South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project
The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One |
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Military History |
| Theatre of War | Campaign Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France & Flanders | 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals | Serre Road Cemetery No 2 |
| Arrived in Theatre | Bravery & Conduct Medals | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| 23 March 1915 in Havre, France | Distinguished Conduct Medal (Gazette) | Leamington Spa War Memorial |
| Leamington All Saints Memorial | ||
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Died | Date and Place Enlisted | |
| Battle of Albert (Somme) | 1913/14 in Wa | Other War Memorials |
| Birmingham Education Committee WW1 | ||
| Place of Death | Original Service (1977) No / Enlistment Date | Saltley St Peters College Memorial |
| Beaumont Hamel | 1709 issued on the 16th January 1913 | Saltley, St Saviour's Memorial |
| 2196 issued on the 16th April 1914 |
Distinguished Conduct Medal
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Citation: "No 1677 Private R. B. Sheil (now Corporal) A Company 1/8th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment for great courage and resource in seizing and taking a prisoner in one of the enemy's listening patrol about 2am on 18-19th April" The Leamington Courier reported that on April 19th 1915 Bernard and a comrade, Private Rainsford, were on duty at a listening post in the advanced trenches when they observed two members of a Bavarian regiment come out of their cover evidently bent on a scouting mission, and Bernard and Pte Rainsford resolved in a daring plan to capture them. They rushed at them at close quarters but the one Bavarian shot Rainsford dead. Sheil's old Rugby experience however stood him in good stead and he rushed upon this man, collared him before he had time to use his revolver and taking the weapon off him, marched him into the Warwickshire Territorials lines. |
Circumstances of Death
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Bernard is listed as being killed in action on 1 July 1916, having originally being reported as missing in action. The 1st/8th Battalion war diary entry for that day is transcribed below. The Sucerie in Front of Mailly-Maillet – 1 July 1916 – Attack on Beaumont Hamel: Morning 1st July 19162.00am: Battalion reported present in forming up trenches 4.30am to 7.00am: Reported that everyone had a good breakfast. Artillery bombardment was intense and not a lot of retaliation from Bosch. Artillery increased in intensity & enemy replying with Field Guns and 15cm. 7.00am: Very intense artillery on both sides 7.25am: Enemy machine guns opened all along line. Three minutes later our troops are lying on parapet ready to advance. 7.30am: Advance begins, enemy first line reached and passed very quickly as also was the second. Only in one or two cases were any enemy seen in these two lines. Having plenty of casualties from machine gun fire in enemy third and fourth lines. At the third line men were temporarily held up by machine gun fire but took it by rushers. From this point the fighting was all with bombs along trenches. We reached our objective probably 35-40 minutes from Zero hour (7.30am) & at once commenced consolidating & cleaning rifles under the directions of Capt. Martin & 2/Lt Turner. By this time the rest of the Battalion was arriving but had had so many casualties that they could not go through us so helped consolidate. This happened with all Battalions following us. Many times we were bombed from this position and regained it until bombs ran out. We had to retire to the 3rd line, line the parapet & hold on with machine [gun] and rifle fire. Parties were detailed to collect as many bombs as could be found (both English & German) & when we had a good store we again reached our objective. No supply of bombs were coming from rear so could not hold on & retired again. Enemy machine guns & snipers were doing a great amount of damage all the while. Enemy artillery opened but fortunately their range was over. Afternoon/Evening 1st July 19167.30pm: Held onto this position until relieved by a Battalion from the rear. All through the action no troops were seen on our right or left. This has a great deal to do with the inability to push past our objective. 11pm: Arrived at Mailly-Maillet & were put into billets. Mailly-Maillet – July 2nd: Resting except for Roll Call. Casualties arrived at from Roll Call: Officers Killed: Lt Col C.A. Dixon; Major A.A. Leadrich; Capt S.W. Ludlow; Lt’s Hoskins, Fussell & Proctor; 2nd Lt’s Mareham & Key. Officers Wounded 12; Wounded & Missing 1, Wounded & Prisoner of War 1. Other Ranks: Killed 57; Wounded 255 and Missing 251 Total Casualties were 585. |
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
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| Oct Qtr 1889 in Leamington Spa | 11 Dec 1889 at Leamington, St John's |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| James Frederick and Sydonia Sheil | 17 Campion Terrace, Leamington Spa |
| Schools | Colleges |
| Shrubland Street, School | ~ |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1889 - 125 Shurbland Street, Leamington Spa | 1901 - School age |
| 1891 - 125 Shurbland Street, Leamington Spa | 1911 - Class teacher at Shrubland Street School |
| 1901 - 125 Shurbland Street, Leamington Spa | 1914 - Teacher at St. Peter's College, Saltley |
| 1911 - 17 Campion Terrace, Leamington Spa | |
| 1916 - 17 Campion Terrace, Leamington Spa |