The Wartime Memories Project - The Great War - Day by Day

The Great World War - Day by Day is a NEW section we are currently building.

From diary entries and letters we hope to build a picture of what it was really like to live through the events of the war.

If you have any wartime diaries or letters or dated photographs please Click here and use the form to add them to this archive.

SS Alnwick Castle, a defensively armed ship of 5,900 tons, was torpedoed without warning by a submarine 310 miles south west of Bishop Rock on 19th March 1917. Forty lives were lost including some of the crew from the SS Trevose who had been rescued the previous day.

Read more about the Danton

Edwin Ashworth was my 1st cousin once removed-my father's first cousin. I have a letter dated 19th March 1917 from #6 Officer's Mess, Clipstone Camp near Mansfield, to his aunt (My Grandmother) and know that he had been wounded and was about to return to France. He was killed in action aged 28 on the 28th March 1918 whilst serving with the 5th Btn Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) and was buried at Orchard Dump Cemetery, Arleux-En-Gohelle.

Edwin was the son of Zillah Rose Ashworth (nee Green, b. 1854). Zillah was an elder sister of my grandmother, Rose Alice Green (1864-1965). I imagine he was known as Edwin (or "Edwy") to distinguish him from his father, Edward Ashworth. Rose Alice married Emil Donat and they had four sons-the youngest was the Actor Robert Donat, my father. Edwin was his first cousin. I hope to make a pilgrimage to Edwin's grave later this year.

I believe this to be Edwin's photograph

His letter to Rose

A delightful photograph of Maye Marlowe (taken in 1926) to whom he refers in the letter. Did they meet again? Perhaps we shall never know.

In Memory of those who died this Day

Leading Seaman John Marrack Blewett. SS Alnwick Castle.
Captain Eldred Wolferstone Bowyer-Bower. 59 Sqd. R.F.C.
Fourth Mate. Gordon Winsland Davey. SS Alnwick Castle.
Pte. Frank Arthur French. 59th Battalion, 15th Infantry Brigade Australian Imperial Forces Died of Wounds. Age 26
Driver William John Hayter. Royal Garrison Artillery Age 26
Cadet George Graham Muirhead Miller. Osborne Royal Naval College.
Sgt. Maj. Alfred James Monarch. Royal Garrison Artillery
Pte. Francis O'Connell. South Irish Horse.
Pte. Arthur Frederick Tatman. Royal Berkshire Regiment. Died of wounds Aged 23.
Pte. Cruiser Eldred Moore Thornton. 3rd Btn. Royal Sussex Regiment.

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Monday 19th March 1917

In Memory of those who died this Day