Person:Louis Mann (9)

Louis was the son of James MANN, a serving British soldier and was born in the Curragh Camp, County Kildare, IRELAND. His mother, Eliza HOLLOWAY, died when he was 3. He was brought up by his father and Step-Mother Fanny BUTCHER after the family returned to England, where his father James had a variety of businesses in Aldershot, Hampshire, ENGLAND.

Louis enlisted under age in the Leinster Regiment as a Drummer, in 1891, when only 13. When found out, he was discharged. In 1894, he enlisted in the 3rd Volunteer Battalion of the Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment, (a reserve unit), using the alias of Frederick William MANN, stating he was born in Marylebone, Middlesex, again lying about his age, stating he was 17 years 11 months when in fact he was still 16.

In February 1896, he joined the 2nd Battalion, The Scots Guards as a Regular soldier and served with them under his alias until he confessed and was sentenced to 42 days in military jail. He went on to serve with the Scots Guards and went with them to SOUTH AFRICA in 1900, where he served through the Boer War. He was awarded the Queen's South Africa medal with four clasp bars, "Wittebergen", "Cape Colony", "Transvaal" and "South Africa 1901".

Louis left the Regular Army in 1903 and was transferred to the Active Reserve, serving in the 3rd Battalion Scots Guards. He married Elizabeth SPREADBOROUGH in 1904. On completion of his Reserve service in 1908, he re-enlisted in and continued to serve with the Scots Guards until December 1912, when he was discharged on completion of his term of engagement.

He again re-enlisted, this time into the 1st Battalion The Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment and went to FRANCE with them when the First World War broke out in 1914. He fought in FRANCE and BELGIUM, where he was wounded at the Battle of Ypres, being machine gunned and gassed while attacking German trenches. He was sent to Dublin, IRELAND, to recover from his wounds before going back to England.

Louis was awarded the 1914 Star, with clasp "Aug - Nov 1914" and Rosette - British War Medal 1914-18 - WW1 Victory Medal the Silver Wound badge. He received four Wound Stripes during WW1 and was medically discharged after his recovery being unfit for further military service.

When he returned home to ENGLAND, his family did not initially recognise him at the railway station due to his poor physical condition, but he finally recovered enough to work again.

Louis and Elizabeth had a total of 13 children together, two of which died as children. After leaving the Army, he worked as a Canteen Manager at Army Barracks and encampments in and around Aldershot, Hampshire, ENGLAND, even though he still suffered with poor health due to his wounds.

Louis died in 1937. He was a well respected soldier in the Scots Guards and Queen's Royal Regiment and his funeral was attended by a Piper from the Scots Guards and a Gun Carriage and Pall Bearers from The Queen's.

This information is supported by birth, marriage and death certificates as well as military records.