The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) was founded in 1826 by Sir Stamford Raffles. In 1828, London Zoo opened. At the start of the First World War in 1914, the ZSL employed about 150 male staff, 92 of whom enlisted, although 14 were rejected on medical grounds. 12 members of the ZSL’s staff were killed… Continue reading ZSL War Memorial
Category: WW1
Australian Executed WWI
Over 300 UK soldiers, 25 Canadian and 5 New Zealand soldiers were sentenced to death and executed by courts-martial during the First World War. While Australian citizens serving in the Australian Army were sentenced to death, they all had their death sentences commuted. However, there were two Australians serving in the New Zealand Army and… Continue reading Australian Executed WWI
UK Executed WWI
Over 300 ( approximately 10% of soldiers sentenced to death) British soldiers were executed for capital offences during the First World War. I have looked at the cases of executed soldiers from the Corps of Royal Engineers and the Middlesex Regiment. The courts-martial proceedings for these soldiers are available at The National Archives, Kew, London.… Continue reading UK Executed WWI
NZ Executed WWI
While just over 300 British soldiers were executed for capital offences during the First World War, 5 New Zealand soldiers were executed: four for desertion and one for mutiny. THE COURTS MARTIAL SYSTEM AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS EXECUTED 1914-1918 CANADIAN SOLDIERS EXECUTED 1914-1918 UK SOLDIERS EXECUTED 1914-1918 The service papers for New Zealand soldiers can be view… Continue reading NZ Executed WWI
Bourne End War Mem.
Bourne End is a village in Hertfordshire, situated between Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead. There was a rail disaster at Bourne End on 30 September 1945 when an overnight sleeper train from Scotland to London Euston was derailed causing 43 deaths and 64 injuries. Bourne End’s name comes from the Bourne Gutter which flows into the… Continue reading Bourne End War Mem.
St. Mary’s Apsley
St. Mary’s Apsley End Church (Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire) is another example of a local church with war grave headstones in the churchyard. THE FIRST WOLRD WAR G/48463 Private Ernest Finch was a member of the 23rd Labour Company, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment. The 1911 Census provides the following information about Ernest Finch: Born… Continue reading St. Mary’s Apsley
Ypres (Menin Gate)
The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial is situated at the eastern end of Ieper on the road to Menin (Menen) and Courtrai (Kortrijk). The memorial was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield, with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick. The site of the former east gate was chosen, as the thousands of troops matching towards the Ypres battlefields… Continue reading Ypres (Menin Gate)
Lody’s Last Letters
Before his execution on 6 November 1914, Carl Lody wrote two letters. They are reproduced below. To: C.O 3rd Battalion Grenadier GuardsLondon, Nov. 5th 1914. Tower of London To the Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion Gren. Guards. Wellington Barracks Sir I feel it my duty as a German officer to express my sincere thanks… Continue reading Lody’s Last Letters
Essex Farm Cemetery
Essex Farm Cemetery was established as a dressing station cemetery from April 1915 to August 1917. The burials were made without definite plan and some of the divisions which occupied this sector may be traced in almost every part of the cemetery, but the 49th (West Riding) Division buried their dead of 1915 in Plot… Continue reading Essex Farm Cemetery
Menin Rd South Cem.
The Menin Road ran east and a little south from Ieper to a front line which varied only a few kilometres during the greater part of the war. The position of this cemetery was always within the Allied lines. It was first used in January 1916 by the 8th South Staffords and the 9th East… Continue reading Menin Rd South Cem.