South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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 The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 16678 William John MOSS - 10th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment


Killed in Action Sunday, July 23rd 1916 aged 26


Military History

   
Theatre of WarMedalsCommonwealth War Grave of Memorial
France and Flanders British War & Victory Medals Thiepval Memorial
     
Arrived in TheatreMedal Citation (if app)SWFHS Area Memorials
After 1 Jan 1916 ~ Whichford Roll of Honour | Whichford War Memorial
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason KilledDate and Place Enlisted DateOther War Memorials
Battle of Delville Wood (Somme) After 24 Jun 1915 at Stratford on Avon ~
     
Place of DeathPrevious Regiments or Units 
NW of Longueval ~  
     

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

William is listed as being killed in action on 23 Jul 1916 and on that day the Battalion were in front lines trenches at High Wood during very heavy fighting named after the nearby Delville Wood. The war diary for the day is transcribed below:
 
"This trench we were ordered to hold at all costs. Our front line was then held by C & D Coys under Captain Seilex and A & B Coys were in a reserve line under 2nd Lt O'Donnell.
  • At 5.00 and 7.00am flares were burst over those positions. The enemy shelled our trenches heavily causing many casualties.
  • At 9.45am Lt Col Henderson was killed and Captain Galkeyne? was immediately sent for from the transport. He arrived at 1.15pm. During the day we strengthened our positions.
  • At 9.00pm we were ordered to send out a patrol to take the German strong point. This was done Lt Cairns taking out the patrol but before the shelling of the strong point ceased we were relieved by the 9th R. Welsh Fusiliers. We marched by Coys to Becourt Wood where we bivouaced".

William was killed during these actions.


 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/PlaceBapitsm Date/Place
Oct Qtr 1889 22 Dec 1889 at Whichford
   
Parents NamesAbode
Arthur George and Ellen Sophia Moss Whichford
   
SchoolsColleges
  ~
   
Address HistoryEmployment History
1891 - Whichford 1911 - Waggoner on farm                      
1901 - Road, Whichford  
1911 - Whichford  
1916 - Whichford