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15 October 1914 : Pte Arthur William Heptinstall

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Arthur Heptinstall was born in Batley, Yorkshire in 1878, the son of James (a joiner) and Ann Heptinstall. Arthur was the seventh of their children born between 1864 and 1878. He enlisted in Bradford on 10 November 1899, joining 2nd Bn Royal Scots (Infantry) at the age of 21. He served in South Africa from 1900 to 1902 and in India from 1902 to...

The Chatsworth Rifles raid at Richebourg

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An ideal way to obtain an understanding of the First World War is through reading the memoirs of those who served in the conflict. Examples of these are numerous, Goodbye to All That (Robert Graves, 1929) and Old Soldiers Never Die (Frank Richards, 1933) are well known, but not so There’s a Devil in the Drum (John Lucy, 1938). All of these were...

'Aces Low': The Wimbledon Champion at Aubers

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In the years leading up to the First World War, one of the most famous sportsmen of the Edwardian era was Anthony (Tony) Wilding. An excellent all-round sportsman, Wilding had been born in New Zealand but returned to England in 1902 (from where his parents had emigrated) in order to study with the intention of making a career in the law. He visi...

26 January 1915: Pte Simeon Sharratt

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Simeon Sharratt was born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire on 21 September 1894. He was the son of Simeon (a felt hat maker) and Elizabeth Ann and they lived at 1 High Fields Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire. Simeon (junior) was one of six children. At the 1901 Census he was at home with his parents and three siblings Elizabeth (10), Herbert (8) and Will...

2 February 1915: Philip Arthur Blanshard

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Phillip was born on 18 September 1894 in Hull. His parents were Henry and Alice (née Hurdman). He was educated at Park Road Board School, Hull and employed in the Sanitary Department of Hull Corporation. Above: A street scene in Hull. (ww1hull.com/hull-before-1914/) At the 1911 Census, himself 16 years of age, he is given as a ‘general labourer...

18 February 1917 : Pte. John Jackson

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John was born in 1890 in Burnley. Before the war he was employed as a cotton weaver but was conscripted into service in 1916. Initially he joined the East Lancashire Regiment (as 28410) in Preston before being transferred to the 11th Bn. Suffolk Regiment for active service. Serving on the Western front from mid-1916, John saw action in the latte...

The Five Baldock-Apps brothers from Hurst Green

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Some people will know of the sacrifice of the Souls family from Great Rissington in the Cotswolds. The family's tragedy was recounted by Ian Hislop in the TV series 'Not Forgotten' on First World War memorials in 2005 and told again in a book that supported the series of the same name by Neil Oliver. Annie and William Souls of Hurst Green, East...