Clarky - as our resident WWI expert, is there anywhere you can think of where I can find information on casualties from the N.E. (other than the Commonwealth War Graves Commission)? (:o)

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2001

Answers

Thank you! (:o)

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2001

W.W.1 expert Clarky. What's your story then? Oh and would I be correct in saying that the first fatality in W.W.1 (well the first Briton killed) was from Windy Nook? I know there's some kind of memorial in St.Alban's church but not being of a C of E persuasion myself, I can't say that I've been in to look at it. I think I'll do just that, this weekend.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2001

In view of SMB's question I think I should say that I wasn't actually a participant in the said conflict - merely have a historic interest that resulted in a memorable trip to the Battlefields of Flanders & Picardy last year. That trip resulted in an extended discussion on here.

To be honest I'm not sure Gal. If you know which Regiment the person in question fought in, I believe the Regiments themselves are usually excellent sources of information.

When we went on our trip we photographed the entry on the Thiepval Monument for the Father of a friend who had researched his Uncle's death in service on the Somme. If you're not in a rush I will contact my friend and find out how his Father had set about the task - would you like me to do that?

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Mornin` Clarky! Apologies for my badly worded posting...I did rather make it sound as though you had firsthand knowledge!

I`m getting the feeling that the people I am looking for would have been in the Norhumberland Fusiliers (but I`m also getting the feeling that half the population of Northumberland joined that regiment.)

I`m pretty certain that I have found one through the War Graves Commission - he`s listed on the Helles Memorial in Turkey, on the tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula. But I have only just looking.

I`ve just found another rich seam to explore, having discovered that we are descended from the `Robsons` of Stamfordham. I`d never even heard of Stamfordham - so there you go......I would never have thought of looking there!

I`m really enjoying this again now. (:o)

Oh.......and `yes please` - it would be helpful if you could get some pointers for me! (:o)

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Never heard of Stamfordham!!!!!

Consider it done, Gal. I think you'll find the Northumberland Fusiliers Regimental Historian will be the person to go to, but I'll see if I can find out exactly where/who to contact for you.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Thank you! (:o)}

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Galaxy -- I am surprised that the War Graves Commission was unable to provide you with the information. I traced my great-uncle through the resident colonel in Belgium. I knew that he had been in the Middlesex Regiment -- a well known footballer with Clapton Orient and a winner of the military medal. I thought he had been killed at Ypres. I spoke to the Colonel about him one Sunday afternoon when I was having lunch with a friend in Ypres. On Monday at 9.30 am the colonal phoned me at my office in Brussels with the information that he had died of wounds on the Somme and named the place where he was buried. My grandfather was in the Northumberland Fusiliers - but his battalion at some time was attached to the West Yorks. He fought and was wounded at Gallipoli and the Somme. Fortunately he survived, but was always in pain and suffered from the effects of poison gas. My Dad too fought with the Northumberalands - he was the sergeant major -- fought at Dunkirk and then to Singapore where he was captured and spent three and a half years on the infamous railway. He survived -- one of only seven of the battalion and lived until he was 85. A number of his men were at his funeral.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Hi floridian! The problem`s with me, not the War Graves Commission...I`m delving back without enough information yet really.

Just can`t resist trying the odd hunch when I`m playing around with my family tree. I should really confirm the basic information first.

Fascinated to read some of the very distinguished service in your family - quite humbling when you consider how relatively `cushy` our lives have been. I am just so hooked on 20th Century history now - wish I`d felt the same way when I was at school! (:o)

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Galaxy I am still working on my mammoth Diplomatic Madness -- a narrative as to the causes of the two world wars. Two of the chapters are devoted to the progress of world war 1. in which so many needlessly lost their lives through the incompetence of the generals. I was proof reading them just yesterday, and am no less appaled even now by the callous and wanton waste of life. 8 million military men were killed, 21 million were wounded and 12 and a half million civilians lost their lives through military action, privation or brutal massacres. I was fortunate enough to take a history degree and specialized in that period. Nothing that Hollywood can produce equates to the horror of what happened

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

I envy your depth of knowledge floridian. It`s only in recent years that I have become very annoyed with myself for knowing so little about modern history.

Working on our family tree has personalised `history` for me. First through the information I found about my paternal Grandfather, then last week I was looking at the tree that I have made so far, and was suddenly struck by a lack of offspring from my Gr. Great Grandparents children. They had six children, five boys and a girl, but only one of them produced any heirs. I only have dates of birth so far for that generation, but I suddenly realised that the youngest of that family married the year the Great War started.

I put all the boys names into the War Graves Commission search engine, and came up with possible matches for all of them (all in the Northumberland Fusiliers), but only one of the matches listed the names of the parents. The others only gave me the name, rank and age (in years, not d.o.b.) - so at the moment I don`t have enough information to confirm my suspicions.

Even if I am correct, it is only a small drop in the ocean of that monumental tragedy. Just sitting typing this response my stomach is churning at the thought of all these precious sons, and husbands lives being wasted through wicked incompetence.

Floridian, is the work you are doing for publication? Or is it an extension to your degree?

-- Anonymous, April 22, 2001

Clarky - did you ever manage to come up with the name of the historian for the Northumberland Fusiliers? (:o)

-- Anonymous, May 27, 2001

After your Toon visit, I saw the guy I wanted to talk to, who's father did a major investigation in to his Uncle's death in action.
He promised to get back for me the volume his father had produced so I could extract some info for you. He hasn't done that, but I will call him and remind him. Sorry Gal, forgot about it again!

-- Anonymous, May 27, 2001

Thanks Clarky - there really isn`t any rush, I`m just following it up, so to speak. (:o)

-- Anonymous, May 28, 2001