Wigan Album

What a fantastic and rare photograph. On 3rd August 1914 the Territorials of the 42nd East Lancashire Divison were mobilised and quartered in their drill halls and remained within easy reach of these until 20th August when they moved into local tented camps before entraining to Southampton on 9th September. They embarked on their great adventure on the following day.

Somewhere amongst these men is my father Ernest Thomas Urmston and his brother Joseph Stephen Urmston.
Both survived. My father invalided back from Gallipoli and my uncle was a batman in North Africa mainly. I have his diary from WW1

Likewise, my grandfather Francis Morgan Taylor will be on the photo somewhere, he survived Gallipoli and the Somme. He finished as a Colour Sgt and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

I wonder how many of these lads ,came back to thire familys

To answer Tom Walsh's question, less than 50% came back without injury, I'm writing a book on the 1/5th.