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Shinfield war memorial Reading (Berks) W,H. Lailey

Shinfield war memorial Reading (Berks) W,H. Lailey

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 7:31PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Lailey
I have found an ancestor: Pte T. H Lailey, 1st Bn The Berkshire Regiment, on the above war memorial.

What is interesting, however, is that below his name is WILLIAM H LAILEY, who I believe served with the Australian Light Horse.

I'm wondering WHY an Aussie soldier is on the local memorial, and whether he can be linked to the lailey family from the village of Shinfield. If he is linked I need to find out why he ended up in the Australian Light horse?????

Re: Shinfield war memorial Reading (Berks) W,H. Lailey

Posted: 19 Jun 2014 1:04PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Lailey
Hello
There are two Lailey's on the war memorial:
Thomas Henry Lailey (Private 11818), 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment, who was killed in action on 5 January 1915, aged 17 years.
William Henry Lailey of the 10th Australian Light Horse, was originally a resident of School Green in Shinfield. He was killed in action on 7th August 1915.
Don't know whether these two were related. I have black and white photos of them and there are similarities.

I am researching this war memorial for a first world war memorial trail for the one hundred year commemoration, and I'd be interested if you had any further information on these individuals.

Thanks,
Katy

Re: Shinfield war memorial Reading (Berks) W,H. Lailey

Posted: 21 Jun 2014 6:48PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Katy
The Laileys were a well known local family in and around the Shinfield / Spencers Wood area.
Thomas Henry (1st Bn The Royal Berks Regt) was the cousin of William Henry (10th Australian Light Horse).
They were agricultural labourers prior to WW1. William Henry moved throughout Berkshire & Oxfordshire searching for Agricultural labouring work before sailing from London to Freemantle, Western Australia.
Last November I attended the Shinfield memorial with my children and they laid poppy crosses in memory of their fallen relations - as an ex-serviceman myself it was a very emotional moment.

As a point of interest the action in which William Henry was killed (Gallipoli 1915) is depicted at the very end of the film 'Gallipoli' starring a very young Mel Gibson.

William Henry never married in Australia and had no children. However, we do believe that he had a 'sweet-heart' who posted his obituary in Australian newspapers at the time.
If you would like any further info please feel free to email me at phoenixmerchandising@hotmail.co.uk
Best wishes

Martin
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