Ian N Megson Posted 5 January , 2016 Share Posted 5 January , 2016 Hello. A relative of mine, Private Percy Oldroyd Megson (21390) was killed by a shell on the 9th September 1916. He was in the 12th Labour Battalion, Duke of Wellingtons, West Riding Regiment and was based in a camp near Contour Wood, very close to where the Bronfay Farm Cemetery Is today. They had been working on railway lines, since they disembarked at Le Havre on the 2nd April 1916. Very close to him was a man called Pte W Lancaster (21371). He was killed by the same shell as reported in the Battalions war diary for that time. These were the only men that had been killed in the previous 3 months..... There army numbers were close, were they good friends ? Can anyone shed any light on W Lancaster please? regarding his age or where he came from. He could be from the Dewsbury?Batley area of West Yorks, but without knowing his age, I'm not sure. Thanking you in anticipation. Ian Megson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaySearching Posted 5 January , 2016 Share Posted 5 January , 2016 Walter Lancaster of 95 Park avenue Wibsey Bradford Born enlisted and resided Bradford father Sharp Lancaster insurance superintendent regards Ray Edit born 1891 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Langdon Posted 5 January , 2016 Share Posted 5 January , 2016 Ancestry has his (fire damaged) service papers. Attested on 29th November 1915 at Bradford, mobilised on 11th February 1916 and posted to the 12th on 15th March. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian N Megson Posted 5 January , 2016 Author Share Posted 5 January , 2016 Many thanks for that information, That is just what I need. Much appreciated, you guys deserve a medal just for the knowledge. ! Just as a little aside, I only recently discovered that Percy O Megson was almost totally deaf. I was wondering if this was why he was in a labour battalion as opposed to being a front line soldier ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 6 January , 2016 Share Posted 6 January , 2016 There is a good chance they joined up together and in the same draft - whether or not they liked each other we will probably never know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaySearching Posted 6 January , 2016 Share Posted 6 January , 2016 Hello. A relative of mine, Private Percy Oldroyd Megson (21390) was killed by a shell on the 9th September 1916. Both Percy O Megson and Walter Lancaster are listed on CWGC and SDGW as having been killed on the 6th September 1916 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian N Megson Posted 6 January , 2016 Author Share Posted 6 January , 2016 Yes, absolutely right, 6th September....dont know where I got the 9th from.....thank you for the correction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss002d6252 Posted 6 January , 2016 Share Posted 6 January , 2016 Percy received a £3 net war gratuity which tells us he served 12 months or less at the time of his death. This means (assuming no breaks in service) that he enlisted no earlier than October 1915. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian N Megson Posted 7 January , 2016 Author Share Posted 7 January , 2016 Thanks for that info too, yes, I checked and he signed up on the 12th December 1915, as far as I know, in Dewsbury..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle George Posted 7 January , 2016 Share Posted 7 January , 2016 'The Leveller', by Robert Graves [not one of his best]: Near Martinpuich that night of hell Two men were struck by the same shell, Together tumbling in one heap Senseless and limp like slaughtered sheep. One was a pale eighteen-year-old, Blue-eyed and thin and not too bold, Pressed for the war not ten years too soon, The shame and pity of his platoon. The other came from far-off lands With bristling chin and whiskered hands, He had known death and hell before In Mexico and Ecuador. Yet in his death this cut-throat wild Groaned 'Mother! Mother!' like a child, While the poor innocent in man's clothes Died cursing God with brutal oaths. Old Sergeant Smith, kindest of men, Wrote out two copies and then Of his accustomed funeral speech To cheer the womanfolk of each:- 'He died a hero's death: and we His comrades of 'A' Company Deeply regret his death: we shall All deeply miss so true a pal.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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