Author Archives: DH

Hislop and Palin join forces on Wipers Times film

Michael Palin is to star in a BBC Two film about a satirical magazine published during World War I, reports chortle.co.uk. The film, The Wipers Times, has been written by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman and is based on the … Continue reading

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Two World War I brothers commemorated in East London

Tucked away at the back of churchyard in east London is this gravestone that tells the sad story of how a widowed mother lost two of her sons in World War I. Edmund John Thorogood was a gunner in the … Continue reading

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Kings Liverpool Regiment soldier reinterred in Swinton

A First World war soldier from Swinton, Lancashire, has been reinterred, after his original burial site was scheduled to become the site of a supermarket. Private Wilbraham Lomax Blears (23) of 13th Battalion the Kings Liverpool Regiment died from the … Continue reading

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South African UK Legion commemorate SS Mendi sinking

Members of the South African UK Legion have held the first-ever memorial service at Portsmouth (Milton) Cemetery to commemorate the casualties of SS Mendi. In February 1917, the 4,000-ton SS Mendi, carrying troops from the 5th Battalion, South African Native Labour … Continue reading

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Hessett war memorial, Suffolk

St Ethelbert’s church in Hessett, Suffolk, dates back to the 15th century and is famous for its medieval wallpaintings. Outside the church is a war memorial for the First World War with 14 names on it. Seven of these fell … Continue reading

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The effect of a shellburst as seen by a First World War soldier

A First World War soldier reflects on his first experience of shellfire. ‘And was I panic stricken? No. Not in the least. It would be hard to analyse my feelings as I gazed at the ugly brown hole in the … Continue reading

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Footballer and First World War VC winner Donald Bell

Second Lieutenant Donald Simpson Bell was the only professional footballer to be awarded the Victoria Cross in the First World War. A native of Harrogate, Yorkshire, he trained as a teacher at Westminster College, London, and was appointed assistant master … Continue reading

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Preston announces Centenary plans

Officials at the Lancashire town of Preston are eager to mark the Centenary of the First World War with some major events, reports the Lancashire Evening Post. Among the proposals are a plan project films of the war in the … Continue reading

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Portsmouth Naval Memorial shines light on Scottish rugby legend

His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent will be visiting the Portsmouth Naval Memorial and Southampton (Hollybrook) Cemetery on 19 February to unveil the latest information panels put in place by the CWGC. The panels carry information about the site … Continue reading

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Scunthorpe war memorial uncovered after 50 years

A First World War memorial that had been stored for 50 years at Scunthorpe’s Old Brumby United Church (formerly St Mark’s Methodist Church) is to be rededicated on 3 March. Website This is Scunthorpe reports that relatives of any of those … Continue reading

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