Thiepval Memorial to the Missing
Somme, France

 

  

 

19853 Private

Walter Towle

10th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers

06/10/1916

Pier and Face 10 B 11 B and 12 B.

 

Picture courtesy of John Barker

 

 

16407 Private

George Amos

11th Bn. Sherwood Foresters

(Notts & Derby Regiment)

01/07/1916, aged 22.

Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A.

 

Picture courtesy of John Barker

 

29149 Private

Samuel Thomas Gammon

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

10/07/1916, aged 29.

Pier and Face 7A and 10A

Killed in Action, aged 29 on 10th July 1916, MAMETZ WOOD, The Somme, France

Remembered on  THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, France

 Wife Gladys, of George Bank, Southend, Father of three sons, Tom, Dick and Fred.

 

The photo published in the local paper immediately excited our interest. We recognised him as Samuel Thomas Gammon, from 5, George bank, Mumbles, one of the 98 men researched by the members of Oystermouth Historical Association who quickly contacted Fred the baby shown in the other photo, aged 91 in 2006. He sent the photograph shown of himself on his mothers knee with his two brothers and recounted this poignant story.

‘In early summer 1916, my mother, Gladys, received a crucifix from my father in France.

She decided to take my brothers and myself into Swansea to Gwalia Studios in Collage Street, where the portrait was taken.

Mother is shown wearing the crucifix and I am the baby, aged 10 months, sitting on my mother’s knee.

A copy of the photograph was promptly despatched to my father, but sadly it is not known if it arrived before his untimely death during the battle of Mametz Wood,   aged 29 years.’

His mother’s crucifix remains one of his most treasured possessions along with his father’s  medals and remembrance plaque which, after 91 years, is still kept in its original wrapping.

 

 

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

John Powell, Programme Secretary of the Oystermouth Historical Association

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.

Killed near Ginchy. Son of George and Mary Tickner of Downside, Peaslake, Surrey

Picture courtesy of Colin Tickner, this soldier was his grandfathers brother

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

 

Reg was my brother who I have never known, because I was born six months after he was killed. I would love to have known him, I was told what a brave fellow he was, and so caring.
 
Belle Kingston (nee Lambert)
 
Picture courtesy of Arnold Kingston

 

 

G/10688 Private

Robert James Harris

3rd Bn. Royal West Kent Regiment

27/08/1916, aged 19.

Pier and face 11 A.

 

Excerpt from the Deal Roll of Honour book:

 "When going into action for the first time, Pte. Robert James Harris, fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. William Harris, 4 Alfred Square, Deal was killed by a shell near a wood famous in the Battle of the Somme. He enlisted on 1st November 1915 in the Royal West Kent Regiment, and was attached to a Machine Gun Company, going to the front on 16th July 1916. He was engaged as spare man in the dangerous work of bringing up ammunition, when the fatal shell burst. No news being received of him after 24th august, steps were taken to communicate with his unit, and his officer then wrote, conveying the news of his death, paying the tribute that he "behaved very well in action, and was a brave man." Pte. Harris, who was 19 years of age, attended the Central Schools."

 

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

 

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