Acting Bombardier Hugh L Loughlin 685742

The CWGC had only one result for Hugh L Loughlin.

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Photograph of Hugh L Loughlin, courtesy of a family member

Hugh L Loughlin was born in Liverpool on 29th March 1898 and Baptised in the Parish Church of St Peter on 13th April 1898.

His parents were Stephen and Elizabeth Loughlin of James Street, Stephen's occupation was Paper Ruler.

The 1901 census shows the family living at 102 Park Street, Stephen was employed as a paper ruler and Elizabeth was a machinist. Hugh was the 5th of 6 children with elder siblings  Margaret E (13) Thomas (9), Stephen(7) and Flora (5) and a younger sister Norah (9 months) Elizabeth's mother, Margaret Loughlin (this was not her surname, it is a mistake by the enumerator) who was a retired domestic cook, also a family of 3 boarders.

The 1911 census shows the family living at 121 St James St. Stephen was now a paper ruler employer and Elizabeth was not working. They have added 4 children to the family; Ellen (8),Maria (6), Veronica(3) and Ronald (1) their eldest child Margaret has moved out and the census shows that they had an 11th child who died.

Hugh was 13 and in school, his elder brothers were employed in the family business as a paper ruler and a bookbinder's apprentice

Hugh's grandmother was also still with them and her surname is given as Lynk, explaining Hugh's unusual middle-name.

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Hugh Loughlin was in the Royal Field Artillery with the regimental number 685742,  I am informed by an authority on these matters that this number is within the block allocated to the 3rd West Lance Royal Field Artillery Territorial Force when the force was renumbered in 1917. This means that he had an earlier number which was probably from early 1915.

The 3rd West Lancs Brigade crossed to France on 30 Sept/1st Oct 1915 and they were part of the 2nd Canadian Divisional Artillery. They stayed with this division until the old West Lancs Division was re-formed in January 1916, numbered as 55th.

Later in 1915 the 3rd West Lancs became the 277th Brigade R.F.A. and in January 1917 a wholesale reorganisation of the artillery led to its removel from its divisional role and it became the 277th Army Brigade R.F.A., attached to a succession of higher formations as needed.

On 17th September 1917  685742 Gnr. (A./Bomdr.) H. Loughlin, R.F.A. (Liverpool). was gazetted for earning the Military Medal. His MIC for this award shows that he was in C Battery, 293rd (London)Brigade, R.F.A. (T.F.) and it was with the 293rd Brigade that , on 6th November 1917, he was killed in action aged 19. (see the letter below for details of how he was killed and what the MM was awarded for)

His medal card (below) is quite bare, it doesn't show his earlier regimental number and wasn't updated with the details of his arrival in France, his Military Medal or his death.

 Medal Index card source National Archives

Many thanks are due to a relative of Hugh Loughlin who has sent me the following image of a letter, received by Hugh's mother after his death.

Click here to see the CWGC entry for Hugh L Loughlin M.M

His family had inscribed on his headstone "Greater Love Have No Man Than This, Peace Perfect Peace."

Trimmer Richard Longmaid 763081

There was only one result for R W Longmaid in the CWGC database and he was from Liverpool.

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Richard William Longmaid was born in Liverpool on 7th Dec 1894 and christened on 18th Feb 1895. His parents were Richard Henry Augustus and Sarah Anne Longmaid of 15 Emerson Street.

image source: parish records collection ancestry.co.uk

The 1901 census shows that William's father was a seaman (merchant service) and was born in Cornwall. Richard was the second of 4 children with an older sister Sarah E J(aged 7) and younger siblings Louise H (3) and Edith E (1). The family were living at 17 Emerson Street.

The 1911 census shows that the family were living at 31 Penrith St. Richard Senior was still working as a mariner aged 63. Richard Junior (aged 16) was a cabin boy, his sister Sarah (aged 17) was a tailoress.

Richard W Longmaid's service papers show that on 8th Jan 1915 he enlisted with the territorial force and was given the rank of Gunner in the 1st West Lancs Brigade RFA regimental number 1551.

His medical examination shows that Richard Longmaid was 20 years old,

5feet 9 inches tall and had good physical development.

Eyesight in his left eye was poor and in his right eye was fair.

On 31st August 1915 after 236 days of service, he was discharged under King's Regulation 392 para XVI (no longer physically fit for war  service)

After his discharge from the army Richard served with the Merchant Navy. He entered the Merchant Marine Reserve (whereby a number of officers and men of the Merchant Marine agreed to serve with the Royal Navy under the terms of T.124 agreements, which made them subject to Naval discipline while generally retaining their Merchant Marine rates of pay and other conditions.) 
The medal roll below records his medal entitlement (source: national archives)



Tr = trimmer ST = star, V= victory B=British Mr=how the medal was  issued (Mother?) I.C etc = Index casualty number

Richard died aged 21 on 29/2/1916 when his ship the H.M.S. Alcantara was sunk.
The newspaper report below is from the London Times 27/3/1916. Richard is listed under 'specially entered Mercantile crew'

click here to open the Wikipedia account of the battle

Description	English: HMS Alcantara engages the German raider Grief on 29 February 1916, in the North Sea. Both ships sank.
Date	10 December 2012, 17:11:22
Source	The Times History and Encyclopaedia of the War Vol XXI, London 1920 (p.127) via archive.org
Author	Unknown artist

click here to see the CWGC entry for Richard William Longmaid

 The information in the CWGC database shows that his sevice number was 763081, confirms that he was the son of Richard and Sarah A Longmaid of 31 Penrith St, Liverpool and shows that his name can be found on Panel 20 of the Plymouth Naval Memorial.

Fitter Herbert Jeffes 211207

There was only one H Jeffes on the CWGC database.

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(public photo from ancestry.co.uk)

 

 

Herbert William Reuben Jeffes was born on 26th Feb 1893 and baptised on 11th April that year. His parents were Herbert William and Sarah Ann Jeffes of Windsor Street. Herbert Senior was a ship steward.

 

(source ancestry.co.uk)

 

The 1901 census shows that the family were living at 40 Upper Stanhope Street, Sarah Ann and 3 children were at home at the time of the census plus her brother and 3 boarders.

 

The 1911 census shows that Herbert Senior was working as a Warehouse Porter in a rubber warehouse. Herbert junior was a porter and trunk maker for Finegan's, Liverpool. The family were living at 60 Upper Stanhope Street.

This census shows that Herbert and Sarah had been married for 19 years and had 10 children, only 4 of whom survived.

 

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Herbert William Reuben Jeffes enlisted on 9.12.1915

The papers are a little confusing about which regiment he was placed in as they show 6th King's Liverpool Regiment crossed out and 3rd West Lancs RFA put instead. His regimental number is given as 3026 then 686620 and 211207.

 

Medical report shows that he was 22years and 8 months, 5 feet 8 and 7/8 inches tall and 164lbs.

His next of kin was Herbert W Jeffes of 145 North Hill Street, Liverpool.

 

A certificate of trade proficiency shows that he passed the test to be declared a skilled fitter at Woolwich on 19.8.1916

 

 

Herbert Jeffes' service papers have the following details:

attested 9.12.15 at Princes Park Bks, Liverpool

mobilised 4.5.16

West Lancs RFA posted  Gnr 5.5.16

embarked UK 23.1.17

disembarked Salonica 3.2.17

attached ordnance 3.6.17

appt Ftr 18.7.17

posted to 99 aa section 15.8.17

allotted new regimental number 686620

RFA transferred Ftr 14.12.17

RA base posted to RA base depot Salonika for reporting to 27 Div 27.11.18

died fitter 14.12.18

Bronchio Pneumonia Salonika Buried at Janes Military Cemetery, Greece, 8 miles East of Lake Ardyan

 

Medal card for Herbert Jeffes - this does not record a third regimental number which is included in the other papers. It also doesn't have a note of his death or the theatre of war first entered and date.

 

click here to see the CWGC entry for H W R Jeffes

The file also contains the following papers which give a very poignant insight into this sad story:

telegram

13 Dec 1918

Regret inform you officer commanding 84th field ambulance BSF reports 11 Dec your son 211207 Fitter H W Jeffes RGA attached 96 Bty RFA dangerously ill Malaria Bronchitis regret permission to visit cannot be granted.

telegram Princes Rd Liverpool to Artillery Records, Dover

14 Dec

ask officer commanding 84th field ambulance BSF to keep us informed as to Fitter Jeffes211207 condition.

S A Jeffes

telegram Artillery Records, Dover to Mr H W Jeffes

15 Dec

No further news 211207 Fitter Jeffes received.

letter

17 Dec 1918

Referring to your telegram Saturday last re fitter H W Jeffes 211207 attached 96th Battery RFA being dangerously ill with Malaria Bronchitis I would esteem it a great pleasure if you would kindly inform me of any further news from Salonika respecting his illness as we are waiting very anxiously indeed to hear what progress is being made in this very trying time for us.

Trusting you will kindly favour me with a reply as to further developments as soon as possilbe thanking you very much in anticipation.

I remain

yours respectfully

Herbert W Jeffes

telegram Woolwich to Dover

19 Dec 1918

Wire received .... reports 16 Dec 96/19 RFA att from 99 anti a c section RGA died broncho pneumonia 14 Dec 211207 Fitter Jeffes H W R

Field report

To Actg 3rd Echelon OC 96 Battery RFA

herewith report on illness and death of the late no 211207 Fitter Jeffes H W RGA who died in this field ambulance 14.12.18

Report of illness and death of no 211207 Fitter Jeffes H W RGA attd 96 battery RFA died in 84th Field Ambulance 14.12.18

This patient was taken ill on Dec 6th 1918 with a cough and pain over the (??) He was admitted to 84 field ambulance on Dec 10th the chest signs quickly became pronounced and he suffered from general diffuse bronchitis and patches of bronchial pneumonia.

On Dec 11th his name was on the OI list from the first detention in the fiels ambulance was necessary as he was unfit for evacuation. The temperature ranged from 100 to 104. He was given quinine treatment without any avail. Stimulants were administered from ??? ether and ammonia mixture, brandy, hypodermic injection of camphor without improving the condition. He complained of no pain.

He died at 0500 hours on 14 Dec 1918.

He had suffered from recurring attacks of Malaria contracted in Macedonia. His illness was undoubtedly accentuated by active service conditions.

There is a list of belongings that were returned to the family, it is not all legible but includes the following:

wallet, letters, photo, cards, gold ring, diary, story book, holdall, testament, scissors, comb, note book, french manual, knife, buttons, 2 model airoplanes, badges, match, signings, chain, sundries.

In 1919 Herbert's mother wrote requesting copies of his death certificate and book for allotment of gunner H W R Jeffes to help her claim monies owed.

There is a note to say that the requested documents were sent to her in 1921, and the postage stamps she included as payment were returned. Also a note that the family were informed of the exhumation and reburial of his body in a military cemetery.

Driver William Jago 92269

There were 5 possible entries for William Jago on the CWGC, one of them had 'other information' that showed he was from Liverpool, I used the parents' names from this information to identify him in the census returns.

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William Jago was born in Bootle baptised on 12th February 1893 in Liverpool St George. His parents were Sydney George and Sarah Jago. Stanley George was a cabinet maker and they lived at 9 Essex Street, Bootle.

The 1901 census shows that the Jago family lived at 244 Whitefield Road in West Derby, Liverpool. Sydney George was enumerated as George Jago.

The 1911 census shows the family lived at 38 Upper Stanhope Street (next to St James' Church).  Sydney was again enumerated as George. William John Jago was an only child, aged 18 on this census and working as a fishmonger's assistant.

William's medal card (below) shows that he was a driver in the Royal Field Artillery with the regimental number 92269. He was awarded the Victory Medal, British War Medal and the 1915 Star.

It also shows that William first entered the war in France on 18th July 1915.

UK Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919

Name:	William Jago
Birth Place:	Liverpool, Lancs
Death Date:	4 Oct 1918
Death Location:	Salonika
Enlistment Location:	Liverpool
Rank:	DVR.
Regiment:	Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery
Number:	92269
Type of Casualty:	Died
Theatre of War:	Balkan Theatre

Click here to see the CWGC database entry for William Jago

A family notice placed in the Liverpool Evening Express said "Dvr. William Jago R.F.A., aged 21, who died of malarial fever at Salonika, was the only son of Mr and Mrs Jago, 66 Low Hill (W Derby Labour Club). Deceased volunteered on Aug. 26th 1914, served in France and was drafted to Salonika. Previously he was employed by Mr Hill, West Kirby and was a member of the Lorretonian society of St James, Toxteth. 

Gunner William Keam 4839

There were two results for William Keam in the CWGC database.  Cross referencing them with UK Soldiers Died in the Great War showed that one was from Widnes and the other was born in and lived in St Austell. I assume that the soldier from Widnes is more likely to be our man. The only problem I have with this is that I cannot find anything to link him to St James' Church. It is possible of course that in between the 1911 census and his death in 1916 he moved into the area.

Gunner William Kean 4839 R.F.A.

William Keam was born in Widnes in 1889. His parents were Elizabeth and Richard Keam, a general labourer.

Their return for the 1891 census shows they lived at 4 Cholmondeley Street, Widnes. Interestingly, Richard Keam was from St Austell, so the other William Keam on the CWGC may have been a relative.

source: 1891 census Ancestry.co.uk

The 1901 census return shows that Elizabeth was a widow. The family (Elizabeth and 5 children) were still living at 4 Cholmondeley St, now with 2 boarders. They were enumerated incorrectly as Keen.

source: ancestry.co.uk 1901 census

Elizabeth remarried to James Herbert in 1905 (Free BMD marriage index april-June 1905 lancashire Prescot, vol 8b p1156)

At the time of the 1911 census the family are somewhat split up. Elizabeth and her new husband were living at 28 Cholmondeley St, Widnes. William Keam (working as a chemical labourer) and his brother Herbert Keam are with them, as are 4 more children, apparently 3 from this marriage and one from James Herbert's previous marriage.
However, when looking for Elizabeth's other 3 children I found that Elizabeth Keam was working as a servant and Harriet and Thomas Henry Keam were both inmates at West Derby Union Cottage Homes, Fazakerly. The cottage homes were for children who were orphaned, or whose families couldn't cope with them for some reason. Stays there could be temporary eg while a mum was in hospital having a baby, or they could be permanent - until they were old enough to find work and a place to live or had to move to another institute for older children.

click here to go to the wikipedia page about the chemical industry in widnes -

WW1 Medal card source: ancestry.co.uk

William's medal card shows that his medals were inscribed wrongly (KEAN) and were returned to be fixed.

None of William's service papers have survived, we know from the information on his medal card, CWGC entry and UK Soldiers Died in the Great War entry that William was a Gunner in 'D' Bty, 147th Bde of the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery with regimental number 4839.
He died of wounds in the 'Western European Theatre' France and Flanders on  23rd October 1916 and is buried at HEILLY STATION CEMETERY, MERICOURT-L'ABBE which is in the Somme area of France.
At the time William died, this cemetery was used by 3 Casualty Clearing Stations so it is likely that he was recovered from where he was wounded but died of his wounds while still in a clearing station and didn't make it to a hospital.

click here to see the CWGC database entry for William (opens in new window)

The following information is from UK Soldiers who Died in the Great War

Name:	William Keam
Birth Place:	Widnes, Lancs
Death Date:	23 Oct 1916
Death Location:	France & Flanders
Enlistment Location:	Preston, Lancs
Rank:	Gunner
Regiment:	Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery
Number:	4839
Type of Casualty:	Died of wounds
Theatre of War:	Western European Theatre

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Not strictly about William Keam  - his brother Herbert enlisted on 3rd Sept 1914, he was in B Coy 12th Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment. His papers have survived and show that he was promoted to Corporal. On 12th Dec 1917 Herbert was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry and devotion to duty in the field (gazetted 19/3/18 p3465)He was then attached to the 66th Infantry Brigade Headquarters but on 7th February1918 had a bicycle accident which left him with serious head injuries, a court of enquiry found that the injuries were accidental, Herbert was on duty at the time and in no way to blame. His injuries were deemed serious but not likely to affect his performance as a soldier.
Herbert was demobilised on 28th March 1919