I would like to make a personal tribute to the following - all of whom have a place in my family tree - and who gave their lives during the WW1 and WW2 - and to who I owe so much. Sadly as I progress with my family history research, this list seems to grow longer every year.

In remembrance of my Gt Gt Uncles:
Sgt Francis G GARLAND, 154th Heavy Battery, Hants RGA, KiA, Ypres - 2 Mar 1917
*Pte Albert H GARLAND, 2nd Btn Hants Regt, KiA, Gallipoli - 29 Apr 1915
*Gunner Frederick H GARLAND, 25th Siege Bty, RGA, died of wounds 16 Sep 1916
*Gunner Robert H GARLAND, Royal Marine Artillery, died of wounds 28 Sep 1918
(* brothers - sons of William Bown GARLAND and Kate SILLENCE of Michelmersh, Hants)

Also remembering the following men who feature in my Family Tree:

L/Cpl Henry C SHARP, 1st Btn Hants Regt - died 23 Oct 1916
Gunner Frederick C ANDREWS, Royal Marine Artillery, KiA - 31 May 1916 - Battle of Jutland
Gunner Thomas E ANDREWS, RFA - died 20 Feb 1915
Staff Sgt Edgar WH BARFOOT, Army Service Corps - awarded MSM - KiA - 23 Oct 1918
Pte John CHURCHILL, 21st Btn Middx Regt, KiA - 18 Sep 1916
Pte Albert G EFEMY, 13th Btn Middx Regt - died of wounds 28 May 1917
Pte Charlie HAMMOND, 14th Btn Hants Regt - KiA - 3 Sep 1916
Pte Edward J DIDYMUS (aka HEWITT), 1st 8th Btn Middx Regt - KiA - 12 Apr 1918 (semi-professional footballer)
Pte Herbert F HOGLEY, 2nd Btn Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regt - died 23 Jun 1918
Pte George W JONES, 4th Btn Middx Regt - died 30 Jun 1915
Pte Augustus J TUBB, 1st Btn Hants Regt, KiA - 28 Mar 1918
Pte Cecil H SHEPPARD, 7th Btn East Surrey Regt, KiA - 13 Oct 1915
Sgt Henry F TOSDEVIN, HQ Staff 24th Bde, Royal Garrison Artillery - died 21 Jul 1915
Pte Louis E HEATH, 15th Btn Hants Regt - died 8 Jun 1917
Pte Frederick SPARSHOTT, 15th Btn Hants Regt - died 14 Jun 1917
Pte Leonard LAKELAND, 16th Btn Royal Welsh Fusiliers - died 4 Nov 1918 (7 days before the Armisitice...)
Pte Wallace SODO, 2nd Btn East Lancashre Regt - died 5 Mar 1917
Spr Harry James WEST, 509th Field Coy, Royal Engineers - died 21 Mar 1918


Also remembering the following men who survived, including two of my Great Uncles:
Pte Charles J DIDYMUS, 7th Btn Hants Regt - Aden and India
Pte Alfred L DIDYMUS, 138 Field Ambulance, RAMC - awarded the Military Medal

And:
2nd Lt Herbert Woodford ORTON, 14th Brigade, 1st Dorset Regt - survived but blinded in one eye....
2nd Lt Ernest Percy SHARP - Hampshire Regt - survived
CSM John CLETON - 2nd Btn Royal Warwickshire Regt - wounded and gassed, but survived
Pte Albert Victor BEVIS - 3rd Hampshire Regt - survived
Pte James SODO - Royal Welsh Fusiliers - survived, but due to horrendous gun shot wounds to both legs, ended up having one leg amuptated...
Pte Albert Victor BEVIS - 2nd Hants Regt, but deserted and joined the 9th South African Infantry - very "colourful" army career - ended up living in South Africa!

And finally a special mention to a very brave lady:
Sister Annie JOBLING, Territorial Army Nursing Service, died aboard the British Steamship "Hoihow", torpedoed by German submarine off Mauritius on 2 Jul 1943.

Most of these people were unknown to me, but they are often remembered and will never be forgotten.

As always, I have been wearing my RED POPPY with pride.

Alison SMITH (nee Hargreaves), Swindon, UK

Pleased to see their endeavours are not forgotten

May they rest in peace

Andy

A nice gesture Alison. It is certainly a long list. I haven't found anyone in my family tree yet who died in the Great War, so I guess we can count ourselves lucky - but your post goes to show just how heavy a toll it could take on others.

Thanks for posting their names.

Barrie

Your family is certainly owed a debt of sacrifice

May they all forever rest in peace.

Thank you all, you gave your todays for our tomorrows.

Stephen

Alison,

A long list indeed.

They are Not Forgotten


Ian.

May they all Rest in Peace.

Thanks you Alison for not forgetting all your brave family members.

Carol