Lives of the First World War

LEST WE FORGET.

Taken soon after Armistice November 1918. on the 15 November 1918, his battalion, 1st Battalion Royal Berks, then marched from Escarmin, France through Belgium via Fosse and into Germany, finishing at Arnoldsweiler on 12 December.

Taken in Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire. These young officers were about to be sent to France in August. In September, many of these men were involved in the 1st attack at Loos. 11 were killed, 7 wounded or gassed. in October, after the 2nd attack, a further 4 were killed. By 11th November 1918, Mervyn Pugh (back row 2nd from Right) was the only men in this photo still out fighting on the Western Front, and the most decorated for bravery.

Mervyn Phippen Pugh fought on the Western front from 1915 to 1918. Wounded twice (Vimy Ridge June 1916, Irles March 1917), he was awarded the Military Cross on 6 April 1917 following action on the Somme Offensive, fought at Cambrai, Bourlon Wood, awarded the DSO when he had to take command of the 1st Battalion during the German Spring offensive at Manancourt and mentioned in a despatch 8 November 1918 "for gallant and distinguished services in the field".

Tin Helmet with bullet hole over left eye. MPP kept this during his lifetime as a reminder of how close he had been, on this occasion, to certain death. MPP was wounded twice and wrote to his mother having been wounded on 1st June 1916 during a heavy German bombardment near Gouy: "Got it last night. Buried three times and bits of shell in face, left leg and hand...I thought i was going to be finished off but as usual have scraped out lightly".

Mentioned in a despatch “for gallant and distinguished services in the Field”.

Taken in May 1915. Mervyn Pugh, 2nd Lieutenant, having finished his training. At this stage, he was part of the 8th Battalion, Royal Berks. His commanding officer kept him in Reserve on the onset of the Battle of Loos in September and a few months later he was transferred to the 1st Battalion, Royal Berks, as reinforcements joining an already battle hardened Battalion, part of the original British Expeditionary Force.

Taken after the Armistice, somewhere in France. These are the surviving officers of the 1st Battalion, Royal Berks.

In 1919, the 1st Battalion, Royal Berks, returned home to Reading. Here, they are photographed marching through as part of The Armistice Victory Parade. Mervyn Pugh is here at the front.

Laid at Menin Gate, on the 100th year anniversary of the Battle of Loos - a battle in which many of Mervyn Pugh’s fellow officers and friends were killed or wounded, having just completed their training. D