Family :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

Following the collapse of the Italian Front in late 1917 a number of British Divisions were sent to Italy to support and stabilise the Italian effort. In March 1918, XIV Corps (the 7th, 23rd and 48th Divisions) relieved Italian troops on the front line between Asiago and Canove, the front being held by two divisions with one division in reserve on the plain. The French held the line to the left, with the Italians to the right.

The front was comparatively quiet until the Austrians attacked in force from Grappa to Canove in the Battle of Asiago (15-16 June 1918). The Allied line was penetrated to a depth of about 1,000 metres on 15 June but the lost ground was retaken the next day and the line re-established. Between June and September, frequent successful raids were made on the Austrian trenches.

In October, the 7th and 23rd Divisions were sent to the Treviso area of the River Piave front. The 48th Division, which remained in the mountains as part of the Italian Sixth Army, played an important part in the Battle of Vittorio Veneto (24 October-4 November 1918) in which the Austrians were finally defeated. By late 1918 the danger had passed and many of the British troops returned to the Western Front.

Detail :

One of the very few military personel who served in all three services, Army, Navy and Air Force.

The following promotions were published in the London Gazette 29th September, 1908 and in the Cheshire Observer 3rd October, 1908:

"4th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment; the undermentioned officers, from the 1st Volunteer Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment, are appointed to the battalion, with rank and precedence as in the Volunteer Force. Dated . 1st April, 1908 :— "...Quartermaster and Honorary Lieutenant Herbert Edwin Leonard Pugh. ..."

He enlisted into the Royal Navy and became F42713 AC2, and was initially stationed at HMS President II, until the 5th February, when he was posted to the 3rd Balloon Base, at Brindisi, Italy which then came under the auspices of the R.A.F. in its infancy. his service number became 242713.

He died of Influenza in Italy.

Probate PUGH Herbert Edwin Leonard of 2 Chatsworth-road Rock Ferry Cheshire private Royal Air Force died 4 November 1918 in Italy Probate Chester 6 May to Florence Annie Pugh widow. Effects £315 18s. 7d.

For his service he was awarded, under his Naval banner, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Masonic :

Advanced no further than that of Entered Apprentice. Listed as a Company Director from Rock Ferry in 1917. "Died i/a Novr 1918."

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley