The UK Census has said that the total losses (deaths) in combat theaters from 1914–1918 were 876,084, which included 418,361 killed, 167,172 died of wounds, 113,173 died of disease or injury, 161,046 missing and presumed dead and 16,332 prisoner of war deaths.

For the men who died of wounds received on the Battlefield this website seeks to find out the circumstances of their deaths. In many cases the war diary for an ordinary Soldier or NCO's unit will not mention men by name and when preparing a Soldiers memorial page we are left to make an educated guess as to when, and often where, the soldier was wounded, which can range from a few seconds, minutes, hours, weeks, months and sometimes years before he died. The table below is designed to allow readers to make their own educated guesses as to when a soldier might have been wounded.

It should also be remembered that many men were only slightly or moderately wounded and they needed to be treated locally before being returned to the front lines and so a chain of evacution was created depending on locartions and battlefield logistics.

It can be seen above that nearly as many died of disease/sickness as did from being wounded. The below is a short guide prepared from material published by the BBC, Wikepedia, The Long Long Trail and The History Press along with the knowledge gained by us in researching our War Memorial Transcriptions (see menu items to left).
 L/Coporal 9249 Bernard Harold PITCHER                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regiment & Unit

11th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Enlisted On/At

November 1914 at Stratford on Avon

Former Regiment

~

Lance Corporal Bernard Harold Pitcher

Details & Age at Death

Killed in Action, Tuesday, April 10, 1918 aged 21

Medals

1915 Star, British War and Victory Medals

Medal Citation (if app)

n/a

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Theatre

France & Flanders

Action/Battle

First Battle of the Scarpe

Place of Death

Monchy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CWGC Grave/Memorial

Arras Memorial

SWFHS Memorial(s)

Bidford on Avon

Other Memorial(s)

~

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

The battalion took part in the advance towards Monchy and captured positions at Les Fosse's Farm where they consolidated. Bernard was killed during this operation.

 Family & Personal History                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Birth Date & Place

Jul Qtr 1895 - Wellesbourne

Baptism Date & Place

21 Oct 1899 Wellesbourne, St. Peter

Parents

Thomas & Ruth Pitcher
Stirchley

Wife & Marriage

~

Children

~

Address History

  • 1911: The Bank, Bidford
  • 1917: 12 Charlotte Road, Stirchley

School(s), Colleges & University

 

Occupation(s)

  • 1911: Errand Boy

Other Information

Brother of Carl Rudolph Pitcher

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

Men of RWRRWRlest we forget2tower poppiesThe Battle of the Somme film image1 3gallipoli

 The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 45852 Frank Boiles - 95th Company Machine Gun Corps


Died of Wounds September 29th, 1916 aged 22

Military History
     
Theatre of War Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders British War & Victory Medals Grove Town Cemetery
     
Arrived in Theatre Medal Citation (if app) SWFHS Area Memorials
7 Sep 1916 ~ Harbury
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed Date and Place Enlisted Date Other War Memorials
Battle of the Somme 25 May 1916 ~
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units  
34th or 2/2nd London CCS Meaulte Pte 19184 Royal Warwick Regiment  
     

Other Military Information

  • Frank originally enlisted on 8 Sep 1914 at Coventry at Pte 5450 10th Bn, Royal Warwickshire but was discharged on 13 Sep 1914 as being medically unfit (varicose veins)

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

The 95th Company were in the front lines and supported two attacks by 95th Brigade in the days before he was wounded and therefore we cannot, with any certainty say whether he was wounded near Sandpits at Ginchy between the 17th to the 21st Sept or Morval between the 24th and 25th. No details at all of casualties are given in the war diary.
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Bapitsm Date/Place
Jan Qtr 1894 at Whichford 7 Jan 1894 at Whichford
   
Parents Names Parents Abode
Albert and Helen Boiles 4 Springfield Terrace, Harbury (CWGC)                             
   
Wife & Marriage Date/Place Children & Year of Birth
~ ~
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1901 - Toll Gate Cottage, Frankton 1911 - Farm Labourer
1911 - Whitmore Park, Keresley, Coventry 1914 - Waggoner
1914 - Whitmore Park, Keresley, Coventry (attestation form) 1916 - Waggoner
1916 - Mill Street, Harbury (attestation form)  
1917 - Ivy Lane, Harbury (pension card)  
 

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

Men of RWRRWRlest we forget2tower poppiesThe Battle of the Somme film image1 3gallipoli

 The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Private 3013 William Charles HEWITT - 2nd Bn Royal Warwickshire Regiment


Killed in Action Friday, December 18, 1914 aged 43
 Military History

Theatre

France & Flanders

Action/Battle/Other

Local Actions near Bethune

Place of Death

Le Maisnil

 

Medals

1914 Star & Clasp, British War and Victory Medals

Medal Citation (if app)

~

Enlisted Date/Place

August 1914 at Warwick

 

Commonwealth War Graves Page

Ploegsteert Memorial

SWFHS War Memorial(s)

Wasperton

Other War Memorial(s)

 

Previous Regiments/Units

Due to his being sent to France in Nov 1914 tt is believed that William had previously served or was in the territorial reserve (or both).

Circumstances Leading to Death - Full Transcript of War Diary 18 Dec 1914

The Bn was ordered to advance in 3 lines at 4.30 pm to attack & take the German Trenches which were in front of le MAISNIL. The attack was proceeded by a heavy artillery bombardment by our artillery to which the enemy made hardly any reply. Attack was started by "B" Company on the right, led by Capt Haddon, advancing in 2 lines : A Co advanced on the left in 2 lines with D Coy in the centre. "C" Coy formed the third line with entrenching tools. A Machine Gun was on each flank. Immediately the attack was opened, the enemy opened a very heavy rifle & machine gun fire. The Battalion advance under this with steadiness, suffering very heavy casualties. The 2/Queens sent in 1 1/2 companies in support & although our dead were found only a few yards from the German trenches, the attack failed in its objectives. What remained of the Bn. subsequently retired into our trenches. Shortly after daylight the enemy came out and started examining our dead. Parties went out fr. our lines & buried some of the officers and collected discs from some of the killed. Owing to 2 officers of the Queens & several small parties of the Bn, when engaged in carrying our wounded into the enemy's lines, (the enemy refusing to allow us to remove our wounded) being made prisoners, & also to Lt Bover S. Staffords being killed while helping to collect our wounded, the informal armistice was terminated. Lt. Col Brewis was found killed about 40 yards from the ememys line. Capt. Brownfield, Lts. Monk, Tucker, Campbell & Birt (attached R.E.) together with 34 men were found a few yards from a German Machine gun, from evidence available it is apparent that Capt Brownfield though previously wounded continued to lead the attack on the Gun."

pvt hewitt map200 Ploegsteert 1 
   
 Personal & Family History

Birth Date & Place

9 Dec 1872 at Bubbenhall

Baptism Date & Place

19 Jan 1873 at Bubbenhall

Parents

Edward and Sarah Hewitt

Wife & Marriage

Louisa Emily nee Gardener
Oct Qtr 1903 at Coventry

Children

  • William Charles b1904
  • Olive May b1905
  • Violet b 1909

 

Occupation(s)

  • 1904 - Engine Driver
  • 1911 - Engine Driver

Schools & Colleges

 

Address History

  • 1872 - Bubbenhall
  • 1881 - Wasperton
  • 1904 - 7 Eagle Street, Coventry (baptism of William)
  • 1911 - 7 Eagle Street, Coventry
  • 1914 - 63 St. Georges Road, Coventry

Other Information

 

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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

Men of RWRRWRlest we forget2tower poppiesThe Battle of the Somme film image1 3gallipoli

 The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 10684 Ernest SUMNER - 2nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment


Killed in Action on Sunday 3rd September 1916 aged 36

Military History
     
Theatre of War Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals Thiepval Memorial
     
Arrived in Theatre Medal Citation (if app) SWFHS Area Memorials
13 Jul 1915 ~ Long Itchington
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed Date and Place Enlisted Other War Memorials
Battle of Guillemont 16 Jan 1915 at Rugby ~
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units  
NW of Guillemont    
     

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Bapitsm Date/Place
Oct Qtr 1880 at Kineton 3 Nov 1880 at Kineton
   
Parents Names Parents Abode
William and Mary Sumner Bascote
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History                       
1881 - Banbury Street, Kineton 1891 - Scholar
1891 - Cottages, Long Itchington 1901 - General Labourer  
1901 - Bascote 1911 - Labourer at Cement Works
1911 - Bascote  
1916 - Bascote  
 

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  1. Private 1380 Arthur Boobbyer JEPHCOTT
  2. Sapper 240000 Arthur Walter OVER
  3. Private 19141 Thomas SUTTON
  4. Pioneer 255365 Robert Ralph Victor LITTLEWOOD

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