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sadly Forton prison no longer stands, you could try the portsmouth Library http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/learning/1028.html  or the gosport museum http://www.discoverycentres.co.uk/gosport/
ive studied the barrcks in the area and they have been great help.

I've just started tracing a great Uncle in preparation for a trip to the battlefields next year. He is Oliver John Perry who was in the 13th brigade Middlesex regiment. One of the few things I know so far is that he was killed in action on 18.8.1916. and is buried in Bernafay woods cemetry. He died on the same day as John Patrick Wright so presumably they were both engaged in the same action that day - they probably knew each other?
How do I find out what the particular engagement was that day?
I would also like to find out how he won the Military Medal - which I think is a galantry medal?

its strang that we they were both our uncles, john is also in Bernafey wood cemetry, i believe that there is a small b+b(old train station) near the cemetry which was use as a casualty clearing station at the time as for you question you could try the links below, also the national army museum in chelsea

 the military medal is ineed for galantry and one of the highest awarded to the ordinary ranks i think that was normally noted in the times (like the VC)

http://www.1914-1918.net/msex.htm
http://www.britishwargraves.org.uk/newsite/units/Middlesex_Regiment.htm
http://www.firstworldwar.com/today/bernafaywoodcemetery.htm

about a week ago i was given the last letter that john wrote to his sister it discribed his 17th birthday in shoreham day before he left for the front

if youve got any information about the unit they were both in that you find maybe we could share our information

regards

coops741
Glen Cooper

thats great wendi thank you

thank annie
your a star, found out he joined up at Mill Hill and died at the age of 17 years like many of that time signed up with a false age

thank again

thats great thank you very much