Hiya

Anyone know anything about the Lancashire Fusiliers in WW1 and shortly after? Reason being, on a totaly different thread, I have discovered that some of the stories my Grandad told may have had the benefit of a little poetic license.

We know he was born in 1893 so that makes him 21 at the outbreak of war. He joined the Lancashire Fusiliers in Bury early in the conflict. He was wounded twice. Once by bullet and once by gas. He won a French civilian medal for rescuing a little girl from drowning. Somewhere along the line his division (or some other sub-section) suffered so many losses that the few survivors were incorporated into the Welsh Fusiliers, with whom he served until de-mob.

Gets a bit more confusing now. He also told of being in Ireland after WW1 and was involved in the troubles there. He told us many stories of how well he got on with the Irish and how he was welcomed by local families, which, knowing him as I did, I can well believe. What now becomes a little dificult to reconcile is that he used to tell my mum he was in the black and tans.

I am informed that no Irish family would welcome the 'tans as they were formed as a force to strike terror into the Irish. Also they were not formed until 1920. His stories from Ireland were perfectly plausible and full of the type of detail which makes you believe them. To be in the 'tans he would have had to de-mob and the re-join a year or two later. Does not sound likely they would accept him in the condition he was anyway! And as to belonging to a force of terror? 5' 4" tall. 8 stone wet through. Blind in one eye after the gassing. I think not. So, big question. Were some of the 'tans not as bad as they are depicted or was he not realy in the 'tans at all? Was he winding my mum up becasue she used to listen to republican songs???

I think now that he may have finished his active service in Ireland as part of another unit. Looking at the history of the Fuseliers they had connections not only with other Fusilier regiments but some Irish regiments as well - The Connaught Rangers and Dublin Horse for instance. That is the line of research I am interested in.

I once saw a brief service history he had but cannot remember all the details. I hope to get a copy of a more detailed record soon. I am also going to visit the LF museum in Bury soon to see what info I can get but can anyone else recommend any reading or advise of any other sources?

Sorry to be so long winded but I know there are many educated people out there who may be able to help.

Cheers

Dave the Gnome

PS - I'm at the Yorkshire gathering this weekend so may not see any responses until Monday. Please feel free to post anything of interest anyway - I have marked the thread.