Lives of the First World War

At home on leave, while still serving with the Devon Regiment prior to service with the Duke of Cornwalls' Light Infantry. Note the two wound stripes on his left forearm, earned for receiving injuries while on active service.

A copy of the D.C.L.I medal roll. Showing Pte Penningtons entitlement to the Victory Medal and the British War Medal. This document also shows the units in which he served. - 12th (Labour) Battalion Devon Regiment, 2nd Battalion Devon Regiment and the 10 (Service) Battalion (Cornwall Pioneers) The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.

Pte William John Penningtons Medals. The British War medal on the left is the original earned by Pte Pennington, the Victory Medal on the right is a genuine medal re-named as Pte Penningtons original medal had been lost.

Pte William John Penningtons Medals. The British War medal on the left is the original earned by Pte Pennington, the Victory Medal on the right is a genuine medal re-named as Pte Penningtons original medal had been lost.

William Pennington at home on leave with his brother Arthur with whom he appears to be raising a toast. On the far left is his Mother Sarah. Judging by the look on Sarah's face, and the toast with bikes at the ready, maybe Pte Pennington was about to return to the front.

William John Pennington's Medal Index Card showing service in the Devon Regiment and the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.

A copy of a page from a book about the First World War, detailing the Battle of Bois des Buttes, which decimated the 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment. As referenced in the book, the 2nd Devons had taken a mauling in the previous 2 months and had been sent to a quiet sector to recuperate. Pte Pennington was not a casualty nor a survivor of Bois des Buttes, we know he was injured at least twice in the War, and have to presume that luckily for him he was injured in the previous months and had been evacuated to hospital, missing the Bois des Buttes battle. This would explain the reason for him transferring to the DCLI as his battalion of the 2nd Devons no longer existed.

William Pennington and Cap Badges. The one on the left is the Devonshire Regiment and the one on the right is the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.

A very brief history of the Battalions in which Pte Pennington served and another short version of Bois des Buttes. As can be seen the 12th Devons transferred to the Labour Corps, no doubt many men chose to stay in the Devon regiment and that is how Pte Pennington ended up in the 2nd Devons.