My g grandfather Charles Henry James Meek was born in Ruardean , moved to Blackwood in South Wales as a child and later enlisted in the 4th Tyneside Irish after moving to Co.Durham . Sadly he lost his life in the later stages of this campaign and as with many others has no recognised grave .I hope we will never have to experience such a waste of life again. May God rest all their souls.

The historian has confirmed the following. CHJ Meek volunteered into the 27th NF (4th Tyneside Irish) and was sent to France in1915 . As with many he was wounded on the first day of the Battle of the Somme and was hospitalised.

After convalescing he was assigned to the 25th NF (2nd Tyneside Irish) where he served until wounded again in 1917. Due to the heavy losses of the TI Btn many soldiers were reassigned to other duties and CHJ Meek was again transferred into the 1/4th NF assigned to the 149th Light Trench Mortar Battery where he served until his death in April 1918. 

He survived his brother Francis Reginald Meek of  the 171st Tunnelling Company  by one year who was killed in action in 1917. FR Meek originally volunteered to the 1st Monmouthshire Regiment however was drafted into the Royal Engineers due to his skills gained as a miner in the  Forest Of Dean, as were several generations before them.

There are a number of books available on the miners drafted in to Tunnelling Companies from the Forest of Dean due to their specialist skills if interested people can check out the The Long, Long Trail Website.

http://www.forest-of-dean.net/downloads/files/C_H_J_Meek.pdf

My grandfather, Joseph John Allaway, was born in Morse, East Dean, and worked as a miner in the forest before moving to Birmingham. He became a postman but volunteered during WW1 (at the age of 47) and was a pioneer in the Royal Engineers. His regiment no was WR255683 and the WR stood for Waterways and Railways. I posted a question on the Great War Forum and received the following information:
He was almost certainly a member of the 30th Railway Labour Battalion, Royal Engineers. The 30th (or Gloucestershire) Railway Labour Battalion was formed for service in France to assist the Royal Engineers Railway Troops. The recruitment for this Battalion was targeted specifically at men aged 41 to 47 who were over the then maximum military age of 41 but who could still perform the required labouring work. Men were required who were accustomed to working on railway construction and on other constructional and building works. In fact, any man with a labouring background was, I believe, acceptable.
The county of Gloucestershire was originally targeted having already raised the 113th Railway Company, Royal Engineers and it would appear the net was widened to include the surrounding counties in the quest to raise the necessary 1000 men. Recruitment for the Battalion by Captain Peake, Royal Engineers, commenced on April 3rd 1916 (and my grandfather enlisted on 15/16th May 1916). The Battalion was then trained and equipped at Longmoor, Hampshire before proceeding overseas. They were there by 20th July 1916 when they suffered their first casualties.
I haven't been able to find out about their service in France as no War Diary exists for them - does anyone have any more information?

Remembering those who lost their lives in the Somme ; I have some details of my grandfather's brother( half- brother)who lost his life on 0n the 20th August fighting with the Glos' Ist Btn

Name: ADAMS
Initials: C L
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Gloucestershire Regiment
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Date of Death: 20/08/1916
Service No: 23137
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: XI. A. 7.
Cemetery: CATERPILLAR VALLEY CEMETERY, LONGUEVAL

Also his brother James died in 1915 in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey
Name: ADAMS, JAMES
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Worcestershire Regiment
Unit Text: 9th Bn.
Date of Death: 10/08/1915
Service No: 18693
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 104 to 113.
Memorial: HELLES MEMORIAL

Have no other details other than census returns for 1901 gives their ages as James 9 & Charles 8 living in Viney Woodside, father an engine driver at the colliery. At the time of the first world war may have been living in Soudley area , miners.

Were the Glos and Worcs regiments closely linked?

I do not know when they joined up but as men were lost I presume battalions were reformed.

Dear Slowhands

is there any way we can find out about the first world war records if we don't have any information, i.e. medals etc?

Regards Debbie

My relative came from Cinderford

On the 90th anniversary of the Somme offensive, perhaps its time to reflect on the Forest Pioneer's who gave their lives in the mud and gore of battle, and of course those who returned.

http://www.malvernremembers.org.uk/Fea_13Glos.html

The 'Forest of Dean Pioneers', officially known as the 13th
(Service) Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment

They were raised by Sir Harry Webb in Cinderford Town Hall on Monday night,
14th December 1914, and consisted of coal miners and labourers. About 25% of
the battalion's strength came from the Forest itself, while the rest were
miners from South Wales and County Durham, along with labourers and artisans
from the rest of Gloucestershire, and a few from Birmingham.

They went to France in March 1916, and spent the war on the Western Front,
serving on the Somme in 1916 and the Passchendaele offensive in 1917. They
suffered heavy losses during the German offensives of March - April 1918.

Today is the 100th Anniversary of the start of the Third Battle of the Somme, which opened on the 15th of September 1916. I hope the forum will agree it's appropriate to rekindle this old thread, as I'm sure Slowhands would have done if he were still with us. Here's to the memory of the 13th Glosters, and all their comrades in arms across all services, who fought and died so we could all enjoy peace.
Thankyou.

"In Flanders"

I'm homesick for my hills again -
My hills again!
To see above the Severn plain,
Unscabbarded against the sky,
The blue high blade of Cotswold lie;
The giant clouds go royally
By jagged Malvern with a train
Of shadows. Where the land is low
Like a huge imprisoning O
I hear a heart that's sound and high,
I hear the heart within me cry:
"I'm homesick for my hills again -
My hills again!
Cotswold or Malvern, sun or rain!
My hills again!"

by F. W. "Will" Harvey (of Hartpury, Minsterworth and Yorkley)

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=7769
http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=23492