General Chat

Thank you, June, for this. My great-uncle Dick - Arthur George Harrison died 20 May 1918 in Ploegsteer, Belgium, at 30 years of age. (Arthur was known as Dick.) He enlisted at Camberwell, and was living at the time at Vauxhall. Private 62732 Arthur George Harrison was killed in action in World War 1. He was one of fifteen men from the Machine Gun Corp killed that day. His name is listed on 11,460 missing on The Memorial to the Missing of Ploegsteert. He was, however, formerly Private 6713 in the London Regiment. Commonwealth War Graves Commission: Remembered with honour PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL. In Memory of Private Arthur George Harrison, 5th Bn., Machine Gun Corps (Inf), who died aged 30 on Sunday 20th May 1918. Commemorated on Panel 11, on the Ploegsteert Memorial in Berks Cemetery Extension, 12.5 km south of Ypres town centre. The Memorial commemorates over 11,000 men who have no known grave. They fought in 1914 or 1918 on Belgian soil beside French troops, and died in France or Belgium when the frontier was of little interest in this area in which trench warfare lasted longest. The Memorial is a covered circular colonnade, 20 metres across and 11 metres high, enclosing an open space, and is entered by an opening between two stone lions. The names of the dead are carved on panels set in the walls of the colonnade. In the perpetual care of the Commonwealth War Graves.

If you wish to do something practical to keep their memories alive for future generations please visit the website: www(.)war-memorials(.)com - it is Friends of War Memorials - a serious and active charity whose members work hard at making sure war memorials throughout the UK are maintained, restored and saved from neglect and vandalism. It is an ongoing task that requires many eyes and ears on the ground in the form of Regional Volunteers. Ian

John Alex. Warren aged 18 d. 1.11.1914 HMS Good Hope Sidney Betenson aged 31 d.1.1.1915 HMS Formidable (John's brother-in-law). Henry Crebbin aged 60 3.8.1915 SS. Caroline and his son Henry James Crebbin MM aged 34 on 17.9.1918 France Wm David Spence aged 59 21.11.1940 - Thames Estuary and his brother Samuel Spence January 1941 - Irish Sea

They shall grow not old, As we that are left grow old, Age shall not weary them, Nor the years condemn At the going down of the sun, And in the morning WE WILL REMEMBER THEM When you go home today Tell them of us and say For your tomorrow We gave out today

Pte Ernest Bird aged 20 died 8th November 1918 my mothers brother. Henry Gannon Fireman/Trimmer my father Lawrence Gannon Fireman/Trimmer my uncle died 8th March 1943. Both had also served in the army in WW1. Remembering also their comrades aboard "Empire Lakeland" sunk with all hands. Kathleen

Frederick Church - My first cousin three times removed. "Church, Frederick James, 89 Putteridge Road. A/Seaman R.N H.M.S Isis. Died on war service from exposure at sea, 20th July 1944" A lot of my Church family served during the world wars, but Frederick was the only one who perished. My great great uncles, Tom and Horace both suffered from terrible wounds. Archer Goodge - My first cousin four times removed - died on 16 Nov 1914 aged 33. A distant cousin of mine - Private Sidney John Gorbold died on 31 Aug 1916, aged 18. He fought in the Machine Gun Corps (inf). None of my close family died in any of the world wars. Lucia

Ernest Llewelyn CREWE aged 33,died somewhere over France.RAF Reconnaissance June 1941. I have never got over your death. My lovely father . Rosemary

Mum has already included these but these are mine too... John William Burrows - First world War. My Great Uncle died age 21 Stanley Arthur Surgey - Second World War. My second cousin age 21 Arthur Gibson - Second World War. my second cousin Also: Lance Corporal Charles Harold Clewlow - 2nd World War, my husbands Grandfather age 32

Thanks Lorr!

Henry Fowle --died at sea on HMS Hood --age 18 Charles Fowle--died at sea on HMS Ibyss--age 19 twin brother's

Walter George Lodge - gt uncle - WW1

Edwin Prior, Ox and Bucks, my great uncle. Killed in WWII aged 29, buried at Reichswald forest. His death left a widow who was expecting their first child - subsequently stillborn. Commander William Nicholas RN, my grandfather. Killed at Devonport WWII aged 53. He came out of retirement to help the war effort. Louis Baggott, my G g grandfather. Killed WWII aged 90. He was stood outside his shop in Aldeburgh when retreating enemy aircraft emptied their bomb holds for a quick get away. Blew up Louis and his shop - the buildings either side were untouched. maggie

My late husbands great uncles who died in WW1 Private Edgar Mudd 1st/7th Battalion Duke of Wellington's(West Riding Regiment) Died at the Battle of the Somme on 3rd of July 1916 Age 21yrs old Thiepval Memorial. Private Archie Mudd 15th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment(Prince of Wale's Own. Died on the 28th June 1918 Age 29 Ploegstreert Memorial. My Step great Uncle Rae Medina Leading Aircraftsman Roal Air Force Volunteer Reserve His Plane was shot down taking V.I.P'S to a conference about trying to shorten the war. Died on the 18th of January 1943 TEHRAN WAR CEMETERY. My Step Father James Ian Medina Royal Air Force Medical Corp/Merchant Navy Died on 21st of October 1999. Also His Son/My Step Brither James Ian Medina Leading Air Craftsman Died 1990. And all the people who died in the bombings all over the British Isles. They Died to give us all our tomorrows. May they all Rest In Peace. Sue

ROBINSON, ALFRED Initials: A Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment: Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Unit Text: 5th Bn. Age: 19 Date of Death: 14/10/1944 Service No: 14680473 ..a cousin, i never knew........

Ernest Job Farnsworth 16 August 1916, aged 24 2nd Bn Suffolk Regiment.

THOMAS HAMBLETON GOODYEAR Seaman Died September 17th 1939 while serving aboard the HMS COURAGEOUS. Age 28. Thomas was my Grandfather. My mother was 17 months old at the time. My Grandmother was 8 months pregnant with my aunt. A Father they never knew, a Grandfather I never met. MICHAEL DEREK AIRD Private, The KINGS REGIMENT LIVERPOOL Died March 28 1942 on his 24th Birthday, during the "RAID on St. NAZAIRE" Missing in Action. They never found his body. Derek was my Grandmothers brother. She never did get over his death. Deb

In Flanders Fields By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields

My great-grandfather, Frederick William Barton. WW1. Born in Liverpool, he emigrated to Canada and joined the Canadian Expeditionary Forces in 1915. He was first stationed at Shorncliffe, Kent, where he met my great-grandmother. He was then transferred to France where he was killed in action on September 4th 1916 aged 23. My grandmother was born 2 months later and 3 days before my great-grandmother received the dreaded telegram. Also, my grandmother's first husband - Harris Baker, Canadian, who was mortally wounded on the 5th May 1945 in Belgium. My grandmother received her telegram on VE day. Cazza

ALBERT GERGE PERRY CIVILIAN, Died November 29 1940, age 46. Died at his home. My Nan told me that he went up from the air raid shelter to make a cup of tea. The house was bombed killing Albert. He was my Great Great Uncle.

My father's first cousins Jack and Charlie Brittain. Charles Brittain Private 43167 11th Btn Suffolk Regiment, cyclists 1894 - 1918. No Known grave commemorated on Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France and the War Memorial, St Margaret's Church, Lowestoft. John Edward Brittain 1896 - 1916 L.Corp. 43152 7th Bn Suffolk Regiment No Known grave commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France and the War Memorial, St Margaret's Church, Lowestoft. My father (94) remembers them coming to say Goodbye before they went to France. And my first cousin Megan Edmonds aged 18 killed in German bombing of Lowestoft January 19, 1942 while at her place of work. Gwynne