Lives of the First World War - Who Are You Remembering?

With the centenary of World War I beginning this year, a new website called Lives of the First World War has been set up by D.C. Thomson Family History Ltd in conjunction with the Imperial War Museum to remember those who served in World War I.

The website is designed so that people can personally add their own stories, facts and images to the service men who are already listed on the site, so that they can be remembered.

Alongside this new website and my £1 month subscription to FindMyPast.co.uk as well as my regular subscription to Ancestry.co.uk it has encouraged me to research my ancestors who fought in the First World War and discover their stories.

My great grandfathers who I am remembering are:

• Private Harold Vernon Poole - West Yorkshire Regiment #24181
• Private George Henry Presswood - South Staffordshire Regiment #45098
• Private Wilfred Sutcliffe - West Yorkshire Regiment #23963

I am going to write a blog post about each of them over the next few months...

The website seems a great way for people to share and remember their ancestors but I have been slightly frustrated with the website for if you do not have an up to date web browser you cannot upload images to the site!!! I eventually had to downloaded the new Google Chrome just to upload the images I wanted to.

BUT, who are you remembering?

George's Accident, the Newspaper Reports

I have been targeting the newspaper collections on FindMyPast as well since subscribing to a month subscription for just £1.

There was a specific newspaper report which I wanted to find and that was one in relation to my great great grandfather, George Presswood (or Prestwood or Preswood). George Presswood was born in 1858 in Retford, Nottinghamshire to George Presswood and Mary nee Wright. In 1861 he was living at Lea, Lincolnshire with his parents. His siblings who were born after 1861 upto 1866 were all born in Lea. In 1871 the family is residing at Kexby, a small village about 2-3 miles east of Lea. But the newspaper report in question is dated 7th October 1870, when a young 11 year old farm boy is taking a horse to the blacksmiths in Lea and it takes fright and young George is found in a poor state.

Newspaper Report from the Lincolnshire Chronicle 7th October 1870

George must have made a full recovery by the 2nd April 1871 when the census was taken as he was living back with his parents at Kexby, working as a farmer's day boy. George lived a full life and died nearly 60 years later at the age of 70 years old, having worked as a farm and agricultural labourer for all of his life.