RAMC Database

[Muerrisch]

Thank you: consider yourself enlisted for the project.

[pat geary]

Over the years I've gathered up information about Great War casualties from my area (around Lisburn in Northern Ireland). The list below is the information on those in the RAMC. Sources are in brackets at the end of each entry. Hope these are of some use.

Pat Geary

BOYD Lieutenant Thomas Moffatt. (George). Born Castleblaney. Old Scholar Friends’ School Lisburn. Served in the RAMC. Died of dysentry while on active service in Mozambique, East Africa on the 25.10.18. Buried in Lumbo British Cemetery, Mozambique, plot 1, row B, grave 8. No nok details. A brass tablet mounted on oak was erected to him in Ballybay(1) Presbyterian Church. He was a brother of Joseph Boyd, late cashier in the Ulster Bank, Lisburn. [sDGW Officers p. 194. CWGC. IMR vol. 1 p.197. Friends School Lisburn War Memorial. Lisburn Standard 13.6.19 p. 5]. (1) There is a Ballybay in the Republic, south of Monaghan and West of Castleblaney.

Bertie Bruce RAMC 17329 missing. His parents were from 16 Lambeg Road, Lisburn. Lisburn Standard for 31.5.18 p. 5. More details in paper.

FINNEGAN, Private Robert Thomas. Born Shankill, address and enlisted at Belfast and served in RASC M2/274193 attd. 110 Field Ambulance, RAMC. He DoW in German hands at Grand Seracourt on the Somme on the 21.3.18 age 19. His death is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France, panel 95. Son of John Maxwell Finnegan and Susan Wilson Finnegan. In June 1920, his mother unveiled the War Memorial in Boardmills Second Presbyterian Church on which his death is also commemorated. At the service the Rev. Robert Kelso explained the circumstances in which he had died. “Mortally wounded at Grand Seracourt, he … could have saved himself … had he retired without his wounded, but that Robert Finnegan would not do, and little further was known beyond the fact that he died after capture”. According to the Lisburn Standard “His name was included in their Roll of Honour on account of his long association with their manse”. His maternal grandfather had been a former pastor. [sDGW. CWGC. IMR vol. 3 p. 152. Second Boardmills Presbyterian Church War Memorial. Lisburn Standard 11.6.20].

GRAHAM, Lieutenant Colonel William. Served in the RAMC. Died on the 5.11.17. Buried in Dundrod Presbyterian Churchyard, grave 13. [sDGW Officers appendix 1, p. 267. CWGC. IMR vol. 3 p. 340]. IMR has no details other than name, rank and unit.

KIRKWOOD, Private Thomas John (Jack). Address Lisburn. He was employed by Lisburn Board of Guardians as relieving officer for Lisburn Union and had been released from his work on Tuesday the 16 March 1915 so that he could join up. He enlisted in the RAMC (54852) on Wednesday the 18th but that evening had broken his leg. He was taken to the Military Hospital in Belfast after having been treated initially in Lisburn Infirmary. He died in Belfast as a result of his injuries on the 23.3.15 and news of his death arrived in Lisburn at the time that the Board of Guardians were meeting to appoint a temporary replacement. He was buried with military honours in Belfast City Cemetery, row C2, grave 160 on Thursday 25 March. The coffin, draped in the Union flag, was carried on a gun carriage escorted by a firing party from the RIR and the band of the Young Citizen Volunteers (14 RIR). He was the only son of Thomas Kirkwood of 43 Dunluce Avenue, Belfast who had previously lived for a considerable time at Clonevin Park, Lisburn. The grandson of John Kirkwood of Magheralave, Lisburn, his uncles Alex and Hugh(1) Kirkwood lived at Magheralave and Clonevin Park, Lisburn. His father, who had worked in a range of businesses in Belfast, had set himself up as a timber merchant and broker in Victoria Street, there and, according to the Standard was “a great temperance advocate and a devout Christian”. He was also a mason and an elder in 1st. Lisburn Presbyterian Church in which he set up and ran a Company of the Boys Brigade. He died on the 12.2.17 and was buried in the City Cemetery, Belfast. On the 9 April 1915 a letter was published in the Standard from Riflemen R. Smith, Sharkey, Cree and Brown 1 RIR and Private Love of the East Lancs, expressing their sympathy to his parents. They had been involved in the fighting at Neuve Chapelle and had heard of Jack Kirkwood’s death from the Standard which had been sent out to soldiers at the front. Rm. Cree appears to have survived. [sDGW. CWGC N.I. register p. 28. IMR vol. 5 p. 33. First Lisburn Presbyterian Church War Memorial. Presbyterian Church in Ireland Roll of Honour p. 247. Lisburn Standard 9.4.15 p. 5; 26.3.15 p. 5 and 16.2.17 p. 5]. (1) In the Standard for the 14.8.14 a Hugh Kirkwood, hardware merchant, had given evidence in the case against the Suffragettes who were accused of attempting to blow up Lisburn Cathedral on the 1 August. He had told the hearing that one of the women, Mrs. Metge had asked him to supply her with dynamite to blow up a tree in her garden. However, he had told her that he could only sell it to her if she had a “police certificate” which she did not have.

McCORMACK, Major (Doctor) Campbell McNeill MC and 2 bars. Educated initially at the Carr and Ballymacbrennan,(1) National Schools, he won a scholarship to Lisburn Intermediate School, subsequently Wallace High School,(2) where he won exhibitions in the junior, middle and senior schools, and then an entrance scholarship of £30 to QUB to study medicine. He qualified as a doctor in June 1914 and, having been in the OTC at Queens, (where he was the best shot in his Company and won four bronze medals for training) joined the Reserve of Officers (RAMC) going to Aldershot at the end of June for preliminary training. On completion of this he expecting to be able to return home to Drumbo for a short holiday but the outbreak of war intervened. Posted to Dublin for a short time, he susequently embarked for France on the night of the 7.8.14 with the medical contingent of the Aldershot Division. Heavily involved in the retreat from Mons, he “came to prominence for good work bravely performed at … Hill 60.”(3) Writing home afterwards, he commented that it was, “a miracle more of them did not get knocked out”. He was also mentioned in dispatches, “for gallant and distinguished conduct in the field” in Sir John French’s last dispatch(4). Promoted to Captain from the 1 April 1915 (see London Gazette for 23.7.15). Awarded the MC in September 1916, the citation published in the London Gazette read, “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations. He directed the stretcher-bearers under heavy shellfire with the greatest coolness and courage. He succeeded in entering a village which had been heavily shelled, and, with another captain, a sergeant and four men, collected the wounded into a dug-out and succeeded in getting them back later. He has frequently shown great courage.”

He was married to Ella Todd Warnock of Fernleigh, Endsleigh Drive, Belfast, in Drumbo Presbyterian Church on the 12 September 1917. She was the only daughter of the late Rev. James Warnock, formerly minister of Drumbo and of Kroonstad, South Africa where he had gone for the sake of his health. One of the ministers officiating was the Rev. Joseph Cordner who may have been the father of James Cordner above, who was KIA in April 1918. The best man was Hugh McCormack the bridegroom’s brother who was later to have Campbell’s death commemorated on his own headstone, and the bride was given away by her uncle Mr. Christopher Todd. The reception was held at Fernleigh, the home of the bride and Mrs. Crail, her aunt, before the couple left for their honeymoon at Mallaranny, Co. Galway and Recess and Co. Galway. The gifts which the couple exchanged were a gold ring set with diamonds and a leather travelling case with solid silver fittings, while the officers and men of 15 Field Ambulance gave them a silver salver. From Campbell McCormack’s parents, they received a hand embroidered bedspread and from Christopher Todd, a cheque for £100.

Slightly wounded in late August/early September 1918, he was KIA in France on the 22.9.1918 two days after coming out of hospital and just over a year after his marriage. He was 27 years old and was serving in the 5th.(5) Field Ambulance RAMC. He is buried in Barastre(6) Communal cemetery, Pas de Calsis, France grave 11. The son of William McCormack, a farmer and Mrs. McCormack of Hillhall House, Lisburn, Co. Down, his death is also commemorated on his brother’s (H.H. McCormack’s) headstone in Drumbo Presbyterian church graveyard. He died on the 12.8.80.

Writing to his parents shortly after his death, Major F.R. Thornton (RAMC) wrote, “I think by this time you will have received news of Major McCormack’s death yesterday morning. A shell hit the shelter in which he and Colonel Bradley were sleeping and both were killed at once. He was buried yesterday afternoon in the cemetery close by in the presence of all the men of his ambulance who could be spared, and detachments from the other ambulances of the division. The General commanding the Division and many other officers were present. At the special request of the men his body was carried to the grave by the N.C.O.’s of the unit. It is difficult for me to express to you the deep sympathy that I feel, as I realise what a terrible loss it must be to you all. We all feel it most deeply, as he was beloved by officers and men. Of his unselfishness and courage it is needless to speak, for the men would follow him anywhere, or do anything which he asked them to do. I wonder if you have any small photographs of him, I should, myself, so much like one and the other officers are asking for it; in addition if you could let us have a few, I know how deeply some of our N.C.O.’s and men of his section would appreciate them. With my very deepest condolence”.

Frederick Hoysted Bradley DSO Lieutenant Colonel attd. 15th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps who died on the 22 September 1918 age 34. He was the son of the Rev. Canon W. H. and Mrs. Bradley, late of Monaghan and husband of the late Ellen Lacey Hargreaves, of Liverpool. He is buried in Barastre Communal Cemetery, France grave 10 beside Campbell McCormack.

The announcement of the first bar to his MC came through shortly after his death. The citation read. “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During an important engagement he organised the evacuation of the wounded with great skill and devotion to duty, proceeding frequently himself in charge of bearers, through heavy shelling, to the rear aid posts. It was largely due to his able organisation and fine example of self-sacrificing gallantry that the numerous casualties were evacuated so expeditiously”.

News of a second bar followed shortly after and was reported in the Lisburn Standard on the 25 October. The circumstances surrounding the award were, at that time unknown, although according to the paper, “it is believed he won it when he was wounded about eleven days before his death”. More poignantly though news of it arrived, “on the day that Major McCormack’s infant (still born) and only child was being buried”.

A year after his death his parents had an “In Memoriam” notice published in the Standard, “In sad and loving memory of our dear son”. It finished with a short poem, “We little thought when we last met, That he would n’er return, That he so soon would sleep in death, and leave us here to mourn”.

[sDGW. CWGC. IMR vol. 5 p. 321. Family Headstone. DbPCWM. Presbyterian Church in Ireland Roll of Honour p. 244. Lisburn Standard 28.5.15 p. 8 inc. photograph; 22.10.15 p. 8 inc. photograph; 7.1.16; 29.9.16 p. 6 inc. photograph; 14.9.17 p. 5 inc photographs; 13.9.18 p. 5; 27.9.18 p. 5 inc. photograph; 4.10.18 p. 5; 25.10.18 p. 5 and 26.9.19. Herald 15.9.17 and 22.9.17. London Gazette Issue no. 29241, 23.7.15 p. 8]. (1) Ballymacbrennan is south of Hillhall. (2) Check this. (3) Hill 60 was a heavily contested area of high ground outside Ypres. (4) This would probably have been at the end of 1915. (5) SDGW and IMR give 15th. Field Ambulance. (6) Barastre is in the Pas de Calais but lies about 6 Km. SE of Bapaume between the Somme and Cambrai battlefields. It was captured on 5 September 1918.

McKEAVENEY, Private Thomas. Born Lisburn, Co. Down. Enlisted at Belfast and served in 17th. Field Ambulance RAMC 156. DoW in Belgium on the 29.5.16 aged 29. Buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinghe, Belgium, plot 7, row A, grave 29. The headstone inscription reads, “Rest in the Lord”.(1) Husband of Elizabeth McKeaveney of Dunbought, Clough, Co. Antrim and son of John and Alice McKeaveney of 175 Durham Street, Belfast. [sDGW. CWGC B 11. IMR vol. 6 p. 47]. (1) I visited the Cemetery on 7.8.96. In front of the HS was a small wooden Remembrance Day cross with the inscription, “RIP. Great Nephew Thomas”.

Captain Robert L. Sinclair served with the RAMC in Mesopotamia. He was promoted from Lieutenant to Captain in September 1917. Son of William and Anna Jane Sinclair of Rosslyn, Antrim Road, Lisburn, brother of Thomas Sinclair J.P. chairman of Lisburn Urban Council and of William Sinclair clerk of Lisburn Board of Guardians.

Major Rolertson(3) Stewart Smyth RAMC died in a London nursing home on the 5 April 1916 having been invalided back from the front the previous December. There is no trace of him in SDGW or CWGC. He was the son of Jane R. and William Smyth (a J.P.) of Brookfield, Banbridge, Co. Down. [Lisburn Standard 14.12.17].

SPROTT, Sergeant Dispenser Thomas. Born on the 8.6.1888 at Portadown where he lived at least until 1905. An Old Scholar Friends’ School Lisburn, he entered FSL on the 14.1.01. His work and conduct were generally “very satisfactory” although he appears to have struggled at some subjects. Probably(1) the workshop curator at FSL in 1903. Left school on the 21.7.05. Enlisted at Londonderry and served in the 143rd. Indian Combined Field Ambulance, RAMC 37082. Died on active service on the 11.10.18 aged 30. Buried in Ramleh War Cemetery, Palestine, row Z, grave 60. Son of Samuel and Jane E. Sprott of Carraboo, Portadown. [sDGW. CWGC P 9. IMR vol. 8 p. 49. Friends School Lisburn War Memorial and school records. FSL History p. 147]. (1) The list of workshop curators in the FSL history, p. 147, simply refers to T. Sprott.

WATERHOUSE, Private Albert Victor (“Pat”) M.M. Born in Lisburn on the 8.9.1888, he was a devout Christian who “took an active part in the Methodist Church and the Welcome Mission in Lisburn”. Having served his apprenticeship with Mr. Tate, a chemist in Belfast, he was studying to become a medical missionary and had emigrated to Canada in about 1913. There he was involved in “mission work” for the Methodist Church and was in charge of their mission station at South Salt, Spring Island, Victoria, British Columbia. In Canada he gave his address as General Post Office, Victoria although whether he lived there or whether this was simply a mailing address is not clear.

Volunteering for service in the Canadian RAMC at Victoria B.C. on the 12.5.1916 aged 27, he was passed fit for overseas service the same day. With no previous military experience, he gave his calling as “Candidate for the Ministry”. 5’ 8” tall he had a 35” chest (fully expanded) with a 3” expansion, dark complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. Posted to the Western Universities, 196 Battalion, RAMC, at the time of his death he was attached to the 4th. or 46th. CI, SasR (911918).(1) Having been selected for a commission, he was due to be sent back to England for training on the 1 October, but was KIA in France on the 2.9.18 aged 29,(2) just six days before his thirtieth birthday.

Shortly after his death it was announced that he had won the MM “for conspicuous bravery and gallantry in carrying out his duties as a stretcher bearer”. He had, “on a number of occasions dressed the wounded under exceptionally heavy shellfire and continued to do so throughout” military operations between the 8th and 10th of August 1918. This would have been at the start of the Allied offensive that eventually brought the war to an end.

His death took place in similar circumstances less than a month later. According to captain F.H. Buck, he was, “doing his best to help others, binding up their wounds and saving many a life by his promptness and skill. Truly of Victor Waterhouse it may be said, like his Master, ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that he giveth his life for his friends’. … [He] was struck [in the chest] by a shell fragment and … was killed instantaneously and had absolutely no suffering”. At the time the Canadians had broken through the German defences of the Drocourt-Queant line and his battalion were attacking the village of Dury. “He will rest [there] with many more of our gallant comrades,” wrote Private J.L. MacDougall. “His grave,” he added, “will be decorated with a white wooden cross with ‘Rest in Peace’ in addition to the usual inscription”.

Albert “Pat” Waterhouse is buried in Dury Crucifix Cemetery, France, plot 1, row A, grave 18. He was the youngest son of Abraham and Sophia Waterhouse of Saw Mills, Lisburn, Co. Antrim and brother of Fred and Henry Waterhouse. Another brother Robert, whose address was Langford P.O., Vancouver Island, B.C., was given as next of kin at the time of his enlistment. At the time of his death, Fred was serving in the army in Africa and Henry in the RE in France. Both appear to have survived the war. So too did Captain Frank Hepworth Buck, Sergeant Kenneth? Russell and Private J.L. MacDougall who wrote to the Waterhouse family about his death. Their attestation papers are in the Canadian National Archive.

The village of Dury is a about 17 kilometres east-south-east of Arras. Canadians of the 46th and 47th Battalions began the Crucifix Cemetery there immediately after its capture. By the time of the Armistice just over two months later, it consisted of 72 graves. They are now in plot I, rows A (in which Albert Waterhouse is buried) and B. It was later enlarged by the concentration of graves from other cemeteries in the area so it now contains over 2,000 Great War casualties. Four-fifths of them are unidentified. [LWM. CWGC 427. LMCWM. CNA RG 150. Accession 1992-93/166, box 10116-16. Lisburn Standard 8.11.18 p. 3 inc. photograph]. Not in IMR. (1) The Standard gives his regiment as Canadian RAMC. (2) The CWGC give his age as 30 but if his dob on his attestation paper is correct he was 29 – just!

Private E. Webb, RAMC, wounded and in hospital in England. He was the son of Mrs. Webb , Bridge Street, Hilden. [Lisburn Standard for 28.9.17 p. 5].

[BJanman]

Pat Geary

Thank you very much for posting the above, very sad for Major McCormack's family to lose him and his son. I will transfer the information over and credit all the research to you.

Barbara

[PBI]

Photo Courtesy of Mruk.. Pte J.Adamson.(Source) Sheffield Daily Ind,Thursday,20 of July 1916,Page 1.

[Heid the Ba]

I'm trying to find out which unit my grandfather Private 64272 James S. Clark was in. He survived the war but died when I was young and my mother doesn't know any details of his service. In another thread I was told that the RAMC rolls are not online and only available at Kew. There is no way I can get down there in the foreseeable future, if anyone is there could they please check roll no. RAMC/3A, page 208? Or if this would tell me nothing useful can anyone suggest any other options? He entered France on 18/11/15 which doesn't match the division I was told he was in. He could of course have been a replacement.

I'll be happy to re-imburse costs.

[Stephen Nulty]

Barbara

I just submitted a query via the "Contact Us" option on your website. After I clicked on "submit", I rceived a couple of "zero divide" error messages, as well as one telling me that the message had been submitted.

(For the non-technical amongst us, "Zero divide" is probably the cause of most programming failures in the combined history of computing. On my very first programming course in about 1978, I was taught to only carry out a division having preceded the command by a condition "If x not = zero....", where x is the divisor. Here we are 30 years later, and the same error still occurs.....(cont. p. 94))

[BJanman]

Pte J.Adamson.(Source) Sheffield Daily Ind,Thursday,20 of July 1916,Page 1.

PBI

Is this chap RAMC? His cap badge doesn't look RAMC to me but the picture is a little blurred.

Say hello to Mruk for me

Barbara

[PBI]

PBI

Is this chap RAMC? His cap badge doesn't look RAMC to me but the picture is a little blurred.

Say hello to Mruk for me

Barbara

Dave Assures me that the Man in the Photo is R.A.M.C.,but personally i thought the Cap Badge looks a Bit Like the Duke of Wellingtons Regiment.

[BJanman]

...if anyone is there could they please check roll no. RAMC/3A, page 208? Or if this would tell me nothing useful can anyone suggest any other options? He entered France on 18/11/15 which doesn't match the division I was told he was in. He could of course have been a replacement.

I can look up the roll for you but I won't be going now until about March/April. Have you put a post in the National Archive look up section, you may get a quicker response?

Most, but not all, the five digit numbers starting 64--- has a link to Scotland but there does not appear to be a pattern to the Units. Here are the ones I have starting 642--

64247 Cpl PEARSON Ernest Lemuel

Born: Dundee

Enlisted: Leith

Served: 10 Sanitary Section

64262 Pte NISBET Thomas

Born: Galashiels

Enlisted: Leith

Served: 111th Field Ambulance

64279 Pte WHITEFIELD Archibald

Born: Nemphlar Lanark

Enlisted: Glasgow

Served: 14th Field Ambulance

Medical Units that arrived on 18/11/15 were No 37 CCS and the three Field Ambulances for the 33 Division, so it might be worth looking out for information on these units to see if you can find his name. You could look for him in local archived newspapers and he may be listed on a nominal roll.

Good luck

Barbara

[BJanman]

Thanks PBI and please thank Dave for me.

Barbara

[BJanman]

Stephen

Thank you very much for letting me know there is a problem with the contact page on my website. I have let iondesign know so hopefully it should be sorted soon.

Kind regards

Barbara

[PPCLI]

Hello Barbara,

I found this report in the Scotsman, 2nd September 1915, relating to Private 2117 Thomas Ruthven, 1st/3rd Lowland Field Amb, Royal Army Medical Corps. Killed at Gallipoli in 10th June 1915. Adding it to your list because CWGC records no family information and the report also states that he was attached to the 1/5th Royal Scots:

Stuart

[BJanman]

Thank you Stuart, that is really helpful.

Barbara

[Heid the Ba]

Thanks Barbara, I'll check the papers and 33rd Division. My mother is sure he was a stretcher bearer at the front so I'll work on that basis.

[soldier75]

Bjay,

Please find listed the 9 men of the RAMC who are commemorated on the War Memorial in Victoria Park, Widnes, Cheshire. Please add them to your database.

Jones75

Pte William Ashley

No.78700

7th Field Ambulance

Royal Army Medical Corps

Born : Widnes, Lancashire

Enlisted : Widnes, in 1915.

Resided : 114 Hurst Street, West Bank, Widnes.

Died [Accidentally killed] in France on 4th October, 1918, aged 25.#

Buried at Lowrie Cemetery, Havrincourt. Row A, Grave 12.

Commemorated locally at St Mary`s in West Bank.

The son of Mrs Emily Ashley, he attended St Mary`s church and was employed at Gossage`s. He had served in France since May, 1916.## The exact circumstances of William Ashley`s death are unknown.

# CWGC 1997. ## WWN 1918.

Pte Joseph Bibby

No.84778

Royal Army Medical Corps

Born : Widnes, Lancashire.

Enlisted : Blackpool, Lancashire in September, 1916.

Resided : 14 Wareing Street, Widnes.

Died of wounds in France on 15th May, 1918, aged 25.

Buried at Marzargues War Cemetery, Marseilles. Plot IV, Row A, Grave 22. Commemorated at St Paul's in Widnes.

The son of Mr & Mrs William Bibby, he was educated at Simms Cross school and was a member of St Paul's church. Employed as a Medical Orderly, he is shown as dying from wounds on the above date.# It is possible that he was being evacuated from the Salonika front via the 57th General Hospital where he died.##. This hospital was 6 kms outside Marseilles and a great distance from the Western Front in northern France and Belgium.

# SDGW. ## WWN 1918.

Pte John William Bryant

No.63491

23rd Stationary Hospital

Royal Army Medical Corps

Born : Widnes, Lancashire.

Enlisted: Widnes in August, 1915.

Resided: 3 Halton View Road, Widnes.

Died in Mesopotamia on 29th June, 1916, aged 20. Buried at Amara War Cemetery, Iraq, Plot VIII, Row C, Grave 3.

Commemorated at St Ambrose church in Widnes.

He died of Cerebral Malaria at 8.45pm on 29th June, 1916 at the 23rd Stationary Hospital, he was a medical orderly at the same hospital. Whilst serving in Mesopotamia, he had been a member of a convoy regularly evacuating sick and wounded men down the River Tigris. He received his elementary education at Warrington Road school, and as a parishioner of St Ambrose in Halton View, was a member of the Sunday School and Bible Class.

Employed as a shop assistant at Unsworths Bros in Victoria Road, Widnes, as a boy he had worked at Gossage`s.# WWN 1916.

******

Pte Arthur Hartland

No.62767

94th Field Ambulance

Royal Army Medical Corps

(attached 31st [New Army] Division)

Born : Widnes, Lancashire.

Enlisted : Widnes.

Resided : 116 Oakland Street, West Bank, Widnes.

Killed in action in France on 12th April, 1918, aged 24.

Buried at Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension, Plot 1, Row F, Grave 4. Commemorated at St Mary`s Church.

The son of Job & Hannah Hartland, Arthur was one of their three sons to die in the Great War, his two elder brothers dying in 1916 and earlier in 1918, George was killed in action in France in October, 1916 and William died of illness in India in July, 1918.

He was an old boy of the West Bank Council School and won a scholarship to the Widnes Secondary School and gained many distinctions. Eventually going to Liverpool University and graduating with an BA (Hons) in History.

He joined the RAMC in August, 1915 and went to Egypt in November that year and to France in 1916. A member of St Mary`s Mission and the Secretary and teacher of the Sunday School, he was a medical orderly and was killed instantly by shrapnel while he was tending the wounded at the dressing station.#

Pte Frederick Hill

No.25811

13th Stationary Hospital

Royal Army Medical Corps

Born : Not known

Enlisted : Not known.

Resided : Not known.

Died of Dysentery in Lemnos, Greece on 19th November, 1915, aged 37.

Buried at Portianos Military Cemetery, Plot V, Row A, Grave 65.

Presumably a medical orderly at the above hospital, he contracted the disease when treating patients, he was the son of Charles & Harriet Hill of Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. A married man, he left a widow, Eliza Emily who in the post war years lived in Regent Street, Stonehouse.

What his connection is with Widnes is unknown, he may have had a relative in the town who submitted his name for inclusion on the memorial in 1920-21.

Pte Thomas Horan

No.7380

33rd Field Ambulance

Royal Army Medical Corps

(11th [Northern] Division)

Born : Widnes, Lancashire.

Enlisted : Liverpool in June 1913. (Territorials)

Resided : 11 Wellington Street, Widnes.

Died of wounds in Belgium on 9th October, 1917, aged 21.

Buried at Bard Cottage Cemetery, Plot III, Row 1, Grave 42.

His brother was in the same unit and wrote to their mother that Tommy had been badly wounded and he had taken him down to the dressing station. Dying a short time later, his brother was with him when he passed away.

Joining the Territorial Artillery in June, 1913, Thomas Horan was originally a member of the West Lancs Brigade RFA when war broke out. He was transferred to the RAMC in October, 1915.

Before being mobilised, he was an apprentice cooper at the Gaskell Deacon Works in Widnes. His parents were Mr & Mrs Patrick Horan.#

On the 9th October, 1917, the 11th [Northern] Division took part in an attack with one brigade in the area of Poelcapelle village.##

# WWN 1917. ## Passchendaele: The Day By Day Account. [McCarthy]

******

Pte Albert Lloyd

No.62299

Royal Army Medical Corps

Born : Widnes, Lancashire.

Enlisted : Widnes.

Resided : 3 Greenalls Cottages, Ditton, Widnes.

Killed in action on 21st March, 1917, aged 24.

Buried at Widnes Cemetery, Plot 10C, Grave 3617.

Commemorated at St Michael`s C of E church in Widnes.

Listed on the memorial as “Regt Unknown” the details above are correct. Albert Lloyd was a medical orderly in the RAMC and was serving on the hospital ship, HMHS “Asturias” when, on the night of the 21st March, 1917, she was torpedoed in the English Channel by a U Boat 5 miles South of Start Point. The “Asturias” was beached, but thirty five men lost their lives in the attack, Albert Lloyd being one of them. His body was washed ashore and recovered and brought back to his home town for burial.#

The “Asturias” was the first hospital ship to have been attacked in the war, on 1st February, 1915, 15 miles north by north east of the Havre Light vessel, a German U Boat fired a torpedo at the ship, this missed and she escaped.

On the night of the second attack in March, 1917, she was showing all lights and had her red crosses clearly illuminated. After this incident all hospital ship markings on ships in home waters were changed to the new naval camouflage scheme of “Dazzle Painting”.##

Pte Lloyd had served in France before his death and had already been wounded, on his recovery he was posted to the “Asturias”. He had three brothers in the forces in France and he was the son of Samuel Lloyd.

# WWN 1917.

## Times Index of the war, 1914-18.

******

Pte Felix William Waller

No. Not known.

Royal Army Medical Corps

Born : Not known.

Enlisted : Not known.

Resided : 1 Dock Cottages, Old Marsh, West Bank, Widnes.

Died from an unknown cause on 16th February, 1919, aged 26.

Buried at Widnes Cemetery, Plot 10C, Grave 3553.

Locally commemorated at St Mary`s church in West Bank, Widnes.

Felix Waller or “Sonny” as he was better known, died from an unknown cause three months after the end of the Great War. There is no information other than he was an Iron Moulder by trade and his parents were James & Alice Waller.# WWN 1919.

Pte Francis Whelan

No.1415

3rd (West Lancashire) Field Ambulance

Royal Army Medical Corps

Born : St Marie`s, Widnes, Lancashire.

Enlisted : St Helen`s, Lancashire.

Resided : Highfield Farm, Ditton, Widnes.

Died of wounds in Stoke on Trent on 6th October, 1916, aged 25.

Buried at Widnes Cemetery, Plot 8R, Grave 2038.

Commemorated at St Michael`s RC & Cof E churches.

Landing in France in September, 1915, the 3rd West Lancs Field Ambulance became the 65th Field Ambulance and joined the 21st Division. Frank Whelan was fatally wounded on 25th September, 1916 in France and later evacuated to Stoke on Trent War Hospital. It was the third time that he had been wounded in 1916. Soon after arriving in France in February, he was hit by shrapnel in the leg and in June was wounded for a second time. His father, Pritchard Whelan, was a member of the 47th Lancashire Volunteers (Militia) for 30 years and during the Great War joined the National Reserve. Mr Whelan was also one of the founders of the Ditton Soldiers Association.

Frank Whelan was an old boy of Ditton Hall School and Sunday School and the Ditton Hall church. He was an enthusiastic footballer playing for the school team and later for his works team, Gaskell Deacon. He was employed as a cooper at the works and his father was the foreman cooper. In 1909 he joined the Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry (Territorials) and in 1913 transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps Mounted Section.# WWN 1916.

[BJanman]

Jones75

Thank you very much for posting the above information, I have downloaded it and will tranfer it on to my database asap.

I would like to credit the research to you as it is your work.

Barbara

[soldier75]

Barbara, Thanks very much. Harry

Jones75

Thank you very much for posting the above information, I have downloaded it and will tranfer it on to my database asap.

I would like to credit the research to you as it is your work.

Barbara

[chris_steel]

Hi bJay, Its seems that you helped so many people here. This is the first time on this website so please excuse my amature question. But would you have

Private Arthur Drummond Steel

R.M.A.C , Reg # 372162 ?

[Phil Evans]

Chris,

Did you know that his service record is available on Ancestry: British Army WW1 Pension Records 1914-1920 (WO 364)?

He appears to have moved around a bit. I can see four service numbers for him at a quick glance.

Phil

[BJanman]

Chris

I do not have any personal information on Arthur Drummond Steel but his number 372162 was allocated to the 3rd Western General Hospital.

This unit was administered by the Association for Glamorgan and belonged to the Army Troops attached to the Welsh Division in the Western Command. Part of it saw service in India from May 1916, but it also operated beds for 39 officers and 2496 other ranks in 5 schools in Cardiff, the partly used hospitals of Bedford House and Edward VII, 2 L.G.B premises and the Cavalry Barracks using its ten Sections. It also operated 62 Auxiliary Hospitals in the Western Command.

I hope this helps

Barbara

[Phil Evans]

Barbara,

On your post back on 3rd Jan, on Ernest Lambourne, you referred to information you have on Forest Row Camp. Is it possible to let me know the source, as I am trying to research the camp and information is hard to come by. Was it from the diary of Major A French? I know there is a copy of his diary at the IWM and that he was attached to 1st SWMB FA.

On the subject of Ernest Lambourne. The record of his inquest is held at the East Sussex Record Office (Catalogue Ref: COR/1/3/133).

The online summary gives the following information:

Creation Date: 5 June 1915

LAMBOURNE

Ernest, driver, Royal Army Medical Corps, Forest Row, 23: thrown from a cart; accidental death.

Phil

[BJanman]

Phil

I took it from the research my Dad put together on the formation of the TF Units, he has quoted a book called 'Swindon's War Record' for this unit. I'll have a look and see if I can find anything but I'm tied up with work over the next few days so it may take a short while.

Thanks for the information about Ernest Lambourne.

Barbara

[Phil Evans]

Thank you Barbara and don't rush.

I don't know if you are familiar with the diary of Major A French, but if not the IWM Box Ref. number is 79/1/1

Click here for a summary.

Phil

[PPCLI]

Hi Barbara,

I tried to send a PM but your inbox is full.

I have a digital copy of a magazine article, with photo (pretty good quality), from 1915 on Corporal George William Scott: CWGC

Also, another on Corporal Edward Joseph Clark: CWGC - drowned when the Royal Edward was sunk.

If you would like copies, please PM me with your email address.

Best wishes,

Stuart

[Sybil]

Would you like details of my uncle Pte Thomas EMM, RAMC who was killed on the Somme August 1916? I have full details.

Nancy 2Ms