The Men Who Fell in WW1

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Lance Corporal 266139 Henry (Harry) BEASLEY - 2nd/7th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Killed in Action Thursday, March 21st 1918 aged 25

Military History


Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave of Memorial
France and Flanders	British War & Victory Medals	Pozieres Memorial

Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
22 May 1916	~	Walsgrave on Sowe

Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Enlisted Date	Other Military Information
Battle of St. Quentin (German Spring Offensive)	23 Nov 1914 at Coventry	Promoted to L/Cpl 29 Jan 1916
		Previously wounded on 26 Sep 1917
Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units	Rejoined battalion 22 Nov 1917
near Atilly	~

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

Harry is listed as being killed on 21 Mar 1918 which was the first day of the German Spring Offensive. The war diary describes the day thus:

5.00am - Orders received by battalion billetted at Germaine to man Battle Stations
6.00am - Ordered to move to assembly position at Attilly Huts
7.15am - Began march to Attilly
9.15am - Battalion assembled as the Counter Attack battalion at Attilly Huts. Heavy shelling and gas shelling encountered en route. Approximate casualties 22. Shelling of area around Attilly very heavy. Battalion disposed in various trenches. Heavy mist, still.
11.00am - Battalion disposed W of St. Quentin Wood. Shelling fairly heavy but few casualties. Instructions issued verbally by 182nd Inf. Bde. to Major Waterworth for counter attack if required
5.00pm - Arranged with 182nd Inf. Bde for the move of the battalion to M.D.J. Dugouts to avoid casualties from shelling
8.00pm - Battalion in M.D.J.
11.30pm - Lieut Whitfield from 182nd Inf. Bde with verbal instructions re the battalion assembling for counter attack south of Holnon Wood. Explained that the operation was not possible. Approximate casualties Officers 2 and O.R. 20 including William.

Personal & Family History

Birth Date/Place	Bapitsm Date/Place
16 Jul 1895 at Walsgrave on Sowe	25 Aug 1896 at Walsgrave on Sowe

Parents Names	Abode
Thomas and Hannah Beasley	Walsgrave on Sowe

Schools	Colleges
	~

Address History	Employment History
1895 - Walsgrave on Sowe	1911 - Factory Worker
1901 - Walsgrave on Sowe	1914 - Coal Miner
1911 - Walsgrave on Sowe
1914 - Walsgrave on Sowe

Played football for St. Mary's FC and enlisted with 10 other members of the team.

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Driver 651672 James HANCOX - 252nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery

Killed in Action Sunday, April 29th 1917 aged 39

Military History


Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
Home	Did not serve abroad	Stretton on Dunsmore (All Saints) Churchyard

Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
Did not serve abroad	~	Stretton on Dunsmore

Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Enlisted	Other War Memorials
Died of Appendicitis	Not known	~

Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units
Duston Military Hospital, Northampton	~

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

James died of Appendicitis at the War Hospital, Duston, Northants. He did not serve abroad.

Personal & Family History

Birth Date/Place	Baptism Date/Place
Oct Qtr 1888 at Hunningham

Parents Names	Abode
William and Sarah Hancox	Stretton on Dunsmore

Wife & Marriage Date/Place	Children & Year of Birth
Rose Annie Hancox nee Jarvis	Violet born 22 Jun 1904
2 Apr 1901 in Allesley

Schools	Colleges
	~

Address History	Employment History
1881 - London Road, Stretton on Dunsmore	1891 - Agricultural Labour
1891 - Knightlow Hill, Stretton on Dunsmore	1901 - Labourer (marriage)
1901 - St. Thomas District, Coventry
1911 - Stretton on Dunsmore
1916 - Frankton Wood Cottage, Princethorpe

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Able Seaman Z/3754 Arthur Leslie Ryland HILL - SS Philadelphian, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

Killed in Action on Tuesday February 19th 1918 aged 20

Military History


Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders	British War & Victory Medals	Plymouth Naval Memorial

Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
After 1 Jan 1916	Mentioned in Dispatches (Gazette)	Hampton-in-Arden Memorial and Plaque

Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Enlisted	Other War Memorials
Drowned in the Atlantic after U-Boat Attack	1 Mar 1916 at Bristol

Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units
At sea 47 miles SE of Lizard, Cornwall	~

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

Arthur drowned after opening fire from the Naval Gun turret on U-82 which had torpedoed his ship, he kept firing until he was thrown into the sea. Arthur's enlistment papers show that he was unable to swim!. He was mentioned in dispatches for his courage

Desciption of Events:

At 10.30 a.m. on 19 February 1918, the Leyland liner Philadelphian, laden with horses and munitions, and forming one of the convoy of ten ships, was hit by a torpedo on the port side abreast No. 3 hold, throwing up a large column of water which, descending on the bridge, destroyed the compass, wheel and telegraph. Another ship in the convoy had just previously been torpedoed, and the howitzers’ crews had been closed up. A periscope was sighted on the port beam just before the torpedo struck the ship, and fire was opened on it. Almost immediately, a second torpedo struck the Philadelphian causing her to list heavily to port. The guns’ crews remained at their quarters firing at the submarine while the ship was sinking, a fine example being set by the two naval ratings on board, Able Seaman Aaron Lumsden, R.F.R. and Able Seaman Edward J. Moore, R.F.R., until it was no longer possible to stand on the deck. They were then thrown into the water where three of the guns’ crews were drowned, Lumsden, Moore and another being rescued. The attacking submarine was the German submarine U-82 (Hans Adam) and the attckek took place 47 miles SxE1/2E from the Lizard.

Birth Date/Place	Baptism Date/Place
18 May 1897 at Handsworth	10 June 1897 at Handsworth St. Mary's

Parents Names	Abode
Arnold and Flora Hill	Tresco, Hampton in Arden

Schools	Colleges
	~

Address History	Employment History
1897 - Westminster Road, Handsworth	1911 - School
1901 - New Road, Hampton in Arden
1911 - Tresco, Hampton in Arden
1918 - Tresco, Hampton in Arden

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Private 13055 William POOLE - 5th Battalion, Oxford & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

1s
Killed in Action on Sunday October 17th 1915 aged 29

Military History


Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders	1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals	Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial

Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
1 Oct 1915 in France	~	Princethorpe: Cemetery \| Water Pump
		Ryton on Dunsmore
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Enlisted
Local actions at Ypres	August 1914 at Coventry

Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units
Railway Wood, NE of Zillebeke

Circumstances of Death

William is listed as being killed in action on 17 Oct 1915. The war diary for the 17th is transcribed below. It is clear from the diary that this was the first fighting that William had been part of and he was killed just 10 days after landing in France.

Railway Wood Trenches 17.10.1915: 5.15am Enemy exploded mine under the junction of H.20 & H.21. Our mine shaft in H.20 was blown up. It appears to have been a defensive measure only as no Art fire was opened & no attack made until later. The fire trench at the junction of H20 and H21 was destroyed for about four days on either side of the junction. The earth was very much thrown up about the lip of the crater and runs in a long Ridge to the enemy crater of the 25^th. Size of crater about 40 yards in diameter and about 30 to 40 feet deep.

7am. the enemy made two bomb attacks, one directed against the crater and the other against the Sunken Road both were easily repulsed by our bombers and by rifle fire. The behaviour of the men was excellent throughout, for the great majority of Officers, NCO's and men it was their first experience of the trenches, their being only three officers including the Colonel and Adjutant who had been in the trenches before.

Immediately after the mine went up, the survivors in H 20 N and in H 20 S opened a very steady rapid fire to which there was hardly any reply; two platoons started work at once under 2^nd Lt Rodocanachi out the men buried in H 20 and they succeeded in getting several out alive. I continued to work through the bomb attack and in spite of severe sniping fire by the enemy. Work was also started on wiring between H20 and S20 and digging A trench round the crater. The wiring was completed that night and also a trench encircling half the crater with a bomb post and loophole at each end. S20 was also continued towards H21 to join up north of crater.

2000 bombs were sent up by the brigade during the day, also one Company of 5/KSLI & 16 of their bombers. Battn stood to arms at night.

Casualties: Killed Capt R O Logan, 2^nd Lt A.D.J Melliss, 13 O.R. Missing believe killed in the mine O.R. 22. Wounded O.R. 31.

Personal & Family History

Birth Date/Place	Baptism Date/Place
Jul Qtr 1888 at St. Johns Wood	29 Aug 1888 at Kilburn, St. Augustine's

Parents Names	Abode
William and Jane Poole (nee Chatwin) of Ryton on Dunsmore	Both deceased before 1891

William lived with Thomas & Charlotte Chatwin, his uncle & aunt	Ryton on Dunsmore

Schools	Colleges
	~

Address History	Employment History
1888 - 2 Abbey Terrace, St. Johns Wood	1911 - Factory Hand
1891 - The Village, Ryton on Dunsmore (with Aunt)	1914 - Worked at Courtaulds, Coventry
1901 - The Village, Ryton on Dunsmore
1911 - Ryton on Dunsmore
1915 - Ryton on Dunsmore

William, his two sisters and brother Harry were orphaned by the death of both parents before 1891
In the 1891 census William's sisters, Ellen & Clara, were at Mount Hermon Girls Orphanage in Willesden, London, no doubt being trained
to go into Domestic Service. We have not yet found Harry and assume he was in a boys orphanage.

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Private G/16442 Albert Shelley JONES - 2nd (City of London) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers

Died of Wounds on Monday 25th October 1915 aged 18

Military History


Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
Gallipoli	1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals	Helles Memorial

Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
9 Aug 1915 in Gallipoli	~	Leamington St. Marks (New Milverton)
		Leamington Spa War Memorial
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Enlisted
Gallipoli Campaign	September 1914 at Warwick	Other War Memorials
		~
Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units
Suvla Bay, Gallipoli	Pte 21252, 9th Reserve Cavalry

Circumstances of Death

Albert is listed as dying on 25 Oct 1915, some saying that he died of wounds and others that he was killed in action. The battalion war diary for the whole of October 1915 is transcribed below. As is the norm Arthur is not named in any of the casualty returns so we cannot say when he was wounded.

War Diary - Oct 1st to 10th

1^st Oct 1915: The Battalion remained in the reserve nullah. CO, Adjt and Company Officers went over to inspect trenches held by right battalions of 39th Inf Bde which the Battalion was ordered to take over on night of 1st/2nd Oct having thoroughly inspected the trenches and made all arrangements for taking over the move was cancelled.

Remained in reserve nullah. One Company was sent to support trenches in rear of 1st Bn Royal Dublin Fusiliers.

2nd Oct 1915: Battalion moved into support and reserve trenches behind the new line taken up by the 86th Inf Bde.

Casualties week ending 2nd October 1915
Officers              Other Ranks
Killed 0                         8
Wounded 2                 25
Missing 0                     1
Sick 1                        18

3rd Oct 1915: In the evening Battalion HQ again moved and Companies redistributed to reserve and support trenches mostly behind the left of the Battalion line. During the night Z Coy moved up into the firing line to support the 1st Bn Royal Dublin Fusiliers who were out in front digging a new forward firing line. Other Companies occupied in digging drains.

4th Oct 1915: The Companies were again redistributed over the reserve and support trenches. Digging drains communication and support trenches continued throughout the night.

5th Oct 1915. Work continued. The weather continues to be perfect, warm sunny days and cool nights.

6th Oct 1915. Digging day and night. In the afternoon the navy and heavy artillery fired a hundred or more shells on the Turkish trenches in the Kiretch Tepe Sirt Ridge. An excellent view of this was obtained from our line.

7th Oct 1915. In the morning 2 Platoons Z Coy relieved one Company 1st Bn Royal Munster Fusiliers from the firing line.

The following Officers joined on 6th Oct 1915 - Lt P C F GIBSON Lt E J A PAIBA 2 Lt N R JEPSON 2 Lt J S JOBLING 2 Lt E A JAMES 2 Lt A F BANTOCK

Joined 5th Oct 1915 - 2 Lt WYNDHAM

Effective Strength - 23 Officers, 787 Other Ranks.

8th Oct 1915. Continued to dig drains and new support trenches.

9th Oct 1915. Rained a little during the night.

10th Oct 1915. A fine day. Lt A M HAYCRAFT, 2 Lt G C PEARSON and A E MILLSON joined. In the evening Capt Cairn and 131 men joined. The draft arrived in thin Kharki.

Royal Fusiliers, Adjutant. Gallipoli Diaries: 2nd Bn Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (p. 76). Great War Diaries. Kindle Edition.

War Diary - Oct 11th to 21st

11th Oct 1915. From the last week the Turks have been firing broomstick bombs into our support and reserve trenches. At about 12:00 noon it commenced to rain.

Casualties for week ending 9th Oct:-
Officers - 1 Sick, 8 Joined
Other Ranks - 1 killed, 7 wounded, 34 sick, 2 joined

12th Oct 1915. Continued work on drains and support trench.

13th Oct 1915. At 14:30 the Battalion took over the fire line held by the 1st Bn Royal Munster Fusiliers and from one Company of the 1st Bn Royal Dublin Fusiliers, about 600 yards in all. A ditch about 80 yards in front of the present fire line was occupied at once and the work of converting it into a fire trench commenced. A new fire trench was also commenced between head of Saps I and II. Sketch Attached.

14th Oct 1915. The main Turkish trench varies in distance from our new forward trench from about 100 yards on the left and 300 yards on the right, but the Turks snipe from the continuation of the ditch along which our new trench runs.

15th Oct 1915. We now have two large catapults for throwing bombs they send a cricket ball bomb for distances up to 150 yards. Continued work on new fire trench and communication trenches up to it. A Turkish sniper very active.

16th Oct 1915. Lt FLETCHER wounded and 2 Lt N R JEPSON killed. Both were working on communication trenches running up to the new fire line. In conjunction with 1st Bn Royal Dublin Fusiliers a bombardment with trench mortars, catapults and bomb throwers commenced at 20:00. About 100 bombs were thrown at Turkish barricades at A and B also at ditches beyond B. At 20:20 a latoon headed by bomb throwers rushed the first Turkish barricade at A.

Casualties Week Ending 16th Oct:-
Officers - 1 killed, 1 wounded, 2 sick and 5 joined
Other Ranks - 10 wounded, 61 sick and 130 joined.

17th Oct 1915. During the night the following day the ditch between C and A converted into fire trench. It was decided to rush the 2nd Turkish barricade at B in order to join up with sap the 1st Bn Royal Dublin Fusiliers were making from point D in front of Dublin Castle.

At 19:00 without any previous bombardment an attempt to rush barricade was made. The Turks were not taken by surprise and opened a rapid fire with ten to twenty rifles from the vicinity of their barricade. We failed to gain their barricade (B). A fresh attack was quickly organised and headed by bomb throwers. A Platoon rushed barricade B. The Turks being ejected by bayonets and bombs.

Our Casualties - 3 killed, 4 wounded, 8 missing

18th Oct 1915. Following day from A to B made into fire trench. Connected up with 1st Bn Royal Dublin Fusiliers sap from D which was also made into fire trench. During the night wire was placed in front of new trench from A to B.

19th Oct 1915 – Suvla Bay. New fire trench improved.

20th Oct 1915 - Suvla Bay. We now have two rifles fitted with telescopic rifles. The two snipers in charge of them claim to have shot several Turks with them during the last few days.

21st Oct 1915 – Suvla Bay. The weather continues to be windy with a little rain and very much colder.

War Diary - Oct 22nd to 31st

22nd Oct 1915 – Suvla Bay. A new trench commenced from end of Sap I to point about 50 yards short of 1st Bn Lancashire Fusiliers. When complete this will cut off a bad reentrant and shorten the front line by about 50 yards.

23rdd Oct 1915 – Suvla Bay. Enemy shelled our trenches with a large gun a howitzer probably 6". One shell fell in the dressing station, dressings and medical comforts being sent in every direction, others being burned but no one hurt.

24th Oct 1915 – Suvla Bay. Extract from Routine Orders 29th DIV dated 24th Oct 1915 - 301. Message of Congratulations. The C-in-C wishes to convey his congratulations on the result of their work to all ranks who have been employed on the minor operations around Dublin Caslte and the area to the south of it.

Casualties for Week Ending 24th Oct 1915
Officers - 1 killed
Other Ranks - 5 killed, 16 wounded, 15 sick

25th Oct 1915 – Suvla Bay.

2 Lt S C SHILLINGFORD joined. Effective Strength - 21 Officers, 691 Other Ranks.

26th Oct 1915 – Suvla Bay. On the night 25th/26th Oct a draft of 3 Officers (2 Lts WOOD, HAYWARD and F G A VALLANCY) and 211 Other Ranks arrived. Ten minute warning of their arrival was given. This is rather more than the average length of warning as to the arrival of drafts. In many cases the first intimation of their arrival is when the Head of the Draft appears in the communication trench outside Battalion HQ.

27th Oct 1915 – Suvla Bay. The night spent in posting the draft to Companies, Platoons and Sections. New fire trench from head of Sap I commenced on 21st Oct now completed.

28th Oct 1915 – Suvla Bay. We were informed that out of our draft of 3 Officers and 211 men, 2 Officers and 115 men had been sent to us in error and must be returned to the beach for duty there. 2 Lts WOOD and HAYWARD and 114 men were sent away.

During the last few days the weather has been very much warmer.

29th Oct 1915 – Suvla Bay. Worked on shelter trenches about 10 yards in rear of fire trench. Each shelter is about 10 yards long by 7 feet broad of which 5 feet 6 inches is the platform for the men to lie on and 1 foot 6 inches the path and drain. The corrugated iron has not yet arrived and mackintosh sheets are used.

30th Oct 1915 – Suvla Bay. Improved wire in front of our line.

31st Oct 1915 – Suvla Bay. Continued work on shelter trenches. Lt Col G S GUYON has now been in his dug out for a week with an attack of appendicitis. He will be moved to the Field ambulance as soon as he is well enough to go.

Personal & Family History

Birth Date/Place	Baptism Date/Place
Jan Qtr 1898 in New Milverton

Parents Names	Abode
Albert Edward and Rhoda Jones	1, Cross Road, Leamington Spa

Schools	Colleges
	~

Address History	Employment History
1898 - New Milverton	1911 - Scholar
1901 - Stables, 6 Warwick Road, New Milverton
1911 - Stables, 26 Warwick New Road, New Milverton
1914 - 26 Warwick New Road, New Milverton

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Circumstances of Death

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Circumstances of Death

War Diary - Oct 1st to 10th

War Diary - Oct 11th to 21st

War Diary - Oct 22nd to 31st

Subcategories

Battalions, Brigades & Other Units