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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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 The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 1959 Edwin WELLINGS - 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment


Killed in Action on Friday 18th December 1914 aged 31


Military History

   
Theatre of WarMedalsCommonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders 1914 Star & Clasp, British War & Victory Medals Ploegsteert Memorial
     
Arrived in TheatreMedal Citation (if app)SWFHS Area Memorials
11 Nov 1914 ~ Southam War Memorial
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason KilledDate and Place MobilisedOther War Memorials
The Attack on Bas Maisnil 5 Aug 1914 at Warwick  
     
Place of DeathPrevious Regiments or Units  
Bas Maisnil ~  
     

Circumstances Leading to Death from War Diary          

December 18th 1914 - The Bn was ordered to advance in 3 lines at 4.30 pm to attack and take the Germans Trenches which were in front of Le MAISNIL. The attack was proceeded by a heavy artillery bombardment by our artillery to which the enemy made hardly any reply. Attack was started by "B" Company on the right led by Capt Haddon, advancing in 2 lines: A Co advanced on the left in 2 lines with D Coy in the centre. C Coy formed the third line with entrenching tools. A Machine Gun was on each flank. Immediately the attack opened, the enemy opened a very heavy rifle & machine gun fire. The Battalion advanced under this with steadiness, suffering very heavy casualties. The 2/Queens sent 1 1/2 companies in support & although our dead were found only a few yards from the German trenches, the attack failed in its objective. What remained of the Bn subsequently retired into our trenches. Shortly After daylight the enemy came out & started examining our dead. Parties went out fr. our lines & buried some of the officers & collected discs from some of the killed. Owing to 2 officers of the Queens & several small parties of the Bn, when engaged in carrying our wounded into the enemy's lines, (the enemy refusing to allow us to remove our wounded) being made prisoners, & also owing to Lt Bover S.Staffords being killed while helping to collect our wounded, the informal armistice terminated Lt Col Brewis was found killed about 40 yards from the enemys line. Capt. Brownfield, Lts. Monk, Tucker, Campbell & Birt (attached R.E) together with 34 men were found a few yards from a German Machine gun. From evidence available, it is apparent that Capt Brownfield though previously wounded continued to lead the attack on the Gun. Other ranks casualties - 57 Killed, 87 wounded, 219 missing including Edwin. Also killed during this action was Private 1765 Alfred Overs of Harbury.

 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/PlaceBapitsm Date/Place
Oct Qtr 1883 at Atcham, Shropshire 30 Mar 1896 at St Alkmond, Shrewsbury
   
Parents NamesParents Abode
Henry and Margaret Wellings Four Ashes, Staffordshire
   
Wife & Marriage Date/PlaceChildren & Year of Birth
Susan Eveline Wellings nee Nunnerly Phyllis May Wellings born 1 Dec 1910
Oct Qtr 1908 at Atcham Albert Duncan Wellings born 22 Jul 1914
  Margaret Ruby Wellings 1909-1911
   
SchoolsColleges
  ~
   
Address HistoryEmployment History                       
1891 - The Old Laundry House, St. Alkmond 1901 - Plasterer
1901 - 1 Holyhill Terrace, Holy Cross, Salop 1911 - Platelayer 
1911 - 9 Robin Hood Terrace, Shrewsbury  
1914 - Southam