Born c. 1836. Enlisted 12th Oct. 1853 at Westminster. The 82nd was employed on routine garrison duties in England and was under orders for India when war broke out between Russia and Turkey at the end of 1853. In 1854 England declared war on Russia, and the 82nd stayed at home and served as a draft-finding unit for others ordered to the Crimea. Finally, in January, 1855, the regiment was ordered to the Crimea. They landed at Balaclava on the 4th of September and were in position with the First Brigade of Lieutenant General Markham's Second Division on the Balaclava Heights for the Fall of Sebastopol on the 8th of September 1855.

The regiment returned home after the Crimean War. In 1857 they were stationed at Aldershot when they were ordered to proceed to the Far East as one of four regiments selected as the advance guard of a British Force (along with the French) being sent to China in reaction to a long series of treaty violations, various attacks on foreigners, and general insolence. The regiment (48 officers and 896 rank and file) embarked at Portsmouth for China in the troop ship "Assistance" and in H.M.S. "Adventure" on the 20th of May 1857.

Born c. 1872 in the East Indies. A wood cutter by trade. Enlisted R.W.S. London May 1890. To Malta Dec. 1891, then India to Feb. 1894. To Army reserve 1895. Recalled 1899 for service in South Africa. Served Oct. 1899 to May 1900 then invalided to UK, and discharged in 1902. Confirmed single clasp medal.

A Casualty Boer War Pair to 4788 Private T. Welsh, Devon Regiment. QSA, 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal; KSA, 1901-1902, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902.

Adrian Cecil Becket. He hailed from “Ashdene”, Ruabon, Wrexham, Denbighshire. A Squadron Quarter Master Sergeant in the Denbigh Yeomanry, he volunteered for service overseas, with the regiment moving to Egypt in March 1916 as part of the 4th (South Wales) Dismounted Brigade serving on the Suez Canal defences.

On 14 January 1917 the GOC Egyptian Expeditionary Force, Sir Edmund Allenby, gave orders for the reorganisation of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Dismounted Brigades of Yeomanry into the 229th, 230th and 231st Infantry Brigades. These Brigades were organised as a new Territorial Force Division, which was formed on 4th March 1917 near El Arish.

Following the reconstruction, Beckett became Colour Sergeant (#345025) of the 24th (Denbighshire Yeomanry Bn.) Royal Welsh Fusiliers (231st Brigade) in this new 74th (Yeomanry ) Division. The Division first saw action in the Second Battle of Gaza (17 - 19 April 1917). Shortly after the battle, on 22nd June 1917 Beckett was discharged to a commission in the R.F.A.

 John Stephen McMillan. Born 5 June 1890 at Aberdeen, educated at Robert Gordon's Technical College, Aberdeen. A passenger clerk for Canadian Pacific Railways, London.

Born 2 March 1890 at Devonport, Devon and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy on 16 July 1906 age 16 years. Leading Seaman in HMS. 'Challenger' from 30 July 1914 to 30 Dec. 1915.  At the start of the war she was part of the 9th Cruiser Squadron, based at Portland. Her duty was to guard against minelayers at the entrance to the Bristol Channel, and also to seize German shipping. During this period she captured the German steamer Ulla Boog, bringing a cargo of pit props from Archangel to south Wales. In September she was sent to West Africa, to form part of the naval squadron assisting the attack on the Cameroons (with HMS Cumberland and the French cruiser Bruix). On 25 September she was used to cross the barrier at the entrance to Duala, having been lightened to reduce her draft. Two days later Duala surrendered, but the campaign went on into 1915. By January 1915, she was engaged in the blockade of Edea. At the end of April, she was relieved by the Astraea

Commissioned Gunner from 31 December 1915, and  Mate from 11th  December 1917. Served on Torpedo boat TB108 in 1916, then Destroyers. Lieutenant from 11 May 1920: Placed on Retired List at own request 15 December 1922.Promoted Lieutenant-Commander (Retd.) from 11 May 1928: Recalled to duty during World War Two and served as Boom Defence Officer Alexandria and Benghazi??

 John Thomas Littleton was born on 15 Jan 1894 at Isleworth, Middlesex, and was a 'vanguard' by trade. Enlisted. on 20/5/13.  He was promoted to Stoker 1st Class in 1914 and transferred to the R.F.R. on 20/5/25.  He served from 20/5/14 on the battleship 'Russell' She was involved in the Gallipoli evacuation and was the last British vessel to leave the Dardanelles. The recipient was on board when she was struck by a mine whilst on patrol near Malta on 27/4/16;  she caught fire and sank with the loss of 124 of her 749 crew. 

L2 survived an accidental attack by 3 American destroyers on 24 February 1918. The first heavy depth charge jammed the hydroplanes hard up. This cause a tremendous inclination to the stern with the tail of the submarine touching the sea bed at 300ft. Four more heavy depth charges exploded shaking the boat. The skipper, Lieut Cmdr Anworth, gave the order to blow the number 5 and 6 ballast tanks. L2 surfaced and came under fire by the 3 destroyers from about 1500 yards. One shot struck the pressure hull just abaft the conning tower. The crew waved the white ensign and fired rifles and the destroyers ceased fire. She survived the encounter. (Littleton served on the “L2 from March 1917 to Sept.1918)

Born 2 May 1878, Horsley Down, London. Enlisted 22 July 1897. During WW1 he served on HMS Hannibal, HMEA Wyanda, then HMS Acton (Q.34) 1st April 1917 - 19th Dec. 1918. Credited by German sources with sinking coastal submarine "UC.72" on 20th August 1917 in Bay of Biscay. If correct, this would have been the last confirmed Q-ship sinking in WW1. “Acton” was a Cargo ship converted for use as a “Q”  Ship decoy vessel - she also used the  disguised identities Wellington and Gandy during the period 1917 to 1918. Worth researching further.

During World War I the term " mystery ship " originally referred to a submarine decoy vessel. These ships were developed because of the large loss of shipping caused by German U-boats in the opening months of the war. It did not go unnoticed that the submarines preferred to attack unescorted, older and smaller vessels by using surface gunfire thus preserving their torpedoes for larger vessels or warships and extending their sea cruise durations. Thus it was conceived that a vessel, such as a coaster, if provided with a concealed armament, could meet a surfaced submarine on fairly equal terms. The vessels chosen, code-named Q-ships by the Admiralty and also known as Decoy Vessels and Special Service Ships, were comparatively small, ranging in size from 4,000 tons to small sailing ships, old and made to look poorly maintained. Their outward appearances were indistinguishable from ordinary merchantmen. When attacked, the Q-ship would allow the U-boat to come as close as possible before dropping the disguise, raising the White Ensign (a requirement of international law), and opening fire. The sinking of about 30% of the U-boats destroyed by surface forces by this method proved its success. In the early part of the war when successes were highest the number of such vessels was limited but, later as the numbers increased, the Germans became aware of the operation and successes declined. One source has been quoted that there were as many as 366 Q-ships, of which 61 were lost during the war, nearly all the larger vessels being torpedoed without warning. The first success was in July 1915, when a converted coaster of 373-tons, the Prince Charles, sank U36.

Demobilised 24/7/19, Hazle became a Coastguard grade C3. Address given as #1 Coastguard cottages, Bradwell on sea, Essex. From his coast guard force copy paper 1st Nov. 1919 to 31 march 1922  on books of HMS President  (Hastings area) and HMS Victory (Portsmouth Southampton).

Born 25^th April 1977, at Duloe, Cornwall. An agricultural labourer by trade. Enlisted 28 July 1896 and was demobilised 12 July 1919.

Robert Allan Brown born 27^th February 1887 and lived at 207 Eldon St., in Greenock. He served a 5 year mechanical apprenticeship, then 2 years electrical engineering on tramways. He had a university education, specialising in Electrical Engineering, and passed his exams for a degree of B.Sc. in Engineering Science. Next he served 4 years as Chief Assistant Engineer, Municipal Electrical Undertaking, then 2 years Burgh Electrical Engineer at Falkirk Town Council, from 1915 to 1917.

Joined RN 30^th March 1917as T/S. Lt. RNVR on Motor Boat Duties. To RNAS 30^th May 1917. Undertook  course at  “Hemione” for Greenwich (Navigation) on the 11^th June 1917. On 18^th  July 1917 posted to RNAS Seaplane base at Dundee. On 20^th Aug. was sent to (Southampton) for a Motor Launch Course. (Air Dept. Admiralty) and on 20^th Sept. to Calshot (Seaplane base) at Southampton on Motor Launch #5. Back to Dundee. On 1^st Jan 1918 he was noted as “keen but inexperienced”.