knightstemplar Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 I would like to tell you about my Great Uncle John Preston he was a Sapper no 476077 with 225 Field Company Royal Engineers and was killed in action France & Flanders and is one of the missing commemorated at Pozieres memorial panels 10-13 he was last seen in Hangard wood near Villes Brettonaux here is his company His mother was Annie Preston and Father John Henry Preston he married his wife Clara Preston of 53 Frederick St Darnall when he returned on leave. Here is his last letter home Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siren Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Very moving.Thanks for sharing it Siren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hjdary Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Its nice that your great Uncle John is remembered..it is only right. My Dad used to work for the council in Durham and regularly came home with odds and ends that had been found in empty houses...recently one of his old work collegues came to visit him and left some old photos that he had found with my dad....who passed them on to me knowing I like stuff like that. Anyhoo, the thing is, I have two prints of a soldier in my cupboard here in Sheffield (Well Rotherham really if I'm honnest) which were taken some time during the Great War and the sad thing is I have no idea who this hero is. This man fought and possibly gave his life for his country only to have his picture left in the loft of a house due to be knocked down probably forgotten about. I feel a little sad every time I go in there and see his picture (I'm a big softy you see!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightstemplar Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 There was once a memorial at Holy Trinity Church Darnall Which has now been demolished and re built on the origonal site, the memorial was saved then stored at the rectory on Mather road, it was seen by a relative of one of the deceased and me as a child with my Grandma propped up against the vicars garage. They then arranged for it to be moved for safe keeping and it was never seen again, That was mid 1980's Memorial unveiled & dedication 13Feb1921 at 3pm By Rev. Eccleston (now deceased) Description of memorial War Memorial of white marble in a carved oak frame of gothic design Inscription In gratitude to God for great deliverance this tablet was erected by the people of Darnall to keep alive the memory of our men who fought and fell in the Great War 1914-1918 Containing 194 names and cost £168 When I saw it the panel was in about 3 sizable peices but the frame was broken and decaying as it was out in the open, we have been looking for it since. I promised as a child to my grandma that I would have it mended and put it back in the church. That was a few years ago and Grandma is no longer with us but I will keep my promise and one day it will be there. I have been helped in my search by many members of various websites, whom I thank very much, the nearest we came was last year when we thought we had finally found it, with the kind help of Reverand West who was the person who knew about it in the 80's. Anyway we shall keep on looking and one day we will find it or replace it. A list of names has been unavailable also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightstemplar Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 The other photos I have are Billy Wright the one in the letter of whom I cant find anything about and two other friends of whom I dont have names for but they were in the same company Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardB Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 I don't think this adds any to your current knowledge : Name: PRESTON, JOHN Initials: J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Sapper Regiment/Service: Royal Engineers Unit Text: 225th Field Coy Age: 24 Date of Death: 30/03/1918 Service No: 476077 Additional information: Son of John and Annie Preston, of 170, Industry Rd., Darnall; husband of Clara Preston, of 203, Coleford Rd., Darnall, Sheffield. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 10 to 13. Memorial: POZIERES MEMORIAL I'm not seeing anything at Ancestry site, though I will continue looking http://www.cwgc.org/search/certificate.aspx?casualty=1587011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightstemplar Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 Thank you RichardB thats very kind of you to look. I think I have just found Billy Wright. Found a Joseph William Wright born Swallownest living Woodhouse on google. Cant find the right one on CWGC though. Unless it is the one that has not much info on it. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Trefcon Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Hjdary, any chance posting the pics on here? see if i can ID what regiment at least ? Knightstemplar, John Preston born Oldham, if you did n't already know. 'Billy' Wright, was he an actual casualty or did he survive the war? In the letter John speaks of him having won the Military Medal, i cant find any 'Billy' Wright or William Wright with an MM in the London Gazette, CWGC or SDGW. Thats out of, 41 Wrights/Royal Engineers SDGW. 51 Wrights/Royal Engineers CWGC. The nearest i have got is, 81516 William Wright 200th Field Coy, RE. From Manchester. No MM. 18659 William Wright 1st York & Lancs, from Walkley. Wrong Regiment and died Salonika. No MM. Two Wrights with MM'S - Victor Claude Wright, Lancs Fusiliers. - P.F. Wright, Royal Engineers. 22190 Joseph William Wright 15th Bn DLI. No MM. As you say from Woodhouse, i think he must also be the J.W.Wright whose name appears on Woodhouse Square War Memorial. But not RE. 41989 John William Wright 7th Liecs. Born Sheffield, enlisted Sheffield. Wrong Regiment. No MM. Knightstemplar, i have been following your search for the lost memorial from Holy Trinity on various Forums etc. i am also a memorial 'hunter'. I am currently recording all known memorials in Sheffield. I think i have about 95% of them. These have been photographed and now i am in the process of typing up all the names on them into about 3 volumes. The first vol is done ( about 4000 names ) and im halfway through vol 2 ( 4000 names ). I know it isn't the real 'McCOY' as such, but if your search is fruitless this is my memorial for Darnall. All born, or living in Darnall. I will send this by PM. regards Dean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardB Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 ... I have been following your search for the lost memorial from Holy Trinity on various Forums etc. i am also a memorial 'hunter'. I am currently recording all known memorials in Sheffield. I think i have about 95% of them. These have been photographed and now i am in the process of typing up all the names on them into about 3 volumes. The first vol is done ( about 4000 names ) and im halfway through vol 2 ( 4000 names ). I know it isn't the real 'McCOY' as such, but if your search is fruitless this is my memorial for Darnall. All born, or living in Darnall. Now that is a real "Labour of Love", puts my "buggering about with Pubs" into the shade. Something I would like to see one day, either here or in published form. Humbled RichardB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hjdary Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Hjdary, any chance posting the pics on here? see if i can ID what regiment at least ? Next time I'm round at the In-Laws I'll pop it on there scanner. J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightstemplar Posted January 29, 2008 Author Share Posted January 29, 2008 Hi dean we have met before sheff forum etc, I said I wouldnt give up looking for the memorial. As you know we have been looking for the Holy Grail for a number of years now but I cant resist posting on a new site and this one is excellent. PMd you. When you send me your email I will send you the images I have of WW1 & WW2 memorials from The Green Club Darnall it was for club members only but will have some of the Darnall names on. Will have to look on the Woodhouse memorial it is not far from me. Sue Hjdary please post your pictures we would love to share them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Trefcon Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Sue, e-mails on way. Hjdary, yes would love to see photo's. Richard B, you will see it one day, when done i will hand it over to local studies. The memorial bit is just a part of the project in hand, i've also photographed about 90% of the CWGC headstones in all of Sheffields church yards and cemetery's, also 90% of all personal inscriptions alluding to the great war on family headstones, and CWGC headstones abroad, some 3000 photo's. these will be typed up as well and put into local studies. At the same time i am trying to record all known sheffield born men that died in the great war, i have CWGC,SDGW,Sheffield Roll of Honour information on over 6000 at present, plus loads of other personal information on them, photos etc. so if any ones got any photos etc of their Great War relatives, i would love to hear from you. regards Dean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightstemplar Posted February 2, 2008 Author Share Posted February 2, 2008 Thanks to Dean I now have a list of WW1 dead that lived in Darnall. What a success. Where to now, I need to get the initials first, most are coming from the CWGC site but I will have to do a little local studies work for the rest. Then I will have to contact the War graves commission and others to see if we can reinstate a monument of such. Now I have the list I dont know which way to turn first. Excellent result Dean Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightstemplar Posted March 3, 2008 Author Share Posted March 3, 2008 There was 1 photo I haven't shown you but I thought I should. If it makes you shiver sorry, it does everytime I look at it. A postcard that was with Johns things. Please note the blood stain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightstemplar Posted March 11, 2008 Author Share Posted March 11, 2008 I have completed a list and I am just putting together a little history of the place. Does anyone have any history of Darnall they could share with me for the Roll of Honour book. Any photos you could send me of WW1 soldiers who lived or were associated with Darnall please PM me and I will send you my email address. I would like to include a few faces to the names Sue ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jeff.richardson Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 Re your Great Uncle John Preston who was killed in WW1, from the 225th Field Company of Royal Engineers. My Great Uncle was also in the Regiment and was killed in June 1917. It was formed in Stockton-on-Tees so I was quite surprised to see people from as far south in it. All became clear when I located John Preston's Medal card..which shows when & where he first fought and medals attributed him. He was actually in 2 Regiments the latter being the 225th and first saw active service in France in 1915..well before the introduction of conscription. You may also be interested to know that the 225th Field Company War Diary exists at the National Archives...and that with it being a Field Company individual soldiers names are mentioned within it. My Great Uncle being mentioned twice, including his death. The National Archives will photcopy relevant pages. Your photo of the Company..do you know when it is dated? Thought this info may help his research. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightstemplar Posted July 14, 2008 Author Share Posted July 14, 2008 Dear Jeff Thank you for your reply, greatly received. As you can see from the first photo he was very young indeed. I have no idea of when either photo was taken only that it was my Gt Uncle and his regiment, the group shot being much later. What do I need to search under in the national archives to find the war diaries? Very interested thank you. Do you have any photos of your Gt Uncle? Please scan and reply if available. Sue ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jeff.richardson Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 Sue The War Diary for the 225th Field Company of Royal Engineers is held under the reference WO95/2576 at the National Archives. It can't be viewed on line, though you can order pages from the diary. As John Preston was killed on 30th March 1918 you can request they copy this page...and perhaps a few after this date as I note he has no known resting place and therefore they may note him Missing in Action then Killed In Action. It will state exactly day by day what the company is doing , where and mentions most casualties by name. I've had the wierd feeling of holding the actual diary and reading through it at the Archives. You often think of the Engineers as exactly that but they were constantly under shell fire re-enforcing the front line and were the "raiding parties" on trench raids, running ahead of the infantry to blow the German barbed wire infront of the enemy trenches to allow the trenches to be stormed. Your Great Uncle was attached to the 39th Division and the date and his memorial location for sure indicates he was part of the "Kaiserschlacht Battle" - the last German Offensive 21st March to 5th April 1918 when the British reported 177,000 men missing. dead or wounded. Many actually became POW's...it's estimated 15,000 were killed but due to the ferocity of the fighting recording the dead wasn't easy and there is a larger proportion of Unknown Soldier graves than one would expect. Look on the 1914-18net website for the 39th Division and the battle for more history. You've probably got this but here is his medal card, shows when he first entered the theatre of war and that his company merged with the 225th..note he has two regimental numbers. Sadly I do not possess the archive material you have on your Uncle and have no photographs of my own. I have however had the honour of laying flowers at his grave. He was Joe Richardson of Stockton-on-Tees died of wounds aged 28. Here's too two heroes! Good luck with your search. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tsavo Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 Lest we forget. Rudyard Kipling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightstemplar Posted July 15, 2008 Author Share Posted July 15, 2008 Jeff Thank you my mum was in the process of gaining his medical card. I am ever so greatful for your help. I was so suprised to see it when I logged on. Thank you. Very emotional reading. Back when I have gathered my thoughts. Tsavo Rudyard Kipling-Recessional Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightstemplar Posted July 16, 2008 Author Share Posted July 16, 2008 Jeff Requested an estimate for war diaries print out for his lost in action date. Will ask for ones before that depending on price. Spooky Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightstemplar Posted July 23, 2008 Author Share Posted July 23, 2008 Had an estimate back 90p and £1.70 postage. Not sure what Im getting for that but it 'll be a photocopy of some sort, asked for the day of his death. If it is just for that day I would like to ask for the days leading upto that day to get a picture of where they were and what was happening. Cheques in the post. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jeff.richardson Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Sue I hope the information you have requested contains the relevant details. It seems cheap knowing the Archives pricing. For your reference I attach what the diary entry pages look like. This extract which I've transcribed shows a typical actvity of the 225th Field Company of R.E's...and their mortality rate and the level of detail that is contained within the diary. Believe you me you won't complain about a bad day in the office ever again! Keep me posted. Good luck Jeff R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightstemplar Posted July 28, 2008 Author Share Posted July 28, 2008 Im not sure what I am going to feel about reading what happened. In a way I dont want to know, but I do, if you know what I mean. Very usure. Thanks for the entry and the transcribing cant read all of the document, hope I can read mine when it comes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightstemplar Posted August 12, 2008 Author Share Posted August 12, 2008 Received my 2xA3 pages from the diary in a very wet envelope. The postie said he had done his best to keep it dry. Hmm. It was a very wet day. Anyway this is the transcribe, looks like they were told to charge, realised the enemy was twice as far as they expected and the Germans were waiting for them in a good position resulting in many casulties and a retreat back to where they came from. Sheet 62d WAR DIARY V18c 28.03.18 During this operation Coy. became very scattered x Lt SEARLE could only collect 5 men of Coy. On MARCELCAVE-AUBERCOURT line running V19d50-V15c00 –East of MARCELCAVE-V10b cent x 9am Transport moved to CACHY (U2a)x Lt ALLDERIDGE took up picks and shovels to Rly. Line near WEINCOURTx 21 OR’s wounded in action of whom 3 are missing x Lt SEALE, CSM & 32 OR’s rejoined unit after being scattered x GENTELLES 6pm Transport moved to GENTELLES V15a 29.03.08 6pm Coy With 225 Co. held a position on the MARCELCAVE-AUBERCOURT line (V20c50-V9cent) at V15a facing East under orders of O.C. 225 Co. Remained in this position all day x GENTELLES 13 OR’s straggler rejoined unit x all surplus transport sent to BOVES under Divl. Train x CSM and 32OR’s sent up line to report to O.C. 234 Co. Sprs CHAPMAN and WEBSTER brought 2 prisoners captured on patrol x V15a 30.03.18 5am 227 & 225 Coys. Retired from posn. facing S.E. from U18d27 toU24a56 x 227 Co North offline with rt. Flank on road in V18c x 225 Co. South x U24b 9am Believing the enemy to be only 300 yards off on the crest in front Major HAMMONDS O.C 225 Co. ordered the line to charge x The crest was reached but the enemy were found to be 300 yds further off still x Enemy immediately opened heavy rifle & M.G. fire on our line x Major HAMMONDS was hit in the region of the heart (believed killed) x 227 co lost C.S.M. STOTT and several NCO’s and men wounded x Many of these were brought in x Sgt STRAUGHAN went out twice to bring in men. Posn. was then taken up on a line 400 yds West of HANGARD- through centre of Bois de HANGARD – xRds in V6c x Coy. On line in U17a x Coy remained here until word was received that 39 Divn. Was relieved by 18 Divn, when remainder returned to billets at BOVES x GENTELLES 12:30pm Transport and stragglers proceeded to BOVES x main road to LONGEAU picqueted (?)and 33 stragglers rejoined Coy x BOVES 31.03.18 12:20pm Coy. paraded picking up surplus transport and wagons to replace those abandoned and marched to BOVELLES x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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