1/19 London Regiment battlefield tour

[mike adams]

My grandfather, private Frederick Perkins 968 and 613421, was in France with the 1/19 Londons from 10 March 1915 until the end of the war. I intend to visit the battlefields this autumn, with some friends and would be grateful for any advice on:

1. A particularly important battlefield which we could visit, in which the 1/19 Londons played a significant role. I can then do further research before going.

2. We would travel by car but would like either to hire a guide or go on a relevant tour. We intend to be there 2 or 3 days.

Any help would be appreciated, Mike.

[Michelle Young]

Mike

Charles Fair is your man on this one, as you cannot send private messages yet I will alert him to your post.

Regards, Michelle

[mike adams]

Thank you Michelle.

I have been thinking of visiting the area of the battle of High Wood. Do members have any advice?

Thanks, Mike

[Charles Fair]

Mike, Sorry for not having got back sooner on this one. I have been off forum the last few weeks. (Michelle, thanks for the email)

Perkins was one of the lucky handful who went all the way through. The October 1918 Absent Voters List for St Pancras gives his address as 19, Clifton Villas, St Pancras. His rank in the AVL was given as Dvr i.e Driver which implies he was at that time in the Transport Section. I have that he died on 14/02/1923. He was a pre-war member of the battalion, and would have enlisted towards the end of 1909 or early in 1910.

Yes, the 19th London Old Comrades is still going strong and I am the historian/battlefield guide. We are taking a coach out to the W Front 12-14 September, and will be present at the wreath laying at High Wood on 13 September. You would be most welcome to join us - most of us are descendents of the WW1 veterans.

The most important battelfields to cover are Loos, Vimy Ridge (trench fighting spring 1916), Somme (High Wood/Eaucort L'Abbaye), Messines, Cambrai (Bourlon Wood), the 1918 March Retreat (from Welsh Ridge back to Sailly Sailliseul) and then the advances of the 100 Days. Given 3 nights one could cover much of this in one hit, but it would be narrowly focused on the actions of the 1/19th.

Charles (my email is charles . fair @ ntlworld . com - please take out the spaces.)

[mike adams]

Thank you for that Charles, I will read up on that.

Mike