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Post by bernard on Jan 3, 2015 21:18:26 GMT
I'm trying to find any information possible about the above, my great grand uncle. John was born 28th April 1880, the son of Ralph and Mary Jane Millington. He volunteered in September 1915 and initially served at home, I believe with a Lancashire Regiment, until 1917 when he landed on the Western Front. He engaged with his battalion (by now transferred to the 1st Leicestershire Regiment) and was involved in fighting at the Somme and Ypres Salient. He died on the field of battle at Bulliecourt on 18th April 1917 and is buried at Vermelles British Cemetary, France. Prior to enlisting he lived at 15 Muslinet Street, Salford. I believe his name is listed on the missing memorial window of Christ Church, Salford.
Can anyone advise of where I might find more about his service, and in particular the battle in which he died, a photograph of him, or just any snippets of information? I hope to be able to visit his grave and pay my respects to John in April.
Many thanks,
Bernard
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Post by shred on Jan 3, 2015 22:39:07 GMT
Bernard, Welcome to the forum. John's name was listed on the Christ Church memorial. The church was demolished in 1957 and an effort was made to save the memorial (read hereunder). We did find your great uncle's name listed in the Christ Church parish magazine. John, a 35 year old engine driver, had initially enlisted to the East Lancashire Royal Engineers (service number 2458). There is a partial service record available to view on Ancestry. We recently purchased a postcard which shows the Roll of Honour for the Muslin Street Neighbourhood. John's name is the second name listed. I will check our newspaper indexes to see if an article was printed in any the local newspapers.
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Post by bernard on Jan 4, 2015 16:42:41 GMT
Thank you so much for this information. I am hoping to visit Salford Local History Library to see if they may also have any information. If I find anything from there should I update this site?
Bernard
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Post by shred on Jan 4, 2015 18:48:18 GMT
Bernard, I am sorry to say that we could not find any articles that may have appeared in either the Manchester Evening News, The Eccles Journal, or the Salford Reporter. Please check this when you visit the Salford History Library. I emailed a friend who sent me the following image from the war diary of the Leicestershire Regiment, 1st Battalion for the 18th April 1918. From what I can make out the battalion had ordered a trench raid to be carried out. Towards the end of the entry the officer writing the diary states that (loosely transcribed) We had the following casualties Killed 1, wounded 2lt ?A W Berry? & 21 other ranks. Wounded and remained at duty 3 other ranks. Missing Lt A D Stevens and 3 other ranks. Total 29 raiders returned to billets at PHILOSPHE about 6.0am. I would expect the John was either the man killed or one of the 3 other ranks that went missing. Original image Photoshopped image
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Post by shred on Jan 4, 2015 19:04:22 GMT
This page indicates that he was part of C coy.
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Post by bernard on Jan 5, 2015 16:24:49 GMT
Thank you for the time and effort that you have given to assisting me, I appreciate the information which you have forwarded to me - none of which I had seen before. I shall continue my search through the Salford Local History Library and update this site with any further information I might find. I would dearly like to find a photograph, but doubt such a thing might be possible, although I have heard that the library may hold one of the company John enlisted with from Muslinet Street.
Bernard
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