101 years ago today 18/5/1915: Lance Corporal Arthur David Hughes (Age 21) 5th Bn. Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France. Son of Edward and Emily Hughes, of 27, Gladstone Avenue, Chester.

100 years ago today 18/5/1916: Corporal Jack Florance (Age 29) 8th Bn. Amara War Cemetery, Iraq. Son of Jack and L. Florance; husband of Mrs. F. E. A. Sullivan (formerly Florance), of “Clonmore,” Short St., Cooks Avenue, Canterbury, Sydney, Australia.

Private G Chesters (Age 19) 11th Bn. Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Son of Alfred and Mary Chesters, of Red Hill Cottages, Tarporley, Cheshire.

Private Richard Davies 10th Bn. Loos Memorial, France. 

Serjeant W Lowther 15th Bn. Pont-Du-Hem Military Cemetery, La Gorgue, France.            

Meanwhile in World War 2:

1940: Private Thomas Woodburn Johnson (Age 20) 4th Bn. Isieres Communal Cemetery, Belgium. Son of Thomas and Annie Johnson, of Wallasey, Cheshire.

Private Percy Alexander McCormick (Age 21) 4th Bn. Isieres Communal Cemetery, Belgium. Son of George Alexander McCormick and Frederica Louise McCormick, of Wallasey, Cheshire; husband of Margaret Elaine McCormick, of Wallasey.

VC Winner…

1901: Gustavus Coulson of King’s Own Scottish Borderers in 2nd Boer War, Lambrechtfontein, South Africa.

1915: John Smyth of 15th Ludhiana Sikhs in WW1, Richebourg L’Aouve, France.

1941: Alfred Sephton of HMS Coventry in WW2, Crete, Mediterranean Sea.

Also…

1302 – massacre of French troops by Flemish militia in Bruges (lovely spot Bruges)

1944 – Monte Cassino

1944 – deportation of Crimean Tatars (hence ‘1944’ winning Eurovision Song Contest)

happy birthday…

1920 – Pope John Paul II

1970 – Tina Fey