97 years ago today 25/3/1919: Private Arnold Kay (Age 33) Haslingden (Holden Hall) Cemetery, United Kingdom. Son of Samuel and Mary Ann Kay, of Haslingden; husband of Margaret Ray, of 21, Prospect Hill, Haslingden.

96 years ago today 25/3/1920: Private Donald Ebenezer Pitchford (Age 23) 17th Bn. High Ercall (St. Michael) Churchyard, United Kingdom. Son of Mr. E. and Mrs. M. J. Pitchford, of High Ercall School, Wellington, Salop.

Meanwhile in World War 2:

1945: Private George Derbyshire (Age 25) 1st Bn. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany. Son of David Derbyshire, and of Florence Derbyshire, of Congleton, Cheshire.

Lieutenant Carl Gerwin (Age 32) 1st Bn. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany. Son of Frederick and Gertrude Marian Gerwin, of Birmingham; husband of Olive May Gerwin, of Ullenhall, Birmingham.

Lance Corporal George Miles (Age 25) 1st Bn. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany. Son of Alfred George and Annie Jane Miles, of Clapton, London.

Private David Frederick Ward (Age 26) 1st Bn. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany. Son of David and Florence Pamela Lily Ward, of Frodingham, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire.

VC Winner…

1918: William Herbert Anderson of Highland Light Infantry in WW1, Maricourt, France.

1918: Arthur Cross of Machine Gun Corps in WW1, Ervillers, France.

1918: Alfred Toye of Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment) in WW1, Eterpigny Ridge, France.

1918: Thomas Young of Durham Light Infantry in WW1, Bucquoy, France.

1945: Albert Chowne of 2/2nd Battalion, AIF in WW2, Dagua, New Guinea.

Happy birthday….

1840 – Myles Keogh (dies at Little Big Horn with Custer 1876)

1942 – Aretha Franklin