916)
  • 16th Motor Machine Gun Battery joined 26 July 1915, left 9 May 1916
  • 247th Machine Gun Company joined 19 July 1917, moved to 37th Btn MGC 4 March 1918
  • 37th Battalion MGC formed 4 March 1918

Divisional Mounted Troops

  • RHQ and B Sqn, Yorkshire Dragoons left May 1916
  • 37th Divisional Cyclist Company, Army Cyclist Corps left 12 May 1916

Divisional Artillery

  • CXXIII Brigade, RFA transferred to 37th Division April 1915
  • CXXIV Brigade, RFA transferred to 37th Division April 1915
  • CXXV Brigade, RFA broken up 31st August 1916
  • CXVI (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA broken up January 1917
  • 37 Heavy Battery RGA raised with the Division but was broken up early 1915
  • 37th Divisional Ammunition Column RFA
  • V.37 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery, RFA formed 25 May 1916; left 6 February 1918
  • X.37, Y.37 and Z.37 Medium Mortar Batteries, RFA formed May 1916; on 6 February 1918, Z broken up and batteries reorganised to have 6 x 6-inch weapons each

Royal Engineers

  • 152nd Field Company
  • 153rd Field Company
  • 154th Field Company
  • 37th Divisional Signals Company raised as 40th Divisional Signals Company, joined 17 June 1915

Royal Army Medical Corps

  • 48th Field Ambulance joined from 16th (Irish) Division in June 1915
  • 49th Field Ambulance joined from 16th (Irish) Division in June 1915
  • 50th Field Ambulance joined from 16th (Irish) Division in June 1915
  • 37th Sanitary Section left 20 April 1917

Other Divisional Troops

  • 37th Divisional Train ASC 288, 289, 290 and 291 Companies.
  • 28th Mobile Veterinary Section AVC
  • 234th Divisional Employment Company joined 16 June 1917
  • 35th Divisional Motor Ambulance Workshop absorbed into Divisional Supply Column 6 April 1916


22nd July 1915 Advance Party

28th July 1915 On the Move

28th July 1915 On the Move

29th July 1915 On the Move

29th Jul 1915 On the Move

29th July 1915 On the Move

30th Jul 1915 On the Move

31st Jul 1915 On the Move

1st Aug 1915 In Billets

1st Aug 1915 On the Move

3rd Aug 1915 Move

3rd Aug 1915 In Billets

4th Aug 1915 On the March

4th Aug 1915 On the March  location map

4th Aug 1915 On the Move

5th Aug 1915 Musketry

5th Aug 1915 On the Move

8th Aug 1915 Working Parties  location map

8th Aug 1915 Training

9th of Aug 1915 Working Parties

9th Aug 1915 Working Parties and Musketry

10th Aug 1915 Training

12th Aug 1915 Working Party  location map

15th Aug 1915 Inspection  location map

16th Aug 1915 On the March  location map

17th Aug 1915 Reorganisation

22nd Aug 1915 Reinforcements  location map

23rd Aug 1915 Orders Received

14th of December 1915 Trench Mortar Batteries

29th Dec 1915 Quiet

8th of January 1916 Moves  location map

15th of January 1916 Divisional Transfers

1st Jul 1916 Trench Raid  location map

1st July 1916 Smoke  location map

2nd Jul 1916 Orders Received

2nd July 1916 Reliefs

3rd Jul 1916 Reliefs

3rd July 1916 Shelling  location map

4th Jul 1916 Orders

4th July 1916 Reliefs

5th Jul 1916 On the Move

5th July 1916 Orders

6th Jul 1916 Orders Received  location map

6th July 1916 Moves

7th Jul 1916 Attack Made  location map

7th July 1916 Moves

8th Jul 1916 Line Advanced  location map

8th July 1916 Moves

9th Jul 1916 In Reserve

9th July 1916 Orders

10th Jul 1916 Attack Made

10th July 1916 On the March

11th Jul 1916 At Rest

11th July 1916 Reliefs

12th Jul 1916 Reliefs  location map

12th July 1916 Quiet

13th Jul 1916 In Support  location map

14th Jul 1916 In Support  location map

15th Jul 1916 Heavy Shelling  location map

16th Jul 1916 Reliefs  location map

17th Jul 1916 Heavy Shelling  location map

18th Jul 1916 Heavy Shelling  location map

19th Jul 1916 Reliefs

20th Jul 1916 On the March  location map

22nd Jul 1916 Reorganisation

23rd Jul 1916 Funeral

29th Jul 1916 At Rest

30th Jul 1916 On the March  location map

31st Jul 1916 Orders Received  location map

1st Sep 1916 Orders  location map

2nd Sep 1916 On the March  location map

3rd Sep 1916 Billets

4th Sep 1916 Inspections

5th Sep 1916 Inspections

9th Sep 1916 On the March

12th Sep 1916 Course

13th Sep 1916 Orders

15th Sep 1916 Artillery Moves

16th Sep 1916 Orders Received

17th Sep 1916 Reliefs  location map

18th Sep 1916 Moves

16th of December 1916 Enemy Very Quiet  location map

23rd of December 1916 Artillery Relief  location map

28th of December 1916 Artillery Continue Shelling  location map

31st of January 1917 Two Patrols Dispersed  location map

1st February 1917 Reliefs  location map

2nd February 1917 Reliefs

9th April 1917 37th Divison move up at Arras  13th Battalion, Rifle Brigade with 37th Division were in reserve initially at the launch of the Battle of Arras. After initial success the 37th moved up through the lines to continue the attack. This was the area of the Brown Line and having reached here, the 37th Division was brought up through the other Divisions in order to carry the attack into Monchy. This was supposed to have happened on the evening of 9 April, but a sudden turn in the weather made advancing much more difficult. It was so cold that men would freeze to death during the night. That evening the 37th continued the attack in the face of snow past Feuchy Chapel reaching an area known as Orange Hill to the south-east of Monchy

10th April 1917 Attack Made  It was only on the night of 10 April that the 37th Division including 13th Battalion, Rifle Brigade and its six supporting tanks were in a position to consider mounting an attack on Monchy. The attack was delivered with the 11th Brigade on the left facing Monchy and the 112th on their right advancing towards La Bergère crossroads (where you will see the Windmill CWGC Cemetery and turn left towards Monchy). Standing up on this hill by the monument you get an immediate understanding as to why the village was so important and why the Germans had spent such a long time fortifying it (The Newfoundland Caribou is erected on top of a German bunker). The attack got off to a bad start. At 0500 hours on a freezing cold morning the infantry and tanks set off across the snow, but the artillery was late in getting into position and when they did eventually open their bombardment they began by shelling the advancing troops who had not been warned of any postponement. Amongst the numerous casualties of this friendly fire was one of the tanks. By 0900 hours though, Monchy was in British hands. The Germans launched a number of counter-attacks but these were driven off. The village remained in Allied hands until it was abandoned during the German Spring offensive of 1918. Monchy was finally retaken again by the Canadians on 26th of August 1918 over three days and at remarkably little cost in terms of casualties, General Allenby's 3rd Army had made remarkable gains.

10th Apr 1917 Attack Made

10th April 1917 The situation is roughly as follows :-  location map

10th April 1917 Message from 46th Brigade as follows :-  location map

11th Apr 1917 Village Taken

11th Apr 1917 Servere Fighting

11th Apr 1917 Attack Made

12th Apr 1917 Reliefs

6th May 1917 In Action

14th May 1917 New Position

30th of June 1917 Another Move

1st Jul 1917 Shelling  location map

1st Jul 1917 At Rest

2nd Jul 1917 Outposts  location map

2nd Jul 1917 Posting

3rd Jul 1917 Patrols  location map

3rd Jul 1917 On the March

4th Jul 1917 Quiet  location map

5th Jul 1917 Patrols  location map

6th Jul 1917 Outposts  location map

7th Jul 1917 Reliefs  location map

8th Jul 1917 Reliefs  location map

9th Jul 1917 Working Parties  location map

10th Jul 1917 Working Parties  location map

11th Jul 1917 In Billets  location map

12th Jul 1917 In Billets  location map

13th Jul 1917 Training  location map

14th Jul 1917 In Billets  location map

15th Jul 1917 Church Parade  location map

16th Jul 1917 Baths  location map

17th Jul 1917 Training

18th Jul 1917 Musketry  location map

19th Jul 1917 Working Parties  location map

20th Jul 1917 Working Parties  location map

21st Jul 1917 Working Parties  location map

22nd Jul 1917 Working Parties  location map

23rd Jul 1917 Working Parties  location map

24th Jul 1917 Working Parties  location map

25th Jul 1917 Poor Weather  location map

26th Jul 1917 Reliefs  location map

27th Jul 1917 Aircraft Active  location map

29th Jul 1917 Reliefs  location map

30th Jul 1917 Orders  location map

31st Jul 1917 In Reserve  location map

7th of August 1917 Relieved  location map

19th August 1918 Instructions No.2  location map

2nd Sep 1917 Relief  location map

7th Sep 1917 Relief Complete  location map

11th Sep 1917 Reliefs  location map

14th Sep 1917 Reliefs  location map

18th Sep 1917 Patrols

19th Sep 1917 Training  location map

22nd Sep 1917 Reliefs

27th of September 1917  Relief Complete  location map

27th Sep 1917 Orders  location map

1st of October 1917 Orders to Attack  location map

1st Oct 1917 Artillery Active

2nd Oct 1917 Poor Conditions  location map

3rd Oct 1917 Recce  location map

4th of October 1917 Attack Launched  location map

4th Oct 1917 Attack Made  location map

5th Oct 1917 Difficult Relief  location map

6th Oct 1917 Wet Ground  location map

7th Oct 1917 Inspections  location map

8th Oct 1917 Reliefs  location map

9th Oct 1917 Poor Conditions  location map

10th Oct 1917 Working Parties  location map

11th Oct 1917 Working Parties  location map

12th Oct 1917 Reliefs  location map

13th Oct 1917 Poor Weather  location map

14th Oct 1917 Inspections  location map

15th Oct 1917 Reliefs  location map

16th Oct 1917 Training  location map

21st Oct 1917 Church Parade  location map

22nd Oct 1917 Reliefs  location map

26th Oct 1917 Working Parties  location map

28th Oct 1917 Working Parties  location map

28th Oct 1917 Working Parties  location map

29th Oct 1917 Reliefs  location map

30th Oct 1917 Inspections

31st Oct 1917 Training

9th of November 1917 Relieved  location map

24th Dec 1917 Reorganisation

21st Jan 1918 Course

5th Feb 1918 Course Ends

13th Feb 1918 Personnel

21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation

4th Mar 1918 Reorganisation

13th Mar 1918 Football

26th Mar 1918 Orders  location map

27th Mar 1918 Reliefs  location map

27th Mar 1918 Reliefs

28th Mar 1918 At Rest

29th Mar 1918 On the Move

30th Mar 1918 On the March

1st Apr 1918 Reliefs  location map

2nd Apr 1918 Trench Work  location map

3rd Apr 1918 Poor Conditions

4th Apr 1918 Harassing Fire

5th Apr 1918 Attack Made

6th Apr 1918 Enemy Massing

17th Apr 1918 Reliefs

18th Apr 1918 On the Move

19th Apr 1918 Poor Weather

20th Apr 1918 Training

21st Apr 1918 Inspection

11th Aug 1918 Orders  location map

19th of August 1918 Advanced Brigades to Move  location map

21st August 1918 Attack Made

21st of August 1918  Division Advances  location map

22nd of August 1918 A New Objective  location map

23rd of August 1918  Division Attacks  location map

27th Aug 1915 Instruction

28th August 1918 Report on Operations with 4th Corps.  location map

28th Aug 1915 Instruction

29th Aug 1915 Instruction

30th Aug 1915 Shelling

1st Sep 1915 Patrol

2nd of September 1918 Strongly Defended

2nd Sep 1915 Reliefs

3rd of September 1918  Enemy Withdraws  location map

3rd Sep 1915 Snipers Active

4th Sep 1918 Advance  location map

4th of September 1918 Divisional Relief

15th of September 1918 EAs Active  location map

17th of September 1918 Back Areas Bombed  location map

25th of September 1918  Advance Resumed  location map

30th of September 1918  Divisional Relief  location map

1st of October 1918  Division Relieved

8th of October 1918 New Area  location map

9th of October 1918  On the Move   location map

10th of October 1918 On the Move  location map

12th October 1918 Operation Order No.58.  location map

12th of October 1918 New Divisional Area

13th of October 1918  Attack Repulsed  location map

20th of October 1918   location map

22nd of October 1918 Advance to Resume  location map

23rd of October 1918 Heavy Bombardment

2nd of November 1918   Warning of Advance  location map

4th of November 1918 Attack Continued   location map

11th of November 1918 Armistice and a Report  location map

4th of December 1918 Orders Issued  location map

31st December 1918 Chapter 6. The Final Battles.

If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.



Want to know more about 37th Division?


There are:231 items tagged 37th 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

37th Division

during the Great War 1914-1918.

  • Duke Oriel St.Arnaud. Sgt. 10th Btn.
  • Hillier Thomas Harvey James. Pte. 8th Btn.
  • Ingram Percy St John. Rfmn. 13th Btn. (d.24th Apr 1917)
  • Kear Osman William Henry. Dvr. 295th Brigade, D Battery
  • Laugher Frank. Pte. 11th Btn. (d.17th Sep 1917)
  • Milton William Robert. Sgt. 13th Btn. (d.24th Oct 1918)
  • Radley Edward Kingsford. Cpl. 8th Btn. A Coy. (d.31st Jul 1917)
  • Richardson James Andrew. L/Cpl. 247th Company
  • Symonds Frederick Charles. Cpl. 8th Btn. (d.8th Oct 1918)
  • Walker Vernon Lee. 2nd Lt. 8th Btn. (d.29th May 1917)
  • Williams Frank Lawson. Gnr. 223rd Bde. (d.24th March 1918)

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


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1206595

Cpl. Edward Kingsford Radley 8th Btn. A Coy. Somerset Light Infantry (d.31st Jul 1917)

Edward Kingsford Radley

Edward Radley enlisted on 8th September 1915. Ed was in 'A' company of the 8th Battalion of the Somerset Light infantry engaged in 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). He was killed in action on 31st July 1917 and his body was never found. His name is engraved on Panel 21 of Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium.

The 8th Battalion of Somerset Light Infantry was under the command of the 63rd Brigade which joined the 37th Division on 8th July 1916 (thought to be part of 2nd Army). The Somersets fought with the 8th Btn. of Lincolnshire and 4th Btn. of Middlesex Regiments in the 63rd Brigade at the Battle for Pilckem Ridge which commenced at 0350 on 31st July 1917. This was the 1st of 6 phases of the 3rd Battle of Ypres. In the terrible conditions of heavy enemy fire and thick Flanders mud Ed never survived the first day.

CWGC certificate

John Morriss




1206569

Sgt. Oriel St.Arnaud "Konks" Duke MM and bar 10th Btn. Royal Fusiliers

Oriel St.Arnaud Duke was the second son of Mansergh Pace and Emily Duke. He was known by the family as "Konks". He was born on 22 June 1896 in Montserrat, British West Indies, the second eldest of ten children. The Colonial Directory records that Oriel entered government service in May 1913 when he was still 16 years old in the administration of St.Kitts-Nevis. He may have been inspired to join up by his elder brother Valentine who had joined the navy in 1911. His other brothers were too young to join up. Oriel volunteered (although he was exempt from conscription being domiciled in the Dominions). He enlisted in the British West India Regiment and was a Lance Corporal in 10th Battalion Royal Fusiliers when he was awarded the M.M. & bar. He ended the war as a sergeant. About 16,000 enlisted from the West Indies.

The 10th Battalion’s War Diary gives us some insight to the occasion on which the Military Medal was awarded. On 28th October 1917 the Diary reads: “The Corps Commander awarded the Military Medal to the under mentioned:- B Coy No STK 1857 L/Cpl. O.St.Arnaud Duke ....for courage and devotion to duty Septr. 27th to Octr. 6th 1917, East of Ypres.” This was the Third Battle of Ypres. The 10th Battalion had relieved the 13th Royal Sussex at 2.15am on 27th September. Two days later the Germans attacked the 13th Royal Fusiliers on their right flank near the Menin Road and they were hit by that barrage too. On 1st October the enemy advanced but were repulsed. By the 2nd October the battalion was relieved. This respite was short lived and they were soon back in the thick of it, though not on the front line. “Our barrage opened at Zero, and the enemy immediately put down a light barrage on our support line, and on support position on front line. This gradually intensified and became the heaviest we experienced in the sector. Men were continually being buried but prompt action saved many casualties.”

This action appears to have taken place at Polygon Wood, adjacent to the Menin Road. The Battalion suffered 11 casualties – not many compared to earlier engagements: 67 in July 1916 at Longueval during the Battle of Bazentin; 72 in April 1917 during the 1st Battle of the Scarpe; or 61 during the 2nd Battle of the Scarpe. Or during later engagements: 21 on 25th August 1918; 21 on 14th September or the 39 lost at Cambrai on 8th October 1918 .Oriel was demobilised in February 1919 and he departed London for Trinidad & Tobago on 27th March 1919 on board SS Quillota giving his occupation as clerk aged 22. He was accompanied by his brother Mansergh Valentine Duke Lt RN aged 24. Alas, they were not to see their father again as he had died that February.

Oriel returned to the West Indies on demobilisation in 1919. It is not known whether he entered the police service in the Leeward Islands straight away but was established in the service in the early 1920s. The MBE was presented by the Administration of Dominica 1st January 1932 for quelling a riot. By this time Oriel was Inspector of Police, Dominica, Leeward Islands. In 1935, Oriel was awarded the King George V Jubilee medal and indeed he attended the celebrations in London. He was also awarded the King George VI Coronation medal in 1936. Oriel was posted to Barbados in 1939 as Inspector of Police and Commandant of local forces during WWII. In April 1976 he made his final visit to England where he had arranged a hip operation. There he was able to hold his great-great niece before he went to hospital where he sadly died.

See the Full story.





258949

Pte. Thomas Harvey James Hillier 8th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry

My grandfather, Thomas Hillier, joined the Somerset Light Infantry on 1st of December 1915 aged 31. He was severely wounded in the mouth, chest, and back on 17th of May 1918. He was transferred from 48th Field Ambulance to 42nd Ambulance Train on 21 May 1918. He was discharged from the Army on 15th of October 1918. He spent 17 weeks as an inmate of the Pensions Hospital. He was an invalid after his discharge and unable to work. My father, his son, Edward Hillier was born in February 1922. Unfortunately, Thomas died on 24th January 1924 aged 39 at the Royal United Hospital, Bath after complications brought on by the injuries received in WW1.

Patricia Wraight




256189

Dvr. Osman William Henry Kear MiD. 295th Brigade, D Battery Royal Field Artillery

Will Kear was my grandfather. Born in 1897, he joined the Territorial Force on the outbreak of WWI. He served with 124th Brigade RFA, supporting 37th Infantry Division and later D Battery, 295th Brigade RFA, part of 59th Division.

This is his diary entry for 11th of November 1918, "Got up at 6 and groomed and had breakfast. Clean parade and stables at 10am. Five minutes past we all fell in and the wireless telegram was read out. The war is napoo, peace proclaimed! Too excited to write. Some experience with all the bells ringing. The boys are going mad. A remarkable thing, the war finished at 11 am on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Waiting for mail as we have not had any this last three days. It will be up this afternoon. So, it won't be long before we are off to Blighty! Started a green letter to my Darling Girl. Finish it after the mail is come in. Got paid 10Frs. No mail up. I have finished the letter and off to kip."

He was demobilised in 1919, but rejoined the Territorial Army in 1933, this time the Sappers. He served until 1941, having been evacuated from the beaches at Dunkirk. By then he was a sergeant having been Mentioned in Despatches for distinguished Service on operations during the period March- June 1940.

I F Watts




221039

Cpl. Frederick Charles Symonds 8th Btn. Lincolnshire Regiment (d.8th Oct 1918)

Frederick Symonds served with the 8th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment during WW1 and was killed in action on the 8th October 1918, aged 23. He is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial in France, son of Sam Thomas Symonds and Kezia Symonds, of 5, Pretoria Cottages, Ditton Walk, Cambridge.

S Flynn




221037

Sgt. William Robert Milton 13th Btn. Royal Fusiliers (d.24th Oct 1918)

4633 Sgt. William Robert Milton served with the 13th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers during WW1 and was killed in action on the 24th October 1918, aged 31. He is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial in France, son of Robert and Mary Milton, of 34 Devon Rd., Tottenham, London.

S Flynn




221001

Pte. Frank Laugher 11th Btn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment (d.17th Sep 1917)

Frank, seated

Frank Laugher, son of Samuel Laugher and Mary Jane (Fisher) born 30th November 1895, in Bromsgrove. Brother to Thomas Henry, Leonard Alfred, Albert Victor, Alice, Lillie, Christopher,Daisy Elizabeth, Walter Norman and Daisy Evelyn. As a boy Frank was a member of the All Saint's Church Choir. Frank had worked at the Home and Colonial Stores and at Neale's Stores, Bromsgrove. He was working at Austin's before enlistment.

Frank Laugher enlisted as a Private in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment on 3rd December 1915 at Bromsgrove when he was placed on the army reserve. On his attestation paper he gave his address as All Saints Road, Bromsgrove and his age as 20 years 0 months. He was 5 feet 7 and three quarter inches tall. Frank was mobilised on 6th May 1916 and posted overseas on 30th August 1916. Over the next the next two months he had several periods of illness concluding with influenza for which he was admitted to hospital on 4th November 1916. He was discharged from hospital on 2nd December 1916. On 17th April 1917 he joined the 11th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in readiness for the Battle of Arras. He was reported missing on 29th April 1917 whilst taking part in the fighting. On 30th April 1917 Frank was reported as a prisoner of war in Limburg,Germany having been captured uninjured at Arras on 28th April 1917. He died of sickness as a prisoner of war at Kriegs Gef Lazarett at Douain on 17th September 1917. Frank's possessions and his British War Medal and Victory Medal were sent to Samuel Laugher, All Saints Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.

Judith Laugher




220725

Rfmn. Percy St John Ingram 13th Btn. Rifle Brigade (d.24th Apr 1917)

Percy Ingram served with the 13th Battalion, Rifle Brigade during WW1 and died, age 20, on the 24th April 1917. He is remembered on the Arras Memorial, in France. He was the son of Mrs. Ellen Ingram, of 8, Conway Terrace, Peterborough Road, Southampton and my Grandmother's brother.

Peter Humby




216157

Gnr. Frank Lawson Williams 223rd Bde. Royal Field Artillery (d.24th March 1918)

Frank Lawson Williams, Gunner 771267, enlisted at South Shields and served in B Battery, 223rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. He died on the 24th March 1918 and is remembered at Jarrow Library, he is buried in Norfolk Cemetery, Becotel-Bercourt.

Frank was born in Jarrow 1888, son of Handle and Mary Williams of Jarrow. In the 1911 census Frank(23) single, clerk in Accounts Dept. of borough council and his sister Elvira Lawson Williams(21)single, lady tracer at engineering works are living with their grandmother Frances Jane Lawson(66) at 17 Edith Street, Jarrow. Frank is married to Jane Williams nee Swalwell of 120 Northumberland Street, Wallsend.

Vin Mullen




213890

2nd Lt. Vernon Lee Walker 8th Btn. East Lancashire Regiment (d.29th May 1917)

Vernon Walker was born in Cottesloe Western Australia had and been taken back to Penn Fields, Wolverhampton for his Christening by his Grandmother and family. It was decided that he should enlist in the U.K. rather than Australia. His family had a brass plate inscribed and installed in St Philip PennFields 'In memory of Vernon Lee Walker, Second Lieutenant 8th East Lancashires, of Cottesloe Western Australia, who fell near Arras France in 1917, aged 21 Years.

Primrose K. Allen








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