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The Coldstream Guards and Irish Guards at Cuinchy 1915

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Cuinchy is a village astride the La Bassée Canal and is referred to by Robert Graves in his classic memoir Goodbye to All That: 'Cuinchy bred rats. They came up from the canal, fed on the plentiful corpses, and multiplied exceedingly. While I stayed here with the Welsh, a new officer joined the company... When he turned in that night, he heard a s…

31 January 1915: Pte Henry Arthur Nicholls

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Son of James Nicholls. He was educated Highfield Road School and initially worked as a machinist. 29 June 1913 he married Helen (née Ware) at St.Stephen's Church, Walworth. They lived at 178, Westmoreland Road, Walworth. Henry enlisted 30 June 1910 in the Coldstream Guards. Come the war Henry was called up and went to the Front with his…

1 February 1915: 2nd Lieut. Harold Norton Clifton

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Son of William Edward Clifton (architect and surveyor and Isabel Clifton (née Nelson) from Carlisle, living at 7, East India Avenue, London. 1901 age 6, with parents and 1 year old sister, and 4 domestic servants Cambridge Square. Harold was first educated St Peter’s Court, Broadstairs, Paddington. Ten years later, at the 1911 Census, Harold…

2 February 1915: Philip Arthur Blanshard

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Parents Henry and Alice (née Hurdman). Educated at Park Road Board School, Hull and employed in the Sanitary Department of Hull Corporation. At the 1911 Census, himself 16 years of age, he is given as a ‘general labourer’ and was living with his parents, seven siblings ages 5 to 21 and his 81 year old grandmother at 4 Finsbury Grove, Fountain…

Christmas Day 1914 – Goodwill to all men?

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Much has been written about the Christmas Day ‘Truce’ on 25 December 1914 – while the popular image of Christmas Day 1914 might be that ‘peace reigned’, this was not universal across the western front. Above: the Christmas Truce 1914 Indeed, the CWGC records the deaths of 78 men on the western front on 25 December 1914 – whilst just over 30 of…