Saturday 21 February 2015

The 16th Lancers at Ypres, 21st February 1915


Remembering the following five officers and 12 men of the 16th Lancers who lost their lives 100 years ago today on the 21st February 1915. Only five of these men have known graves, the remainder being commemorated on the Menin Gate at Ypres.


3838 Private Frederick Charles Adam
5714 Private Charlie Alderson
1017 Corporal George Annett
3270 Private Walter Oliver Basson
Lieutenant Rowland Auriol James Beech
Lieutenant David Ronald Cross MC, MiD (below)
6006 Private Harold Cutfield
5595 Lance Corporal William Futrill
L/4937 Private Giles
316 Corporal Alfred Jackson
4529 Private George Henry Jones
Lieutenant Nathaniel Walter Ryder King
5402 Lance Serjeant Gilbert Percy Liggins
5045 Private Charles Alfred Lindsey
Captain Edward Radcliffe Nash (above)
Major Arundell Neave MiD (above)
5685 Lance Corporal Sydney Leonard White


Obituaries on this post are taken from the online version of De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour published on Ancestry.

Saturday 14 February 2015

2nd East Surrey Regiment - 14th February 1915


One hundred years ago today, on Sunday the 14th February 1915, 44 men from the East Surrey Regiment laid down their lives for King and Country. They are listed below, courtesy of The Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

With the exception of 6934 Colour Sergeant Andrew McGee (Depot) who died in England and AR/7204 Sergeant Frederick Farmer (1st Battalion) who died of wounds in Boulogne, all of the men were serving with the 2nd Battalion and only five have known graves, their companions all being remembered on the Menin Gate at Ypres.

The men were killed in an assault to re-capture a lost trench on the south side of the Ypres-Combines canal. 300 men took part in the attack which was launched at 2.30pm but by 4.30pm it was clear that the men had suffered heavy losses and were unable to advance further. Support was called for by the 2nd Buffs (East Kent Regiment) who found the remaining men of the East Surreys about 800 yards from the trench.

By 7pm the Buffs had reached to within about 500 yards of the trench but by now it was dark and, according to the 2nd East Surrey's war diary, "No one could tell us the position of the trench or the nature of the ground over which we had to proceed, and as it seemed possible that we should advance against the main German position and not the one trench intended, the OC decided to postpone the attack until some reconnaissance could be made and some guides could be obtained."

By the time the remains of the battalion reported back to headquarters it was 11.30pm and they had been floundering in mud and filth for nine hours. Little wonder then that the majority of those who died were subsequently lost in the mud or their bodies blown to pieces by shellfire.

9766 Corporal HENRY JAMES ADAMS
9817 Private CHARLES LOT BENNETT
Second Lieutenant ERNEST JOHN WILFRED BIRNIE
6441 Private FREDERICK BOOTH
8865 Private FRANCIS EDWARD BOWYER
10265 Private GEORGE JOSEPH BRITTEN
9755 Private SIDNEY EDWIN CHANDLER
9986 Private HAROLD DEAN DAVIS
9826 Private DAVISON
3197 Private FRANCIS ROBERT DOUGHTY
AR/7204 Serjeant FREDERICK CHARLES FARMER
10269 Private PHILLIP FERRICK
10280 Private GEORGE HENRY FULLER
8621 Corporal FREDERICK BARRY GAUNTLETT
10296 Private HARRY SIDNEY GEORGE
6533 Private CHARLES HAYWARD
10246 Private ARTHUR HINES
9757 Private JAMES WILLIAM HOBSON
9888 Private HERBERT HOUSEGO
9564 Private JOHN LANE
9016 Private ALBERT LAWTHER
9607 Private LEAREY
8700 Private WILLIAM LENTON
7168 Private MAURICE MARSHALL
8794 Private JOSEPH MORLEY
6934 Colour Serjeant ANDREW McGEE
10019 Lance Corporal McGREGOR
9886 Lance Corporal WALTER ALFRED NAYLOR
10199 Lance Corporal CHARLES NORRIS
9985 Private JOSEPH DICK OFFORD
4022 Private WALTER REDMAN
Captain CHARLES SIMMS REEVE
9467 Serjeant RIDDY
Second Lieutenant ROBERT FRANCIS SHONE
8666 Private FREDERICK WILLIAM SORRELL
10237 Lance Corporal FREDERICK STANDRING
10175 Private TIBBS
7228 Private ALFRED JAMES TIDY
9513 Serjeant EDWARD GEORGE TURNER
8030 Serjeant WILLIAM JAMES WAGSTAFF
8810 Private ALFRED JAMES WHITE
10189 Private JAMES FREDERICK WOODGATE
10021 Private CHARLES HENRY WOODHOUSE
10477 Private HERBERT PERCY WOODS

Pictured on this post, 2nd Lt Birnie who was shot in the chest on the 14th.  His last reported words to his sergeant were, "Sergeant Oliver, cheer the platoon up and look well after them. Goodbye, I have done my best."

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.


Sunday 1 February 2015

Killed in Action, Died of Wounds, Died - 1st February 1915

Trenches - Western Front 1915

Remembering today, 100 years on, the 144 men commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission who died on the 1st February 1915.

5927 Private LEONARD ADKINS 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
G/10038 Private WILLIAM ALDEN 4th Bn. Royal Fusiliers
11057 Lance Corporal ALDER 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
11129 Private ANDERSON 1st Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Lieutenant EDWARD JOHN AVERY 4th Bn. Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
Third Hand FREDERICK GEORGE BAKER Steam Trawler "Bernicia" (Grimsby) Mercantile Marine
12/604 Private JOHN BEASY 12th Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment
2872 Corporal BELL 1st Bn. Irish Guards
3331 Private SAMUEL BENHAM 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
Lieutenant R. St. JOHN BLACKER-DOUGLASS 1st Bn. Irish Guards
3/7266 Private BOWDEN 2nd Bn. Devonshire Regiment
501 Private THOMAS BOWES 1st Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
4956 Private BRAY 1st Bn. Irish Guards
4961 Private BRENNAN 1st Bn. Irish Guards
12037 Private TOM LESLIE St. JOHN BRINDLEY 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
9842 Corporal BURKE 1st Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
Major ROBERT GILLIES CAMPBELL 10th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
11783 Private HENRY ERNEST CARPENTER 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
Second Lieutenant JOSEPH ALLAN CARTER WOOD 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
Mate THOMAS EDWARD CLARK Steam Trawler "Bernicia" (Grimsby) Mercantile Marine
Second Lieutenant HAROLD NORTON CLIFTON 1st Bn. Coldstream Guards
G/114 Corporal ROBERT COE 2nd Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
2850 Private SAMUEL CORBY 5th Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment
2696 Private JOSEPH CORNALLY No. 2 Coy. 1st Bn. Irish Guards
2130 Private SAMUEL COX 1st Bn. The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
6335 Private HARRY COXHILL 3rd Bn. Coldstream Guards
75438 Driver DAVIDSON 8th Reserve Bty. Royal Field Artillery
15874 Serjeant THOMAS DELANEY 2nd Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
Lieutenant ARTHUR EDWARD DEVAS Essex Regiment
8263 Bearer DEVI 113th Indian Field Amb. Indian Army Medical Corps
2526 Rifleman DHAN BAHADUR GURUNG 2nd Bn. 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles
2515 Rifleman DHANU GURUNG 2nd Bn. 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles
4737 Private DONALDSON 1st Bn. Irish Guards
7792 Lance Corporal WALTER DRAKE 2nd Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
3450 Private PATRICK DUNNE 1st Bn. Irish Guards
1679 Private DURBAN 6th Bn. Essex Regiment
J/27376 Boy 1st Class LEONARD GEORGE ELLIS H.M.S. "Albion." Royal Navy
4915 Private FARRELL 2nd Bn. Irish Guards
10758 Private FAULKNER 7th Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment
199 Serjeant EVELYN FRANKLAND 2nd East Lancs. Field Amb. Royal Army Medical Corps
S/10689 Private FRASER 1st Bn. Cameron Highlanders
Skipper FREDERICK FREEMAN "Bernicia." Mercantile Marine
6253 Private BENJAMIN PHILLIPPUS GEYER 6th Mounted Rifles (Cape Light Horse)
3/6967 Private GIRDLESTONE 1st Bn. Norfolk Regiment
2599 Private WILLIAM DAVID GLENN No. 4 Coy. 1st Bn. Irish Guards
4803 Private GOODWIN 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
9659 Lance Corporal EDWIN JOHN GREEN 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
5033 Private HAMEL 2nd Bn. Irish Guards
4655 Lance Serjeant JAMES HARAN 1st Bn. Irish Guards
11996 Private FRANK CYRIL HILL 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
8767 Lance Corporal HILL 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
6299 Private CHARLES HOLMES 2nd Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
9683 Private HULSTON 2nd Bn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry
26124 Private EDGAR HUNT 10th Reserve Cavalry Regiment
7606 Private MONTAGUE EDWARD JACKSON 2nd Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment
15648 Private FRANCIS WILLIAM JAQUES 11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars
9025 Private JONES 3rd Bn. Worcestershire Regiment
S/6638 Private WILLIAM JOY 2nd Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
8439 Lance Corporal FREDRICK DAVID JUDGE 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
1512 Sepoy KAKU KHAN 101st Indian Grenadiers
2217 Rifleman KAMANSING KHATTRI 1st Bn. 9th Gurkha Rifles
L/11819 Private KING 4th Bn. Middlesex Regiment
3445DA Deck Hand GEORGE BELL KNIGHT H.M. Trawler "Hondo." Royal Naval Reserve
Captain THOMAS UCHER CAULFEILD KNOX 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
TS/3968 Driver JOHN HENRY LANE 2nd Remount Depot Army Service Corps
TF/2759 Lance Corporal JOSEPH LEDBURY 4th Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment
Second Lieutenant LENNOX CLELAND LEE LEE 1st Bn. Irish Guards
10649 Private ALBERT LEVER 2nd Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
5115 Private EVAN DAVID LLOYD 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers)
10568 Private STANLEY LLOYD 1st Bn. The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
240 Private ALFRED LORIMER Royal Army Medical Corps
7506 Private RODERICK J T LUMSDEN 2nd Bn. Highland Light Infantry
9821 Private ALEXANDER HOUSTON MACKAY 1st Bn. Gordon Highlanders
9616 Private MARTIN 2nd Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
1614 Drummer THEOPHILUS MASON No. 4 Coy. 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
SR/16 Private GEORGE LISTON MELROSE 9th Vet. Hosp. Army Veterinary Corps
6174 Bandsman MILNE 2nd Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
15538 Private MILTON East Lancashire Regiment
8353 Private MITCHELL 2nd Bn. Border Regiment
6440 Private JOHN MURPHY 2nd Bn. Royal Munster Fusiliers
Second Engineer CHARLES McCARTHY Steam Trawler "Bernicia" (Grimsby) Mercantile Marine
T3/026572 Driver McDERMID No. 4 H.T. Reception Depot Army Service Corps
M/3350 Private McGOUGH West Riding Div. Train Army Service Corps
7360 Serjeant THOMAS McMULLEN 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
3186 Serjeant THOMAS ALFRED McNAB 3rd Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
6934 Private McQUEEN 2nd Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
1785 Rifleman NARBIR BISHT 1st Bn. 9th Gurkha Rifles
4802 Private MICHAEL NEILL 1st Bn. Irish Guards
2558 Private NICOLSON 4th Bn. Cameron Highlanders Captain Viscount NORTHLAND ALIAS
1280 Driver NUR MUHAMMAD 13th Mule Corps Chief Engineer LOUIS MARTIN OLSEN Steam Trawler "Bemicia" (Grimsby) Mercantile Marine
5216 Private OSBORN 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
7456 Private THOMAS OSBORNE 2nd Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
1269 Sub-Asst. Surgeon PAPANNA NAYUDU Indian Subordinate Medical Department
1946 Private HECTOR HARRIS PENDUCK 2nd Southern Gen. Hospital Royal Army Medical Corps
Captain DUDLEY EYRE PERSSE 4th Bn. attd. 2nd Bn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1347 Lance Naik PHUMAN SINGH 47th Sikhs
Trimmer JOSEPH PILLAR Steam Trawler "Bemicia" (Grimsby) Mercantile Marine
10741 Rifleman HENRY QUANTRILL 3rd Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
Z/1106 Rifleman JOSEPH JAMES RANDALL 3rd Bn. Rifle Brigade
2245 Private SIDNEY RENYARD 1st/4th Bn. Hampshire Regiment
11695 Corporal HARRY ROSTINS 1st Bn. Worcestershire Regiment
3246 Private RONALD F.K. SALMOND 1st Reserve Bn. London Regiment (London Scottish)
8569 Private SALTER 2nd Bn. Devonshire Regiment
349 Rifleman SAUNDERS 3rd Bn. Rifle Brigade
CMT/2599 Private JOHN SAUNDERS 52nd Mechanical Transport Coy. (Aldershot) Army Service Corps
Deck Hand ARTHUR BENJAMIN SAVORY Steam Trawler "Bernicia" (Grimsby) Mercantile Marine
6892 Private JOHN SHIPMAN SEVERN 1st Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
7512 Private SHAKESBY 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
2250 Private SHAW 9th (Glasgow Hdrs.) Bn. Highland Light Infantry
5628 Lance Corporal SHAW 1st Bn. Coldstream Guards
3632 Sepoy SHIUDAS SINGH 1st Bn. 97th Deccan Infantry
Lieutenant ANTHONY HENRY SIMPSON 1st Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
5264 Private SLOAN "D" Coy. 2nd Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
75010 Serjeant GRANVILLE ERNEST SMITH 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
Gunner SAMUEL CHARLES ARTHUR SMITH H.M.S. "Comet." Royal Navy
7783 Drummer WILLIAM H. SMITH 1st Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment
6896 Serjeant SPALDING 1st Bn. Coldstream Guards
L/7724 Lance Corporal VICTOR SPILLETT 1st Bn. The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
4438 Private WILLIAM STEEPE 1st Bn. Irish Guards
507 Trooper JAMES ALEXANDER STEWART 5th Australian Light Horse
10983 Private GEORGE ROWLAND STRAW 1st Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
4988 Corporal JOHN FOSTER STRICKLAND No. 4 Coy. 2nd Bn. Irish Guards
5754 Private JAMES SULLIVAN 2nd Bn. Royal Munster Fusiliers
5597 Lance Corporal ALFRED SUNDERLAND 2nd Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
2418 Private THOMAS TATLOCK 1st Bn. The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
6490 Sapper GEORGE TAYLOR 2nd Siege Coy. Royal Mon. Royal Engineers
7259 Private THOMPSON 2nd Bn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers
Deck Hand ARTHUR J. THORNTON Steam Trawler "Bernicia" (Grimsby) Mercantile Marine
1560 Rifleman TULA RAWAT 1st Bn. 39th Garhwal Rifles
5278 Private PATRICK TWYFORD 2nd Bn. Royal Munster Fusiliers
8398 Private MICHAEL WALSH 3rd Bn. Connaught Rangers
S/880 Private HENRY PROUCY WARTON 2nd Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment Steward EVAN HERBERT WATKIN Steam Trawler "Bernicia" (Grimsby) Mercantile Marine
L/14591 Private THOMAS WILLIAM WATSON 4th Bn. Middlesex Regiment
8131 Private WELLS 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards
PO/15170 Private JOHN WHITEHEAD H.M.S. "Odin Royal Marine Light Infantry
51171 Corporal WIGGINS "Z" Bty. Royal Horse Artillery
5036 Ship's Corporal ALFRED ERNEST WILLIAMS H.M.A.S. "Tingira." Royal Australian Navy
6417 Private THOMAS WILLIAMS 1st Bn. Leinster Regiment
13093 Serjeant HARRY WINSTANLEY Depot Bn. Manchester Regiment
10260 Guardsman DAVID McDONALD WOOD 1st Bn. Scots Guards
K/14950 Stoker 1st Class WOOD H.M.S. "Achilles." Royal Navy

The image on this post shows men of the Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars in trenches in February 1915 and is courtesy of the Witney Gazette.

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