1st Bn Rifle Brigade

[kj.burton]

Hi to all

My grt grandfather rifleman Charles w smith 5/8706 served in the 1st bn Rifle Brigade from the 21/9/1914 till he died on 07/05/1915. Is it posible to fined out wear he might have been between these dates, any help or advice would be appreciated

Thankes Smyth

[sotonmate]

Smyth

He seems to have died in the UK as he is buried at Leytonstone St Peter's Roman Catholic Cemetery. He may have been repatriated due to wounds or sickness and taken in at the local Hospital (is it Whipp's Cross? that springs to mind as I used to drive home through that area).

For the day-to-day activity you need the Battalion War Diary which is at Kew Archives under WO95/1496 and runs from leaving England and arriving in Le Havre on 23.8.1914. If it is digital you can pay for it to be downloaded from the National Archives Catalogue.

The Bn. was part of 11 Brigade of 4 Division,whose actions are here in the LLT at top left of this page:

http://www.1914-1918.net/4div.htm

There may be someone here with details from the Diary so you can hope !

Sotonmate

[Trevorthomas]

My great uncle was in the 11th Machine Gun Company, also part of 11 Brigade of 4 Division.

I have made a transcript of the 11MGC war diaries from Dec 1915 to April 1917 with links to google maps showing the locations. The 1st Rifles would likely have been in the same places. You are welcome to a copy (MS Word). If you post your email address (suitably disguised) I will send you a copy of the stuff that I have.

A history of the somerset LI (Also with 11 Bde) is here http://www.archive.org/stream/somersettinf...jeuoft_djvu.txt

There is a PDF file as well (under the 'See other Formats' link top left) but takes forever to download (15kbs)

[Anthony Gorst]

Smyth

I don't know if you have a picture of the grave - if you haven't I live nearby, in fact i walkd past St Patrick's this morning, and would be happy to pop in over Xmas and take one for you

[kj.burton]

Hi Tony

Thank's for the offer a picture would be great. I plan to visit St Patrick's as i've just foundout his farther is in the same cemetery.

cheers Smyth

[kj.burton]

Tr3v

Thankes for the info ,will post email address

Smyth