William Carr 1895-1915

[Silverfox2306]

After a long search I have managed to find where William Carr lost his life.

William was a Private in the Northumberland Fusiliers 1st/7th Battalion.

I knew he was killed in the 16th of June 1915 aged 20. I also knew his name appeared on the Menin Gate, Ypres and on a plaque commemorating his life in St Peters Church Chillingham, Northumberland his home.

But what I didn't know until tonight was where he fell.

A SHORT SUMMARY OF THE WAR HISTORY OF THE 7th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS. 1915-1918.

(extract taken from; "War History of The Seventh Northumberland Fusiliers")

by Captain Francis Buckley

The 7th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers served in France and Flanders for nearly three years with their original brigade, the 149th Infantry Brigade of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division, and afterwards for the last nine months of the war they served in France with the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division, to whom they were attached as Pioneer Battalion.

With the 149th Infantry Brigade they landed in France on the 21st April, 1915, and without any preliminary war experience, without time even to get the atmosphere of the front, they were thrust into the second battle of Ypres, to counter-attack on two successive days an enemy greatly superior in numbers, overwhelmingly superior in artillery, and elated with the success of a devilish gas attack. Under the circumstances it was a massacre by the German artillery and machine-guns rather than a man to man fight. But that gallant advance into the unknown horrors of modern war, did several things. It laid the foundation of battalion tradition, and it gave the British line, tottering and almost broken, a breathing space in which to consolidate and re-form. A staff officer of the Regular Army writes: "No stouter hearts ever existed than those of the original Division, and I shall never forget my comrades from Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland. the attack of the 149th Infantry Brigade on St. Julien on the 25th and 26th April, 1915, was one of the finest feats of arms I have ever seen."
After this violent baptism into war, during one of its worst and most critical phases, the lot of the battalion, or rather its survivors, was by no means a bed of roses. They were back again in the Salient almost as soon as the mud was cleaned off their equipment; and on and off for four weeks they held trenches of the worst description between Wieltje and Hooge. At the latter place, on the 16th June, 1915, they supported an attack in the second battle of Bellewarde, a very trying and expensive experience.

PS,

His brother Thomas, who was in the Northumberland Hussars, was discharged from service and died from his wounds in 1919 at Hepburn Lodge, Northumberland. He was awarded the Silver War Badge.
He is buried in St Peters Churchyard near Chillingham, Northumberland. The stone also bears his brother William's name, who received the usual 15 Star, British War, and Victory Medals.

God rest their souls.

[Raven]

they are not forgotten.. RIP...Thomas and William Carr..

[slizzy]

Pleased to hear of your result Silverfox.

How sad though to be taken so young, the family must have been devastated to lose two brothers. What sad times they were.

[Kate]

I'm so glad you finally found out what happened to Thomas. Explains why we could not find him in the Commonwealth War Graves.

Lest We Forget.

[Silverfox2306]

A very nice lady called Pam who is just back from France, has sent me (half an hour ago) a photograph of William Carr's name on the Menin Gate in Ypres.

They were researching the Northumberland Fusiliers out there and took video of the names of all the boys in the NF on the Menin Gate (Including William Carr)

Pam is going to send me a copy of the video!

Talk about a result.

The tears were streaming down my face........

I have placed the photograph on my Album on Ancestryaid.

[slizzy]

Silverfox, that's so kind of Pam. You must be on cloud nine......I'm really happy for you......I love reading these kind of stories. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[Chris]

I agree Slizzy , what a kind lady to that for you silverfox

[Raven]

Hi John,

I know how much this meant to you... What a smashing thing for Pam to do..

[brianwaugh2470]

With reference to your account of William Carr 1895-1915 and the account of his death during the First World War,

I too am researching a relative as detailed below. As you can see their are some discrepancies and some similarities
and I wonder if you can shed any further light on William Carr.

My information is as follows

William Carr born 1886. son of Robert carr and Mary Jane Smith, the eldest of 11 children
his brothers included
Henry Harry Carr 1890
Robert Bertram Carr 1892 killed in France 1916
Thomas Alexander Carr 1896 died of wounds 1918

I have no other details of William and can't find him after 1901 aged 15yrs.

His brother Robert Bertram was killed in France as follows :-
Robert Bertram Carr was wounded in the Dardanelles in 1915 and
later killed in action in France on Tuesday 25 Jul 1916.
Private 13303, 1st Bat.Northumberland Fusiliers and his memorial
is at Thiepval Memorial, Somme, ( this is the memorial to the missing
at Somme who have no known grave.
Obituary in the Evening Chronicle Newcastle on Tyne ( 22 Aug 1916 )
there are 2 obituaries. One reads.

Carr....killed in action July 25th 1916, Lance Corporal
Robert Bertram Carr ( Pat ) No 13303 N.F. dearly beloved
third son of Robert and Mary Jane Carr 7 Napier Road Swalwell.
Deeply mourned by father, mother sisters and brothers
( Will in Germany, Harry in France, Tom in hospital )
brother in law and all who knew him. Thy will be done.
Then how can man die better than facing fearful odds ?
Greater love hath no man than this.

Thomas Alexander Carr as follows :-
Sergeant 7377, 12/13th battalion Northumberland Fusilliers.

Thomas Alexander Carr born about 1896 at Dunston.
He was killed in action in Belgium on 21 Oct 1918 aged
22yrs Sergeant 7377, 12th/13th Bat Northumberland Fusiliers
and is buried at Erquelinnes Communal Cemetary near Mons.
He was buried by the Germans. Believed to have received
the Military Medal, for throwing a grenade back at the Germans .
No other details known

As you can see some details resemble yours and some do not.

Can you assist any further
am sorry for intruding but I found your post elsewhere and have registered to post this message

[brianwaugh2470]

aah I have seen some of your other threads, it would appear different family.