BIRMINGHAM AT WAR

A Tribute to members of my family who fought and died in the first world war.

This page is devoted to members of my family and their friends who fought and died in the First World War.

My Great Grandfather:Sgt. William Henry CALBREATH. Royal Warwickshire Regiment(later Royal Engineers).No.500203.48th(S. Midland Div.)Signalling Co.1881-1934.

My Great uncle:Lance Cpl.John Herbert CALBREATH.MM.No.A/731 13th Battalion(formerly 8th).Kings Royal Rifle Corps.1888-25.8.1918.

My Great uncle:Albert Sidney CALBREATH.(Rank and regiment unknown. Gassed and spent rest of life in Hollymoor Hospital, Northfield.)1893-?

My Great Aunt's husband:Sgt.Alfred SPRIGG.No.11929.Dorsetshire Regiment.6th Battalion.1879-31.10.1916.

.....death came flying through the air
And stopped his flight at the dugout stair,
Touched his prey-
And left them there-
Clay to clay.
He hid their bodies stealthily
In the soil of the land they sought to free,
And fled away.
(Joyce Kilmer)

My Great Grandfather is buried in Harborne Cemetery.
John Herbert Calbreath is buried in Achiet-le-Grand Military Cemetery, Northern France. I am unaware of the burial site of Albert Sidney Calbreath.

The rest have no known grave.

The following photographs are from my own collection. They may not be reproduced without my permission.

A recent photograph of Achiet-le-Grand Military Cemetery in Northern France.

A recent photograph of the grave site of John Herbert Calbreath.(The inscription reads:DUTY NOBLY DONE).

This photo has "Jack"written on reverse. Can anyone identify Regiment, Rank or Medal?

A group of Signallers. Possibly Bulford, Salisbury Plain, 1909.(W.H.Calbreath is 2nd from right, middle row)

Fifth Warwickshire Division.(W.H.C. far left.)

Arrival of the Warwicks S. Midlands Div. at Perham Down Camp.

With fellow signallers. W.H.C. 2nd from right.

This is a German map, found by W.H.C. at St. Julien on 17th August 1917.

Does anyone recognise these soldiers? They are from the 48th Division. Obviously part time entertainers. On the left is Sergt. P.J. Cruikshank. On the right is Sapper Fred R. Palmer.

Photos of the 2nd and 5th Battalions of the Royal Warwickshire regiment between 1907 and 1908.(Porthcawl 1907, West Lulworth 1908 ).

The 5th Warwickshires. 1909. The bottom photo is at Brockenhurst Camp.

Warwickshires at New Street Station Railway sheds, Suffolk Street. August 1914.

SOLDIERS OF THE GREAT WAR.

Over the next month I will be adding about another 30 photographs of unidentified army friends. Your help in trying to identify them would be appreciated.

I have a copy of "THE HISTORY of the 1ST VOLUNTEER BATTALION-THE ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE REGIMENT- and its predecessors. By Colonel Charles J. Hart V.D.It tells the History of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment from its formation until 1905. It lists every volunteer sent to the Boer War. I would be willing to look up names, dates and events.(No bulk extractions please).

This I think is William Henry Calbreath in his Royal Engineers uniform. He has the rank of staff sergeant and the emblem above the stripes indicates a grenade. He was a signalling sergeant but the cross flags would be on the other arm. If anyone could give me any further information abou the photograph, I would be grateful?

THE SOLDIER'S GALLERY

Please Email me if you require a larger detailed copy of one of the above photographs.

E-Mail Me

Click on the text below for further images.

Sapper R. Robinson. Killed in action Asage Plateau. June 15th 1917.

Field Marshal, Earl Roberts of Kandahar.

Signalling School. 23rd Class.

Number 4 Section. 48th Division Signals.

LINKS TO OTHER WAR RELATED WEBSITES.

The Great War Society.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Kyle Tallett's Great War Page.

Birmingham War Memorials.

My thanks to Andrew Thornton for the loan of some of the photos in the soldiers gallery and the cartoon postcard.

The material on this website is copyright © 2001Copyright Copyright is an issue for any website owner, and many people are making use of images and other files that they do not have the right to publish. Please ask for permission (which may be refused) to use any material contained in this website.

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