Wigan Album
Derbyshires (Spring View)
7 CommentsPhoto: Bernard Derbyshire
Item #: 14994
Possibly Royal Horse Artillery.
My gt grandfather John Beesley was a Staff Serj in the Royal Field Artillery and joined up in Wigan in 1914 when he was 46.He was in the128th BDE He was killed in 1915 and is buried near Doullens, Somme area. The story we heard was he was working with others on a lorry when a shell came down,some died immediately but he died of wounds a couple or so days later. Maybe this photo is of the Regiment.
A superb picture Sylvester - catching the men at their ease, perhaps in a lull, against the backdrop of that terrible war. The men look to be on tack cleaning duties, some of the men have stirrups or bits and a harness buckle in their hands and two saddles sit on the cleaning frame in their midst. We tend to forget today, just how labour intensive it was, and how much hard graft was required to keep gun carriage, tackle and the animals clean and healthy. There are some lovely smiles amongst the firm steely-eyed jaws, which are the more usual pose of the time.
Many of us couldn’t hold much of a candle to them today. In my humble opinion, they were twice the men we are today,
I forgot to mention first time round:- something like eight million horses died in The Great War, plus countless other mules, donkeys. pigeons, dogs, elephants, camels, oxen, bullocks, cats, canaries, even glow worms apparently – all conscripted into the service of King and country – and drawn from all over Empire and Commonwealth. There is a wonderful memorial to all these animals in Brook Gate, which is off Park Lane in London and which seeks to honour and remember the sacrifice that these noble creatures were also called on to make, in order that a tyranny might be defeated.
Michael Murpurgo also wrote a poignant book about this which was also turned into a play. BBC radio 2 broadcast it a couple of years ago on the eve of Remembrance Sunday. Pretty profound stuff!
What a fine photo.
Sylvester attested in 1915 and gave his address as
Billinge Infirmary and his occupation as Hospital Porter.
He is recorded as Gunner 80006, Royal Garrison Artillery,
was aged 36, mother Emma of 20 Darby St. Spring View.
Religion Church of England.
Received British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service.
Thanks for the comments, I didn't know about him being at Billinge Hospital before the war, or his service number. He had an uncle of the same name, and his grandfather was the manager at Sandbrook Mill, Orrell. At least I know a bit more about him now.