Individuals - Information from Military Records   The information here is compiled from my researches principally using the following resources: the Public Record Office, Kew, London CD/ROM Soldiers Died in the Great War - The Naval and Military Press The Ainsleys here researched are not necessarily from the Bilsdale Family. Officers' Records Other Ranks Col (Chaplain) R M Ainsley M.A., T.D., C.T.F. Captain Alan Colpitts Ainsley MC - military details for Captain A C Ainsley are included in his individual history - coming soon Captain C. Ainsley Second Lieutenant Albert Edgar Ainsley - military details for 2nd Lt. A E Ainsley are included in his individual history - coming soon Second Lieutenant Archie Robson Ainsley Second Lieutenant Clifford Ainsley Second Lieutenant Robert Cresswell Ainsley Second Lieutenant Samuel Walter Ainsley Staff Nurse Julia Ainsley Alfred Douglas Ainsley James Brown Ainsley Arthur Ainsley John Ainsley Donald Ainsley Joseph Ainsley Ernest Ainsley Leonard Crombie Ainsley George Ainsley Richard Robert Ainsley George Ainsley Samuel Ainsley George Hedley Ainsley Thomas Ainsley Harry Ainsley William Ainsley Howard Leonard Ainsley William Dixon Ainsley James Ainsley Col. (Chaplain) R. M. Ainsley M.A., T.D., C.T.F. (PRO reference WO374/524) Rev Canon Chaplain 1st Cls. C./E. 5th Bn The King's Regiment. He was born on 23/01/1856 and served in the UK. His surname is sometimes written Ainslie. Practically all of the papers in his file relate to his being asked to retire as he was overage (over 60). A letter dated 17 August 1921 informs him that he is over age and is to be retired and appointed Honorary Chaplain - a position which had no official duties but entitled him to wear uniform when attending ceremonials and entertainments of a military nature and other appropriate occasions. His address is given as The Vicarage, Walton, Liverpool. Captain C. Ainsley (PRO reference WO374/522) Captain C. Ainsley 15th Bn. London Defence Regiment. Very few details in file. Home address given as Trifilan, Purley, Surrey. He relinquished his commission on 12/07/1921. 2nd Lieutenant Archie Robson Ainsley (PRO reference WO374/521) 2nd Lieutenant Archie Robson Ainsley Royal Garrison Artillery No. 17682. Archie Robson Ainsley was born on 9th June 1895 at Swanmore near Bishops Waltham, Hants. He joined up on the 19th May, 1915 at Winchester at the age of 19 years and 11 months. At the time he was a solicitor's clerk living at 21 Lower Stockbridge Road, Winchester, Hants and was unmarried. He had not previously served with the military and was appointed to the Hampshire Regiment. His father, an estate overseer, was Edward Ainsley of Fir Cottage, Swanmore, Nr. Bishops Waltham, Hants. Physically Archie was 5 feet 7¾ inches and had no distinctive marks but 3 vaccination marks from infancy. He was of good physical development and weighed 123 lbs. Archie was appointed Paid Acting Lance Corporal on 22/01/16, Paid Lance Corporal 01/04/16, and Acting Corporal 09/05/16. On 19/07/16 he was nominated for a Commission and was granted a Temporary Commission in the RGA on 27/11/16. Archie Robson Ainsley was Killed in Action 12/10/18. 2nd Lieutenant Clifford Ainsley (PRO reference WO374/523) 2nd Lieutenant Clifford Ainsley 1/4th King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry No. B203686 (previously R/20047). Clifford was 25 years old when he enlisted on 20/01/1916 at Harrogate. 5 feet 8¼ inches tall with no distinctive marks but 3 vaccination marks from infancy. He weighed 137 lbs. On enlistment he was appointed to the King's Royal Rifles. His next of kin is listed as his mother, Annie Ainsley, living at Rose Cottage, Skipton Road, Harrogate. At the time of his enlistment he was variously described as a Shopkeeper, Grocer's Assistant or Manager's Assistant. He was single and living at home with his mother. He was born in Leeds, Yorkshire on 08/05/1890, but his family must have moved to Harrogate quite early in his life as he was educated at Bilton Council School, New Park, Harrogate. In an army report the education standard was said to be "Poor (County Board School)". Clifford was posted to the British Expeditionary Force in France on 26/07/16 while still with 21 KRR but was transferred to the 7th Rifle Brigade BEF on 18/10/16. On 30/12/16 he was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal, and on 11/01/17 paid Lance Corporal. He was promoted to Corporal 11/05/17. He had a special qualification as a Lewis Gunner when he applied for a commission on the 23rd March, 1918. He was appointed 2nd. Lt. on 15/05/18 and posted to 3rd Bn. KOYLI. On 02/11/1918, at Valenciennes, he received what many might have regarded as a lucky injury - a machine gun bullet to the left buttock which, while serious, was not life/threatening. This meant that he was returned to England to the Officers War Hospital, Exeter. The war would be over before Clifford was once more fit for active service. Clifford was demobilized on 09/04/19 and resigned his commission in April the following year, retaining the rank of 2nd Lt. 2nd Lieutenant Robert Cresswell Ainsley (PRO reference WO339/138601) 2nd Lieutenant Robert Cresswell Ainsley 2/5th West Yorkshire Regiment No. 200840 Robert Cresswell Ainsley was born at Malton in Yorkshire on May 15th, 1895. His father was dead and had been a commercial traveller. Robert was brought up in County Durham - he attended St Patrick's School, Spennymoor. At the age of 19 he was a laundryman living at 22 Electric Avenue, Harrogate while his mother, Elizabeth, was living at 5 Euclid Avenue, New Park, Harrogate. On November 5th, 1914 at Harrogate he enlisted for the duration of the war and was appointed to the 2/5th West Yorkshire Regiment. Physically he was 5 ft 6½ in tall with good physical development and normal vision. On 20/03/15 he was appointed Paid Lance Corporal and promoted to Corporal on 08/05/15. He was appointed Lance Sergeant on 18/12/15 and promoted Sergeant 13/04/16. He applied for his commission on 03/11/17. He was a Signalling Sergeant at this time. His good moral character was attested to by a Mr O Wheater, owner of New Park Laundry, Harrogate who had known Robert nine years. His good standard of education was attested to by Father Saxon, Catholic Priest of St. Robert's Church, Harrogate. On the 4th of February 1919 he was appointed Second Lieutenant. His service abroad was in France from 5th January 1917 to 3rd February 1918. On the 5th of April 1917 he received a shell wound to his neck. He completed his service 1st September 1921 and relinquished his commission retaining the rank of Second Lieutenant. 2nd Lieutenant Samuel Walter Ainsley (PRO reference WO374/525) 2nd Lieutenant Samuel Walter Ainsley Northumberland Fusiliers No. 10795 Samuel Walter Ainsley was born on the 15th November, 1888 in Durham and was educated at Gateshead Higher Grade School. On 4th September 1914 he enlisted for the duration of the war and was appointed to the 12th Northumberland Fusiliers. At this time he was living with his father, Samuel Troutbeck Ainsley, and sister, Gertrude, at 13 Holly Gardens, Gateshead. He was 5 ft 6 in tall with a fair complexion, dark brown hair and grey eyes and weighed 145lbs. He was promoted Corporal on 17/09/14 and posted Lance Sergeant 04/10/15. On the 26th September 1916 he was promoted Sergeant and discharged to a commission on 05/02/1919. His total service at this point had been from 04/09/14 to 05/02/19, with two periods in France, 09/09/15 to 03/10/15 and 31/12/15 to 05/11/17, and one period in Italy: 06/11/17 to 29/04/18. He suffered a gunshot wound to his abdomen on the 26th September 1915, for which he was sent home. He was admitted to the 1st Scot. Gen. Hospital Aberdeen on the 4th October. The wound was slightly septic but healed. He had also been gassed in France on 29/08/17. He was not invalided home but rejoined his unit on 21/10/17. He took leave from 27/10/18 to 05/11/17 but was recalled to rejoin his Battalion on the 31st October and was sent to Italy a week later. It is interesting to note that Samuel's weight is measured at 160lbs in April 1918 - 15 llbs heavier than when he enlisted! Apparently many soldiers actually put on weight because the army diet was so much better than what they were used to. Samuel relinquished his commission on completion of services 1st September 1921, retaining the rank of 2nd Lt. Staff Nurse Julia Ainsley (PRO reference WO399/9379) Staff Nurse Julia Ainsley 4th London G.H. Before Julia Ainsley was mobilized she was a private nurse "on the Co-op" at Victoria Home, Newcastle-on-Tyne. She was living at Carisbrook, Lyndhurst Avenue, Low Fell, Newcastle/on/Tyne. She was called up February 26, 1918 and posted to the 4th London General Hospital, Denmark Hill. Most of the papers in Julia's file relate to the period when she left the service in 1923. She sent a letter (dated 23rd November 1922) resigning from TANS (Territorial Army Nursing Service) owing to her recent marriage - her married name was Wood. The resignation took effect from 18th January 1923 and she was requested to return her TFNS (Territorial Force Nursing Service) Badge as she had not completed four years War Service. She had some problem returning her badge, as she explained in a letter, dated 27th March 1923. Her address at this time appears to be 6 Dacre Park [London E13?]: When leaving the 4th London I took all my uniform home to Newcastle-on-Tyne. I put my badge safely away but I'm not able to say exactly where I put it. As I am not in the position to spend £4 on going to Newcastle to look for the badge I would be glad if you could wait until I can find it. A letter of 26th June 1923 from Matron/in/Chief TANS acknowledges receipt of the badge so Julia obviously found it, eventually. The following table contains information from Soldiers Died in the Great War: Christian Name(s) Born Enlisted Residence Number RANK Cause Place Date of Death ADDITIONAL TEXT Regiment Battalion Alfred Douglas Southwark, Surrey, Camberwell, Surrey, Peckham, Surrey, S/30926 RIFLEMAN Died of wounds France & Flanders 05/10/17   Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) 1st Battalion Arthur Swanscombe Gravesend Swanscombe 553440 RIFLEMAN Killed in action France & Flanders 30/01/17 FORMERLY 4063, 2/5TH R.W. KENT REGT. London Regiment 16th (County of London) Battalion (Queen's Westminster Rifles) Donald Leeds Leeds   12341 PRIVATE Killed in action France & Flanders 25/09/16   King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry) 10th Battalion Donald was a great-grandson of Joseph and Ann Ainsley (WCA#10) Ernest   Leeds   268298 PRIVATE Died of wounds Home 02/09/18   Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) 2/5th Battalion George Leeds Bradford, Yorks   9338 PRIVATE Killed in action France & Flanders 25/09/16   York and Lancaster Regiment 2nd Battalion George Durham City Sunderland Durham T/254801 PRIVATE Died France & Flanders 26/07/17   Royal Army Service Corps   George Hedley Birtley, Durham Houghton-le-Spring Fatfield 73926 PRIVATE Died of wounds France & Flanders 30/10/18   Durham Light Infantry 12th Battalion Harry Billsdale, Yorks Stokesley Darlington T.S.4592 CPL. Died Balkans 29/08/18   Royal Army Service Corps   Harry was the youngest son of Stephen and Charity Ainsley (WCA#42) Howard Leonard   Leeds Leeds 267155 RIFLEMAN Killed in action France & Flanders 13/10/17   Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) 10th Battalion James   Gateshead, Durham   4768 PRIVATE Killed in action France & Flanders 05/11/16   Durham Light Infantry 1/9th Battalion James Brown   Middlesbrough Middlesbrough 71758 GUNNER Died Salonika 10/08/16   Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery   John Hartlepool, Durham Hamilton Hartlepool S/1689 PRIVATE Killed in action France & Flanders 30/07/16   Gordon Highlanders 1st Battalion Joseph Silksworth, Sunderland Wrexham Darlington 13740 PRIVATE Killed in action France & Flanders 03/01/16   King's (Shropshire Light Infantry) 7th Battalion Joe, great-grandson of Thomas Ainsley (WCA#11) Leonard Crombie   Littlegrove Barracks New Southgate 281131 PRIVATE Killed in action France & Flanders 09/09/16   London Regiment 4th (City of London) Battalion (Royal Fusiliers) Richard Robert   Durham   6125 PRIVATE Killed in action France & Flanders 05/11/16   Durham Light Infantry 1/6th Battalion Samuel Hartlepool, Co. Durham West Hartlepool, Co. Durham   47825 SPR. Killed in action France & Flanders 18/10/15 (9TH DIV. SIGNAL COY., R.E.). Corps of Royal Engineers   Thomas Coxhoe, Co. Durham Deaf Hill, Co. Durham Coxhoe 16906 PRIVATE Died Home 04/05/15   East Yorkshire Regiment 3rd Battalion William South Shields South Shields   21/261 PRIVATE Killed in action France & Flanders 23/08/16   Durham Light Infantry 15th Battalion William Dixon Hartlepool West Hartlepool   64725 PRIVATE Died France & Flanders 21/04/18 FORMERLY 41060, WEST RIDING REGT. Northumberland Fusiliers 23rd Battalion (Tyneside Scottish)     Images, information content and website design subject to copyright - see contacts page of website for further information.