Military History

Arthur is listed as being killed in action on 31st October 1914. The 2nd Battalion war diary entries for the period 28th October to 1st November are transcribed below

Veldhoek - 28.10.1914: 5^th Infantry Brigade ordered to attack, passing through the trenches of the Berkshires. The Battalion was in support and occupied supporting trenches.

Veldhoek - 29.10.1914: Battalion in Divisional Reserve

Veldhoek - 30.10.1914: Battalion in Divisional Reserve

Gheluvelt – 31.10.1914: Position of the front line of 1^st Division driven in. Battalion ordered to deliver a counter attack and endeavour to reoccupy trenches of South Wales Borderers and Welsh Regiment.

Battalion advanced under very heavy shell fire and suffered heavy casualties. Drove the Germans out of the grounds of the Chateau at Gheluvelt and got touch with the South Wales Borderers. No reinforcements arriving a general withdrawal of the line was ordered.

Battalion then occupied a line of trenches N of Veldhoek facing E. On the front line being taken up by 1^st Brigade the Battalion was withdrawn to reserve at the NW corner of a large wood

Casualties: Wounded Capt. Gascoyne-Williams, Lt’s E.C.R. Hudson and E.A. Haskett-Smith. Total casualties about 130.

[An extensive history of the Battle at Ghelvelt on the Worcestershire Regiment website can be found by clicking here].

Hooge Chateau - 01.11.1914: Battalion marched via Chateau Hooge to a large farm about 2 miles E of Zillebeke to be attached to 7th Division under General Capper. Held in Divisional Reserve.

Military History

Military History

Alfred is listed as being killed in action on 8 May 1917 during the Battle of Arras. He was initially listed as missing and enquiries about him were made to the Red Cross before his death was accepted as being on 8 May 1917. The battalion war diary for that day is transcribed below.

Trenches E of Fresnoy - 8.5.1917: Rain began to fall about midnight. At 3.45am a very heavy enemy barrage started on all lines and Bn H.Q. There was a thick mist rendering observation at 50 yards difficult. S.O.S was reported at once by H.Q observer as having been seen on front and SOS was sent through to Brigade and Artillery by telephone.

The enemy attacked in force, it being afterwards found he had brought up the 5th Bavarian division for that purpose. After checking his first assault, the remnants of our frontline fell back. Counter attacks were made immediately bye B Coy, D Coy 1/DCLI and remains of C Coy and the frontline was recovered but could not be held owing to the enemy having already got in on the high ground on both flanks. D coy were later send forward to establish a line and join up with Canadians on left and E Surrey's on right. For report see appendix A attached.

Eventually the battalion was relieved by 1/Devons at 10pm. The following details marched out of the line with the battalion, 5 Officers and 177 other ranks. The battalion went into Bivouac at Nine Elms at 1.30am on 9^th.

Casualties. Officers: 1 Killed; 7 Wounded; 2 wounded and missing; 3 missing. 288 Other Ranks killed, wounded and missing.

Military History

Thomas is listed as being killed in action on 18 Aug 1916. The Battalion war diary for the 17th and 18th Aug is transcribed below.

Bazentin-le-Petit - 17th/18th Aug: Co-operated by a bombing attack with the 1st Bn Royal Highlanders who were making an attack on the enemy intermediate line in front of Martinpuich. The attack was unsuccessful and in it lost Lieut C.J.B De la Bere (missing) Capt H. St. H Jeune, Lieut F.C. Chaplin & 2 Lt A.J.N. Grieves (all wounded).

At about the same time a shell blew in a dug out in the support line killed killing Lt. L.S.H. Griffin and wounding Capt J.A. Riddle. Our casualties in other ranks in this action were 10 killed, 52 wounded and 4 missing.