Memorial III (I)

1914 - 1918 (Cont. Page 2.)

IRAQ - BASRA MEMORIAL

Copson Alfred, Private, 21005. 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, who was Killed in action on Thursday 6th April 1916, (Mesopotamia), Aged 26. Son of W. Copson, of 8 Daniel's Yard, Moores Lane, Enderby, husband of Lily Copson of 3, Moores Lane, Enderby, Leicestershire. [War Memorial 1914 - 1918]

Born: Cosby, Leicestershire
Enlisted: Leicester (Enderby, Leicestershire).

Home Town/Village shown, (in brackets) given at time of enlistment.

Grave Reference / Panel Number: Panel 12

Local Memorial: Memorial Plaque, St. John The Baptist Church, Enderby, Leicestershire.

Campaign & Other Service Medals: British War Medal & Victory Medal.

Unit Action: As part of the Indian Corps, 7th (Meerut) Division, 28th Brigade, the 2nd Bn. Leicestershire Regiment were involved in actions in the first attack on Sannaiyat, Mesopotamia (now Iraq) on the 6th April 1916.

BELGIUM - PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL - Comines - Warneton, Hainaut

Crow Ralph Charles, Lance Corporal, 20718, No. 2 Company, 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards, who was killed in action on Saturday 13th April 1918, Aged 20. Son of John Charles and Maud Crow, of 47 Dartford Road, Aylestone Park, Leicester.
[War Memorial 1914 - 1918]

Born: 26th February 1898, Enderby, Leicestershire.

Baptised: 10th July 1898, St. John The Baptist Church,
Enderby, Leicestershire.

Enlisted: Glen Parva, Leicestershire (Leicester).

Home Town/Village shown, (in brackets) given at time of enlistment.

Grave Reference / Panel Number: Panel 1

Local Memorial: Memorial Plaque, St. John The Baptist Church, Enderby, Leicestershire.

Memorial Plaque, Enderby United Reformed Church, Chapel Street, Enderby, Leicestershire.

Campaign & Other Service Medals: British War Medal & Victory Medal.

Unit Action: As part of the 1st Army, XV Corps, 31st Division, 4th Guards Brigade, the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards were involved in two actions between the 9th April - 15th April 1918.

These included the Battle of Estaires, between the 9th - 11th April 1918 and the Battle of Hazebrouck, between the 12th - 15th April 1918, this action included the defense of Nieppe Forest by the 5th, 29th, 31st Division and the 1st Australian Division.

At the present time it is difficult to say in which of these actions Lance Corporal Ralph Charles Crow was killed

FRANCE - NEUF-BRISACH COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION - Haut-Rhin

Deacon Richard, Private, 268155, (formerly Private, 20412) 2/7th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, who died on Wednesday 26th June 1918. [War Memorial 1914 - 1918]

Enlisted: Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

Grave Reference / Panel Number: Plot VII. Grave No. 15

Local Memorial: Memorial Plaque, St. John The Baptist Church, Enderby, Leicestershire.

Campaign & Other Service Medals: British War Medal & Victory Medal.

FRANCE - SAULCOURT CHURCHYARD EXTENSION - Guyencourt-Saulcourt - Somme

Ellis John Crossley, Private, 14580, 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, (Attached Trench Mortar Battery), who was killed in action on Thursday 21st March 1918, Aged 36. Son of Mrs. Adams of 32, Lorimer Road, Aylestone Park, Leicester.
[War Memorial 1914 - 1918]

Born: Enderby, Leicestershire.
Enlisted: Leicester.

Grave Reference / Panel Number: Row D. Grave No. 1

Local Memorial: None

Campaign & Other Service Medals: 1915 Star, British War Medal & Victory Medal.

Unit Action: As part of the 5th Army, VII Corps, 21st Division, the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment were involved in actions of the St. Quentin Canal between the 21st - 23rd March 1918.

FRANCE - BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY - Pas de Calais

©Tim Green 2001

Foster Eli Herbert, Lance Corporal, 9727, 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, who died of wounds on Monday 29th January 1917, Aged 24. Son of Charles and Mary Ann Foster, of 4, The Mount, Earl Shilton, Leicestershire. [War Memorial 1914 - 1918]

Born: Enderby, Leicestershire.
Enlisted: Leicester (Earl Shilton, Leicestershire).

Home Town/Village shown, (in brackets) given at time of enlistment.

Grave Reference / Panel Number: Plot VI. Row B. Grave No. 2

Local Memorial: Earl Shilton War Memorial, Earl Shilton, Leicestershire.

Campaign & Other Service Medals: 1914 Star, British War Medal & Victory Medal.

Unit Action: As part of 4th Army, XIV Corps, 6th Division, 71st Brigade, the 1st Bn. Leicestershire Regiment, were involved in varying actions during the latter half of 1916.

These included, the Battle of Flers - Courcelette, between 15th - 22nd September 1916, the Battle of Morval, between 25th -28th September 1916 and the Battle of Le Transloy, between 1st -18th October 1916.

At the present time it is difficult to say in which action Lance Corporal Eli Herbert Foster was wounded.

The 33rd Casualty Clearing Station was based in the Town of Bethune until December 1917.

GERMANY - HAMBURG CEMETERY

Fradsham Horace, Private, 27764. 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, who died on Tuesday 30th April 1918.
[War Memorial 1914 - 1918]

Born: Whetstone, Leicestershire.
Enlisted: Enderby, Leicestershire.

Grave Reference / Panel Number: Plot II. Row C. Grave No. 5

Local Memorial: Memorial Plaque, St. John The Baptist Church, Enderby, Leicestershire.

Campaign & Other Service Medals: British War Medal & Victory Medal.

Note: From information available at the present time, it is believed that Private Fradsham died of causes other than the effects of war.

From information gained, from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Hamburg Cemetery was used for the burial of over 300 Allied soldiers and sailors who died as prisoners of war.

In 1923 the cemetery was chosen as one of four cemeteries to which British graves scattered throughout Germany should be concentrated, many of these graves having been situated in Prisoners of War Cemeteries.

There are now just over 700, 1914 - 1918 war casualties commemorated within the cemetery.

FRANCE - RIBECOURT BRITISH CEMETERY - Nord

Gilliver James Henry, Corporal, 419292. 2nd/2nd North Midland Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, who was killed in action on Friday 7th December 1917, Aged 33. Husband of Elsie Beatrice Gilliver, of 82 Hazel Street, Leicester.
[War Memorial 1914 - 1918]

Born: Enderby, Leicestershire.
Enlisted: Leicester.

Grave Reference / Panel Number: Special Mem. B. Panel No. 20

Local Memorial: None

FRANCE - BANCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY - Pas de Calais

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Graham Sydney, Private, 25806. 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, who was Killed in action Sunday 1st - Monday 2nd September 1918. Son of Mrs. A. A. Graham, of Conery Lane, Enderby, Leicestershire. [War Memorial 1914 - 1918]

Born: Hoby, Leicestershire.
Enlisted: Enderby, Leicestershire.

Grave Reference / Panel Number: Plot II. Row M. Grave No. 15

Local Memorial: Memorial Plaque, St. John The Baptist Church, Enderby, Leicestershire.

Campaign & Other Service Medals: British War Medal & Victory Medal.

Unit Action: As part of 3rd Army, V Corps, 21st Division, 110th Brigade, the 7th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment, were involved in actions of the Second Battle of Bapaume, between the 31st August - 3rd September 1918.

FRANCE - LE TOURET MEMORIAL - Pas de Calais

Grant Fred William, Corporal, 10554. 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, who was Killed in action on Saturday 15th May 1915, Aged 22. Son of Edward and Mary Jane Grant of 24, Grange Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire. [War Memorial 1914 - 1918]

Born: Enderby, Leicestershire.
Enlisted: Leicester. (Loughborough, Leicestershire.)

Home Town/Village shown, (in brackets) given at time of enlistment.

Grave Reference / Panel Number: Panel No. 11

Local Memorial: None.

Campaign & Other Service Medals: 1915 Star, British War Medal & Victory Medal.

Unit Action: As part of 1st Army, Indian Corps, 7th (Meerut) Division, 20th (Garhwal) Brigade, the 2nd Bn. Leicestershire Regiment were involved in actions of the Battle of Festubert, between the 15th - 25th May 1915.

FRANCE - THIEPVAL MEMORIAL - SOMME

Green Ernest, Private, PW/4808. 18th Battalion Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment), who was Killed in action on Sunday 30th July 1916. Son of William and Ann Green.
[War Memorial 1914 - 1918]

Born: Huncote, Leicestershire.
Enlisted: Leicester. (Enderby, Leicestershire.)

Home Town/Village shown, (in brackets) given at time of enlistment.

Grave Reference / Panel Number: Pier and Face 12D and 13B

Local Memorial: Memorial Plaque, St. John The Baptist Church, Enderby, Leicestershire.

Campaign & Other Service Medals: British War Medal & Victory Medal.

Unit Action: As part of 4th Army, XV Corps, 33rd Division, the 18th (Service) (1st Public Works Pioneer) Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own ( Middlesex Regiment), were involved in actions on the attacks on High Wood between 20th - 25th July 1916.

Further research is required to ascertain whether the 18th (Service) (1st Public Works Pioneer) Battalion, were also involved in actions, during the battle of Delville Wood, between 15th July - 3rd September 1916.

FRANCE - THIEPVAL MEMORIAL - SOMME

OGrewcock.jpg (21944 bytes)

Grewcock Oliver, Lance Corporal, 202038. 2/5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regt.), who was Killed in action on Friday 4th May 1917. Son of George and Mary Ann Grewcock of Enderby, Leicestershire.
[War Memorial 1914 - 1918]

Born: Thurlaston, Leicestershire.
Enlisted: Enderby, Leicestershire.

Grave Reference / Panel Number: Pier and Face 10C, 10D and 11A

Local Memorial: Memorial Plaque, St. John The Baptist Church, Enderby, Leicestershire.

Campaign & Other Service Medals: British War Medal & Victory Medal.

Unit Action: The 2/5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regt.), were in an area of the Somme, approximately 16Km to the North West of St. Quentin, close to the village of Villeret, during the first week of May 1917.

From an extract of the Battalion War Diaries for May 1917:-

1st 10 p.m. the Bn. was relieved in the front line running South of Villeret, by the 12th Bn. Sherwood Foresters, and on relief proceeded to Hesbecourt (1 Coy.) and Hervilly (3 Coy.) remaining there until the evening of Thursday 3rd May, resting and preparing for the operations on that date.

3rd The Bn. moved from billets to the places of assembly for attack on Malakoff and Cologne Farms.
"B" & "D" Coys. carried out the attack on Malakoff Farm and "A" & "C" Coys. on Cologne Farm. Both objectives in the Malakoff Farm attack were captured.

The enemy barrage in this attack was not very heavy, and the positions were taken with the bayonet and bombing parties, considerable casualties being inflicted on the enemy. Two wounded prisoners were taken, and our casualties were not heavy.

The attack on Cologne Farm was unsuccessful, and the assaulting troops were unable to reach the first objective. The enemy barrage here, which opened about 5 minutes after ours, caused a good many casualties to our men in position for the attack in rear of the trench on the eastern edge of the quarry.

As they advanced they came under heavy machine gun and rifle fire, both frontal from the first objective (Which had not come under our barrage owing to the short distance between it and the place of assembly) and enfilade. The gaps which had been cut in enemy wire were covered by machine guns from the front as well as enfilade wire from supposed strong point.

Only 2 to 3 men out of 4 attacking waves reached the wire. The barrage on the Quarry was very heavy, causing casualties in the reserve platoons. The survivors of attacking party withdrew at 12.40 a.m. under cover of machine gun fire from 2/8th Sherwood Foresters post and support from 178th Bde. trench mortar battery.

Later they retired to West side of North slag heap in Quarry and dug cover.

4th During the day, consolidation of the Malakoff Farm positions were carried on under great difficulties. The first objective trench was very shallow and under enfilade fire from North & South.
7.30 p.m. A message was received from the post of East of Malakoff Farm that enemy could be seen massing in wood, artillery fire was directed on this wood.

At 9 p.m. our S.O.S went up from Malakoff Farm and about this time the enemy put down a very heavy barrage of all varieties of shells, including gas.

9.45 p.m. Enemy counter-attack in considerable force (estimated 500) and swept round the right flank of our position. Both the advanced post and the first objective trench were evacuated, the garrison being driven back to the sunken road.

As this position was untenable in daylight a retirement was ordered to the Switch Trench - (original jumping-off place) and this was carried out. The effective strength of the Bn. on May 3rd prior to the attack was :- Officers 35; Other Ranks 739.

The total casualties sustained in the attack and counter-attack were about 150 killed, wounded and missing.

5th The Bn. returned to billets at Hesbecourt and Hervilly in support.

FRANCE - LES BARAQUES MILITARY CEMETERY - Sangatte - Pas de Calais

Haines Edgar Stanley Wilton, Sapper, 268644. 326th Quarrying Company, Royal Engineers, who died on Monday 24th December 1917, Aged 28. Son of Thomas and Mary Elizabeth Haines; Husband of E. A. Haines of Wath - on - Deane, Rotherham, Yorks.
[War Memorial 1914 - 1918]

Born: Clarendon Park, Leicester.
Enlisted: Enderby, Leicestershire. (Huncote, Leicestershire.)

Home Town/Village shown, (in brackets) given at time of enlistment.

Grave Reference / Panel Number: Plot II. Row C. Grave No. 2.

Local Memorial: None.

Campaign & Other Service Medals: British War Medal & Victory Medal.

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