96 years ago today 24/2/1920: Private Herbert Willis (Age 26) Bacup (Fairwell) Cemetery, United Kingdom. Son of John and Harriet Willis, of 172, Lancaster Rd., Morecambe. Born at Rawtenstall.

95 years ago today 24/2/1921: Serjeant Arthur Wainwright (Age 39) Depot Bn. (formerly 1st Bn.) Longdendale (Mottram-In-Longdendale) Cemetery, United Kingdom. Husband of Mary Jane Wainwright, of 60, Lower Market St., Broadbottom, Manchester.

Meanwhile in World War 2:

1943: Corporal Richard Ayres (Age 28) 2nd Bn. Ancona War Cemetery, Italy. Son of Richard and Annie Ayres; husband of Rosella Ayres.

Private W Christie (Age 29) 30th Bn. Bathgate (Boghead) Cemetery, United Kingdom. Son of William and Mary Ellen Christie; husband of Margaret Christie, of Blackridge.

1944: Corporal John Allen (Age 33) 6th Bn. Anzio War Cemetery, Italy.

Private William Henry Thompson (Age 24) 6th Bn. Beach Head War Cemetery, Anzio, Italy. Son of Albert and E. Thompson, of Saltney, Chester.

1945: Lieutenant John Wynne Rowlands (Age 25) Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany. Son of William John and Ethel Wynne Rowlands, of Barry, Glamorgan.

VC Winner…

1901: John Clements of Rimington’s Guides in 2nd Boer War, Strijdenburg, South Africa.

1900: James Firth of Duke of Wellington’s Regiment in 2nd Boer War,Arundel near Colesberg, South Africa.

1900: Edgar Inkson of Royal Army Medical Corps in 2nd Boer War, Colenso, South Africa.

Also…

1920 – NAZI Party formed

happy birthday…

1885 – Chester Nimitz

97 years ago today 23/2/1919: Private David Tudor (Age 35) 51st Bn. Cardiff (Cathays) Cemetery, United Kingdom. Son of William and Mary Tudor, of 42, Heathfield Rd., Gabalfa, Cardiff.

Lance Corporal CP Price 23rd Bn. Hereford Cemetery, United Kingdom.

Private Albert Victor Wainwright (Age 26) 1st/5th Bn. Runcorn Cemetery, United Kingdom. Son of Samuel and Mary Anne Wainwright, of 10, Back Robert St., Runcorn.

Meanwhile in World War 2:

1942: Private Albert Dawson 2nd Bn. Alamein Memorial, Egypt. Son of Thomas and Sarah Dawson; husband of Frances Mabel Dawson, of Waterloo, Liverpool.

VC Winner…

1858: James Innes of Bengal Sappers and Miners in Indian Mutiny, Sultanpore, India.

1900: Albert Curtis of East Surrey Regiment in 2nd Boer War, Onderbank Spruit, South Africa.

1917: George Wheeler of 9th Gurkha Rifles in WW1, Shumran, Mesopotamia.

1945: Edwin Swales of No. 582 Squadron RAF in WW2, Pforzheim, Germany.

1967: Peter Badcoe of Australian Army Training Team Vietnam in Vietnam War, Huong Tra, Vietnam.

Also…

1945 – flag riased on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima

happy birthday…

1915 – Paul Tibbets pilot of Enola Gay

101 years ago today 22/2/1915: Private CA McKay 1st Bn. Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Private A Rigby 1st Bn. Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Serjeant Arthur Whittle (Age 36) 1st Bn.                Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery, Belgium. Husband of Alice Jane Whittle, of 43, Henry Whalley St., Mill Hill, Blackburn.

100 years ago today 22/2/1916: Second Lieutenant R Shaw 9th Bn. Pont-Du-Hem Military Cemetery, La Gorgue, France.

Meanwhile in World War 2:

1940: Private William John Howes (Age 55) 8th (H.D.) Bn. Deane (St. Mary) Churchyard, United Kingdom. Husband of Margaret Ellen Howes, of Bolton.

1947: Private BB Griffiths (Age 22) 1st Bn. Hanover War Cemetery, Germany. Son of Isaac James Griffiths and Minnie Mary Griffiths, of Brynmawr, Brecknockshire.

Private Alfred Ray (Age 33) Liverpool (Allerton) Cemetery, United Kingdom. Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Ray; Husband of Doris Ray, of Dingle, Liverpool.

VC Winner…

1881: James Osborne of Northamptonshire Regiment in First Boer War, Wesselstroom, South Africa.

1917: Thomas Steele of Seaforth Highlanders in WW1, Sanna-i-Yat, Mesopotamia.

happy birthday…

1732 – George Washington

1857 – Robert Baden Powell (“be prepared”)

1926 – Kenneth Williams

1928 – Bruce Forsyth

1962 – Steve Irwin (“crocadile hunter”)

1968 – Jeri Ryan (“7 of 9”)

101 years ago today 21/2/1915: Private R Hamlett 1st Bn. Dranouter Churchyard, Belgium.

Private A Quinn (Age 24) 2nd Bn. Poperinghe Old Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Private Thomas Edward Brittain (Age 35) “C” Coy. 1st Bn. Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery, Belgium. Son of Emma Brittain, of 23, Albert St., Crewe.

Private L Chapman 1st Bn. Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery, Belgium. Son of Mrs. M. Chapman, of 4, Marland St., Dukinfield.

Private  T Flannery 1st Bn. Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Private J McMahon 1st Bn. Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery, Belgium. Son of Mrs. Mcmahon, of 3, Weaver St., Chester.

Lance Serjeant Harry Ray Vickers (Age 27) “D” Coy. 2nd Bn. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. Son of Mrs. Jane Vickers, of Grange Cottages, Wybunbury, Nantwich, Cheshire.

Serjeant Charles Spencer Wycherley (Age 37) 2nd Bn. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. Son of the late Andrew and Elizabeth Wycherley; husband of Lillie Wycherley, of Gamford Cottages, Rossett, Wrexham. Served in the South African Campaign.

100 years ago today 21/2/1916: Private Albert Edward Gaskell (Age 29) 2nd Bn. Birkenhead (Flaybrick Hill) Cemetery, United Kingdom. Son of James Henry and Sarah Gaskell, of 51, Baslow St., Beswick, Manchester.

Corporal John Charles Hulme (Age 32) Depot, Glossop (Or Whitfield) (St. James) Churchyard, United Kingdom. Husband of Elizabeth Hulme, of 32, Edward St., Glossop.

Private J Dickinson 9th Bn. Merville Communal Cemetery, France.

Private Thomas Littler (Age 30) 9th Bn. Merville Communal Cemetery, France. Son of Thomas and Katherine Littler, of Chester; husband of Eliza Ann Titman (formerly Littler), of 4, Davies Buildings, King St., Chester.

Also…

1848 – Communist Manifesto published (Marx and Engles)

1916 – Battle of Vurdun starts

1965 – Malcom X assassinated

happy birthday…

1910 – Douglas Bader

101 years ago today 19/2/1915: Private Peter McGowan 2nd Bn. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

Private Stanley Rule 1st Bn. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

100 years ago today 19/2/1916: Private John Holmes (Age 19) 1st/9th Bn. Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, France. Son of John Holmes, of 6, Hunt St., Brinksway, Stockport.

Private S Allen 9th Bn. Pont-Du-Hem Military Cemetery, La Gorgue, France.

Meanwhile in World War 2:

1944: Private Angus Kennedy (Age 31) 6th Bn. Anzio War Cemetery, Italy. Son of Angus and Mary Jane Kennedy, of Rothesay, Buteshire.

Lance Corporal Harold Trevor Marshall (Age 25) 6th Bn.  Anzio War Cemetery, Italy. Son of George and Esther Pauline Marshall; husband of Doris Marshall, of Stockport, Cheshire.

1945: Private William Guy Mann (Age 39) Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany.Son of William Edward and Fanny Eunice Mann; husband of Evelyn Mann, of Shepherd’S Bush, London.

Also…

1915 – first naval attack starts at Dardanelles

1942 – Darwin, NT bombed by Japanese

1943 – Kesserine Pass, Tunisia

1945 – US Marines land on Iwo Jima

happy birthday…

1924 – Lee Marvin

1940 – Smokey Robinson

1955 – Jeff Daniels

101 years ago today 18/2/1915: Private Oliver Armstrong (Age 25) 2nd Bn. Cement House Cemetery, Belgium. Son of Elizabeth Kettle (formerly Armstrong) of Warrington.

Lieutenant Norman Alexander Newson (Age 23) 3rd Bn. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. Son of Arthur Bell Newson, late of Danehurst, Bognor, Sussex.

2nd Bn. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium

Lance Corporal George Atkinson (Age 26). Son of Mrs. Fanny and William Hodgkinson (Stepfather), of 1, Britannia Cottages, Gainsborough.

Private John Banks.

Private Albert Barnes.

Private Edward Percy Gibson (Age 22). Son of Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Gibson, of 23, Greaves St., Liverpool.

Private Walter Morissey Jones (Age 24) “E” Coy.               Eldest son of Walter James and Ellen Jones, of The Carnarvon Castle Hotel, Watergate St., Chester.

Private Frank William Morgan (Age 21). Son of William Morgan, of Shocklach, Malpas, Cheshire, and the late Fanny Morgan.

Private Frederick Powell (Age 27). Son of Mrs. Myra Powell, of 26, Pitt St., Ashton-Under-Lyne, Lancs.

Private James Thomas Sharkey.

100 years ago today 18/2/1916: Corporal W Plant 9th Bn. Pont-Du-Hem Military Cemetery, La Gorgue, France.

Meanwhile in World War 2:

1942: Private Alex Hawksley (Age 22) 1st Bn. Pembroke Military Cemetery, Malta. Son of Mr and Mrs J. H. Hawksley, of Hyson Green, Nottingham.

VC Winner…

1900: Alfred Atkinson of Yorkshire Regiment in 2nd Boer War, Battle of Paardeberg, South Africa.

1900: Francis Parsons of Essex Regiment in 2nd Boer War, Battle of Paardeberg, South Africa.

Meeanee Day

101 years ago today 17/2/1915: Private Frank Rowbottom (Age 21) 2nd/6th Bn. Charlesworth Independent Chapelyard, United Kingdom. Son of Oswald and Sophia Rowbottom, of Glossop. In South-West Part.

Private J Parker (Age 22) 6th Bn.               Hyde (Gee Cross) Chapelyard, United Kingdom. Husband of Gertrude Parker, of 55, Brook St., Hyde.

Private Joshua Mather (Age 34) 1st Bn. Ramparts Cemetery, Lille Gate, Belgium. Son of Samuel and Betty Mather, of Stalybridge.

Second Lieutenant George Keating 2nd Bn. Spoilbank Cemetery, Belgium. Son of the late John Keating, and of Anne Keating, of Wrexham; husband of Frances Mary Keating, of 8, Southwood Court, Hampstead Garden Suburb, Golders Green, London.

Lieutenant J Keating 2nd Bn. Spoilbank Cemetery, Belgium.

2st Bn. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium:

Private Samuel Barlow.

Private William Bridgwood.

Private George Cousins (Age 28). Son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Cousins, of 115A, Church St., Deptford, London.

Private Harold Hackney (Age 25). Son of James and Harriet A. Hackney, of 332, Hempshaw Lane, Stockport.

Private Fred Jepson.

Private Thomas Rushton Lees (Age 38). Husband of Mary Emma Lees, of 45, Hamilton St., Stalybridge, Cheshire.

Serjeant William Mullineux.

Private Henry Percival (Age 34). Brother of Arthur Percival, of 143, Dingle Lane, Winsford, Cheshire.

Private Frederick Herbert Schwer (Age 31). Son of Mrs. Eliza Schwer, of 12, Tyrconnell St., Inchicore. Dublin.

Private Bertie Sears.

Private Thomas Weaver (Age 28). Son of Thomas and Marguerite Weaver, of Barton Wells, Malpas, Cheshire.

Private Charles Antony White.

Private John Wood (Age 29). Husband of Annie E. Maher (formerly Wood), of 70, Eldon St., Birkenhead.

1st Bn. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium:

Private Henry Williams (Age 38) Husband of Jane Williams, of 1, Hallam St., Heaviley, Stockport.

Private Francis Edward Holloway.

100 years ago today 17/2/1916: Lance Corporal G Parker (Age 30) 14th Bn. Astbury (St. Mary) Churchyard, United Kingdom. Brother of Mr. H. Parker, of 5, Duke St., Congleton, Cheshire.

Private WM Williams (Age 33) 11th Bn. Wallasey (Rake Lane) Cemetery, United Kingdom. Son of William and Hanna Williams, of Amlwch; husband of Margaret Williams.

Meanwhile in World War 2:

1945: Private Henry Barnes (Age 40) Brighton (Downs) Crematorium, United Kingdom. Son of Jonas and Bessie Barnes, husband of May Barnes, of Brighton.

1946: Corporal Edward Openshaw (Age 33) Wallasey (Rake Lane) Cemetery, United Kingdom. Son of Harry and Alice Openshaw, Of Wallasey; husband of Margaret Openshaw.

VC Winner…

1917: Gordon Campbell of HMS Farnborough in WW1, Atlantic Ocean.

101 years ago today 15/2/1915: Private J Reading (Age 18) “C” Coy. 2nd Bn. Netley Military Cemetery, United Kingdom. Son of Ernest and Mary Reading, of 22, Sandringham Rd., Forest Gate, Essex.

Meanwhile in World War 2:

1942: Private Francis W. Byers (Age 22) 1st Bn. Pembroke Military Cemetery, Malta. Son of William and Emily Byers, of Distington, Cumberland.

Private Frank Wilson (Age 29) 1st Bn. Pembroke Military Cemetery, Malta. Son of John J. Wilson and Mary E. Wilson, of Edgeley, Stockport, Cheshire.

1944: Private Herbert Gross (Age 19) 6th Bn. Caserta War Cemetery, Italy. Son of Mendel Gross, and Of Bessie Gross, of Willesden, London.

Private Norman Richardson (Age 24) 7th Bn. Minturno War Cemetery, Italy. Son of William Henry and Harriet Richardson; husband of Winifred Emmeline Richardson, of Tonbridge, Kent.

Lance Corporal Harry Wynne (Age 26) 7th Bn. Minturno War Cemetery, Italy. Son of Harry and Mary Wynne, of Macclesfield, Cheshire; husband of Annie Wynne, of Macclesfield.

1946: Private Thomas Garner Bamber, Bebington Cemetery, United Kingdom. Son of John Fredrick and Mary Jane Bamber, of Higher Tranmere, Birkenhead.

Also…

1942 – fall of Singapore

happy birthday….

1934 – Graham Kennedy (great on “The odd angry shot”)

100 years ago today 14/2/1916: Private T Horan 3rd Bn.  Birkenhead (Flaybrick Hill) Cemetery, United Kingdom.

Meanwhile in World War 2:

1946: Warrant Officer Class I John Stewart Steele (Age 41) 7th Bn. Wallasey (Rake Lane) Cemetery, United Kingdom. Son of John Stewart Steele and Mary Ann Steele; Stepson of Mary Florence Steele, of Seacombe, Wallasey.

VC Winner…

1855: William Lendrim of Corps of Royal Engineers in Crimea, SevaVstopol, Crimea.

1916: Eric McNair of Royal Sussex Regiment in WW1, Hooge, Belgium.

1942: Thomas Wilkinson of HMS Li Wo in WW2, Java Sea, Malaya.

Also…

Valentines day……..

1779 – James Cook killed in Hawaii

1929 – St Valentines Day massacre in Chicago

happy birthday….

1913 – Jimmy Hoffa

101 years ago today 13/2/1915: Private HG Kitchen 1st Bn. Dranouter Churchyard, Belgium.

100 years ago today 13/2/1916: Private Herbert Mason (Age 24) “D” Coy. 11th Bn. Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France. Son of Joseph and Maria Mason, of Western House, Sheffield Rd., Glossop, Derbyshire.

Private J Woodward 1st/6th Bn. Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, France.

Meanwhile in World War 2:

1946: Serjeant Arthur Barugh Wolviston (St. Peter) Churchyard, United Kingdom. Husband of M. Barugh, of Marley, Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham.

Also…

1542 – Catherine Howard (5th wife of Henry VIII….but of course, you new that)

1945 – Dresdne raid (my view? it was a viable target, Russians asked for the raid)