Every day on the British Army Ancestors Facebook page I take time to commemorate a British soldier. This post will look at three of the men I have remembered recently; from left to right: William Polge, William Polliitt & Walter Scrivener.
Second Lieutenant William Edwin Polge of the 7th London Regiment was killed in action on the 16th August 1917. A chaplain’s letter, written to William’s father a few days later reports that William had been wounded and was “in difficulties” but unfortunately “the battalion after taking its objective had to retire, and the wounded could not be brought back.”
William almost certainly died on the field of battle and his is one of over 54,000 names recorded on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres. This photo, along with the chaplain’s letter, his medals and memorial plaque, were sold on eBay earlier this month.
275421 Warrant Officer Class II William Pollitt served with the 7th Manchester Regiment during the First World War and was awarded the Military Medal for Bravery in the Field. This photograph of him was published in a memorial volume issued by William Graham & Company where William was employed. An accompanying note records that he was awarded his MM for bravery at Bullecourt where he successfully held an advanced position for six hours.
69152 Walter Dutton Scrivener served with the Royal Engineers during the First World War. In the photo taken overseas in France his signaller’s blue and white armbands can clearly be seen. Walter survived the war.
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