THe SurvivorS

Captain John McNie Wingate was the father of Carolyn Randall. He enlisted while under age in Glasgow on September 1, 1914. He went to France on March 16, 1915, as a Lance Corporal in the Scots Guards. He fought at Festubert in May and was commissioned in he Royal Scots Fusiliers. In December, 1915, he transferred to West Yorkshire Regiment as a machine gun officer. In June he arrived at the Somme with the Pioneers, building roads. From December 1916 until June 1917, he was at the Somme and Arras. He was ill and classified as unfit for active service. He became an officer at a repatriation camp in June 1919, returning to civilian life on December 31, 1919.

Private John Potter was another of Rosemary Southon’s great-uncles, and brother to Percy and Albert above. He was already in the Army before the war. He went to France with the 1st Battalion, Royal West Kents, on August 15, 1914. He was in the retreat from Mons. From January to July, 1915, he was at Ypres and took part in the assault on Hill 60 and the Second Battle of Ypres. He served at the Somme from August 1915 to February 1916 and in March was at Arras. In June, 1916, he was given an honourable discharge due to illness.

Private Harry Pellant was a great uncle to Nick Hills. He went to France on July 30, 1915, with the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. He arrived at the Somme on July 3 and was wounded three days later at La Boisselle. He returned to England to recuperate but by November 14 was back in France with the 7th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. He took part in the Battle of Cambrai and on March 24 was again wounded. He was invalided out of the Army on September 4.

Private Frank Osborne was the father of Patrick Osborne. Called up aged 18 in 1917, he went to France with the 7th Battalion, The Buffs, in April 1918. He fought against the German push near VillersBretonneux and transferred to the 7th Battalion, Royal West Surreys. In August he was again involved in resisting a German push in the south Somme and then took part in the Allies advance to victory in November.