303 replies to this topic

[FRICOURT]

I know of two brothers from Hunslet, Leeds who were killed together with the 10th West Yorks at Fricourt on 1 July 1916 :
Pte 12993 Harold Lowes age 20
Pte 13016 John Lowes age 18
John has no known grave and Harold is buried at Fricourt NMC. This must have been a further blow to their parents who inserted the following newspaper obituary on 1 July 1917 :-
In loving memory of our 2 dead sons Harold and John who were killed in action on 1 July 1916 " somewhere in France our dear sons sleep in two graves we may never see; but as long as life and memory last, dear sons, we will remember thee"

On a seperate note I seem to remember there being 3 sets of brothers buried in Flat Iron Copse Cemetery.

[sandyford]

A very late addition to the list of brothers killed on the same day but I am a new member.
Battle of St. Julien - Monday April 26th 1915
Capt. George Edward Hunter 'C' company 6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers T.F. -Age 28
Capt. Howard Tomlin Hunter 'D' compamy 6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers T. F. - Age 26
Both brothers are commemorated on the Menin Gate.
Lt. A. R. Garton 6th Batt. N. F. was killed on the same afternoon and he was the fiance of the Hunter Brothers' sister.
Kate

[Chris_Baker]

Thanks everyone, the page is now up to date. There are now 99 sets of brothers who died on the same day, listed on the page. Click here.

[Jacky Platteeuw]

Chris,

Up to date??? That's good mate. However sorry to put you again to work here are some more on the Menin Gate    

ALLEN, Private, JOSHIA, 2614. 49th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 7th June 1917. Son of William and Sarah Jane Allen. Native of Gin Gin, Queensland.  Panel 7 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 27 - 29 - 31
ALLEN, Private, JAMES EDWARD, 2616A. 49th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 7th June 1917. Age 31. Son of William and Sarah Jane Allen. Native of Gin Gin, Queensland.  Panel 7 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 27 - 29 - 31

SPALL, Private, ALEXANDER GEORGE, 2995. 49th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 7th June 1917. Age 28. Son of William George and Adelaide Louisa Spall, of 228, Bowen Terrace, New Farm, Brisbane, Queensland.  Panel 7 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 27 - 29 - 31
SPALL, Private, PERCY CHARLES, 2882. 49th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 7th June 1917. Age 19. Son of William George and Adelaide Louisa Spall, of 228, Bowen Terrace. New Farm, Brisbane, Queensland.  Panel 7 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 27 - 29 - 31

SIM, Private, ARTHUR JOHN, 6632. 50th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 18th October 1917. Age 24. Son of George and Christina Sim, of 5, Bond St., West Hindmarsh. South Australia.  Panel 7 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 27 - 29 - 31
SIM, Private, WILLIAM ROBERT, 6634. 50th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 18th October 1917. Age 26. Son of George and Christina Sim, of 5, Bond St., West Hindmarsh, South Australia.  Panel 7 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 27 - 29 - 31

HARRAP, Lance Corporal, ERNEST MERTON, 3327. 59th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 26th September 1917. Panel 7 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 27 - 29 - 31
HARRAP, Lance Corporal, JAMES WILFRED, 3345. 59th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 26th September 1917. Panel 7 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 27 - 29 - 31

FARQUHAR, Private, WILLIAM, 434397. 10th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regt.). Killed in action 3rd June 1916. Age 34. Son of the late James and Elizabeth Farquhar.  Panel 24 - 28 - 30
FARQUHAR, Private, JAMES, 434511. 10th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regt.). Killed in action 3rd June 1916. Age 38. Son of the late James and Elizabeth Farquhar.  Panel 24 - 28 - 30

CAMPBELL, Private, HUGH, 27053. 15th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regt.). Killed in action 24th April 1915. Age 26. Son of Hugh and Georgina Campbell, of 577, St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto.  Panel 18 - 24 - 26 - 30
CAMPBELL, Private, ROBERT, 27056. 15th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regt.). 24th April 1915. Age 30. Son of Hugh and Georgina Campbell, of 577, St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto.  Panel 18 - 24 - 26 - 30

AITKENS, Private, JOHN, 71777. "D" Coy. 27th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regt.). 6th April 1916. Age 29. Son of Johnston and Margaret Aitkens, of 178, McIntosh Avenue, Elmwood, Winnipeg.  Panel 24 - 26 - 28 - 30
AITKENS, Private, GEORGE, 29299. 16th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regt.). 23rd April 1915. Age 22. Son of Johnston and Margaret Aitkens, of 178, McIntosh Avenue, Elmwood, Winnipeg.  Panel 24 - 26 - 28 - 30
AITKENS, Private, JAMES, 29300. 16th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regt.). 23rd April 1915. Age 19. Son of Johnston and Margaret Aitkens, of 178, McIntosh Avenue, Elmwood, Winnipeg.  Panel 24 - 26 - 28 - 30

GILLESPIE, Private, WILLIAM JAMES, 426117. 28th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regt.). 6th June 1916. Age 28. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Gillespie, of Mawer, Saskatchewan.  Panel 18 - 26 - 28
GILLESPIE, Private, REUBEN GEORGE, 426190. 28th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regt.). 6th June 1916. Age 24. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Gillespie, of Mawer, Saskatchewan.  Panel 18 - 26 - 28

WOODSIDE, Private, ALLEN RAY, 73417. 28th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regt.). 6th June 1916. Age 25. Son of John H. Woodside, of Algoma Hotel, Port Arthur, Ontario.  Panel 18 - 26 - 28
WOODSIDE, Private, JOHN MORRIS, 73415. 28th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regt.). 6th June 1916. Age 23. Son of John H. Woodside, of Algoma Hotel, Port Arthur, Ontario.  Panel 18 - 26 - 28

RIDOUT, Private, VINCENT LIONEL WRIGHT, 106513. 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles (Saskatchewan Regt.). 5th June 1916. Age 25. Son of Joseph Lionel Ridout, of Stonewall, Manitoba, and the late Emily Ada Ridout.  Panel 30 and 32
RIDOUT, Private, WALTER COLIN, 106512. 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles (Saskatchewan Regt.). 5th June 1916. Age 20. Son of Joseph Lionel Ridout, of Stonewall, Manitoba, and the late Emily Ada Ridout.  Panel 30 and 32

BURGESS, Sergeant, ARCHIE, 11409. 2nd Regt. (Inf.). South African Infantry. 20th September 1917. Age 41. Son of Harry and Laura Burgess, of 14, Sycamore Rd., Congella, Durban, Natal.  Panel 15 - 16 and 16A
BURGESS, Private, WALTER, 12886. 2nd Regt. (Inf.). South African Infantry. 20th September 1917. Age 21. Son of Harry and Laura Burgess, of 14, Sycamore Rd., Congella, Durban. Natal.  Panel 15 - 16 and 16A

[jim_davies]

Couple more.

May 9 1915
Pte Frederick Leonard Clarke, 16539, 1st Northants.  Aged 19.
Pte George William Clarke, 16537, 1st Northants. Aged 21.
Sons of GW and Elizabeth Clarke, Clapgate, Fascet Fen (?), Peterborough

Pte John William Cooke, 16720, 2nd Northants. Aged 32.
Pte Joseph Benjamin Cooke, 16718, 2nd Northants. Aged 24.
Sons of Hannah Cross, Harlestone, Northampton.

26 Sep 1915
Pte Charles Edward George King, 16280, 2nd Berks. Age 20.
Pte John King, 16341, 2nd Berks. Aged 18.
Both C Company.
Sons of Mr and Mrs George King, 6 Newbury St, Kintbury, Hungerford.

13 Oct 1915
Pte Francis John Alder, 13041, 8th Berks. Aged 20.
Pte William Charles Alder, 13045, 8th Berks. Aged 18.
Sons of John & Annie Elizabeth Alder, Inglewood Farm House, Hungerford, Berks.

Jim

[ianw]

I think mention has been made of the practice of "claiming" brothers so that they came to serve in your battalion. My Grandfather was brought into the 19th Hussars by his elder brother who subsequently left the regiment prior to WW1. It would seem likely that they would  have also served in the same company or squadron . Therefore, the BEF would have had a large number of brothers serving together in very close proximity. If a battalion "copped it" in an action where its casualties were high, the odds on  brothers getting killed would therefore have been quite high.

Reading Chris' list of the brothers concerned brings home the dreadful human cost of this war. To lose  3 sons on one day, your twin boys or your husband and son simply beggars belief. Even contemplating the possibility is profoundly upsetting. How could people bear this ?

One wonders if later in the war there was  a deliberate policy to curtail the practice of brothers serving together. My local Leatherhead family , the Taylors, lost 5 sons but they were all in different regiments.

[Marc Thompson]

Not fatalities, but none the less an interesting entry in the War Diary for 11th Bn (Pioneers), Hampshire Regiment for 16th March 1916:

"No. 12545 Pnr ALDRIDGE, 19466 Pnr BUNCE A and 17480 Pnr BUNCE A wounded tonight. The latter two accidently by the explosion of a bomb. BUNCE A, while digging trenches found a No. 7 bomb and pulled the 'pin' thereby starting the fuze. The bomb exploded wounding himself and his son."

[Ed Matthews]

On a similar note to Marc's posting, I have a Silver War Badge to an Australian soldier who was one of three brothers to each lose a leg through wounds received in action.........

Ed

[FRICOURT]

Have you got the 2 brothers in Gommecourt B C No2 ?
Riflemen H E & P J Bassett QV Rifles both Kia 1.7.16 and burried next to each other.
Charlie

[fatbob]

Victor Frederick HILLARY
Born Hunton, Hants
Resided Suton Scotney
Enlisted Winchester
Private 10477 2nd Battalion Hampshire Regiment
Died at Sea
13/8/15
Age 19
Son of E. C. and Alice Mary Hillary, of Hunton Mill, Sutton Scotney, Hants.
HELLES MEMORIAL

Edwin George HILLARY
Born Micheldever
Resided Suton Scotney
Enlisted Winchester
Private 10470 2nd Battalion Hampshire Regiment
Died at Sea
13/8/15
Age 25
Son of E. C. and Alice Mary Hillary, of Hunton Mill, Sutton Scotney, Hants.
HELLES MEMORIAL

Regards,

Fatbob

[fatbob]

Possible twins?
HODKINSON, PERCY
Driver T4/084762
Army Service Corps
Base H.T. Depot (Salonika)
Age 24
Died at Sea
CHATBY MEMORIAL

HODKINSON, WALTER
Driver T4/084763
Base H.T. Depot (Salonika)
Age 24
Died at Sea
CHATBY MEMORIAL

Both died on 2/6/1917
Sons of William and Mary J. Hodkinson, of 15, Albert Terrace, Highfield, Mossley, Manchester.

Fatbob

[Terry Denham]

Just found these twin brothers buried in Coppenhall (St Michael) Churchyard, Cheshire.

Notice that the only difference in their details are their first names and service numbers (consecutive).

VILLIERS-RUSSELL, Henri
Senior Reserve Attendant
M/10984. H.M.S. "Formidable."
Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve
1st January 1915. Age 29.
Son of Isabelina Villiers-Russell, of 17, Audley St., Crewe, and the late Benjamin Villiers-Russell. His twin brother, John, also died on service in the same incident.

VILLIERS-RUSSELL, John
Senior Reserve Attendant
M/10985.  H.M.S. "Formidable."
Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve
1st January 1915. Age 29.
Son of Isabelina Villiers-Russell, of 17, Audley St., Crewe, and the late Benjamin Villiers-Russell. His twin brother, Henri, also died on service in the same incident.

[Neil Clark]

They both served in the Buffs (East Kent Regiment).



STICKELLS Harry William (brother)

Private G/9125 Harry William STICKLES. 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Friday 15th September 1916 aged 23 years. Born Ruckinge, Ashford, Kent in 1899. Son of Harry Robert and Harriet Stickells of 98 Church Road/ 2 May Cottages, Sevington, Ashford. Formerly Waterbrook Cottage, Sevington. Harry has no known grave. His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial, The Some, France. Panel reference 5D.

Prior to the war Harry worked for the South Eastern and Chatham Railway Company in the Ashford Railway Works.


STICKELLS Thomas George (brother)

Private G/8915 Thomas George STICKLES. 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 15th September 1916 aged 25 years. Born Ruckinge 1891. Son of Harry Robert and Harriet Stickells of 98 Church Road/ 2 May Cottages, Sevington, Ashford. Formerly Waterbrook Cottage, Sevington. Thomas has no known grave. His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial, The Somme, France. Panel reference 5D.

Before the outbreak of war Thomas was employed by Mr D Swaffer of Kingsnorth near Ashford.

[Marc Thompson]

To add to the thread above by Fat Bob concerning Victor Frederick and Edwin George Hillary, both men died (drowned) when H.M.T. Royal Edward was torpedoed after leaving Alexandria for the Gallipoli Peninsula with reinforcements for the Dardenelles. Two hundred of the Hampshire's on board were the first two drafts from the 13th (Reserve) Bn, with another 50 from the 3rd (Reserve) Bn. Out of that number only twenty-six were saved.

[Chris_Baker]

All entries now appear on the page (with one exception see blow). Keep them coming as you find them.

Jim Davies: I can't find the Cooke brothers on CWGC or SDGW. Can you tell me more?

[andigger]

This is an interesting post and like Ali I am not sure I would have though the number of brothers killed on the same day would have been so high.  Of course then I realized it probably would have been most common in the Pals Battalions.  I am also surprised there aren't more examples from the Royal Navy.
   Its a different war, but the Fighting Sullivans were 5 brothers killed on the same day when their ship was sunk in the Pacific during WWII.  Consequently the US military no longer puts siblings together.

[Kate Wills]

George and Hugo Jackson emigrated to Winnipeg, but George retuned with the 1st Canadian contingent in October 1914, Hugo following a little later. This is perhaps the most poignant CWGC entry I have encountered. It brings a tear to my eye as I read:

Lieutenant GEORGE OLAF D. C. JACKSON
10th Bn., Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regt.)
who died age 33
on 28 April 1917
Son of the late Rev. Joseph and Elizabeth Jackson, of Holy Trinity Vicarage, Bampton, Oxon. By the deaths of G. O. Jackson and his brother Lt. H. S. Jackson, of the same Regiment, on the same day and in the same action, this branch of the family becomes extinct.
AUBIGNY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION

Lieutenant H A L C JACKSON
10th Bn., Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regt.)
who died on 28 April 1917
ECOIVRES MILITARY CEMETERY, MONT-ST. ELOI

[Marc Thompson]

Pte 200278 (formerly 2051) George TIGWELL
1st/4th Hampshire Regiment
died 21/01/1916
aged 22 years

Pte 2048 William Charles TIGWELL
1st/4th Hampshire Regiment
died 21/01/1916
aged 24 years

Both sons of Mrs Ada Tigwell, of 38, Hackwood Road, Basingstoke, Hants

Both commemorated Panel 21 and 63, Basra Memorial, Iraq.

[Marc Thompson]

Pte 281179 George CHURCHER
1st/4th Hampshire Regiment
who died 30/09/1916
aged 20 years
buried grave reference: XXI. W. 18.
Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery

Pte 280602 James George CHURCHER
1st/4th Hampshire Regiment attached 1st/6th Hampshire Regiment
who died 30/09/1916
aged 24 years
buried grave reference: XXI. X. 43.
Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery

Both sons of James and Sarah Maria Churcher, of 7, Bath Road, Emsworth, Hants

Both died from dysentery.

Edited by Marc Thompson, 01 June 2004 - 08:21 AM.

[Marc Thompson]

Not sure if Racing Teapots has any further information on the following three brothers all killed on the 12th August 1915 when the Isle of Wight Rifles attacked across Anafarta Plain at Gallipoli:

Rifleman 670, Edward George URRY
"B" Company, 1st/8th (Princess Beatrice's Isle of Wight Rifles) Battalion (T.F.), Hampshire Regiment
Killed in Action 12/08/1915
Aged 35 years
Husband of Mrs F. L. Palmer (formerly Urry), of 30, Clifford Street, Newport, Isle of Wight

Rifleman 2032, William Henry URRY
1st/8th (Princess Beatrice's Isle of Wight Rifles) Battalion (T.F.), Hampshire Regiment
Killed in Action 12/08/1915
Aged 26 years

Rifleman 853, Frederick Albert URRY
1st/8th (Princess Beatrice's Isle of Wight Rifles) Battalion (T.F.), Hampshire Regiment
Killed in Action 12/08/1915
Aged 21 years

All three sons of Mrs Emily Urry, of 42, Orchard Street, Newport, Isle of Wight and the late Mr G. Urry.

All commemorated Panel 125-134 or 223-226 228-229 & 328 Helles Memorial, Gallipoli.

Marc

[Pete Wood]

Hi Marc, almost no info on these men at all - sorry.

I made contact years ago with a Urry family on the IoW, but they had no info on these men.

The Isle of Wight Living History Group is currently working on transcribing the local papers, so I hope to add to their files in the future.

As I'm sure you know, Urry is quite a common name on the south coast area - with many having joined the Hampshire Regiments.

[Marc Thompson]

I'm on a roll ....

Pte 10779, Walter LIGHT
2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
Died 13/08/1915
Aged 23 years

Pte 10954, Bertie James LIGHT
2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
Died 13/08/1915
Aged 21 years

Both died (drowned) when H.M.T. Royal Edward was torpedoed after leaving Alexandria for the Gallipoli Peninsula with reinforcements for the Dardenelles.

Commemorated Panel 125-134 or 223-226 228-229 & 328 Helles Memorial, Gallipoli.

Sons of Walter and Alice Light, of 5, New Road, West End, Southampton

[jim_davies]

Chris,

Sorry-it should be the Cross brothers. Same regiment and numbers.

Jim

[Marc Thompson]

Another set of brothers killed when H.M.T. Transport "Royal Edward" was sunk:

Pte 10747 Frederick CURTIS
2nd Bn, Hampshire Regiment
Died 13/08/1915
Aged 26 years

Pte 10743 George Henry CURTIS
2nd Bn, Hampshire Regiment
Died 13/08/1915
Aged 22 years

Both commemorated Panel 125-134 or 223-226 228-229 & 328
Helles Memorial, Gallipoli

Sons of Frederick Charles and Elizabeth Curtis, of "Mayfield", Moorgreen Road, West End, Southampton.

[Marc Thompson]

Pte 17768 Herbert RYAN
2nd Bn, Hampshire Regiment
Killed in action 09/08/1916
buried grave reference: U. 1.
Potijze Burial Ground Cemetery

Pte 18040 George Patrick RYAN
2nd Bn, Hampshire Regiment
Killed in action 09/08/1916
buried grave reference: II. C. 8.
Poperinghe New Military Cemetery

Both sons of Alice and the late Daniel Ryan of Portsmouth.

Both brother killed during German gas attack on night of 8th/9th August 1916 whilst battalion was in trenches East of Potijze, Ypres. 2nd Hampshire's suffered over 230 casualties during attack, 125 were fatal.

Marc