The First World War took the lives of millions of people across the globe. Research into a memorial plaque in Derby Council House has enabled us to chart the lives of just a small number of these people; 45 men who worked for or had links to, the Derby Borough Corporation. This timeline denotes their involvement in the Great War
Arthur Elton enlisted at Nottingham, taking up the post of private in the king's own Yorkshire light infantry, 2nd bn. Arthur was missing and officially recognised as killed in action on this date, aged 22.
Company Sergeant Major Annison served with the Sherwood Foresters. Left behind a widow, Winnifred Annison and a daughter, Mary Annison, aged 7. Richard had worked as a tram conductor in Derby previous to enlisting. Killed in action on this day and is commemorated in Gallipoli, at the Helles Memorial.
Thomas Gamble, a paint grinder living in Derby, enlisted on the ,26th of august 1914. He served in Gallipoli where he was killed in action on this date.
Private Thomas Anslow took up service with the Lancashire fusiliers, serving on the western front. Previous to the war, Thomas worked as a blacksmith. He was killed in action on this date. He has no known grave but is memorialised at the vis-en-artois British cemetery in France. He left behind a widow, Bertha Louisa Gunt.
Private Reuben Coles served with the Sherwood Foresters ,10th battalion. Before the war, Reuben worked as a gardener for public grounds, directly employer by Derby Corporation. He was killed in action on this date, in Belgium. He is commemorated on the Men in Gate memorial at Ypres.
Thomas Dorrington, a general labourer working for Derby Corporation, joined the war effort on the 17th of august 1915. Serving as a private with the Sherwood foresters, Thomas died of wounds on this date. His body was buried at Poperinge Cemetery West Flanders
Albert Victor Orme was working as a Police Man for the Derby Borough Police at his enlistment. He was appointed to the Derbyshire Yeomanry and dispatched to the Balkan Theatre. Albert was killed in action in Gallipoli on this date and is commemorated at the Helles Memorial.
Charles Saysell was born in Landport, Portsmouth but by 1911, at the age of 17, he was living in Derby and working as a Rubber Wrapper. Charles enlisted to the Kings Royal Rifle Corps, 8th Battalion as Corporal. He was killed in action on this day, during the Battle of the Somme. He is buried in Rolincourt Military Cemetary, France.
Herbert Lowe lived at 29 Drage Street and worked at the Midland Railway Station in Derby before enlisting for the war. Herbert was called up to serve at the start of hostilities, with the Derbyshire Yeomanry. He served in the Balkan Theatre of War before being killed in action at Gallipoli on this date. He is commemorated at the Helles Memorial and in the church yard of St Pauls, Derby
Frederick Grace, a Police Constablewas originally born in Bedford. He moved to Derby, where he was married and had two children and where he enlisted for the war. He was appointed to the Scots Guard as a Guardsman on the Western Front. He was killed in action on this day and is commemorated at Theipval.
Archibald Howell, a Borough Rates Clerk for Derby Corporation, enlisted for war and joined the Sherwood Foresters as a Private. He was taken as a Prisoner of War and officially declared dead on this date. He is commemorated in Oostaverne Wood Cemetary.
Arthur Palmer, a Destructor Furnace Man in the employ of Derby Corporation and the father of 6 children was born in Derby. He was appointed Sergeant with the 17th Battalion Sherwood Foresters where he served on the Western Front before being killed in action on this date.
Reginald William Sephton was an elementary school teacher prior to his war service. On enlisting, Reginald was deployed with the London Regiment, 13th Battalion to the Western Front. He was killed in action during the Battle of the Ancre and is commeorated at the Theipval Memorial.
George Roby Scattergood was working as a Tramway Motorman when he enlisted for service. He was appointed Lance Corporal with the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 2nd battalion and served on the Western Front. He was killed in action on this day, in the Somme sector and is commemorated at the Theipval Memorial.
Ernest Jenings enlisted for war service in December 1915. He initially served with the South Staffordshire Regiment before transferring to the Sherwood Foresters 15th battalion. Ernest was killed on action on this date, during the Battle of Ypres. He is commemorated at the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
Evan Owen Thomas, a Welshman, was living at 16 Keep Street, Derby at the time of his enlistment. Evan was deployed with the South Staffordshire Regiment as a Corporal in the 3rd Special Reserve Division. Evan was wounded in service, returning home to Derby where he eventually succumbed to his wounds. He died at home on this date, and is buried at Nottingham Road Cemetery, Derby.
Henry Daykin of 38 Violet Street, Derby enlisted for service aged 18 in 1914. He served with the Sherwood Foresters 2nd/5th 'Reserve' Battalion. He was wounded in action and died of his wounds on this date in the Western Theatre of War. He is buried at Mendingham Military Cemetery.
George Gleeson worked as a Municipal Clerk within Derby Corporation prior to the war. He was mobilised to the 3rd North Staffordshire Regiment in May 1916. A qualified map reader, George was promoted to sergeant in 1917. He was killed in action on this date.
William Corbett, junior clerk in the Town Clerk's Office at Derby Corporation, first took up service with the seaforth highlanders in 195. Later, he joined the Royal Air Force as a cadet, stationed for training at Market Drayton. During his training William was fatally injured in a flying accident and died on this date.
Harry Ward was born in Kirk Ireton, Derby. On enlisting for the war, Harry was initially deployed with the Sherwood Foresters but was transferred to the 208th Division Employment Coy, Labour Corps. He was killed in action on this date, less than a month before the ceasefire.
Private Jacob Brooks served with the Sherwood Foresters for 2 years and 310 days before being injured in a trench collapse on the Western Front in 1917. He was honourably discharged as he was 'crushed in the back'. His wounds eventually proved fatal, and Jacob died on this date at home in Derby. He is buried in Wirksworth Cemetery
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