my great grandfather was killed on the 26th of august 1914 at the battle of le cateau,this battle is where the british expeditionary force made a stand during the retreat of mons.private James Templeton 2nd battalion the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers,he fought as a boy soldier in the boer war he is still proudly remembered by our family and in fact I have his service medals. almost 100years ago. TEMPLETON James Pte. 2nd R Innis. Fus. KIA 26/8/1914. Aged 29 son of George and Agnes, Ballymena. Lived Belfast. Comm. La Ferte Sous Jouarre Mem. France. The Observer reported - (May 21, 1915) The parents of Private James Templeton, formerly of Ballymena, now of Belfast, of the 2nd Btn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers are anxiously awaiting news concerning their son’s fate. He has been at the front since the commencement of the war and no correspondence has been received from him since October last. Private Templeton left Ballymena with Private Leslie Houston, the well-known footballer who has since been killed in action. Since the Battle of Mons no trace of Pte Templeton has been obtained. He was an employee of Davison’s Sirocco Works, Belfast and served through the Boer War. He has two brothers on active service, Pte. Robert Templeton of the 2nd RIR and Private George Templeton of the Royal Engineers.
I see the Tower of London moat is being filled with 800,000 oversize porcelain poppies as a tribute. The poppies are being sold after 11/11 for £25 each to raise money for British Legion and similar charities.
My great grandfather, torpedoed March 1915 by U27 german sub off Corsewall point Scotland, HMS Bayano nearly all hands lost. Aged 49 after serving during the 1800's called back up as Naval reserve. Poor bastards....
My grandfather was one of the lucky ones who came home although he was riddled with shrapnel and suffered with his chest from gas I've just come back today after one of my jaunts to Belgium visited the Hooge crater museum this time. Go three or four times a year. It was cool but the sun was out
My grandfather who I never knew was a survivor, never fully recovered from the gas and suffered continually until he died age 41. My farther a Captain was in India at the end of the second world war, he has never talked about it, other than the fact he played trumpet in a dance band.
My Great Grandfather Cpl. Charles Candy. Killed on the 4th May 1917 just outside Arras. I took my first European trip to visit his grave and planned it so I visited him on the 4th May 2017. One hundred years to the day of his death. It was a strange feeling being there. Quite emotional. I then headed up to Ypres to visit the Menin Gate where my Great Uncle is remembered.
