Returned from Gheluvelt

[allanp]

I have just returned from a fantastic week touring the retreat from Mons. Whilst I was there we visited Gheluvelt and many Cemeteries and I took the opportunity to visit all the Worcester Lads that are buried there, I also took photographs of their headstones. If you have any loved ones buried in any of these cemeteries please let me know and I will send you a copy of the photo.

I also took the liberty of leaving a cross at the Worcestershire’s Memorial at Gheluvelt from all of us at the Forum. I inscribed the cross with :-

“Lads of the Worcestershire Regiment, You are not forgotten, but remembered with PRIDE. Worcestershire Regiment Forum”

Cemeteries visited.
Mons (Bergen) Communal Cemetery
St Symphorien Military Cemetery
Lanrecies British Cemetery
Romeries Communal Cemetery Extension
La Cateau Military Cemetery
Ypre Town Cemetery
Hooge Crater Cemetery
Hyde Park Corner (Berks Cemetery Extension)

I apologise in advance if I missed a grave but you can appreciate that some of these Cemetery’s contain many graves.
Allan

[Mike Jones]

Hi Allan,
welcome back to the real world. Thank you for checking out those discrepancies. I now know for sure what is on the Headstones and that Pte. Hall died at Gheluvelt. The photos are nice and clear, though it looks a little damp in Sanctuary Wood Cemetery. You did not say who are in the two graves between Hayes and Hall in Sanctuary Wood. The Graves Commission appear to use two basic types of headstone for Worcestershire Soldiers. Which design did you see most of, please?
Regards Mike

[allanp]

Hi Mike

As you guest, both of the others are unknown. You are quite right about the different style of badge on the headstones, totally confused me to start with. I was looking for the usual style which is an indented cross with the Worcestershire badge in the centre and the legend FIRM in a scroll above it. The name is above the cross. This is in the vast majority. The other version I only found 3 times at Hooge. This is a indented circle with the badge in the centre and FIRM in a scroll above the circle. An indented cross is below the Soldiers name. I have photographs of both types if my discription is confusing.
I found at Ypre Town Cemetery something I found very interesting. There is a grave to William (Billy) Dunn, Commonwelth War Graves Commission died 7th December 1987 and served with the 1st Worcestershire Regiment 1917 to 1920.

Regards Allan