Always hard-hitting and humbling to see such a young age carved in stone. 📍Essex Farm Cemetery 🇧🇪

The first fatal accidental loss of a Handley Page Halifax occurred on 13 January 1941 during a consumption test flight. One of the six crewmen killed was Sgt John (Jack) Napier Hall from Coventry. 📍Stoke (St Michael) Churchyard 🇬🇧

James Ware, RAFVR, served as ground crew with 514 Squadron. He died after suffering a ruptured aneurysm at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridgeshire, which is not far from RAF Waterbeach where his squadron was stationed. 📍Scarborough (Woodlands) Cemetery 🇬🇧

Private Thomas Howlett, Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry, died of wounds at Manchester’s Victoria Red Cross Hospital. In addition to loved ones, his funeral was attended by many Belgians, likely refugees then living in the town. 📍 Ilfracombe (Holy Trinity) Churchyard 🇬🇧

A thought-provoking quote on the wall in the visitors’ centre at the @CWGC’s largest site. 📍Tyne Cot Cemetery 🇧🇪

Victor Hugo Brayne BEM died on this day in 1943 while serving at HMS Flora. A Great War veteran with the D.C.L.I., he later served as a fireman and was awarded for his conduct during the Coventry air raids in 1941. 📍Coventry (Windmill Road) Cemetery 🇬🇧

“Jutland Hero’s Death” was the headline used to report the death of Stoker 1st Class Alfred Ethelbert Tucker, a veteran of the Battle of Jutland who served aboard the dreadnought battleship HMS Agincourt. 📍 Winchester (West Hill) Old Cemetery 🇬🇧

There are 379 casualties buried in this Staffordshire cemetery, including 79 New Zealanders. Among them is Pte George Slade, NZ Medical Corps, who died of cardiac failure under anaesthetic and is buried a long way from home. 📍Cannock Chase War Cemetery 🇬🇧

After 15 months as a prisoner of war in Germany, L/Cpl Henry Hobbis was returning to the UK and his home in Coventry when he succumbed to influenza. 📍Les Baraques Military Cemetery 🇫🇷

Private Noel Finucane of The King’s (Liverpool Regiment) survived the 1915 sinking of the Lusitania but was later killed in Belgium. He also served on the Aquitania until the evacuation of Gallipoli. 📍Vlamertinge Military Cemetery 🇧🇪

Australian tunneller Sapper Michael Francis Lynch was killed in action on this day in 1918. I didn’t notice it at first, but I’ve since realised there’s something unusual about his headstone. Can you spot it too? 📍 Menin Road South Military Cemetery 🇧🇪

Sapper Charles Dennis Swann served with 575 Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers. Originally from Roundhay, Leeds, he is one of only two WW2 soldiers buried in Portugal. 📍Lisbon (St George) British Churchyard 🇵🇹

After being wounded in France on 9 October 1917, Pte Herbert Wadsworth of the Coldstream Guards spent two weeks in hospital before being evacuated to England. Sadly, he died from his wounds on New Year’s Day 1918. 📍Market Harborough (Northampton Road) Cemetery 🇬🇧

Arthur Thomas Gunn, an aptly named rifleman, died on this day in 1918, aged 22. His medal index card shows that he served in France from July 1915. 📍Warwick Cemetery 🇬🇧

I recently started posting on Facebook and today reached 500 followers. Truly humbled that people continue to engage with my military history posts honouring those who have served. If you’re on Facebook and interested, you’re very welcome to follow along: www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

Thomas Simms served with the 2nd Bn, Leicestershire Regiment and was wounded in September 1915. He later transferred to the Military Police and died at the Base Hospital, Leicester, on this day in 1919. 📍Leicester (Welford Road) Cemetery 🇬🇧

South African pilot Flight Lieutenant Louis Rooney took off from RAF Scampton on an operational flight over Bordeaux. His Hampden bomber crashed near Abingdon on return, killing all four crewmen. 📍Benson (St Helen) Churchyard Extension 🇬🇧

Commander Victor Griffith, HM Cable Ship Lasso, died in Portugal in 1944. In 1905, when a naval cadet on training ship HMS Worcester, he was awarded the King’s Prize. He was also mentioned in despatches for service in Russia in 1919. 📍Lisbon (St George) British Churchyard 🇵🇹

Lt Charles Kavanagh, Royal Navy, died of illness on Boxing Day 1942. He first enlisted in 1904 as a boy seaman and was commissioned in 1916. His final post was at the curiously named HMS Brontosaurus, a training centre for amphibious warfare. 📍Torquay Cemetery and Extension🇬🇧

A heartbreaking Christmas Day tragedy befell this 18-year-old RAF serviceman while home on leave with his parents in Coventry. 📍Coventry (London Road) Cemetery 🇬🇧

Since 1947, Oslo has gifted a Christmas tree to the people of London as a token of gratitude for British support to Norway during WW2. In 1940, the King of Norway sought refuge in Britain and the Norwegian government-in-exile was set up in London. 📍Trafalgar Square 🇬🇧

Sapper William Henry Brown, Royal Engineers, died on Christmas Eve 1944. He left a widow, a daughter, and two sons who were in the services. He is buried in the same churchyard as WW1 veteran and writer Henry Williamson. 📍Georgeham (St George) Churchyard 🇬🇧

Aircraftman 1st Class Charles Baker served with the Royal Auxiliary Air Force’s 917 Balloon Squadron, which deployed barrage balloons to protect Coventry. Tragically killed in a road accident when he was struck by a vehicle. 📍Stoke (St Michael) Churchyard, Coventry 🇬🇧

For going over the top alone to bomb the enemy, L/Cpl John ‘Jock’ Christie was awarded a Victoria Cross. Before enlisting in 1914, John worked as a parcel clerk for LNWR at Euston Station. He served at Sulva Bay and in Palestine, where he earned his VC. 📍Euston Station 🇬🇧

Spent an enjoyable evening at the National Memorial Arboretum following the Illuminated Arboretum trail.

Gunner Albert Knaggs, Royal Artillery attached to the Raiding Support Regiment, and Private Thomas Morris, RASC and Special Boat Service, SAS Regiment, Army Air Corps. Both were killed in a crash on board a Royal Hellenic Air Force aircraft. 📍Suda Bay War Cemetery 🇬🇷

Belgian war graves in an Oxfordshire cemetery. They include Julius Noyelle, who died on this day in 1914. He was born at Langemark and lived at Poelkapelle, locations that saw heavy fighting in WW1 and will be well known to battlefield visitors. 📍Oxford (Botley) Cemetery 🇬🇧

Pte Edward Haynes, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, and Pte Frank Benham, Gloucestershire Regiment, both died aged just 18 years old. They are two of almost 1,500 casualties who are buried or commemorated in a large Maltese cemetery. 📍Pieta Military Cemetery 🇲🇹

Private Percival Pickwick, Border Regiment, was killed in Flanders on this day in 1915. He was buried in Menin Road North Military Cemetery, which was destroyed in later battles. He is now commemorated in a nearby military cemetery. 📍Menin Road South Military Cemetery 🇧🇪

Gunner Henry Pyatt, Royal Garrison Artillery, died of pneumonia at Windy Knowe Military Hospital, Blundellsands, on this day in 1918. He had enlisted in 1916 and served with the 6th Siege Battery before being transferred to the clearing office. 📍Nottingham General Cemetery 🇬🇧

Andrew Ronald Knox, 185th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, was killed on this day in 1915. He is buried in Albert, France, and is remembered on a family memorial in my hometown. His brother, Cecil, was awarded a Victoria Cross in 1918. 📍Nuneaton (Oaston Road) Cemetery 🇬🇧

Southend United Footballer Killed… Sapper Ernest Edward Anderson died of wounds on this day in 1915 whilst serving with the 56th Field Company Royal Engineers. 📍Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery 🇧🇪

A local newspaper reported that 56-year-old William Blount had served at Rourke’s Drift. A little research suggests that this was not the case. He was entitled to the South Africa 1877-79 Medal without clasp but was not at Rourke’s Drift. 📍Winchester (West Hill) Cemetery 🇬🇧

I wasn’t expecting to find a memorial linked to the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission whilst walking in Derbyshire. 📍High Peak Trail

The headstones of some of the almost 5,000 German war graves to be found in a large Staffordshire cemetery. In the foreground is the grave of Siegfried Primke, whose JU-88 crashed in the Bristol Channel on 7th December 1941. 📍Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery 🇬🇧

An unusual war grave which belongs to Capt Francis Yates, KOYLI, whose resting place is marked with a private memorial. What makes it unusual is that he died in France and was one of only a handful to be repatriated back to the UK. 📍Donnington (St Cuthbert) Churchyard 🇬🇧

A great day visiting the @rafmuseum.bsky.social, Cosford. Three hangers to explore: ‘Test Flight’ covers WW1, the Battle of Britain, and prototypes from the 1960s; ‘War in the Air’ focuses largely on Bomber Command; and the largest hanger is home to the ‘National Cold War Exhibition’.

Volunteer Alfred Beck, Home Guard, died at Rugby Hospital from injuries sustained during the Coventry Blitz. 📍Coventry (London Road) Cemetery 🇬🇧

“Sacrificed on the altar of Armageddon at Passchendaele, the ridge upon which the hopes of so many of our young and promising men have been blasted.” Stirring words in a newspaper article that announced the death of Second Lieutenant John Low MC MM. 📍Polygon Wood Cemetery 🇧🇪

Private Edwin Whyman had a long career with the Royal Marine Light Infantry, serving on many ships, and saw action in a number of WW1 naval battles. He even survived a sinking after his ship, HMS Nottingham, was torpedoed in August 1916. 📍Nottingham General Cemetery 🇬🇧

Remembering Dr Cuthbert Stanley, a civilian doctor “who with magnificent fortitude died a cruel death at the hands of the Japanese military police.” Doctor Stanley is buried in Singapore and is remembered in his hometown. 📍Hinckley Cemetery 🇬🇧

“Sergt. Hough had a frail body, but a stout and fearless heart.” Words used by the Hinckley Times to describe Royal Army Medical Corps’ non-commissioned officer Alfred Hough, who is officially commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval. 📍Hinckley Cemetery 🇬🇧

On 29th November 1944, a Tiger Moth training aircraft crashed into the back garden of a house in Chelmsford, killing two men. One of those killed was Staff Serjeant Clifford Wormleighton, Glider Pilot Regt, who was piloting the aircraft. 📍Coventry (London Road) Cemetery 🇬🇧

The epitaph “One of the Few” gives a nod to the part played by Pilot Officer Paul Baillon in the Battle of Britain. 📍Bayeux War Cemetery 🇫🇷

The headstone of Percy Kelley, RAF, states he was just 17 years and 11 months old when he died at Endell Street Military Hospital, London. His casualty card states he died of influenza on this day in 1918. 📍Foleshill Congregational Burial Ground 🇬🇧

The casualty card belonging to Private 2nd Class Percy Greenslade, RAF, states that he died of cerebral effusion and heart failure while serving at Lilbourne, Warwickshire. 📍Clifton-on-Dunsmore (St Mary) Additional Churchyard 🇬🇧

Private Reginald Tite, Royal Sussex Regiment, was executed by firing squad for cowardice on this day in 1916. Ninety years later he was one of 306 soldiers who were granted a posthumous pardon. 📍Poperinghe New Military Cemetery 🇧🇪

Able Seaman Henry Cullimore, of Cromhall, Gloucestershire, drowned in Budapest while serving on H.M. Motor Launch 434. He is one of only four Great War servicemen buried in Hungary. His remains were moved to their current location in 1958. 📍Budapest War Cemetery 🇭🇺

Cpl Joshua Wilson rests in a cemetery where I volunteer for the CWGC. He was the son of William and Mary Wilson and was the husband of Beatrice, of 25 Fitton St, Nuneaton. Apart from his medal index card, I can’t find much else about him. 📍Nuneaton (Oaston Road) Cemetery 🇬🇧