by apowell » Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:22 am
Great Uncle
Samuel Henry Tolley, Royal Navy Patrol Service, Seaman.
Samuel served on minesweepers during 1940-1942 and Motor Launch boats 1942-1943.
Samuel was 26 years old when he died on the 7th June 1943 due to illness while on patrol in the Carribean sea and is buried in Trinidad and Tobago at the Port of Spain (St.James) Military Cematery.
Samuel left a wife and a very young daughter.
Great Uncle
George H Powell, Pte South Staffordshire Regiment (8th, 4th & 1/6th Battalions)
My Great Uncle joined up in 1915 and went to France in December 1916 serving with the 8th Battalion and fought at Arras in 1917 before being sent home due to illness. George was again sent to France in March 1918 and served with the 4th Battalion seeing action during the German Spring Offensive before joining the 1/6th Battalion. He contracted pneumonia while on active service and was evacuated to England spending 4 months in hospital before fully recovering.
Great Grandfather
Harry Hadley, Pte, Kings Royal Rifles Corps (13th Battalion)
My Great Grandfather joined up on the outbreak of war but was discharged due to sickness prior to serving overseas after contracting TB while in basic training.
Great, Great Uncles son
Harry Hadley, Sapper, Royal Engineers (580 Army Troops Coy)
Harry was 20 years of age when he died on the 24th April 1941.
Harry was killed in Action while serving somewhere in Greece.
Great, Great Uncle
Zachariah Tolley, Pte, South Staffordshire Regiment (4th Battalion)
Awarded: British, Victory medals, Silver War Badge and the Military Medal.
Zachariah was wounded in action France, 1918 and discharged due to injuries sustained.
I'm not sure when in 1918 but from the Battalion's war diaries most likely during the month of April which saw the Battalion engaged in a desperate, bitter fight to halt the major German offensive.
Grandmother's Cousin
Harry Tolley, Gunner, Royal Artillery
Harry joined the Royal Artillery in 1938 and was sent to France in 1939 with the BEF. He was captured during the Battle of Amiens 20th May 1940 and spent 5 years in POW camps in Northern Germany and Poland. He escaped in February 1945 spending 2 weeks living rough in the Polish countryside before being recaptured by SS troops.
Family members
Ebenezer Homer, Pte, South Staffordshire Regiment (1st Battalion)
Awarded 15 Star, British and Victory medals.
Ebenezer was 25 years of age when he died on the 18th May 1915.
Ebenezer was killed during the The Battle of Festubert 15-25 of May.
John Thomas Devison, Lance Corporal, Kings Royal Rifles Corps
Awarded 15 Star, British and Victory medals.
John was 27 when he died on the 25th September 1915.
John was killed during the Battle of Loos.
William Haycock, Sgt, Royal Munster Fusiliers Regiment ( 7th Battalion)
Awarded: 15 Star, British and Victory medals.
William was 25 years of age when he died on the 16th August 1915.
William was killed during the battle for the Kiretch Tepe Sirt, Gallipoli.
David Homer, Pte, Manchester Regiment (2nd/7th Battalion) formerly South Staffordshire Regiment
Awarded: British and Victory medals.
David was 21 years of age when he died on the 22nd October 1917.
David was killed while serving in France.
Frank Coad, Sgt, South Staffordshire Regiment ( 1st/5th Battalion, H Coy)
Awarded 15 Star, British and Victory medals.
Frank was 28 years of age when he died on the 14th March 1917.
Frank was killed during a major night attack on enemy trenches at Bucquoy in France and that nights work resulted in total casualties: 31 Officers
and 552 Other Ranks (madness).