One of many Street Parties held in England at the end of WWI (Dagenham 1918).
The War to End All Wars lasted 4 years 14 weeks and 2 days and ended with the signing of the Armistice on the 11th day of November, 1918, at 5 o'clock a. m. (French time). The armistice initially ran for 36 days but was regularly renewed until the formal peace treaty was signed at Versailles the following year.

Of the 38 Earthy/Earthey men who enlisted, 30 survived, including 3 soldiers from the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

This first section of this page contains the details of the Earthy/Earthey soldiers whose PRO record files have survived or whose names appear in The National Role of Honour; then follows the minimal information kept on the PRO Medal Index cards for the other British soldiers who were involved.
 
 
Sergeant Harry Ralph Earthey, 1914.
 
 
Name.
Harry Ralph Earthey.
Addresses.
114 Silver St, Edmonton (1st attestion).
130 Morley Rd, Leyton (2nd attestion).
12 Austins Place, Hemel Hempstead (3rd attestion).
Parents.
Harry Earthey and Mary Annie Alice Ralph.
Attestations.
1) 28th of February 1908 [age 19 years 1 month]
2) 22nd of May 1914 [age 25 years 5 months]
3) 1919 at Kennington [age 31 years]
Regiment, Rank & Number.

1st attestion:
419 Cpl Earthey in RFA (Royal Field Artillary) by 20/04/1912.

2nd attestion:
5th London Brigade B Battery RFA.
Promoted to Sgt that day ( letter from Major in 13th Battery)
Previously with 1st Essex Bty, 2nd E.A. Brigade for 6 years.
BEF (British Expeditionary Force) France 1/10/1916.
6th Res Brigade 12/11/1917.
War pension Disability Melancholia; 9s/9d/week (result of active service).
Wife Emily Marjaree Earthy, information in the National Roll of Honour: Volunteering at the commencement of hostilities, he was quickly sent to the Western Front, where he fought in many notable battles, including that of Ypres. He afterwoods became seriously ill, and after his return to England was, in 1916, invalided out of the Service.

3rd attestion:
No 7240407 92nd London Brigade RFA, 366 Battery.
Silver badge no. 131580.
D.O.B. 22/12/1888, occupation Tinsmith, married.
Previously discharged as Medically Unfit 950190 Sgt.
Gunner 15/04/1920 (sic.), then promoted Sgt same day with 366th London Battery RFA.
Promoted Battery Sgt. major 1/07/1921.
Discharged 14/04/1923.
Events that happened.
The Royal Field Arillery (RFA) was responsible for the light, smaller calibre guns and howitzers deployed close to the front line. It was organised into Brigades.
The 5th London Brigade, RFA, was attached to the 47th (2nd London Territorial Force) Division. Their batteries were from Kennington and Paddington. It was redesignated the CCXXXV Brigade in May 1916.

Harry Ralph Earthey joined the BEF in France on 1/10/1916.
The 47th Division were engaged in two major battles between this time and his discharge on 24/09/1917.

1) The Battle of Le Transloy (eighth) phase of the Battle of the Somme 1916 1st - 18th October 1916
In this action the Division captured Eaucourt l'Abbe, and took part in attacks on the Butte de Warlencourt; both are just south of the main Albert-Bapaume road.
2) The Battle of Messines 3rd - 7th June 1917.

Determined that the slaughter of allied troops on the Somme the previous summer/autumn should not be repeated, General Sir Herbert Plumer directed that some 20 mines be placed under the well defended German lines at Messines, a high ridge to the south east of Ypres in Belgium.
From January to June more than 8,000 metres of tunnel were dug and 600 tons of explosive were laid.

On 21st May Plumer began his bombardment of the German lines with 2,300 guns and 300 heavy mortars.
On 3rd June this bombardment was increased, and was maintained until 0250 hrs on 7th June.

Some nine divisions of Plummer's Second Army were awaiting zero hour of 0310 hrs; then, a number of huge explosions ripped apart the German front line. The attacking British were stunned at the ferocity of the explosions which were heard in London, but the troops quickly followed a creeping barrage and, after three hours, Messines Ridge was in allied hands.
Name.
Address.
Church Lane, Stowmmarket, Suffolk.
Parents.
Father, Edward Earthy.
Attested.
6th of April 1908 [age20]
Regiment.
5th Battalion Suffolk Regiment.
Rank & Number.
No 210.
Previously with 2nd R Bn. Suffolks from 09/02/1905 to 05/04/1908.
Re-engaged 06/04/1909 tto 1911.
Re-egaged 06/04/1911 for 1yr to 1912 then 1yr to 1913 then 1yr to 1914.
Re-engaged 5/08/1914.
Prov Bn. 20/06/1915 to 9/04/1916 then terminated his period of engagement, L/Cpl Home 5/08/1914 to 19/04/1916.
Name.
Walter Earthey.
Address.
(In 1920, 17 Canton Rd, Baker St, Enfield, Middlesex.)
Parents.
Father, W Earthey.
Attested.
3rd of september 1914 Worthing [age 28 years 2 days]
Regiment.
3rd & 9th Bn. Royal Sussex.
Rank & Number.
Private - No 1130.
Home 3/09/1914 to 30/08/1915, 362 days.
BEF 31/08/1915 to 6/02/1916, 160 days.
Home 7/02/1916 to 12/07/1916, 157 days.
Wounded between 25 & 28/09/1915 weekly pension 12s/6d.
Name.
Harold Frederick Earthy
Address.
The Briars, Firsgrove Rd., Brentwood, Essex.
Parents.
Father, Arther Earnest Richard Earthy.
Attested.
7th of September 1914 [age 20 years 9 months]
Regiment.
6th Battalion City of London Rifles.
Rank & Number.
Private - No 825.
Home 7/09/1914 to 12/03/1915 with 2/5th London Rifles.
BEF 13/03/1915 to 18/05/1915.
Home 19/05/1915 to 8/07/1916.
GSW to chest 2/05/1915.
Discharged with pension of 12/6d per week as no longer physically fit 3/07/1916, 3rd COL Rifle Brigade.
Name.
Spencer Earthy.
Address.
8 Wilgon St, Whamstow.
Parents.
Harry Robert and Alice Earthy.
Attested.
19th of September 1914.
Regiment.
Royal Horse Guards.
Rank & Number.
Trooper - No 3072.
''Disharged Household Cavalry (Royal Horse Guards) 8/08/1918, age 25 years 9 months, being no longer physically fit for *** Service. Operation before joining to correct varicose veins; but kicked by horse in Aug 15 requiring 1 week in hospital. Veins now much worse.''
Total service 3yrs 294 days.
BEF 13/08/1915 to 06/06/1917.
Embarked Southampton 12/08/1915 Household Cavalry Divisional Cyclist Coy. 28/10/1915 St Omer Oc no.10 Stat hosp, wound right knee. Rejoined unit 4/09/1915.
Transferred England 6/06/1916.
Transferred Reserve Bn Windsor 8/03/1918, then Peckham 15/03/1918, then Cardington St, 17/04/1918 then Peckham 18/04/1918, then 158 City Rd 20/04/1918, then Regent's Park Barracks 7/06/1918.
Name.
Stanley Victor Earthy.
Address.
The Briars Firsgrove Rd, Brentwood.
Parents.
Father, AGR Earthy.
Attested.
12th of January 1915 [age 19 years 2 months]
Regiment.
1st London Regiment.
Rank & Number.
TF - No 201151 and 3402.
Home 12/01/1915 to 31/01/1915, 20 days.
Ex Force Malta 1/02/1915 to 24/08/1915, 205 days.
Med 25/08/1915 to 16/04/1916, 236 days.
France 17/04/1916 to 6/09/1916, 145 days.
Home 7/09/1916 to 28/07/1917, 325 days.

Discharged as no longer physically fit 28/07/1917.
Weekly pension 8s 3d Hephritis Trench.
Punishments: Luxor 11,14,15,16/02/1916 Absent from parade. 168 hours Field punishment no. 1.
Regimental history: When his Regiment left Malta it sailed for Alexandria and then on 25th September 1915 landed in Gallipoli at Suvla Bay where it was attached to the 88th Brigade. After a further three months his 29th Division was evacuated and by January 1916 his Regiment was in Egypt, now attached to the 53rd Division. In April they shipped to France, landing at Marseille on the 24th. The Regiment went next to Rouen and had been disbanded by June 1916.
Name.
Address.
24 West St, Shoreham, Sussex.
Parents.
Samuel and Rose Earthey.
Attested.
12th of December 1915 [age 26 years 8 months]
Regiment.
5th Beds Regiment.
Rank & Number.
Private - No 6548.
Posted Bedford Reg 0/04/1916.
Transferred 9th Northampton Regiment.
Transfrerred 18th Bn Gloster Regiment 27/06/1918.
Posted 442 Agricultural coy 30/07/1918 To France 10/10/1918.
Demobbed as No. 638357, Pte, Labour Corps on 24/01/1919. With 303 Res Lab Coy.
Home 121/12/1915 to 12/12/1915, 1 day.
Army Res B 13,12,1915 to 31/03/1916, 109 days.
Home 1/04/1916.
Name.
Charles Arthur Earthy.
Address.
84 Askew Rd, Shepherds Bush, London.
Parents.
James & Ethel Earthy.
Attested.
20th of September 1915 at Guildford [age 29 yers 6 months]
Regiment.
Mechanical Transport ASC.
Rank & Number.
Driver- No. M2/136147.
Home 30/10/1915 to 28/06/1916.
Embarked Avonmouth 28/06/1916 (with 4th Australian ?)
Disembarked Rouen? 2/07/1916.
L/Cpl from 22/06/1916.
Dispersed 29/01/1919 from BEF France.
28/08/1918 awarded 7days field Penalty No. 2 for failure to comply with an order.
12/16/1916 (sic) to 30/03/1917 Lorry driver XIV CTSC. 16/05/1917 to 1/07/1917 9 SBAC.
7/07/1917 to 17/01/1919 282 MT Coy general duties Served in India and South Africa.
19/01/1920 applied as driver for Imperial W ar Grave Commission.
Name.
Address.
80 London Rd, Reading.
Parents.
Father Charles James Earthy,
Attested.
27th of September 1915 at Reading [age 22 years 4 months]
Regiment.
RE Corps.
Rank & Number.
Private - No. 137715.
From Huntley & Palmers Ltd to Col. at the recruiting office:
"we beg to inform you that Luther Vaughan Earthy, the bearer of this letter, has been employed by us as a clerk since he left school, and is an expert shorthand writer and typist"

Promoted L/Cpl 10/11/1915, Cpl 2/03/1916, "skilled" Sgt 27/04/1916.
"Superior" Sgt 20/01/1917.
Embarked France 5/05/1915.
Disability NIL when with 237 Field Coy RE 23/05/1919.
Name.
Robert John Earthy.
Address.
29 Stafford Rd, Walthamstow.
Parents.
William and Maggie Earthy.
Attested.
7th of January 1916.
Regiment.
3rd Coy Army service Corps.
Rank & Number.
No T4/088558.
Discharged 'on account of having made a mis-statement as to age on enlistment' 27/03/1916.
 
Name.
Cecil A Earthy.
Address.
Parents.
Attested.
June 1916.
Regiment.
King's Royal Rifle Corps.
Rank & Number.
Private No A/200800.
The following information is taken from National Role of Honour (VII London) The information in the NROH would have been supplied by either Cecil or is family and is not 'official'.

Earthy, C.A., L/Cpl., King's Royal Rifle Corps. He joined in June 1916, and in the following August was sent to France. He fought in the Battles of the Somme 1., Messines, Ypres, and Passchendaele. He was drafted in 1917 to Italy, where he took part in fighting on the Piave, but in 1918 was sent again to the Western Front. He was in action at Cambrai, and was wounded and taken prisoner on March 23rd. 1918, during the Retreat. He was released after the signing of the Armistice, and was demobilised in September, holding the General Service and Victory Medals. 47. Heygate Street, Walworth, S.E.17
 
Name.
William Thomas Earthy.
Address.
58 Elliot's Row, St George's Road, London.
Parents.
Thomas Edwin Ingram Earthy.
Attested.
December 1916.
Regiment.
1st City of London (Yeomanry).
Rank & Number.
L/Corporal.
The following information is taken from National Roll of the Great War Index: Vol. 3 London, page 329.

Earthy, W T, L/Corporal, 1st City of London (Yeomanry) He joined in December 1916, and after completing his training served at various stations on important duties with his unit. He rendered valuable services, but was not successful in obtaining his transfer overseas before the cessation of hostilities. He was demobilised in January 1919. 58 Elliot's Row, St George's Road, SE 11.
 
 
During the Blitz in WW2 the Record Centre was bombed and about two thirds of the WW1 service records were burnt and lost forever, including those of the following soldiers who are known to have survived.
Name
Regiment/Corps
Rank & Number
Victory Medal
British Medal
Star Medal
Silver War Badge
Albert Edward Earthy.
Royal Fusiliers.
Pte GS/51410
-
-
-
-
Alfred W Earthy.
East Surrey Regiment.(Territorials)
Pte TF/1897 - 240350
Yes
Yes
No
No
Arthur L Earthy.
Rifle Brigade.
Pte 46461
Yes
Yes
No
No
Frank R Earthey.
Sussex Regiment: Som Light Infantry.
Pte 1639 - 275283
No
Yes
No
No
Frederick A Earthy
Rifle Brigade: MGC.
Pte 233374 - 144011
Yes
Yes
No
No
George Earthey.
Welsh Regiment.
Pte 577 - 54440
Yes
Yes
No
No
Herbert E Earthey.
18th London Regiment: R.In. Rifles.
Pte 1/188056
Yes
Yes
No
No
-
-
-
-
-
I Earthey.
3rd Royal Sussex Regiment.
Pte G/1138
-
-
-
-
Leonard Earthy.
Royal Engineers.
Spr 288399
Yes
Yes
No
No
Leslie C Earthy.
RAMC.
Pte 90078
Yes
Yes
No
No
Percy R Earthy.
Royal Sussex Regiment: Labour Corps.
Pte 662 - 580635
Yes
Yes
No
No
Samuel Earthey.
MGC.
Pte 30323
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Sidney Earthy.
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Sgt 35442
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
William Earthy.
Suffolk Regiment.
Pte 51880
Yes
Yes
1915
No
 
 
The Star, Victory and British War medals popularly known as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred after characters in a Daily Mail cartoon of the period.
 
The 1914 Star.
This medal was awarded to all officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and all men of the British and Indian Forces, including civilian medical practitioners, nursing sisters, nurses and others employed with military hospitals; as well as men of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve who served with on the establishment of their unit in France and Belgium between August 5th 1914, and midnight of November 22/23rd, 1914.
The 1914-15 Star.
A Star similar to the 1914 Star was issued to all personnel mentioned above, with certain exceptions, who served in a theatre of war before December 31st 1915 and who did not qualify for the earlier star.
The British War Medal, 1914-16.
It is impossible to set out all the details of qualification for this medal, but briefly, the requirement was that a member of the fighting forces had to leave his native shore in any part of the British Empire while on service. It did not matter whether he/she entered a theatre of war or not.
The Victory Medal, 1914-1918.
This medal was awarded to all those who entered a theatre of war (and presumably took part in the fighting, logistics or medical services). It follows that every recipient of the Victory Medal also qualified for the British War Medal, but not the other way round. 300,000 fewer Victory Medals were required than British War Medals. All three services were eligible. It is not generally known that Victory Medals continued to be awarded after the Armistice, for the British forces who saw action in North Russia (up to October 12th, 1919) and Trans-Caspia (up to April 17th, 1919) also qualified.
 
 
"For King and Empire and Services Rendered"
 
The Silver War Badge.
Many of the men and women who were invalided out of the army after a wound or sickness that led to a medical down-grading were awarded this badge. It was authorised in September 1916, and applied to people in this category whether they were at a theatre of war or at home. They were individually numbered, on the reverse side.
 
 
Source for the medal photographs and information The British Army in the Great War British Military Campaign Medals
Thanks to Iris Joan Smith (nee Earthey), John and Yvonne Cutter for supplying the photographs of Harry Ralph Earthey.
Research Rikk Earthy March, May & August 2002.
Updated by Russell Parkes July 2007.