South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Gunner 58396 Herbert Walter STEELEY - 9th Division Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery

Accidentally Drowned on Saturday 3rd July 1915 aged 27

 

Military History

     
Theatre of War in Which Died WW1 Campaign Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals Robecq Cummunal Cemetery
     
First Arrived in Theatre Bravery & Conduct Medals SWFHS Area Memorials
15 May 1915 in Havre, France ~ Corley War Memorial Gates
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason Died Date and Place Enlisted Other War Memorials
Accidentally Drowned While Bathing On or after 5 Aug 1914 in Coventry
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units  
La Bassee Canal near Robecq ~  
     

Circumstances of Death

Herbert is listed as having "drowned in the La Bassee Canal while on active service" [Pension Card] or "accidentally Drowned La Bassee Canal" [Register of Effects]. However a letter found on Ancestry.co.uk from Capt. R.J. Perry to Herbert's widow, Elizabeth (see above) states that Herbert "accidentally drowned yesterday while bathing".

The 9th Division Ammunition Column war diary makes no mention of any casualties for the whole of July and the extremely brief war diary entries for the period 29th June to 27th July 1915 are transcribed below.

Robecq - 29-30 Jun 1915: Halted - men in bivouacs

Robecq - 1-2 Jul 1915: Halt

Riez - 27 Jul 1915: Marched to Riez du Vinage - men to bivouacs


 
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
Oct-Dec Qtr 1887 in Corley 17 Jan 1888 at Corley Parish Church                        
   
Parents Names Abode
Charles and Mary Ann Steeley Old House Lane, Corley
   
Wife and Marriage Details Children
Elizabeth Steeley nee Billson Gladys Irene b 1 Jan 1913
11 Dec 1911 at Corley Parish Church Herbert Reginald b 22 Mar 1914
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1888 - Corley 1901 - Working on farm [aged 13]
1891 - Savage's Lane, Corley 1911 - General Labourer
1901 - Turnpike Road Side, Corley 1911 - Coal Miner 
1911 - Turnpike Road Side, Corley 1914 - Coal Miner
1914 - Turnpike Road Side, Corley  
1915 - Yew Tree Cottage, Corley Hill, Corley