Dear Editor,

Firstly, thanks once again for a splendid piece on Vernon Matthews and a great section to commemorate the Poppy Day/Armistice/ Remembrances in last week’s edition of the Gazette. I thought it all looked excellent.

Secondly, there was piece in the letters column asking if any other soldiers locally had served in Irish Regiments. I know of a few. I am sure there are a lot more local men who served with Irish Regiments, but the below died in action and are commemorated on local war memorials.

Joseph Morley of Howle Hill who served and died with the Connaught Rangers (article in the Ross Gazette 18th March 2015)

Henry Goodwin of Ganarew, who served with the London Irish Rifles (18th City of London Regiment) not strictly speaking an Irish Regt. but officered and manned mainly by Irish. He was transferred to the 9th Battalion and sent to France on July 3rd 1917 and was killed in action on November 20th 1917 at The Battle of Cambrai.

William George Maxfield of Llangrove served and died with Princess Victoria’s Royal Irish Rifles (the uncle of this man Sergeant Robert Maxfield was killed at Rorke’s Drift in the Zulu War and in the film Zulu he was the Sergeant in the hospital bed stabbed to death with Assegais). William George was sent to France on May 18th 1915 and he was taken prisoner (wounded) at Messines on April 13th 1918, sent to Friedrichsfeld POW camp and died on November 7th 1918, four days before the end of the war.

William George Maxfield had two brothers who also served (and survived) in the Royal Irish Fusiliers. These were 17766 Private Frederick Arthur Maxfield, and 15682 Private John Maxfield.

Frederick Arthur Maxfield joined the Royal Irish Fusiliers at the same time as his brother, William George; they have consecutive regimental numbers. Frederick was attached to the second Battalion and was sent to the Balkans (Salonika) (Thessaloniki, Greece).

Edward John Maxfield was known throughout his life as John Maxfield.

15682 Private John Maxfield enlisted at Cardiff on September 8th 1914 into the Lancashire Fusiliers. On September 12th 1914, he was transferred to the 6th Service Battalion. Royal Irish Fusiliers. On August 7th 1915 he was sent with his regiment to Gallipoli. On May 12th 1916, he transferred and became 48174 Private Maxfield, J of 31st Coy 10th Machine Gun Battalion, Machine Gun Corps. He was described as a Vickers Gunner, sober and steady and a particularly reliable man.

Bill Webb

Llangarron