LCpl Lee Cope Posted 17 December , 2023 Share Posted 17 December , 2023 (edited) Hello, I'm continuing to research my WW1 ancestors and would very much like to track down any, if not all, the medals that belonged to them. I've listed all the ancestors that I've found thus far and would really appreciate hearing from anybody who has an interest in medals and may have encountered any of the following names. Thank you and have a very Merry Christmas. 1st Tier Ancestors. 2GGF - Pte Francis Eyre *Passchendaele Soldier, SE6807, Farm labourer & Carter. 1st Division, 2nd Mobile Veterinary Section Army Veterinary Corps GGF - Sgt Ernest William Cope/Watson/(H) Orton *Gommecourt Soldier, 266166 & 3756 (bur) York Road Cemetery, Church Gresley, South Derbyshire. GGF - Sgt George Edgar Proudlove *Egypt Soldier, 2179 & 300009 & 538950 - C Coy Staffordshire Light Yeomanry GGF - Sgt Harold Brooks *Italy Soldier, 74771, 13th Btn Durham Light Infantry. 34559, 8th Btn Yorkshire Regiment and 40269 Royal Munster Fusiliers (bur) Stapenhill Cemetery, Burton Upon Trent, Staffordshire. GGF - Sgt William Henry Burrell *Malta Soldier, 10919, 3938, RE Sapper & RAF Kite Balloon Section 2nd Tier Ancestors. 2GGU - Pte Horace Watson *Passchendaele Soldier. 18691, 6th Bttn, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 2GGU - Pte Albert Brooks 198811, 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 4th Division, 46th Overseas Btn, Canadian Expaditionary Force (bur) Villers Station Cemetery, France. GGU – Cpl William Eyre 99543, HQ Coy, Driver, 117 (CXVII) Howitzer & 11 (XI) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery GGA - Edith Maria Burrell 3749 Queen Mary´s Army Auxiliary Corps GGU - LCpl John Herbert Eyre 15535 Leicester Regiment GGU - LCpl Joseph Burrell 141932, Royal Engineers - Third Army wireless repair (clockmaker by trade) GGU - LCpl Joseph Eaton *Killed at Epehy Woods 1947, 240331 Leicestershire Regiment (bur) Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery, France. GGU - Pte Frank (Francis) Eyre 36692, 4736480, York & Lancaster Rgt GGU - Pte George Goodman *Cambrai Soldier. 70416, 2nd Battalion Notts & Derbyshire Regiment. Killed at the Battle of Cambrai (bur) Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, France. GGU - Pte George Spencer Dawes 45026, (Master Butcher & transferred from the Royal Navy to the RAF) GGU - Pte Harold Eyre *Cambrai Soldier. D32868 & 12270, Corps of Dragoons & The 2nd Btn Notts & Derby Regiment - shot, gassed & died from TB (bur) York Road Cemetery, Church Gresley, South Derbyshire. GGU - Pte Harold Jordan Proudlove 13692, 30801 - 5th Battalion Dorsetshire and 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiments GGU - Pte Harry Stocking 1900 & 511883 15th Notts and Derby (Sherwood Foresters) and Labour Corps Regiment GGU - Pte Horace Brooks 70208 2nd Battalion Notts & Derbyshire Regiment (Sherwood Forresters) Gassed and discharged GGU - Pte James Burrell 104281 & 7009, 17th Battn Royal Irish Rifles & Royal inniskilling Fusiliers GGU – Pte Joseph Brooks *Passchendaele Soldier 22269 8th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment. Part of the 56th and 57th Brigade, in the 19th (Western) Division (rem) Soissons Memorial, Department de l'Aisne, Picardie, France. GGU - Pte Leonard Brooks 623191 & 46620 South Staffordshire and Labour Corps GGU - Rmn Joseph Henry Goodman *Gommecourt Soldier. 4180, 241261, North Staffordshire Regiment GGU - Rmn Walter Brooks *Passchendaele Soldier. S32223, 7th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, part of the 41st Brigade, 14th Division (rem) Tyne Cot Memorial, France. GGU - Sgt William Frederick Dawes S4035677, Royal Army Service Corps GGU - St/1c K.9753 Edward James Fairchild Royal Navy - Stoker - First Class (rem) Portsmouth Naval Memorial, England. GGU - Gdsm Joseph Henry Goodman, 5561, 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards GGU - Pte John Eyre M808665, 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 4th Division, 50th (overseas) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force 3rd Tier Ancestors. 1C3XR - CQMS Horace Fairchild 2579, Australian Imperial Force 2C3XR - Sgt Frederick Harold Dawes 204551 3rd Btn York's and Lancashire Regiment 1C3XR - Sgt Leonard Charles Dawes 77121 Royal Engineers 1C3XR - Pte John William Eaton 1997, 240352, The Service Corps 1C3XR - Pte Harry Hull Watson 12233 York and Lancaster Regiment 2C2XR - Pte George William Goodman 2776 and 50658 Staffordshire Yeomanry, Queens Own Royal Regiment, Corps of Hussars 1C3XR - Pte Ernest William Hull Watson 44534 York and Lancaster Regiment Cemereries that I plan to visit in 2024: Dover to Dunkirk first and then on to the following battlefield cemeteries. About 189 miles. (car = 4hrs 34min on Google maps) or (bicycle attempt = 50 miles per day over 4x days). Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery, France. Villers Station Cemetery, France. Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, France. Soissons Memorial, Department de l'Aisne, Picardie, France. Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. Edited 27 January by LCpl Lee Cope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCpl Lee Cope Posted 3 January Author Share Posted 3 January (edited) Whilst I'm searching for my ancestors medals, I'm fully aware that a lot of these medals will be lost to time. However, I still hold onto some hope because my GGU - Rmn Walter Brooks S32223, who was killed during the Battle for Passchendaele. Well, his medal turned up in a scrap yard, 40yrs after the battle and was returned to myself after 100yrs of being kept safe. Therefore, I'll never give hope of finding more. Although, whilst I'm looking, I've begun tailoring some medals, including my own, in order to remember all my ancestors who've faught and died during history; including the Battle of Waterloo, the 2nd Boer War, WW1, WW2 and modern warfare ie. Iraq and Afghanistan. I've also purchased a 1917 shell which has the following markings: MA1 ST G95 1917 HL25 (not sure what they mean, apart from the year: 1917) although I'm sure somebody here will know. Which leads me onto my question... I'd like to craft a handle for the 1917 shell, which I'll be making into a drinking tankard with all my ancestors names engraved upon it. In order to craft such a handle, I'd like to purchase some wood from the area of Passchendeale. I'm not too sure which type of tree is prevelant in that area. OAk would be great, but I guess it would be pine. Any way, does anybody on this forum live or know anybody who lives in that area and could assist me in purchasing a small block of wood from the area of Passchendeale? Any assistance would be very much appreciated and obviously, if this is even possible, I'll be paying for the wood, postage and packaging etc. Edited 3 January by LCpl Lee Cope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peregrinvs Posted 3 January Share Posted 3 January That’s a German 7.7cm cartridge case for the FK.96 field gun made in May 1917. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted 3 January Share Posted 3 January regarding your quest for the named medals. have you tried visiting a militaria fair, some names Eyre seem familiar. I keep a mental list of the ones Im looking for, a few dealers do have good labels, others have lists but many have still to realise collectors dont want to keep asking whats the name, whats on the rim etc. That said, I notice on Facebook market place , some sellers just have a picture but no details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCpl Lee Cope Posted 3 January Author Share Posted 3 January 3 minutes ago, peregrinvs said: That’s a German 7.7cm cartridge case for the FK.96 field gun made in May 1917. Wow! That was FAST! Brilliant! So, I have some spoils of war! Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peregrinvs Posted 3 January Share Posted 3 January 2 hours ago, LCpl Lee Cope said: Wow! That was FAST! Brilliant! So, I have some spoils of war! Thank you. Also: HL25 = Inspector 25. Hauptlaboratorium, Ingolstadt. G = Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik of Geislingen. St = ‘Stark’ - Strengthened. 95 = batch number. Back to medals - I would recommend joining the British Medal Forum as they have a seeking family medals section: https://britishmedalforum.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCpl Lee Cope Posted 3 January Author Share Posted 3 January 1 hour ago, peregrinvs said: Also: HL25 = Inspector 25. Hauptlaboratorium, Ingolstadt. G = Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik of Geislingen. St = ‘Stark’ - Strengthened. 95 = batch number. Back to medals - I would recommend joining the British Medal Forum as they have a seeking family medals section: https://britishmedalforum.com Thank you for that insight into what I have. I've followed the link, opened a profile and fingers tightly crossed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCpl Lee Cope Posted 26 January Author Share Posted 26 January Hello, I'm practically done. Here's my 1917 German artillery shell that I've had all my direct WW1 & WW2 ancestors name's engraved upon. It's been officially christened and will be passed down to my descendents. I hope that you like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Coy 2 Royal Irish Rifles Posted 27 January Share Posted 27 January @LCpl Lee Cope Hi Lee - that is a very nice piece of "trench art" you have there, a nice commemorative piece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KGB Posted 27 January Share Posted 27 January On 17/12/2023 at 18:20, LCpl Lee Cope said: Hello, I'm continuing to research my WW1 ancestors and would very much like to track down any, if not all, the medals that belonged to them. I've listed all the ancestors that I've found thus far and would really appreciate hearing from anybody who has an interest in medals and may have encountered any of the following names. Thank you and have a very Merry Christmas. 1st Tier Ancestors. 2GGF - Pte Francis Eyre *Passchendaele Soldier, SE6807, Farm labourer & Carter. 1st Division, 2nd Mobile Veterinary Section Army Veterinary Corps GGF - Sgt Ernest William Cope/Watson/(H) Orton *Gommecourt Soldier, 266166 & 3756 (bur) York Road Cemetery, Church Gresley, South Derbyshire. GGF - Sgt George Edgar Proudlove *Egypt Soldier, 2179 & 300009 & 538950 - C Coy Staffordshire Light Yeomanry GGF - Sgt Harold Brooks *Italy Soldier, 74771, 13th Btn Durham Light Infantry. 34559, 8th Btn Yorkshire Regiment and 40269 Royal Munster Fusiliers (bur) Stapenhill Cemetery, Burton Upon Trent, Staffordshire. GGF - Sgt William Henry Burrell *Malta Soldier, 10919, 3938, RE Sapper & RAF Kite Balloon Section 2nd Tier Ancestors. 2GGU - Pte Horace Watson *Passchendaele Soldier. 18691, 6th Bttn, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 2GGU - Pte Albert Brooks 198811, 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 4th Division, 46th Overseas Btn, Canadian Expaditionary Force (bur) Villers Station Cemetery, France. GGU – Cpl William Eyre 99543, HQ Coy, Driver, 117 (CXVII) Howitzer & 11 (XI) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery GGA - Edith Maria Burrell 3749 Queen Mary´s Army Auxiliary Corps GGU - LCpl John Herbert Eyre 15535 Leicester Regiment GGU - LCpl Joseph Burrell 141932, Royal Engineers - Third Army wireless repair (clockmaker by trade) GGU - LCpl Joseph Eaton *Killed at Epehy Woods 1947, 240331 Leicestershire Regiment (bur) Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery, France. GGU - Pte Frank (Francis) Eyre 36692, 4736480, York & Lancaster Rgt GGU - Pte George Goodman *Cambrai Soldier. 70416, 2nd Battalion Notts & Derbyshire Regiment. Killed at the Battle of Cambrai (bur) Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, France. GGU - Pte George Spencer Dawes 45026, (Master Butcher & transferred from the Royal Navy to the RAF) GGU - Pte Harold Eyre *Cambrai Soldier. D32868 & 12270, Corps of Dragoons & The 2nd Btn Notts & Derby Regiment - shot, gassed & died from TB (bur) York Road Cemetery, Church Gresley, South Derbyshire. GGU - Pte Harold Jordan Proudlove 13692, 30801 - 5th Battalion Dorsetshire and 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiments GGU - Pte Harry Stocking 1900 & 511883 15th Notts and Derby (Sherwood Foresters) and Labour Corps Regiment GGU - Pte Horace Brooks 70208 2nd Battalion Notts & Derbyshire Regiment (Sherwood Forresters) Gassed and discharged GGU - Pte James Burrell 104281 & 7009, 17th Battn Royal Irish Rifles & Royal inniskilling Fusiliers GGU – Pte Joseph Brooks *Passchendaele Soldier 22269 8th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment. Part of the 56th and 57th Brigade, in the 19th (Western) Division (rem) Soissons Memorial, Department de l'Aisne, Picardie, France. GGU - Pte Leonard Brooks 623191 & 46620 South Staffordshire and Labour Corps GGU - Rmn Joseph Henry Goodman *Gommecourt Soldier. 4180, 241261, North Staffordshire Regiment GGU - Rmn Walter Brooks *Passchendaele Soldier. S32223, 7th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, part of the 41st Brigade, 14th Division (rem) Tyne Cot Memorial, France. GGU - Sgt William Frederick Dawes S4035677, Royal Army Service Corps GGU - St/1c K.9753 Edward James Fairchild Royal Navy - Stoker - First Class (rem) Portsmouth Naval Memorial, England. GGU - Gdsm Joseph Henry Goodman, 5561, 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards GGU - Pte John Eyre M808665, 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 4th Division, 50th (overseas) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force 3rd Tier Ancestors. 1C3XR - CQMS Horace Fairchild 2579, Australian Imperial Force 2C3XR - Sgt Frederick Harold Dawes 204551 3rd Btn York's and Lancashire Regiment 1C3XR - Sgt Leonard Charles Dawes 77121 Royal Engineers 1C3XR - Pte John William Eaton 1997, 240352, The Service Corps 1C3XR - Pte Harry Hull Watson 12233 York and Lancaster Regiment 2C2XR - Pte George William Goodman 2776 and 50658 Staffordshire Yeomanry, Queens Own Royal Regiment, Corps of Hussars 1C3XR - Pte Ernest William Hull Watson 44534 York and Lancaster Regiment Cemereries that I plan to visit in 2024: Dover to Dunkirk first and then on to the following battlefield cemeteries. About 189 miles. (car = 4hrs 34min on Google maps) or (bicycle attempt = 50 miles per day over 4x days). Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery, France. Villers Station Cemetery, France. Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, France. Soissons Memorial, Department de l'Aisne, Picardie, France. Tyne Cot Memorial, France. Tyne Cot is in Belgium, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCpl Lee Cope Posted 27 January Author Share Posted 27 January 43 minutes ago, KGB said: Tyne Cot is in Belgium, Thank you. Slight typo, of course it is. 😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mancpal Posted 27 January Share Posted 27 January A great result. Where did you get the wood from in the end? It looks to my untrained eye to be similar to a bayonet handle though I’m often wildly wrong! Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCpl Lee Cope Posted 29 January Author Share Posted 29 January On 27/01/2024 at 19:55, mancpal said: A great result. Where did you get the wood from in the end? It looks to my untrained eye to be similar to a bayonet handle though I’m often wildly wrong! Simon Thank you, I opted for a Lee-Enfield rifle bayonet handle. It fitted perfectly and feels very comfortable to hold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mancpal Posted 29 January Share Posted 29 January A very nice job Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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