Cheers Jumbo

Found my Great Uncle on there, nobody had remembered him so I've done a wee bit and added some old photos of him and a transcript of the letter sent to his family telling them of his loss (He was going with a message across open ground just before daylight, and a bullet got him through the head killing him instantly on 7 Apr 18).

He'd already been injured twice, once in 1915 (shot in both legs and the back. Records show that he was injured in Sep 15, suffering gun shot wounds to both legs and back. He was evacuated from the field by 7 Motor Ambulance Convoy to 26 General Hospital (Etaples, France) before being returned to England on 4 Oct 15 onboard the paddle steamer ‘Dieppe’.

He was treated at Trent Bridge cricket ground, the pavilion had been turned into a military hospital which treated over 3,500 patients during WW1.

In August '16, having recovered and deemed fit for action, he embarked the paddle steamer ‘La Marguerite’ at Southampton and headed for Le Havre where he re-joined his Regiment in the field.

On 26 Sep 16 he suffered a gun shot wound to the head and was evacuated to 34 Casualty Clearing Station and then on to 26 General Hospital, Etaples.

Third time unlucky for him sadly, the inscription on his headstone says simply "Pray for his soul". I visited his grave a few years ago in a very small war cemetery in Northern France. I wish I knew more of his story not just the cold facts but I do Pray for his soul every Remembrance Sunday and one day I'll take my lads over there. WWRT

Posted By: Tombs, Sep 15, 21:12:16