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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


L/Corporal 203817 Fred CHIVERS MM - 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Killed in action on Thursday 19th September 1918 aged 37


Military History

   
Theatre of WarMedalsCommonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders Military Medal, British War & Victory Medals Mont Huon Military Cemetery
     
Arrived in TheatreMedal Citation (if app)SWFHS Area Memorials
January 1918 in France ~ Stratford on Avon WW1 Memorial
    Stratford Holy Trinity Church 
Action, Battle or Other Reason DiedDate and Place Enlisted Stratford Cemetery Memorial 
Hundred Days Offensive Jul 1917 in Stratford on Avon  
     
Place of DeathPrevious Regiments or Units Other War Memorials
16th (USA) General Hospital, Le Treport  ~  
     

Circumstances of Death

Fred is listed as dying of wounds at the 16th (USA) General Hospital at Le Treport on 19th September 1918. Based on the numbers in the Detailed Statement of Casulties in the 1st Battalion war diary it is most likely that Fred was wounded at sometime between the 29th August and 3rd September 1918.

20th to 28th August 1918 - 1 other rank wounded
29th to 31st August - 157 other ranks wounded
1st to 3rd September - 8 other ranks wound
4th to 20th September - 0 other ranks wounded

The 1st Battalion war diary entries for the periond 29th August to 3rd September 1918 are transcribed below.

29th to 31st August

Remy - 29.8.1918: Fine day. Enemy artillery continuing very active. Battalion H.Q. moves forward at midday to O.17.a.2.5. At 11am the C.O. is called to a conference at Brigade. Battalion is ordered to clear Remy village with Artillery cooperation to push out patrols, establish posts, occupying the village without Artillery assistance. At 8pm a Warning Order for the attack is issued by Brigade the C.O. has a conference with Coy Commanders. Zero hour is not yet notified. Heavy shelling by the enemy takes place, throughout the night.

Casualties: 2 Other Ranks killed & 20 Other Ranks wounded

Remy - 30.8.1918: No orders are received from Brigade until about 10am which say that the battalion is to move forward into assembly position SE of Remy Wood & Village. Coys dribble forward but the movement is observed and the heavy machine gun and artillery barrage is put down. B&C Coys are much disorganised and suffer severe casualties. Lieut A.J. Adams is killed, Capt P H W Hicks MC, Lieut J B Coventry wounded and 2nd Lt T.F. Hyde gassed.

Power artillery is asked to show opposite bridge and hostile fire is considerably reduced. D Coy ably led by Capt. E.J.A Maunsell MC get into position with only a few casualties. At noon the C.O. is called to another conference at Brigade HQ and receives instructions to attack at 4pm in conjunction with 2nd Duke of Wellington’s on the right and 11th Brigade on the left.

Orders are issued but owing to the difficulty of getting hold of Officers (assembly area still being shelled) it is impossible to promulgate these effectively. Capt. E.J.A Maunsell MC takes his Coy and elements of A, B & C forward at the arranged time. They have to cross a stream and swamp, some of the men wading through waist deep mud and water. Line of 2nd Objective is reached without much opposition on the part of the enemy, a number of whom were shot down as they attempted to run away. Lieut L.J.C. Seaman is killed. Lieut C.W. Rowntree & 2nd Lt F.G. Kitching are wounded and 2nd Lt J.E. Hosking gassed.

Owing to delay in crossing river and swamp the artillery barrage get too far ahead. This, in conjunction with shortage of men prevents 3 objectives being taken. Capt W.G.B Edmonds MC collects about 60 stragglers and takes them up to reinforce Capt. E.J.A Maunsell MC who has established a line 100 yards west of the 2nd Objective & has obtained touch on his right flank with 2nd Duke of Wellington’s.

At about 6pm a Coy of 2nd Seaforth Hrs is sent up in support to the Battalion in O.24.b. At midnight orders all received that the battalion is to be relieved by the 2nd Seaforth Highlanders before dawn. The C.O. visits the line, is slightly wounded, but remains at duty. Relief is completed about 4:30am. The Battalion comes back into support in Gory Trench in O.17.a&b. Heavy hostile shelling of Remy Village & Wood. Lieut E.V. Jones to hospital.

Casualties: Officers 2 killed & 4 wounded; Other Ranks 14 killed, 123 wounded & 24 missing.

Remy - 31.8.1918: Coys are reorganised & rolls called. Owing to the reduced strength of the Battalion A&C Coys are amalgamated & B&D Coys, the former under Lt R.E. Barnwell and the later under Capt. E.J. Maunsell MC. These are called No1 & No2 Composite Coys.

At 8pm Brigade order one Coy to move up to support to the 2nd Duke of Wellington’s who together with the 2nd Seaforth Hrs are making an attack at 8.45pm on the 3rd objective. Lt Barnwell therefore takes No 2 Composite Coy into position about midnight & assists attack. Artillery on both sides very active all night.

Casualties: 5 Other Ranks killed & 14 Other Ranks wounded




 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/PlaceBaptism Date/Place
Oct Qtr 1881 in the Forest of Dean 22 Jan 1882 in the Forest of Dean
   
Parents NamesAbode
Thomas and Sarah Chivers Stratford on Avon                                                                      
   
Wife and Marriage Details Children
Beatrice Chivers nee Huckvale Beatrice & Dorothy  
Jul Qtr 1904 in Stratford on Avon  
   
SchoolsColleges
  ~
   
Address HistoryEmployment History
1881 - Nelson Colliery, Forest of Dean 1891 - Scholar
1891 - China Court, Ruardean, East Dean 1901 - Carpenter
1901 - 3 Garden Row, Scholars Lane, Stratford on Avon 1911 - Builder/Joiner - Own business
1911 - 2 Garden Row, Scholars Lane, Stratford on Avon 1917 - Builder/Joiner - Own business
1918 - 2 Garden Row, Scholars Lane, Stratford on Avon