Historic Records Men of 1914

Arrived overseas: 9 November 1914. Connection: Warrant, photo and ephemera. The 1901 census of England and Wales has two brothers, Francis Kellaway Bush Boon, aged 21, and Daniel Bush Boon, aged 20, serving as drivers with the ASC, and stationed at Devonport. The place of birth for both of them is recorded as Axminster, Devon. I cannot recall now, when or where I picked up the ephemera to Francis Boon but it fits my 1914 collecting theme well, and I would guess that the only photo I have of him, and which I have posted on this blog, probably dates to early in his army career. In 1914 he would arrive overseas on the 9th November and would survive the war, apparently unscathed, and having been mentioned in Dispatches. On the 14th June 1918 he had been appointed Warrant Officer Class I.

Arrived overseas: 30 October 1914. Connection: Medal group comprising 1914 Star trio. Almost immediately after Britain went to war with Germany in August 1914, the War Office realised that they had a shortage of men in key areas. As the British Expeditionary Force was assembling and being shipped out to France, and before Lord Kitchener had had time to draft his appeal, adverts started appearing in newspapers for drivers, chauffeurs, dockers and othere manual labourers. George Hammond was working as a docker in London. He'd married Sarah Alice Pittwell at St Michael's church, Stockwell, on the 2nd August 1914, and two days later Britain was at war. George must have volunteered for service shortly afterwards because by 30th October 1914 he was overseas with No 5 Labour Company, Army Service Corps. He remained with the regiment until 28 September 1917 when he transferred to the 15th Royal Irish Rifles (regimental number 47341). He was reported missing in action on the 21st March ...

  Arrived overseas: 21 November 1914 Connection: 1914 Star trio Henry James Brookman was a 34-year-old motor driver living in Cambridge when he attested with the Army Service Corps on the 27th October 1914. The following day he presented himself at Grove Park in London. The regiment had an urgent requirement for many skilled trades, and within a month Henry found himself in France as a driver with the 8th Ammunition Park. He would serve with the ASC until January 1919 and, apart from receiving treatment for a septic hand early on in November 1914, appears to have survived the war unscathed.