Tell them of us
WW1 battlefield tours
Tracing Family
If you have a family member who served during The Great War, it may be possible to find out more about their service. I’ve set out an example below.
The starting point for this was the family members name – W. Sanger who most likely served in the Wiltshire Regiment.
I managed to find his service record
Based on the dates from his service record, I looked up his likely action in the war:
The 1st Battalion spent the first few months on the Messines Ridge engaged in Trench warfare until March 1915. In March they took part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, followed by several more months in Trenches in the Dickebusch area. In June they took part in two attacks on the German Trench system round Hooge chateau, where the fighting was most severe. The next few months were spent in the trenches near Ypres, Hooge, alternating with rest periods in the ramparts at Ypres, itself under shell fire. In September they took part in a Major battle at Loos.
When I visited with the family member, we were able to visit the likely site where he saw action and was mortally wounded. We then visited the cemetery where he is buried – the AIF Burial Ground.
The Wiltshire Regiment Badge and an example of the “Death Penny” that his family would have received.
It was an amazing trip and I loved every minute of it. Stewart is a wonderfully knowledgeable guide.
Sam