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Post by allwarheros on Nov 13, 2016 20:50:30 GMT
Hi, I am very interested in any information regarding William Wallace Dow who I believe was in the 20th Manchester Battalion. For the past few years I display a postcard from this soldier on Remembrance Sunday on my Facebook to commemorate this unknown soldier. The postcard is dated from 8th March 1916 and is from 'Wallace' (as he calls himself) to his father W.R. Dow of 'Armidale', Cavendish Grove, Eccles, Lancs. On one side is a short message to his father. On the other is a poem. I bought the postcard in the 90s for 10p. I would dearly love to know more about my 'unknown' soldier and I'm sure any relatives would love to see this postcard sent so long ago. Lynda
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Post by shred on Nov 13, 2016 21:31:14 GMT
Hi Lynda, Welcome to the forum. I believe that this is William Wallace Dow, although his cap badge is clearly that of the Lancashire Fusiliers. His service number was 306724 (only medal index card to a William W Dow with the Lancashire Fusiliers). One of his brothers who served with the 20th Manchesters Died of Wounds.
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Post by shred on Nov 13, 2016 21:38:31 GMT
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Post by shred on Nov 14, 2016 18:55:45 GMT
The brother ( a Corporal in the Manchester Regiment) mentioned in the second article is James Fildes McGregor Dow.
William Wallace Dow survived the war and his death was registered at Salford in 1969.
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Post by allwarheros on Nov 15, 2016 14:31:57 GMT
Thanks so much for this information! I am glad that he survived the war. I feel so sorry for his parents losing two sons to this war, and I know they weren't the only ones to lose several members of their families. I often think of William Wallace Dow writing this cheery card to his father. Even though injured or ill, he seems to have kept his spirits up. Little did he know when he wrote it, that he would lose his brothers. One thing that does puzzle me is that you mention his Lancashire Fussiliers hat. Is it unusual that he would join a different regiment to his brothers?
The postcard offers the original name of his family's address (which is still there) and also the place he was convalescing at the time. There is also part of the message others may be able to decipher.
I would like to post images of this postcard on here - any advice to which section? Thanks for you help. Lynda
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Post by shred on Nov 15, 2016 21:26:21 GMT
. One thing that does puzzle me is that you mention his Lancashire Fusiliers hat. Is it unusual that he would join a different regiment to his brothers? No, not unusual. He may have gone to join the Army with some friends who signed up for the Lancashire Fusiliers. His parents may not have wanted him to join the same regiment as his two brothers. He may have also been conscripted (1916) thus not having a choice of Regiment. I would like to post images of this postcard on here - any advice to which section? Thanks for you help. Lynda You can post the card in this thread. Any problems please send a copy of the images to salford war memorials email address and I will post them on your behalf.
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Post by allwarheros on Nov 16, 2016 0:17:50 GMT
Hi Shred, I have emailed you the images and a bit of info I've found. Lynda
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Post by shred on Nov 16, 2016 18:13:59 GMT
Lynda, Many thanks for sending the images. Here they are.
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Post by allwarheros on Nov 16, 2016 19:38:05 GMT
Many thanks for posting the images (and for the extra information! Appreciated! The images were sent by my phone. I really need to scan the card to make them clearer and so you can zoom in. It's great to able to put a face to the writer who wrote this card to his dear dad a hundred years ago a It's wonderful know more about him. Thank you.
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