Geoff Pycroft Research Page

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Geoff does this research for free, anyone else would charge you £30 an hour, but we would like a donation to the web site to keep it going

A lot of Geoff's research has been made into Feature's
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Sgt Henry James Batt, Pvt Joseph Bryant, Pvt George Heard/ Heardley, George Albert Benjamin, Arthur Lawson , LT General Owen Cadogan Wolley-Dod , Seth Harrington, James Hornby, George Bradley, The Battles Of Le Transloy. The lead up to the Batltle of Selle
George Ashton, Capt Johnson, Billl Dalton 1 and 2, Calling Blighty Films, Tommy Broe Major Smale, Mary Haworth, William Paton, Sgt Sydney Barnes, James Craggie,. Peter TurnerJoseph Holt,, 7th Bn Searchlight Unit, Cyril Robinson, Albert McQuire
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Good afternoon Geoff, hope you are keeping well.

I’d be interested in some help with researching someone I Believe to be my Great Grandfather. Dad (Dave Yarnall ex Mortar Plt 1LF) would have been thrilled if he found out his Great Grandad had been an LF aswell.

John Yarnall born Birmingham 1851.

I know that he married Margaret (Meehan or McCready) in 1889 or 1890 and was discharged from the fusiliers in Salford in 1889/90 after 9 years service. Apparently his number was 488. I also know he lived at 3 David Street in Salford.

Gentleman I spoke to beloved him to have served with the first battalion. Postings to Malta, Cyprus and Bermuda. But that does make sense when I look at 1st battalion postings and his discharge date.
Please let me know how much it will be for the research and how to pay.

Thanks

Chris Yarnall (Dave Yarnalls) Son

Good Afternoon Chris
How delightful to hear from you.
Now then Pvt 488 J. Yarnall has one entry on the Forces War Records Web Site as shown below. He was indeed a member of the 1st Bn LF. As can be seen he was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

J Yarnall
Rank: Private
Service Number: 488
Recommendation Date: 1889
Adjutant Generals List: 273
Lancashire Fusiliers
Archive Reference:
WO102_7
Gallantry Awards:
Long Service And Good Conduct Medal
We don’t currently have any additional information on this medal.

I hope the information above proves useful.
Kindest Regards
Geoff Pycroft
Researcher
LF Web Site
https://www.lancs-fusiliers.co.uk/contacts.htm

Hi,
Please could you assist with my great grandfather’s military history.
772 A.CPL.W(William) E Brown . Lancashire Fusiliers
I have inherited his service medals from WW1.
Hope you can help
Regards
Daren Brown

Good Evening Daren
Please read to the very bottom of what is a long email.
Your grandfather served in the 1st Bn and the 3rd Bn Lancashire Fusiliers.
See the attachments (2).
1. His medal entitlement as recorded with the National Archives.
2. His entry with Ancestry.com.
This is his entry on the Forces War Records Web Site.

William E Brown
Rank: Acting Corporal
Service Number: 772
Regiment: Lancashire Fusiliers
Archive Reference:
WO 372/3/132943
(Can be found at The National Archives in Kew, and contains First World War, War Office: Service Medal and Award Rolls Index)
Lancashire Fusiliers during World War 1
Since 1815 the balance of power in Europe had been maintained by a series of treaties. In 1888 Wilhelm II was crowned ‘German Emperor and King of Prussia’ and... read more here
Collection:
Nominal index of all service personnel serving in a theatre of war 1914-1919

Campaign Medals:
Victory Medal
With the information in William E Brown's record, it is likely that they were entitled to the Victory medal, also called the Inter Allied Victory Medal. This medal was awarded to all who received the 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star and, with certain exceptions, to those who received the British War Medal. It was never awarded alone. These three medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.

Eligibility for this award consisted of having been mobilised, fighting, having served in any of the theatres of operations, or at sea, between midnight 4th/5th August, 1914, and midnight, 11th/12th November, 1918. Women who served in any of the various military organisations in a theatre of operations were also eligible.

British War Medal
With the information in William E Brown's record, it is likely that they were entitled to the British War Medal for service in World War One. This British Empire campaign medal was issued for services between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918.

The medal was automatically awarded in the event of death on active service before the completion of this period.

These are the links to the 1st and 3rd Bn LF pages of the Web Site. Scroll down to the relevant place names and dates and then click on the black bold type. You can then read of the Bn's WWI actions.
https://www.lancs-fusiliers.co.uk/tourspostings/1LFToursPostings.htm
https://www.lancs-fusiliers.co.uk/tourspostings/3LFToursPostings.htm

Arnold Mills MM

Hello,
I am now in my 70's and definitely along with today's problems have a lot of time on my hands. My grandfather Arnold Oxley Mills was awarded the Military Medal in the first world war and as relatives pass on it's difficult to find information of how he gained the medal and under what circumstances. I always promised myself that I would find what I could to pass on to my grandchildren. I have the medal clearly showing his name and the documents enclosed. I would be grateful if you could let me have any information your archives may have on him. He was born I think in Chadderton ,lived in Hulme Manchester and died in Taylorson Street Salford in 1963.
I remember him when I was very young a tall strapping man smoking a large wooden pipe and with great accuracy could spit the excess pipe fluid across the room from his chair. Sounds a bit revolting now but was acceptable in the 60's. and was always lasting memory.
Best regards

David Mills

Good Afternoon David
Many thanks for your email.
Now...information for you...not in any particular order. Their are a number of links below for you to ' click ' on.
His Regimental Number was 8614 and he was a member of the 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers. (amongst others). At the time of his MM Award he was attached to the 86th Trench Mortar Battery. His MM was Gazetted in the London Gazette dated 19.3.18. Unlike other awards the Gazette do not record the nature of the events leading to the award of a MM. It was however very common for a MM recipient to receive a written commendation from his Divisionall Commander...as per your attachment.
He is also recorded as having served in the 10th Bn LF. See the attachments (two).
He is recorded in Volume 2 of the History of the Lancashire Fusiliers by Major-General J.C.Latter CBE., MC. (Awards and Decorations )....see the link(s) below.
http://lib.militaryarchive.co.uk/library/infantry-histories/library/The-History-of-the-Lancashire-Fusiliers-1914-1918-Volume-II/files/assets/basic-html/page1.html

Click on this link for his entry on the Medal Rolls held at the National Archives

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_fn=A&_ln=Mills&_no=8614&_crp=Lancashire+Fusiliers+&_ttl=&discoveryCustomSearch=true&_cr1=WO+372&_dt=M&_col=200&_hb=tna

He has 6 entries on the Forces War Records Web one of which records him as a member of the 11th Bn LF. When with the 11th on 5.9.16. He was withdrawn by ambulance train due to sickness. ...Rheumatism.
When in the 10th Bn he was wounded on 27.2.16. and entitled to wear a wound stripe.
On 27.8.18 when with the 1st Bn he was again withdrawn to a Casulaty Clearing Station with a severe inflamed right middle ear.

It was quite common throughout WWI for local newspapers to carry reports of awards to ' locals' often giving details of the reason for the award. It may be worth spending time researching the archives of newspapers from his home town....they often give up detailed accounts.

I will perhaps leave you for now to absorb the information.

If you go to the Home Page of the LF Web Site and click on the button " Postings Gallery " you can read of the actions of each of the battalions in which he served.

Should you need further assistance please get back to me.

Geoff Pycroft
Researcher
LF Web Site

Some further reading for you about the 29th Division.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/29th_Division_(United_Kingdom)

Earlier this year we were contacted by Elena Galesso who lives in Malfalcone near Gorizia, North East Italy. She was seeking information regarding the WWI Battle Signs worn on LF's uniforms and the occasional use of a representation of the Primrose Hackle on war time helmets. Elena is a model maker of extraordinary talent and her latest project was to be a model a WWI LF from the 15th Bn. She promised to forward photographs of the completed model. It was made from a white metal kit from Andrea Miniatures and came unassembled and unpainted. Elena hand painted it in acrylic on assembly and it stands approximately 55mm in 1/32 scale. (just over 2 inches). I think you will agree that the finished model is exquisite and the detail outstanding. Elena lives in an area of Northern Italy which she says is steeped in WWI history all around her.
Click here to see her Models

Hi Geoff
Can I ask one more question? I am now looking at my paternal grandfathers involvement in WW1.
His name is Richard Lord (b. 28/01/1888 in Heywood & d. 01/01/1965 in Heywood). He fought and was wounded (shrapnel in shoulder & temporary blinded through gassing). Other than that i know no more. I have found reference to a Richard Lord in the Lancashire Fusiliers (281128), I wondered if this could be him, a long shot I know, but maybe worth asking.
Many Thanks

First Name: R Surname: Lord
Incident Details:
War Office Daily List No. 5559
Report Date:
07/05/1918
More Information:
Entitled to wear a "Wound Stripe" as authorised under Army Order 204 of 6th July 1916. The terms of this award being met by being named in this list.
Rank: Private Service Number: 281128
Casualty Listed As: Wounded
Next Of Kin Address: Heywood
2nd/7th and 2nd /5th Lancashire Fusiliers
Archive Reference:
NLS 1918_WList41

Medal card of Lord, Richard. Corps: Lancashire Fusiliers. Regiment No: 281128. Rank: Private.

War Office: Service Medal and Award Rolls Index, First World War. Langley P A - McGrath D. Medal card of Lord, Richard. Corps Regiment No Rank Lancashire Fusiliers 281128 Private.

Document type: M
Held by: The National Archives, Kew - War Office, Armed Forces, Judge Advocate General, and related bodies
Date: 1914 - 1920
Reference: WO 372/12/138124
Subjects: Armed Forces (General Administration) | Army | Conflict | Medals | Operations, battles and campaigns

E mail to Geoff
Wow Geoff, thank you very much indeed. I am so pleased you have been able to shed some light on my Grandfather.
Unfortunately I don't have access to Forces War Records website just Ancestry.

You have kindly confirmed his regiment and service number. What a coincidence that both my grandparents fought in the same regiment (albeit at different times), I am guessing by the dates that Richard fought and was wounded in the battle of the Somme in 1916
Thank you once again for your help.
Phil Lord

Captain J A Davenport Lancashire Fusiliers - just occasionally you come across something written in a book that becomes intriguing - this I believe could be one of them. An Auction purchase of a box of vintage books down here in Cornwall several weeks ago and I have just got round to going through them. The name written on the inside page of each of the 3 volumes of a set called Civilization in England by Buckle and published in 1906 is Captain J A Davenport Lancashire Fusiliers.
A little research reveals there was only one Captain J A Davenport in the Lancashire Fusiliers in the First World War - and he was taken prisoner in 1914 and was a POW in a camp called Torgau in Saxony for the rest of the War. A little more research revealed he oversaw the production of a book now held at the National Army Museum - Manuscript history book: The Torgau History of the European War; compiled from accounts given by officers who were prisoners of war at Torgau Camp, Saxony Germany, 1914; author unknown but produced under the supervision of Captain John Archibald Davenport (1878-1938), 2nd Battalion n Lancashire Fusiliers; covers the service of the British Expeditionary Force in France, August 1914; together with a list of Lancashire Fusiliers taken prisoners of war 1914, issued by the War Office and a photocopy of an obituary of Major Davenport; associated with the Battle of Mons (1914), and the Battle of Le Cateau (1914) World War One, Western Front (1914-1918) and World War One, POWs (1914-1918). Further information shows that he was transferred from the POW Camp to an Internment Camp in Holland in 1918, this gazetted in the Old Rugby School Magazine on Feb 21st 1918 - my question is can anyone help in tracing his family and shed any light on the Brief Stempel stamp in each of the books - could they have been given to him whilst he was a POW at Torgau Camp in WW1 ?- The dates fit, the names fit and I would like to get these books back to his family if possible. Any help appreciated - #weshouldneverforget

I have done some research on him already and have access to the National Archive (online at the moment) as I am already a member and there is some interesting information about him and his family but I lack a photograph. I have the Fusiliers War Diary and an extract from another prisoner of war on the same train as him taking them to Germany.
Angus Mansfield

From Geoff
It would appear this is the gentleman you are talking about
First Name: J A
Surname: Davenport
Incident Details:
War Office Daily List No.5734
Report Date: 28/11/1918
Rank: Captain
Casualty Listed As:
Released Prisoner of War from Germany, arrived in England
Lancashire Fusiliers
Archive Reference:
NLS 1918_WList70
Lancashire Fusiliers during World War 1

Collection:
British Army daily reports - missing, dead, wounded & POWs - WWI

Campaign Medals:
Victory Medal
With the information in J A Davenport's record, it is likely that they were entitled to the Victory medal, also called the Inter Allied Victory Medal. This medal was awarded to all who received the 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star and, with certain exceptions, to those who received the British War Medal. It was never awarded alone. These three medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.

Eligibility for this award consisted of having been mobilised, fighting, having served in any of the theatres of operations, or at sea, between midnight 4th/5th August, 1914, and midnight, 11th/12th November, 1918. Women who served in any of the various military organisations in a theatre of operations were also eligible.

British War Medal
With the information in J A Davenport's record, it is likely that they were entitled to the British War Medal for service in World War One. This British Empire campaign medal was issued for services between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918.

Sadly trying to trace relatives is a very difficult area. We are often asked to trace relatives of a WW1 Veteran to say return a medal that has been ' found '. Unfortunately as you will probably know all records relating to WW1 Veterans are held by the National Archives. Therein lies a major problem.The information you have to date will have been gleaned from the National Archives. It is the only source. ALL on line search engines will have got their information from the National Archives. The POW details will have been taken from the the intelligence reports. Again as you will probably know the majority of records relating to WW1 Veterans were destroyed during the London Blitz of 1940 when the War Office Central Records Depository was gutted by firebombs. Any remaining recovered records particularly Service Records are over 100 years old and any NOK details are hopelessly out of date. Your only source of information are the surviving records held by the National Archives which I'm afraid will not be very helpful in respect of your request. The Fusiliers Museum Bury do not hold any records and they too would refer you to the National Archives.
Regards
Geoff Pycroft
Researcher and Archivist Lancashire Fusiliers Web site

Civilisation of England 3 Volume Set	Inside cover
Name in the book	Stamp in the book

If any relatives read this please contact us

First Name: William
Surname: Wynn
Birth Town: Wigan, Lancashire
Resided Town: Wigan, Lancashire
Nationality: British
Date of Death:15/03/191
Fate: Killed in Action
Rank: Corporal
Service Number: 17095
Location: France And Flanders
Regiment: 1st Bn Lancashire Fusiliers
The Battles Of Helles - The Landing At Cape Helles
Alçitepe - 25/04/1915
1915
o The Battles Of Helles - The Landing At Cape Helles - 25/04/1915
Location: Cape Helles. Turkish/Ottoman victory. Frustrated by the stalemate on the Western Front, in 1915 the Allies decided to open up a new front against the Ottoman-Turkish Empire in the Dardanelles.
Show More
o The Battles Of Helles - Capture Of Sedd El Bahr - 26/04/1915
o The Battles Of Helles - First Battle Of Krithia - 28/04/1915
o The Battles Of Helles - Eski Hissarlik - 01/05/1915
o Formation - 05/05/1915
o The Battles Of Helles - Second Battle Of Krithia - 06/05/1915
o Second Battle Of Krithia - 06/05/1915
o Disbandment - 09/05/1915
o The Battles Of Helles - Gurkha Bluff - 12/05/1915
o The Battles Of Helles - Third Battle Of Krithia - 04/06/1915
o Gully Ravine - 28/06/1915
o Krithia Vineyard - 06/08/1915
o Divisional Move To Suvla - 16/08/1915
o Battles Of Suvla - Battle Of Scimitar Hill - 21/08/1915
o Evacuation Of Suvla And Return To Helles - 19/12/1915

First Name: W
Surname: Wynn
Report Date:
29/09/1915
Information:
Listed as "Wounded" on the Casualty List issued by the War Office from 29th September 1915.
Further Information:
This man was entitled to wear a "Wound Stripe" as authorised under Army Order 204 of 6th July 1916. The terms of this award being met by their naming in this list.
Rank: Corporal
Service Number: 17095
Casualty Listed As: Wounded
Next Of Kin Address: Upholland
Archive Reference:
NLS 1917_Wlist16

First Name: William
Surname: Wynn
Rank Private
Service Number:
17095
Duty Location:
Mediterranean Expeditionary Force
Primary Unit: 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers
Archive Reference:
DT30091915

First Name: William
Surname: Wynn
Rank: Corporal
Service Number: 17095
Regiment: Lancashire Fusiliers
Archive Reference:
WO 372/22/105095

Campaign Medals:
Victory Medal
With the information in William Wynn's record, it is likely that they were entitled to the Victory medal, also called the Inter Allied Victory Medal. This medal was awarded to all who received the 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star and, with certain exceptions, to those who received the British War Medal. It was never awarded alone. These three medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.

Eligibility for this award consisted of having been mobilised, fighting, having served in any of the theatres of operations, or at sea, between midnight 4th/5th August, 1914, and midnight, 11th/12th November, 1918. Women who served in any of the various military organisations in a theatre of operations were also eligible.

British War Medal
With the information in William Wynn's record, it is likely that they were entitled to the British War Medal for service in World War One. This British Empire campaign medal was issued for services between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918.

Memorial Death Plaque Of WWI
The next of kin for William Wynn would have been sent this death plaque after the war to commemorate all of the war dead. Over 1 million were issued in total

Corporal W WYNN
Service Number: 17095
1st Bn .Lancashire Fusiliers
Died 15 March 1918
Buried or commemorated at
PASSCHENDAELE NEW BRITISH CEMETERY
III. A. 17.
Belgium

Click on these below to enlarge them

Neil Hayward
You have his date of death and battalion. Go to the Home Page of the LF Web Site and towards the bottom you will find two links to the History of the Lancashire Fusiliers 1914-19 by Major-General J.C.Latter CBE MC. Volume 2 contains a Calendar of Movements for the LF Battalions during WWI. From that you can find out where the 1st Bn LF were on the date of his death and the days immediately prior to it.
From that you can then go to Volume 1 and with the date and location look up and read about the actions on that date. Everything you need to know is on the Web Site. It now has over 10,000 pages and 30,000 photographs. We are a very small team and do what we do in our spare time. Where necessary we will point you in the right direction / areas for research. We would be grateful for sight of your finished article and perhaps it would be available to place on the LF Web Site?
Regards
Geoff Pycroft

Name: John Thomas Partington
Military Year: 1914-1920
Rank: Private
Company: WO 329
Regiment or Corps: Lancashire Fusiliers
Regiment Number: 66639
Medal Awarded: British War Medal and Victory Medal

First Name:James
Surname: Ferguson
Information:
Attached 2/5th Battalion. Territorial Force.
Rank:Temporary 2nd Lieutenant
Gazette Info:
Gazette Issue 31583. M.C. With reference to the Awards conferred as announced in the London Gazette, dated 8th March, 1919, the following are the statements of services for which the decorations were conferred. For conspicuous gallantry and good work during operations south of Lillie on the night 16th-17th October, 1918. He commanded a patrol of eleven men. Which pushed over two canals during the night on the heels of the enemy in order that his company might advance in the morning. Finding that the second canal was covered by the enemy, he attacked them, forced them to retire, and established a bridge-head in order that his company might pass.
Gazette Date:
03/10/1919
Gazette Page:
12289
Service:
British Army
Regiment:
Lancashire Regiment
Lancashire Regiment during World War 1
More information about Lancashire Regiment
Formed: 1958