Hello All, As the title says, I'm looking foir help with info on two WW1 soldiers that were killed in action. They are my Mum's uncles. I am now at the point were my limited knowledge of research has me going round in circles! I have their medal cards and can post these if it helps (I need assistance in reading them anyway!). The details I have so far are: Herbert James THURSTON Private 3/7959... and 7253 (these numbers could be vice-versa?) 1st Bn Norfolk Regiment... and then Machine Gun Corps Born : Date not known (North Heigham in Norfolk) KIA : 26/10/1917 Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial Medal Card (there are two for Herbert) states Killed In Action William THURSTON Private 12027 7th Bn Norfolk Regiment Born : Date not known (North Heigham in Norfolk) KIA : 13/10/1916 Buried at Longueval Road Cemetery, E 2 Medal Card states Died Of Wounds I'm looking for any further information or pointers in the right direction, particularly into how/where they died. Unfortunately, THURSTON is quite a common name in Norfolk! Once again, many thanks in advance. Regards, Sean
7th Bn Norfolk Regiment KIA : 13/10/1916 It looks like the war diary for this period is available at the NA website in the Documents Online section. Enter 7 battalion norfolk in the search box, you should find it. This seems to be a brigade diary, so you get hundreds of pages for 3.50. Without a service record it's not possibe to say what is applicable other than near the day died, but since he DOW there is no indication when wounded. Don't expect him to appear by name in diary, usually only the number of casualties is given. The diary should give you a good idea what they were up to each day.
Geoff's Search Engine (link top right of this forum) shows 3 casualties for 13.10.16, but nearly 100 for 12.10.16 so it is likely he was wounded this day when the Bn saw some action. The diary should tell you what they were doing. To lose 100 men is likely a significant attack.
Herbert James THURSTON Private 3/7959... and 7253 (these numbers could be vice-versa?) 1st Bn Norfolk Regiment... and then Machine Gun Corps Born : Date not known (North Heigham in Norfolk) KIA : 26/10/1917 Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial Medal Card (there are two for Herbert) states Killed In Action It looks like the 2 cards are to different men and 7253 , 62136 (the MGC man) did not die, so it is presumably the other you are interested in: 3/7959.
Amazing, many thanks Paul. So it looks like a mass attack on German trenches (coded Bayonet and Scabbard) and a meeting with uncut wire and german machine guns. The diary lists nearly 200 either killed, wounded or missing... and decent detail for the days events too. Hello Geoff, The medal card I have shows records for 6 men... Ah, I see what you mean now... it looks like it says "Not identified with" etc etc on both records! Told you the names were common... so it is indeed the top right man I'm looking for! Sean
Sean I thought you might like to see the Medal Index Cards in a higher resolution? And the two entries in 'Soldiers Died in the Great War' for the brothers... Name: Herbert James Thurston Birth Place: North Heigham, Norfolk Death Date: 26 Oct 1917 Death Location: France & Flanders Enlistment Location: Norwich, Norfolk Rank: Private Regiment: Norfolk Regiment Battalion: 1st Battalion Number: 3/7959 Type of Casualty: Killed in action Theatre of War: Western European Theatre Name: William Thurston Birth Place: North Heigham, Norfolk Death Date: 13 Oct 1916 Death Location: France & Flanders Enlistment Location: Norwich, Norfolk Rank: Private Regiment: Norfolk Regiment Battalion: 7th Battalion Number: 12027 Type of Casualty: Died of wounds Theatre of War: Western European Theatre Sadly it appears that the Service records for the Brothers no longer exist. Have you ever seen the name on the memorial at Tyne Cot and the grave at Longueval? If not then fill in the contact form at the following website with the CWGC details and Mick will send you the photos and there is no cost to you either! BRITISH WAR GRAVES - WAR GRAVE PHOTOGRAPHS
Many, many thanks for that info... but you're right, apart from what you lot have provided, I can find little else other than family history. The War Diaries are great reading though. Almost comical in places if it weren't so horrific - like the insdtance when the German's were spotted on a night raid to the British Trenches and the Corporal of the sentries threw a 'bomb' at them but forgot to pull the pin! Apparently it hit one of the Germans on the head and dropped him... so they threw more 'bombs' where he'd fallen! I'm currently investigating the battlefield area - much of it still named now as it was then. And now I just need to decipher what the scribblings about their awards mean! Sean
Sean Have you downloaded the Brigade War Diaries that Geoff mentioned above? The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details The place you really must look is in the archives of the local Norwich newspaper of the period. There will almost certainly be an article on one or hopefully both brothers when the reports of their death were received. The reports more often than not come with a small photo.
Sean Have you downloaded the Brigade War Diaries that Geoff mentioned above? That's a good idea. Paul has given you the part of the diary that we can be sure is relevant (as we don't have a service record saying where he was) but the Bde diary sometimes contains additional maps, reports or memos. No guarantee though, depends what is filed there but with these type of researches, it's best to leave no stone unturned. And never give up on finding extra bits of info.
Yep, downloaded the full Diary and trawling my way through it! I must be really tired from all this searching today as I can't even find a Norwich/Norfolk database to search online... I'll try again tomorrow! Sean
And now I just need to decipher what the scribblings about their awards mean! Sean There is a good guide to MICS on the NA website, If I remember correctly. The scribbling refers to the medal rolls held at the NA. There are a couple of chaps on here who can get copies for a reasonable fee. You won't get much info, but perhaps some dates if lucky. The two dates 22-9-14 and 30 May 15, you may be able to tie up with actual landing dates in the diaries.
Thanks Geoff. I'm just in the process of matching up exactly what medals they were awarded from here: British Campaign Medals of the First World War (WW1) There really is soooooo much to this research lark that I have no idea about... but I'll get there! Sean
The 1st Norfolks were wiped out at Audregnies in August 1914 and is September 1914 arrival date in France would indicate he was part of a draft that made the battalion up to strength again while it was on the Aisne.
Hi Sean If you need some help in deciphering those Medal Index Cards, let me know. Happy to help. regards Robert
Thank you Robert... is my info below on target? From what I can understand Paul, that would certainly fit in with Herbert's medal awards (i.e. the Clasp for the 1914 Star). Herbert: British War Medal Victory Medal 1914 Star & Clasp William: British War Medal Victory Medal 1914-15 Star Sean
Would the Royal Norfolk Regiment Museum on Castle Meadow in Norwich be able to help? Their website is: Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum Their archivists may have some suggestions. Dee
I'm going to try them tomorrow... unfortunately, I now live 150 miles from my old stomping ground so a visit will have to wait! They do have a picture on their website of the 1st Bn in May 1916... I wonder if Herbert is in that photo?? Sean
