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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 33640 Percy BARTHOLOMEW - 2nd/5th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment

Killed in Action on Thursday 21st March 1918 aged 22


Military History

     
Theatre of War Campaign Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders British War & Victory Medals Pozieres Memorial
     
Arrived in Theatre Bravery & Conduct Medals SWFHS Area Memorials
After 1st January 1917 in France ~ Leamington Spa War Memorial
    Leamington St. John's Memorial
Action, Battle or Other Reason Died Date and Place Enlisted  
German Spring Offensive November 1916 in Leamington Spa  
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units Other War Memorials
near Metz ~
     

Circumstances of Death

Percy is listed as being killed in action on 21st March 1918, having originally been listed as missing. The 2nd/5th Battalion war diary entries for the period 20th to 22nd March are transcribed below.

Ugny – 20 Mar 1918: Work on Battle zone. Situation quiet

Holnon Wood – 21 Mar 1918 – 4.30am: Enemy bombardment opens and continues until 11.30am with HE and gas. Weather misty until midday. Battn ordered to man battle stations at 5am. At 1pm enemy break through Forward Zone from line 500x in front of Battle Zone.

No attack on Battle Zone. Dispositions B Coy right front, A Coy left front, C Coy counter attack. D Coy passive defense. Lt. Howell & 2/Lts Thomas & Jackson wounded.

Holnon Wood – 22 Mar 1918 – 1am: Enemy patrol entire line between A & B Coys commence bombing up trenches towards B Coy’s keep. 1 Coy 17 K.L.R attached to Bn sent to reinforce B Coy. At 9am enemy open bombardment of Battle Zone.

11am: Enemy reported assembling about Otter Copse, they attack Brigade on left& break through on to ridge N of Maisney de Garde down to Marteville Road thus outflanking A Coy. Bn HQ forced to withdraw to edge of Sword Wood owing to M.G fire on dug out. D Coy ordered to hold on to their positions.

Orders received from Brigade to withdraw. Coy’s withdraw through Wood covered by D Coy across railway between Attilly & Martenville. Bn HQ withdrew across the railway to Beauvois. Enemy then occupying Attilly and sweeping ground with M.G fire. Gradual retirement to Vaux-Villeveque Line. Battalion on right of Brigade, 182 Brigade on our right.


 
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
Oct Qtr 1895 in Leamington Spa  
   
Parents Names Abode
Francis Christopher and Mary Ann Bartholomew 20 Aylesford Street, Leamington Spa                        
   
Schools Colleges
Shrubland Street Boys School, Leamington  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1894 - Leamington Spa  1901 - Scholar 
1901 - 7 East Grove, Leamington Spa 1911 - Errand boy
1911 - 20 Aylesford Street, Leamington Spa          
1914 - 20 Aylesford Street, Leamington Spa     
1918 - 20 Aylesford Street, Leamington Spa  

Brother of Ernest Bartholomew and William C Bartholomew who also fell in 1918