GREAT WAR CENTENARY: William Ablewhite

William Henry Ablewhite was born in 1897 in Grantham and christened on 15 September that year at St John, Spittlegate, Lincs.  Third of seven children of Thomas and Mary Elizabeth (nee Culpin), he was a 13-year-old errand boy at the time of the 1911 census and may, or may not, be my sixth cousin twice removed - we may share a common ancester who was born circa 1685.

William was serving with the 1st Battalion, the Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) at the time of his death one hundred years ago.  He is buried in Tyne Cot cemetery, one of the largest CWG cemeteries.

We  will remember them.

GREAT WAR CENTENARY: Albert Mitchell

Albert Langford Mitchell was my third cousin once removed and was born in Brixton, London, in 1886, the third & youngest child of Neville & Sarah Elizabeth (nee Langford).  Still a schoolboy in 1911 Tooting, he enlisted as a rifleman in the 2nd/8th Battalion, the London Regiment and was killed on 20th September 1917 when he was just 19 years old.

Alas I know no more than this, except that he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres.

We will remember them.