Light infantry prepared for war

Here are some of Shropshire’s heroes from World War One, soldiers of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, pictured before they went off to war.

This picture was loaned by Mrs Connie Meredith, of Dawley, and shows her uncle Percy Ward, who is fourth from left of those standing at the back.

Percy was later switched to the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, and later to the Devon Regiment, which he hated. He did his training in Ireland.

He said later the people stood at the doors when they marched along and stared at them with pure hate and it was almost a relief when they were sent to the front.

He was sent out to recover rifles from the dead and as he picked one up it went off and the bullet just missed him.