Nigel Marshall Posted 3 April , 2010 Share Posted 3 April , 2010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 3 April , 2010 Author Share Posted 3 April , 2010 Nigel, You are sharing my joy in discovering who these men are. I have only completed the initial identifications but the attestation papers start to tell us more. I know that you share my passion for reasearching the soldier and the man. Confirms why the items should be recovered. Would you be willing to help share the research task if I asked and gave you some of the names. I know we are all busy. Regards TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Marshall Posted 3 April , 2010 Share Posted 3 April , 2010 Absolutely! I'd be more than happy to help. Thanks for asking. Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
532SQN Posted 4 April , 2010 Share Posted 4 April , 2010 Hi: what great work you folks did on this reseach and to find the identification disc that is something else. Keep up the good work. Cheers Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Marshall Posted 4 April , 2010 Share Posted 4 April , 2010 There are two Canadian men called Francis buried in Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt. Note their home towns and common batalion. Relatives of each other? Cheers, Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Marshall Posted 4 April , 2010 Share Posted 4 April , 2010 There are five Canadian men named Smith who are now buried in either Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt, or Courcelette British Cemetery. 422397 Pte FW Smith, 8th Canadian Infantry, Courcelette British Cemetery. 113044 Pte GE Smith, 4th CMR, Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt 425336 Pte HL Smith, 31st Canadian Infantry Battalion, Courcelette British Cemetery 427525 Pte J Smith, 31st Canadian Infantry Battalion, Regina Trernch Cemetery, Grandcourt 443827, Pte NJ Smith, 54th Canadian Infantry Battalion, Corcelette British Cemetery. None is an absolute certain match, however there are two men who I am particularly interested in, and they are the two men from the 31st Battalion Canadian Infantry,CEF. One is buried in Regina Trench and the other at Courcelette. Neither man has an initial which fits TT's post of the fragmentary name tag though and this means a doubt remains. Also, there is a Pte. FW Smith who fits the first part of the tag but his regimental details are not right.This one will need a bit more studying. Cheers, Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
532SQN Posted 4 April , 2010 Share Posted 4 April , 2010 Hi:Kenora Ontario is very close to the Manitoba provincial border so they likely went there to join just a thought. Cheers Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Wade Posted 4 April , 2010 Share Posted 4 April , 2010 There are two Canadian men called Francis buried in Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt. Note their home towns and common batalion. Relatives of each other? Hmmm tricky this one... Falkirk and Stirling are 12 miles apart and these men were born 26 years apart before moving to Canada. John McKechnie Francis was born on 20th November 1871 in Stirling, Scotland He died aged about 45: John McKechnie Francis Rear of John's attestation paper Whereas David Francis was born on 1st March 1897 in Falkirk, Scotland. He died aged about 19: David Francis Rear of David's attestation paper Just musing about it. I'd say it was unlikely they were brothers. John isn't Davids father. Uncle? Pretty unlikely unless a few of the family emigrated together. I see that John did 13 years with the 1st Bat Royal Scots before his eventual enlistment in Canada. Maybe that's why he was accepted at his age as he certainly had plenty of Army experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 4 April , 2010 Author Share Posted 4 April , 2010 Hi all...youve hit the same problem I did. Possible error on the tag perhaps. Not so easy hey!! TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 5 April , 2010 Author Share Posted 5 April , 2010 OK here is the list of known casualties identified from either whole or partial but conclusive tags... Remembered with honour.....their name liveth for evermore! Australian. 1. 4307 Pte Charles Thomas TIPPER, 19 years, 11th Battalion Australian Inf. AIF, killed between 22/7/16 and 25/7/16. Son of William George and the late Martha Elizabeth Tipper. Native of Australia. 2. 244 Pte William Edward NEWSON, 24th Battalion Austrailian Inf. AIF, killed 29/7/16. Son of William and Ellen Newson, native of Mitchell Downs, Queensland. 3. Unknown Australian Soldier. 4. 25th Australian Infantry (unit details only) Canadian. 1. 449147 Pte Magloire LABELLE, 22 Canadian Inf. 21 years, killed 4/10/16. Son of Marie Labelle, 99 Lois Street, Wrightville, Liull, P.Q. Canada and the late Andre Labelle. Born Gracefield Q.C. 2. 478663 A/Cpl F. O. PURDY, Royal Canadian Regiment, killed 8/10/16. Husband of F.O. Purdy, Putnam, Connecticut, USA. 3. 486615 Pte George William COLLINS, 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles. 19years. Killed between 1/10/16 and 2/10/16. Son of George and Margaret Collins, Little Current, Manitoolin Island, Ontario. 4. 432836 Pte E. BEATTIE, 49th Canadian Inf. (Alberta Regiment). Killed 9/10/16. 5. 145209 Pte John BARCIER, 38th Canadian Inf.(Eastern Ontario Regiment). Killed 18/10/16. Son of Philip Barcier and Jozette Gains his wife. 6. 435550 (6?) Pte M.W.P. DENT, 49th Canadian Inf. (Alberta Regiment). 18 years. Killed 9/10/16. Son of Amon and Elizabeth Dent of Calgary, Alberta. Native of Hexham, England. 7. 410020 Pte Harry BEEDELL, 'A' Coy. 38th Canadian Inf. (Eastern Ontario Regiment). 37 years. Killed18/11/16. Son of William and Mary Beedell of Mountain Road, Hull, P.Q. Canada. Born England. 8. Lieutenant Clarke Hall POPHAM, 8th Canadian Inf. (Manitoba Regiment). 22 years. Killed 26/9/16. Son of Dr E.S. and Ella G. Popham, 555 River Avenue, Winnipeg. 9. 177111 Pte C.E. AUDLEY, 87th Canadian Inf. (Quebec Regiment). Killed 18/11/16. 10. 198504 Pte 198505 A.J. BLENNERHASSETT, 43rd Canadian Inf. (Manitoba Regiment). 21 years. Killed 8/10/16. Son of William L and Mrs C Blennerhassett, 119 North Brodie Street, Fort William, Ontario. 11. 444656 A/Sgt R.G. MUNCEY, Royal Canadian Regiment, killed 8/10/16. 12. 145547 Pte Lawrence MILLER, 87th Canadian Inf. (Quebec). 22 years. Killed 18/11/16. Son of Mr and Mrs Samuel Miller of Russell, Ontario. 13. 183989 Pte J Murtha, 31st Canadian Inf. (Alberta Regiment). Killed 27/9/16. 14. 455339 Pte P. CARRIERE, Royal Canadian Regiment. 19 years. Killed 8/10/16. Son of J Carriere of Cornwall, Ontario. 15. 602276 Pte J.W. BENNETT, 27th Canadian Inf. Killed between 1/10/16 and 2/10/16. Son of Mrs Mary Bennett of Silk Street, Glossop, England. Husband of Emily Bennett of 474 Devis Street, Sarnia, Ontario. 16. 186552 Pte W.B. DUNHAM, 16th Canadian Inf. (Manitoba Regiment). Killed between 25/9/16 and 28/9/16. 17. Captain Norman Grant Murray, 49th Canadian Inf. (Alberta Regiment). 38 years. Killed 8/10/16. Son of the late Reverend Robert and Elizabeth Murray. Husband of Gertude Louise Murray of 11 Mott Street, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. A Barrister and Solicitor of the Canadian Bar. Served in the South African Campaign. 18. 416627 Pte H. ST. PIERRE 22nd Canadian Inf. (Quibec Regiment) Killed 4/10/16. 19. 602309 Pte W. ROBERTSON, 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles. Killed between 1/10/16 and 2/10/16. 20. 415289 L/Cpl A. HORTON 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles. Killed between 1/10/16 and 2/10/16. All the Canadians rest in Regina Trench Cemetery and the two Australians in Courcelette British Cemetery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Marshall Posted 5 April , 2010 Share Posted 5 April , 2010 OK here is the list of known casualties identified from either whole or partial but conclusive tags... Remembered with honour.....their name liveth for evermore! We will remember them. Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Marshall Posted 5 April , 2010 Share Posted 5 April , 2010 The Service Record of Charles Thomas Tipper at the National Archives of Australia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
532SQN Posted 5 April , 2010 Share Posted 5 April , 2010 Wow these are great detailed records of Pte. Tipper I am impressed. May he rest in peace. Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Marshall Posted 5 April , 2010 Share Posted 5 April , 2010 The Service Record of William Edward Newson at the National Archives of Australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Marshall Posted 5 April , 2010 Share Posted 5 April , 2010 Pte Labelle's Attestation Papers; Front. And back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Marshall Posted 5 April , 2010 Share Posted 5 April , 2010 Pte Purdy's Attestation Papers: Front. And Back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Marshall Posted 5 April , 2010 Share Posted 5 April , 2010 Pte Collins' Attestation Papers: Front. And Back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Marshall Posted 5 April , 2010 Share Posted 5 April , 2010 Pte Beattie's Attestation Papers: Front. And Back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 5 April , 2010 Author Share Posted 5 April , 2010 Nigel, Thanks...makes the hairs stand up on the back of the neck when one sees the signature of the soldier and you know he wrote his name all those years ago and then one spring day in March 2010 he lives again! A secret from the mud surrendered. Regards TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 5 April , 2010 Author Share Posted 5 April , 2010 Seems there was some arguement as to who was entitled to William Newsons medals etc. Sad that the family appeared to have fallen out. TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Marshall Posted 5 April , 2010 Share Posted 5 April , 2010 Very sad, but unfortunately far from being a unique occurrance. I have a pair of medals which I am almost certain were part of an acrimonious will settlement in the 1930s. This one was reported on in The Times due to the family being a well known North-country set. Families eh? Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 10 April , 2010 Author Share Posted 10 April , 2010 Cleaned some more markers today and am stumpted...... S. Walker 6 / N N.....possibly S Walker from 6th Northants? Brunbray 5 / C R. MC'Lennan 49? And unusual number 6-9-1 6 Many more service numbers to go through. Regards and as ever any suggestions... TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 10 April , 2010 Author Share Posted 10 April , 2010 Some more memories from my trip... Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, High Wood and a shell with Maricourt, Faviere Wood and I think Germans Wood in the background.....enjoy. TT . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 10 April , 2010 Author Share Posted 10 April , 2010 One mystery solved I think thanks to image of Gilbert Talbots grave marker on another thread and posted by Nigel. Shows the original markers on the cross and one is simply date of death....hence 6-9-1 6 is 6th Sept 1916! TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 10 April , 2010 Author Share Posted 10 April , 2010 Here is the last image of artifacts..buckles, buttons belt support bottle stopper etc and some of the markers.... TT PS I am told the big brass buckle with three loops is from a Lewis Pannier / webbing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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