Recent posts

I'm trying to find out more about my grandfather Hugh Arundale's service during WW1. Can't find anything relevant in the National Archives, but I do have his army 'small book' and a few letters, from which I understand he enlisted into the 12th Battalion right at the start of the war, as private #4001, and he survived the war.
I'm intrigued by several aspects of his paperwork; he appears to have been in northern France (Beauval, Somme) on 5th August 1914 i.e. the day before war was declared – as a young working class man from Manchester I can't imagine why he was there, perhaps it's just a huge coincidence? Then he seems to have travelled back to Manchester and immediately signed up with the 12th Manchesters in August 1914. From his service number '4001' I guess he must have been the first in line when the recruiting office doors opened! Other sources suggest the battalion wasn't formed until the next month (September), so how come he enlisted before this? His small book then doesn't detail anything beyond the start date of his home service, even though he served on until 1918, and was promoted at some point to Corporal. By 1918 a letter indicates that he was still in service but back in Manchester, and seconded to Armstrong Whitworth on some kind of war work, and approached by the Admiralty to transfer onto different war work for them (but the Army refused to release him).

Can anyone shed any light on what Hugh is likely to have been doing during his service, given the early enlistment, and lack of any details in his service book despite 4 years serving?

#14

Newly Commemorated Men (CWGC) / Re: Pte 1821 Thomas Birch

Last post by Tim Bell - March 07, 2026, 12:57:48 PM

Thomas Birch's burial has been accepted at Lees. We have been communicating with his grandaughter, who will have an opportunity to choose an inscription for his new CWGC headstone. Work appears to have started on the installation.

#15

1914 - 1918 / Re: 61013 Edward Yates

Last post by Tim Bell - February 27, 2026, 08:05:12 AM

Hi Clive,
I can't find records that answer your question either. Not sure if you have access to WFA Cards but Edward received a pension for a GSW to left arm. 11 Tunstall Street, Longsight.
The Medal Roll page shows a group of Manchesters men transferred to Notts & Derbys with sequential numbering. If you search these men, you may find a service or pension record that provides more information. It's very likely that Edward transferred with a draft at the same time as the rest of the group.

Belated welcome to the Forum.

Tim

#16