101 years ago today 24/5/1915: Second Lieutenant Thomas Roberts (Age 22) 2nd Bn. Bedford House Cemetery, Belgium. Son of Mr. J. W. and Mrs. C. M. Roberts, of Woodbine Cottage, Swansea Rd., Llanelly.

Private Shadrack Critchley (Age 35) 3rd Bn. Brookwood (United Kingdom 1914-1918) Memorial, United Kingdom.               

Serjeant T Watkin (Age 29) 2nd Bn. Cologne Southern Cemetery, Germany. Son of Mrs. M. A. Watkin, of 18, Clive St., Taunton Rd., Ashton-Under-Lyne.

Private AWH West 2nd Bn. Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery, Belgium.   

Private W Dyson 2nd Bn. White House Cemetery, St. Jean-Les-Ypres, Belgium.    

 

Commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

Captain Charles Raymond Andrews (Age 25) 2nd Bn. Son of Mrs. A. G. Andrews, of 6, Ennismore Gardens, Dover, and the late Lt. Col. R. C. Andrews (Indian Army).

Private Richard Boon.

Second Lieutenant John Edward Gresson 3rd Bn.              

Regimental Serjeant Major Alfred Ernest Hayward (Age 25) 2nd Bn. Son of Mrs. Merrill Jackson, of 62, Humphries St., Emscote, Warwick.

Private William Hyde.

Second Lieutenant Hugh Hathorn Nicholson 2nd Bn.       

Private James Randall (Age 47) 2nd Bn. Husband of Mary Ellen Randall, of 20, John St., Stockport.

Corporal Arthur Samuel Roberts (Age 25) 2nd Bn. Son of Arthur Samuel and Mary Annie Roberts, of 21, Cromwell St., Hyde Rd., West Gorton, Manchester.

Private Frederick Taylor 2nd Bn.

Second Lieutenant Walter Henry Mountiford Westropp-Dawson (Age 22) 2nd Bn. Son of Frank and L. C. Westropp-Dawson, of “Frondeg,” Holyhead.

Private William Brown Wood 2nd Bn.

 

100 years ago today 24/5/1916: Private W Knight (Age 20) 10th Bn. Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Knight, of Church Cottages, Overton, Frodsham, Warrington.

Lance Corporal James Pemberton (Age 20) “B” Coy. 10th Bn. Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Son of Arthur and Sarah Pemberton, of 12, Nelson St., Congleton, Cheshire.

Private W Turner 10th Bn. Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France.     

Lance Corporal RT Riley (Age 21) “D” Coy. 11th Bn. Ecoivres Military Cemetery, Mont-St. Eloi, France. Son of Philip and Mary Riley, of 73, Hawthorn Grove, Seacombe, Wallasey, Cheshire.

Lance Corporal Charles Ernest Farr (Age 20) 1st Bn. Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France. Son of William and Louisa Farr, of Binbrook, Lincoln. Born at Farnsfield, Notts.

 

Meanwhile in World War 2:

1940: Private John Patrick O’Connor (Age 19) 2nd Bn. Hondschoote Communal Cemetery, France.

1946: Private Joseph Sprague (Age 34) Widnes Cemetery, United Kingdom.

1947: Private Harold Bishop (Age 43) Bacup (Fairwell) Cemetery, United Kingdom.

 

VC Winner…

1943: Gaje Ghale of 5th Gurkha Rifles in WW2, Chin Hills, Burma.

1944: John Mahony of Westminster Regiment in WW2, River Melfa, Italy.

1941: Malcolm Wanklyn of HMS Upholder in WW2, Sicily, Mediterranean Sea.

1969: Keith Payne of Australian Army Training Team Vietnam in Vietnam War, Ben Het, Vietnam.

 

Also…

1941 – Bismarck sinks HMS Hood (only three survivors)

 

happy birthday…

1819- Queen Victoria

1916 – Roden Cutler VC (I once worked as a volunteer at a Sydney museum and handled his uniform (he wasn’t in it at the time!))

1966 – Eric Cantona