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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 16230 James Wilshire DREW - 10th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Killed in Action on Sunday 25th March 1918 aged 22


Military History

   
Theatre of WarMedalsCommonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders British War & Victory Medals Arras Memorial
     
Arrived in TheatreMedal Citation (if app)SWFHS Area Memorials
After 1 Feb 1916 in France ~ Kenilworth War Memorial
    Kenilworth St. Barnabas
Action, Battle or Other Reason KilledDate and Place Mobilised Kenilworth St. Nicholas
German Spring Offensive January 1916 in Coventry  
     
Place of DeathPrevious Regiments or Units Other War Memorials 
Baupume Sector ~ ~
     

Circumstances of Death

James is listed as being killed in action on 25th March 1918. The 10th Battalion war diary entries for the 25th, 26th & 27th March are transcribed below.

6am to 12 noon - 25 Mar 1918

25.3.18 – 6am: 1st line transport and surplus personnel after being on the road all night and covering only a distance of 4 miles owing to total lack of traffic control halted at hutments between Irles and Miraumont where 57th Inf Bde HQ were established. 2nd Lt’s Bagley and Banolial rejoined from courses of instruction and about 40 men who had lost touch with Battn during the night were collected at this camp.

8.30am: Lt. Col. McCordick left the Bttn under the Command of A/Major Wingrove and returned to the Bde HQ which he reached about 10.15am to ask if there were any orders; he was told there were no further instructions and was ordered to rejoin the Battn.

8.45am: The 58th Bde. Appeared to come in contact with the enemy and very soon commenced to withdraw over the Bapume-Albert Road towards Grevillers. Simultaneously the enemy advanced on the Battn from the east.

8.40am: 5/S.W.B’s were driven out of Bienvillers and retired on the railway. They moved back again from this position shortly afterwards. The left flank of the Battn was then in the air – C Coy was moved to a position on the Grevillers-Thilloy Road about 150 yards back.

9am: The 58th Bde and the 8/Gloucs then withdrew on our right and the Battn was then isolated in a position on the high ground just S of Grevillers. The enemy by this time had reached the belt of wire in front of the Battn and was trying to get through it. He was repeatedly driven off by L.G. and rifle fire but made his way round the left flank to the village. Major Wingrove therefore ordered all except B Coy & 1 platoon A Coy to withdraw through Grevillers to a position near Loupart Wood. With this party the enemy were held up until 11am, when he having penetrated the village on the left and appearing on our right rear over the Bapume Road we were forced to retire on the remainder of the Battn on ridge N of Loupart Wood in J.29.c

12 noon: Lt. Col McCormick rejoined the Battn and re-assumed command.




 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/PlaceBaptism Date/Place
Jan Qtr 1896 in Solihull 12 Apr 1896 in Solihull
   
Parents NamesAbode
Eli James and Emily Louise Drew  The Common, Kenilworth                  
   
SchoolsColleges
  ~
   
Address HistoryEmployment History
1896 - Drury Lane, Solihull 1911 - Errand boy in cycle shop                          
1901 - Drury Lane, Solihull  
1911 - The Gables Cottages, The Common Kenilworth  
1916 - The Common, Kenilworth