Military History

Birch is listed as being killed in action on 10th June 1917 during the Battle of Messines. The 138th Battery war diary for the period 9th to 11th June is transcribed below a brief precis of the 138th at Messines. Unusually Birch is named in the diary and he was the only man killed during a three day hostile bombardment of the Battery position.

Prior to the British attack at Messines, mines (which had been placed under the German front line) were exploded causing a spectacular pyrotechnic display and three huge craters in the top of Wytschaete Ridge. The Battery joined in the intense bombardment which followed the explosion, the guns firing continuously for most of the day. On 8 June, the Battery was heavily bombarded with gas shells and the following day E Sub Section gun was severely damaged by a direct hit and a large amount of ammunition destroyed. Orders to pull the five remaining guns out of this dangerous position were received on 10 June, the actual withdrawal being carried out with difficulty over the next two days. Severe shelling made it necessary to abandon three guns which were subsequently recovered under cover of darkness.

Ypres 9.6.17: The battery was heavily shelled with 5.9’s practically continuously. Cpl Fitzpatrick of B Sub Section and Gnr Pritchard, the Battery Commanders assistant, being badly wounded. 8 Sub Sections gun was severely damaged by a direct hit and a large amount of ammunition and cartridges destroyed.

Ypres 10.6.17: The shelling continued practically all of the 10^th but no further damage was done. At night orders were received to pull the remaining guns out of action. Only C&D guns were able to be removed owing to the incessant shelling, A, B & F guns having to be left behind.

During this period Gnr Stowe was killed by hostile shell fire. Considering the heavy shelling all that time it is remarkable, that except that, except for this casualty, all the men arrived at the Wagon line safe with the exceptions that a number of men were slightly gassed & three horses slightly wounded.

Ypres 11.6.17: During the afternoon a party went to the Battery position & the 3 guns [left behind on the 10^th] were put into position to bring out after dusk which was done safely. END

Military History

Frederick died of a Pelvic Abscess on 6th February 1917 at the No 2 Stationary Hospital in Abbeville. A brief obituary appeared in the Stratford Herald and is transcribed below.

Stratford Herald - Friday 16th February 1917
DIED IN HOSPITAL PRIVATE RYMAN

Mrs. Ryman of Meer Street has received notice that her husband died in No. 2 Stationary Hospital in France on 6th inst. His illness was very sudden and he was only in hospital for two days. He never regained consciousness.

Military History

Ernest died of Meningitis on 17th December 1917 at the 5th Southern General Hospital in Portsmouth. Ernest had been originally wounded on 13th August 1917 and invalided home on 31 August 1917. The 1st/7th Battalion war diary entries for the period 12th to 15th August are transcribed below:

St. Julien Sector - 12 Aug 1917: The 5th R War relieved the battalion in the front line during the night of 13/14th during the course of which the enemy put down two gas shell bombardments.

St. Julien Sector - 13 Aug 1917: The whole tour in the line was very trying owing to the bad state of the ground. The heavy artillery and constant rain making any movement extremely difficult. After relief the Battalion were in reserve in shelters on the East Bank of the Yser Canal.

St. Julien Sector - 14 Aug 1917: Spent in Canalbank. Warning was issued to be ready to move on 15th to Dambre Camp

Military History

Richard is listed as being killed in action on 6th February 1917. The Leamington Spa Courier reported on 23rd February that his [unnamed] officer had written to the family that "on that night they had to sustain a very heavy bombardment on their bit of line, and how my brave lads stood their ground I do not know". The 1st/5th Battalion war diary entries for the period 5th to 7th February are transcribed, in full, below.

Biaches - 5 Feb 1917: 5 R War R relieved 1/6 R War R in  the front line trenches between I.31.d.25.30 & I.b.25.35. Reinforcements received = 16 OR’s. Ref OO 82

Biaches - 6 Feb 1917: Casualties – Killed = 3 OR’s, Wounded 4 OR’s (1 since died)

Biaches - 7 Feb 1917: Casualties – Wounded 1 OR