29149 Private

Samuel Thomas Gammon

"A" Coy. 14th Bn. Welsh Regiment.

10/07/1916, aged 29.

Pier and Face 7A and 10A

This picture shows the family of Samuel Gammon, his wife Gladys is shown with sons Tom (left) Dick (c) and Frederick on his mothers knee.

In the text on the left, Fred tells the story of how the photograph was taken.

Photographs and text courtesy of

265299 Private

John Duffy

6th Bn. Black Watch

(Royal Highlanders)

30/07/1916, aged 21.

Pier and Face 10A. 

 BORN: 7th January 1895 at 6 Preston Street, Rosewell, Midlothian.

Son of John Duffy (Coal Miner) and Catherine Houston.

Enlisted: Blairgowrie

Killed in Action, France & Flanders, Sunday 30th July 1916

Commemorated: Pier and Face 10A - Thiepval Memorial, France.

BLAIRGOWRIE ADVERTISER: 21.04.17

Yesterday Mrs John Duffy, 36 Leslie Street, received official intimation that her son, Pvt. John Duffy, Black Watch, who had been missing since 30th July last, is now presumed to have been killed on that date.

He took part in a charge while suffering from a festering heel, and though advised by his comrades to go back to the doctor he declined, stating he would “stick with the boys”. His comrades carried his equipment over the trench for him, and after they got separated he was never seen again.

Pvt. Duffy was a member of the local Territorials, was called up at the outbreak of the War, and went with the first local detachment to the Front. Aged 21 years, he was a native of Blairgowrie (sic), and before the War was employed by Mr Murray, fruit grower, Essendy. Exactly six months before his death he was home at the funeral of his father.

To the bereaved family much sympathy has gone out.

Image and text courtesy of Mark Duffy of Blairgowrie, great nephew of this soldier.

10868 Serjeant

Mornington Tickner MM

1st Bn. Coldstream Guards

15/09/1916, aged 19.

SPTS/3143 Private

William Henry Thomas

24th Bn. Royal Fusiliers

28/07/1916, aged 23.

Son of Mrs. C. Truman, of Barry's Lane, Padstow, Cornwall; husband of Ethel Thomas, of 9, Hyr Bellevue, Redruth, Cornwall.

Pier and Face 8 C 9 A and 16 A.

Your loving wife, my grandmother never forgot you and loved you still till the day she died, aged 89

Picture courtesy of M. Kellow

10781 Serjeant

Charles Rowley

7th Bn. Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry

16/09/1916, aged 32.

Pier and Face 6B

Enlisted Smethwick, Staffordshire. An Ironworker aged 32. Charles,  Wounded in Action on 27th September 1915, was Saved by Special Reserve 3/5911 Private W. Morley who won the Military Medal. Charles was Killed in Action Lesboeufs, East of Ginchy, Somme , 16/09/1916.

  Remembered by his great, great, nephew.  Dr Tom Rowley, Gnangara, Western Australia

9626 Private

James Blower, MM

7th Bn. attd. 1st Bn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry

18/09/1916, aged 23.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Blower, of Coton Hill; husband of Sarah A. Blower nee Nicholls, of 4, Hammond's Terrace,

Coton Hill, Shrewsbury.

Pier and face 12A and 12D

8594 Private

Charles Edward Dewsall

8th Bn. Royal Fusiliers,

(City of London Regiment)

07/07/1916

Son of Hannah Mary Dewsall, of 49, Southerton Rd., Hammersmith, London, and the late William Dewsall.

Pier and Face 8 C 9 A and 16 A.

Picture courtesy of Lynne Thompson, great-great niece of this soldier

25/841 Private

John Connor

25th (Tyneside Irish) Bn.

Northumberland Fusiliers

01/07/1916.

Pier and Face 10 B 11 B and 12 B.

Picture courtesy of John Barker

20644  Lance Corporal

Edwin Reginald Lambert

2nd Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment

25/09/1916, aged 20.

Son of Alice Lambert, of 6, Park Terrace, Senghenydd, Cardiff, and the late Edwin Lambert.

Pier and Face 14A and 14B

Picture courtesy of Darin Mazzei

201500 Private

Harry Fawcett

(4355) 4th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders

05/08/1916, aged 20.

Son of John William and Sarah Ann Fawcett, of 43, Ramsden St., Littletown, Liversedge, Yorks.

Pier and face 15 C.

Picture courtesy of Gordon Hodgson, great nephew of this soldier

15715 Corporal

John Henry Davies

11th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment

02/07/1916, aged 44.

Husband of Florence Davies, of 18, Lutner St., Burnley, Lancashire.

Pier and Face 6 C.

John was a Shropshire man who had move to Lancashire and was living at 18 Lutner Street, Burnley with his wife Florence at the time of his enlistment. He was a member of the Burnley (Z) company that served in the Accrington Pals Battalion, his date of death varies between 1st/2nd July 1916.

John had been born in Wellington, but for a number of years lived at Dawley with his wife Florence.

They moved to Burnley (18 Lutner Street) in about 1909 where John first found work at the loom works of Messrs. Pemberton & Co and later on became a watchmaker, It was while still working as a watchmaker that he enlisted into the army soon after the war broke out.

John joined the 11th East Lancashire which has gone down into history as the now famous Accrington Pals, He first served overseas in Egypt before coming to the western front in March 1916 and a few months later the battalion went over the top on July 1st 1916 ( The First day of the battle of the Somme).

Florence received word from the War Office that John had been killed in action on July 1st or 2nd 1916 and with his body never been recovered he is now remembered on the Thiepval memorial Pier and Face 6c.

John left behind a widow and 7 children, 4 of whom where quite young. John and/or Florence must have still had ties with Dawley as a memorial service was held for John at the Dawley Parish Church on the 29th August 1916 and his name is on the Dawley memorial in the rest rooms. It might be that Florence had returned to live in Dawley on the death of her Husband.

1st July 11th East Lancs (Accrington Pals) Diary

30th June 6.15 p.m. Marched via Courcelles to position in assembly trenches (arriving in position 4 a.m. 1.7.16).

1st July The assembly trenches for the attack on Serre extended from MARK COPSE to MATTHEW COPSE inclusive with the 12th Battn. York & Lancaster Regt. on the left and the 93rd Brigade on the right. The 13th and 14th Battns. York and Lancaster Regt. were in support of the 11th E. Lancs. Regt. & 12th York & Lancs. Regt. The battalion was ordered to go forward in 4 waves accompanied by details from the 94th Machine Gun Company and the 12th Battn. K.O.Y.L.I. (Pioneers), the hour for attack being 7.30 a.m.

When the infantry advanced, heavy rifle and machine gun fire was opened from in front and enfilade from the direction of the POINT and GOMMECOURT WOOD. A heavy artillery barrage was also placed on our front line trenches. From information brought back by wounded it appears that only a few reached the enemy front line and were able to enter their trenches owing to the intensity of the Machine Gun and rifle fire. Small parties penetrated as far as the German fourth line, but were not heard of again1. During the day the unwounded men who returned were utilised to occupy our front line trenches.

2nd 1 a.m. The battalion remained in the front line until 1 a.m. on the 2nd July when relieved by the 13th Battn. York & Lancaster Regt. During the attack Battn. Hqrs. was situated at head of Sap C. (K 29 a 93 ref map - 1/10,000 HEBUTERNE Trench Map). Total casualties:- Officers killed 7, missing 1, wounded 13 including the Commanding Officer. Other ranks killed 86, wounded 338, missing 140.

On relief, the battalion withdrew to ROLLAND trench (4th line) when reinforcements of 4 officers & 60 other ranks came up.

Picture  and information courtesy of Dave Shaw