1st
Bn Lancashire Fusiliers
1920 - 1922 Dublin Ireland |
William was born in Newton Heath, Manchester on 29 July 1900 but grew up in Hulme and probably joined from 36 Juniper St, Hulme. He worked as a clerk in a timber yard. He had a very dominant mother so his date of enlistment - within a few days of his 18th birthday fits in well with the stories of her absolute rule of the family! His first enlistment was with the Welsh Regiment in August 1918 and I guess that, as the war ended that year, the regiment was scaled down and he was eventually re-assigned to the LF which had been assigned to duty in Ireland. I believe the transfer took place in February 1919 although the card says 7.2.1921 The photograph WP LF 1 shows him (half seated far
left middle row) in a group taken at Porter's Studios Alexandra Rd,
Manchester which must be shortly after his transfer to the LF as he
is still wearing the cap badge of the Welsh Regiment. Other members
of the group seem to have a variety of cap badges so I suppose they
were also transferred from other regiments. The equipment on view in the photographs and the
mention that he had 'a good knowledge of signalling' is consistent with
some of the memories I have of him speaking of his time in the Army
, although he was reluctant to mention it. He did once tell me that
he was caught in an explosion in a booby-trapped building in Dublin
in which some of his pals were killed and his own hair and clothes were
set on fire. The locations and dates of the other two photos are
not known but he looks a little older in WP LF 2 ( right of back row
above) After the war he returned to his job as a timber
yard clerk and lived most of his life in the Manchester area.
Regards |
The Tulla Pipe Band County Clare Ireland. On the 18th March 2011 I was contacted by Steve Lawrence of the Tulla Pipe Band who wrote as follows:- The bass drum shown in the picture was presented to the Tulla Pipe Band (County Clare, Ireland) by the Commanding Officer of the XX Regiment of Foot around 1920. Click on photo to enlarge
it
It was presented as a gesture of goodwill after the band's original drum was smashed by the Black and Tans. I thought you might like a picture of it, as you
can see the rope work has recently been restored. I recently sent this to the Fusilier Museum but did not get a response, so I'm trying you, hope that's ok? Thank you for your help. Steve Lawrence. I replied on the 19th March 2011 as follows:- What a wonderful gesture of the XX during "The Troubles" The1st Battalion of the XX Lancashire Fusiliers were
stationed in Ireland 1919-1921. The band are considering their response. Joe Eastwood. |
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These 4 photos taken in
Rochdale on 9 December 1921, these show Kings Colours, and medals being
presented to relatives of fallen LF in Rochdale.
sent in by Willie Angus |
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