ypres

This is a fascinating photograph. 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment was stationed in India from 1897 to 1910, but was on active service in the Boer War for periods between 1899-1902. Private Thomas Harry Evans is in a hot climate uniform, proudly displaying his Good Conduct chevrons on his left cuff (2 chevrons for 6 years Good Conduct). The distinctive 'Back Badge' of the Glosters is clearly visible on his Solar Topee. The silver tipped cane and the rather ostentatious Aguillette Cords were presumably the photographer's props to 'glam up' the portrait. Pte Evans is also apparently wearing a professional qualification badge on his right upper sleeve. The Battalion was back in England, at Bordon, by 1913. This presumably places the photograph before that date - but after 1909. //

Thomas Harry Evans was born in Gloucester between April and June 1887. The stated length of his Service suggests that he enlisted as a 'Boy Soldier' in the Gloucestershire Regiment in 1903 aged 16 and probably went out to Lahore or Dalhousie in India. The Battalion returned to barracks in Portsmouth in 1910, which might narrow down the date of the photograph to 1909-1910, when Pte Evans was aged 22-23. On 29th October 1914, 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment was defending the Kruisecke Crossroads on the Menin Road between Gheluvelt and Ploogsteert Wood against a determined attack by Bavarian infantry of the German Army intent on breaking the British Line and capturing Ypres. The ferocity of this defence is reflected in the numbers of officers and men of 1 GLOSTERS killed in action over the three days 29th to 31st October 1914. The British line was forced back towards Gheluvelt, but it did not break.//

www.cwgc.org has www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1611797/EVANS,%20THOM... Rank:Private Service No:7233 Date of Death:29/10/1914 Age:27 Regiment/Service:Gloucestershire Regiment "D" Coy. 1st Bn. Panel ReferencePanel 22 and 34. Memorial YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL Additional Information:11 years service. The database of UK Soldiers Died in the Great War gives his place of birth as Saintsbridge (sic), Gloucestershire. Actually Saintbridge on the outskirts of Gloucester which ties in with Gary's birth index record.

Gary Donaldson I can not understand. Between Gheluvelt and Ploegsteert.....on the Menin Road? I know Kruiseke (or kruisecke) is at the south-east of Geluvelt. Ploegsteert is to the South-west of Gheluvelt and the Menin Road is not do that direction.

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The CWGC has this additional information:

Additional Information:
Son of Alexander and E. J. Cooke, of Nottinghill House, Belfast.

Notting Hill House, Belfast www.flickr.com/photos/gerryward/1717209254/

A Charles E Cooke, aged 26, born Belfast was a passenger on board a steam ship in Holyhead harbour on census night 1911. He was described as a Merchant's Clerk.

Help piece together the Life Stories of more than 8 million men and women who made a contribution during the First World War at www.livesofthefirstworldwar.org/

Claude McCaul Alson born 29th September 1892 Allahabad, Bengal, India. The middle child, and only son of Charles Ross Alston [b.1863 d.1937] and Frances Car Alston nee Howard [b.1864 d.1949]. His father is a Barrister. The 1911 census records him living at a lodging house in Hampstead, Lonon. His occupation is recorded as being in the Army but he is further described as “Coasting”. Was he on leave as an Officer Cadet before being commissioned? According to De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, Claude was educated at Carterhouse School and joined the Royal Scots Fusiliers as 2nd Lt on 4th September 1912 and promoted to Lieutenant on 27th October 1914. An unofficial regimental history records that he was killed on the 25th October but all other sources show the 27th. This was possibly while in support of the Northumberland Fusiliers during the first battle of Ypres. His entry in the National Probate Calendar records that his estate of £95 was left to his father.