Author Archive: WW1 Photos

Bill R E 2nd Lt Royal Garrison Artillery

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BILL, RODNEY EDWARD, 2nd Lient., 38th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. 2nd s. of Edward Walker Bill, of Radnor Lodge, Cobham Road, Gravesend, by his wife, Lucinda, dau. of Gwynne Humphreys b. Gravesend, co. Kent, 1 Jan. 1886; educ. Margate College was a Bank Clerk volunteered for active service on the outbreak of war, and joined the Royal West Kent Yeomanry in Aug. 1914: served in Egypt and in Gallipoli, taking part in many engagements; proceeded to England (being torpedoed on his way there) to train for a commission, and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. R.G.A. in July, 1917; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from the following Nov., and was killed in action near Arras while on patrol duty 26 Aug. 1918. Buried in the British Military Cemetery. Blairville, Arras; unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Biggins R L/Cpl DCM 9189 2nd Notts And Derby Regiment

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BIGGINS, ROBERT, D.C.M., L.-Corpl., 2nd Battn. (95th Foot) The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt.), 3rd s. of Robert Biggins, of 19, Coventry Road, Wavertree, Joiner, by his wife, Louisa; b. Knowsley Estate, 24 Aug. 1888; educ. West Derby, Liverpool; enlisted; served several years with the Colours and joined the Reserve, when he became a Clerk was called up on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from the following month, and died 24 Oct. 1916, from wounds received in action. Buried in Haybrick Hill Cemetery, Birkenhead. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal: “For conspicuous gallantry when he led two other men in a bombing attack on a crater, which they gained, occupied and held until relieved at 2.30 p.m. on 10 Aug.” He m. at St. Peter’s Church, Birkenhead, 15 March, 1914, Jenny (17, Lynas Street, Birkenhead), dau. of John Berry, and had a dau., Jenny Roberta, b. (posthumous) 30 Nov. 1916.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Biddle J P Pte 46463 11th Manchester Regiment

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Biddle J P Pte 146463 1th Manchester Regiment

BIDDLE, JAMES PEARSON, Private, No. 46463, 11th (Service) Battn. The Manchester Regt., yst. s. of George Biddle, of 16, Belfield Road, Didsbury, near Manchester, Estate Agent and Surveyor, by his wife, Mary Anne, dau. of William Birkby Pearson; b. Bootle, co. Lancaster, 4 July, 1891; educ. Lucton School, Luston; volunteered for active service soon after the out-break of war, and joined the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry 3 Sept. 1914, in which he was made L.-Corpl. and Despatch Rider; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 1 Dec. 1916, being transferred to the 23rd Manchester Regt., and subsequently to the 11th Battn. of the same regiment, and died at No. 33 Casualty Clearing Station 29 Sept. 1918, of wounds received in action during the attack on the Hindenburg Line. Buried in Bucquoy Road British Cemetery, Ficheux, south of Arras; unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Bickham A R Lt Royal Garrison Artillery

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BICKHAM, ARTHUR RUSHTON, Lieut. (Temp.), Acting Capt., 155th (Stockport) Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, s. of the late George Bickham, of Alderley Edge, by his wife, Maud, dau. of William Saxon; b. Alderley Edge, co. Chester, 2 Sept. 1885; educ. The Ryley’s School there, and Malvern College (Scholar); was sole partner of George Bickham & Son, Manchester, Indian Shippers; joined the Manchester University O.T.C. in Sept. 1914; gazetted 2nd Lieut. Lieut. (Temp.) R.G.A. 15 Nov. 1915; promoted Lieut. Aug. 1916, and Acting Capt. July, 1917; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from April, 1916; proceeded to Italy in Nov. 1917, and died at Altrincham 15 Feb. 1919, of septic pneumonia, contracted on his return from Italy. Buried in Lindon Churchyard, Wilmslow. He was mentioned in Despatches by General H. C. O. Plumer, for gallant and distinguished service in the field, and was awarded the Italian Silver Medal for military valour. Capt. Bickham was a fine gymnast and swimmer, and a keen follower of the Macclesfield Forest Beagles. He had, for many years before the war, devoted most of his spare time to teaching gymnastics, swimming and physical training to the Stockport and Alderley Edge Lads’ Clubs; unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Bickerton W 2nd Lt Machine Gun Corps

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BICKERTON, WILLIAM, 2nd Lieut., Machine Gun Corps, 3rd s. of Thomas Bickerton, of Longhoughton, near Alnwick, co. Northumberland, by his wife, Mary, dau. of J. J. Robinson; b. Longhoughton aforesaid, in 1888; educ. Duke’s School, Alnwick; was a Grocer; joined the Northumberland Fusiliers early in June, 1915; quickly attained the rank of Sergt., and served as Machine Gun Instructor in various training camps in England; obtained a commission as 2nd Lieut. 28 March, 1917, being attached to the Machine Gun Corps; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 3 June, and was killed in action at Hollebeke 20 Sept. following. Buried there in the Fusiliers’ Wood. His Captain wrote: “Your son was killed in the early morning of 20 Sept., shortly after the commencement of the great battle in which we took part. He was killed instantly by a shell, whilst gallantly commanding his guns. Our machine guns did a lot of execution, and the enemy did his best to find us. I cannot tell you how deeply sorry I am personally at the death of your son. William was one of my best officers and highly popular with all of us. Our part of the attack involved a great deal of preparation. He was a keen and gallant fellow. I am sure you must be proud of him. His place here in this company will be difficult to fill,” and Lieut. Eckersley: “He was an excellent and fearless officer, and was highly esteemed by both officers and men.” Unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Bevington F Pte 90403 7th King’s Liverpool Regiment

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BEVINGTON, FRED, Private, No. 90403, 1/7th (Territorial) Battn. The King’s (Liverpool Regt.), only s. of Fred Bevington, of Monmouth, Motor Engineer, by his wife, Martha, yst. dau. of William Smith Lea; b. Hanley, co. Stafford, 22 May, 1899; educ. Monmouth; joined the Liverpool Regt. 1 Oct. 1917; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 31 March, 1918; took part in the fighting at Givenchy in April; was wounded 3 May, and was killed in action at La Bassée 29 Sept. 1918. Buried at Houchin. The Sergt. wrote: “He was a good boy, and British to the last.” Unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Betteley H L/Cpl 356911 10th Kings Liverpool Regiment

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BETTELEY, HARRY, L.-Corpl., 10th (Territorial) Battn. (Scottish) The King’s (Liverpool Regt.), s. of George Batteley, of 31, Ilchester Road, Seacombe, Wallasey, Warehouseman, by his wife, Elizabeth; and brother to Private F. Betteley (q.v.); b. Seacombe aforesaid, 29 Nov. 1897; educ. Riverside School, and Higher Elementary Schools, New Brighton; was a Clerk in his father’s office; joined the Liverpool Scottish in Nov. 1916; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from early in 1916; was reported wounded and missing after the fighting on 30 Nov. 1917, and is now assumed to have been killed in action on that date; unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Betteley F Pte 15671 New Zealand Expeditionary Force

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BETTELEY, FRED, Private, New Zealand Infantry, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, eldest s. of George Betteley, of 31, Ilchester Road, Seacombe, Wallasey, Warehouseman, by his wife, Elizabeth; and brother to L.-Corpl. H. Betteley (q.v.); b. Macclesfield, 30 Nov. 1888; educ. Riverside School, Seacombe; subsequently went to New Zealand, where he took up Farming; volunteered for Imperial Service, and joined the New Zealand Infantry early in 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France from Oct. of the same year, and was killed in action 5 April, 1918; unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Bett R St G L/Cpl S/18078 Gordon Highlanders

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BETT, RODERICK ST. GEORGE, L.-Corpl., Gordon Highlanders, only s. of Lieut. Col. James Bett, of Craigielea, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Officer Commanding Corps of Commissionaires (Newcastle-on-Tyne Division), by his wife, Mary, dau. of John Johnstone; b. Tillicoultry, co. Clackmannan, 19 July, 1898; educ. privately; enlisted in the R.G.A., and was transferred to the Gordon Highlanders 29 May, 1916; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, and subsequently proceeded to Italy; was recommended for a commission, after which he joined the Cadet Battn. at Ripon in Oct. 1918, and died at Aberdeen 21 Feb. 1919, of influenza and pneumonia, contracted while training. Buried at Newcastle-on-Tyne. His Commanding Officer, Lieut. Col. H. A. Ross, on recommending him for a commission, wrote: “This N.C.O. is very well educated, keen and capable. I would be willing and pleased to have him as an officer in my battalion. His work, in and out of the line, has always been excellent.” Unm.

Source De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Bethune N M Tpr 341 8th Light Horse Australian Imperial Force

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BETHUNE, NORMAN MCLEOD, Trooper, No. 341, 8th Light Horse, Australian Imperial Force, 2nd and only surv. s. of the late Joseph Robert Douglas Bethune, by his wife, Sibella Maria, dau. of Alexander Paterson; and nephew to the late Magnus Paterson, of Sale, and brother to Corpl. A. D. Bethune (q.v.); b. Cluny Ouse, Tasmania, 1 April, 1886; educ. Toorak Grammar School, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; was for a time employed in a bank, but subsequently took up Farming; volunteered for Imperial Service, and joined the 8th Light Horse 12 Sept. 1914, after the outbreak; served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli until Aug. 1915, when he was invalided to England, and admitted to Lewisham Military Hospital 1 Sept., suffering from enteric; returned to duty 5 May, 1916, when he served with the Anzac Mounted Division in Egypt and Palestine, and died at Gaza 19 April, 1917, from wounds received in action there. Buried at Aseifiyeh. His Colonel wrote: “It is to his kind the regiment is indebted for the name it bears of courage and devotion to duty.” Unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5