South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project |
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3rd Battalion, Royal Lancaster Regiment attached to 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
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Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France and Flanders | 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals | Le Touret Military Cemetery |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| 31 Dec 1914 | ~ | Moreton Morrell |
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Enlisted | Other War Memorials |
| Battle of Aubers (Second Battle of Artois) | Commissioned on 7 Aug 1914 | Croston, Lancashire |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | |
| 3rd Field Ambulance at Le Touret | ~ | |
Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)
The Battle of Aubers was part of the British contribution to the Second Battle of Artois, a Franco-British offensive intended to exploit the German diversion of troops to the Eastern Front. The French Tenth Army was to attack the German 6th Army north of Arras and capture Vimy Ridge, preparatory to an advance on Cambrai and Douai. The British First Army, on the left (northern) flank of the Tenth Army, was to attack on the same day and widen the gap in the German defences expected to be made by the Tenth Army and to fix German troops north of La Bassée Canal.
The attack was an unmitigated disaster on the part of the British. No ground was gained, no tactical advantage was gained, and they suffered more than ten times the number of casualties as the Germans.
The Long Long Trail website describes the day that Reginald died as follows "“The leading companies of the 1/Black Watch of 1st (Guards) Brigade, brought in to replace the shattered 2nd Brigade, went over the top despite the 1/Cameron Highlanders being late to arrive and moved at the double across No Man's Land. Some reached the German breastwork just as the bombardment lifted; most were however killed or captured in the German firing trench although a small party reached the second position. The two lead companies of the Camerons, coming up on the left of the Black Watch a few minutes later, suffered heavy machine-gun casualties in crossing between the front lines. At approximately the same time, the two fresh battalions of the 3rd Brigade, the 1st Bn Gloucestershire and 1st Bn South Wales Borderers began to advance but were cut down without reaching the enemy.”
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Bapitsm Date/Place |
|---|---|
| 12 Dec 1891 at Croston, Lancs | |
| Parents Names | Parents Abode |
| Sigismund and Clementina De Trafford | Croston Hall, Preston, Lancs |
| Wife & Marriage Date/Place | Children & Year of Birth |
| ~ | ~ |
| Schools | Colleges |
| Oratory School, Edgbaston | Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1891 - Croston Hall, Preston | 1911 - Student at Royal Agricultural College |
| 1901 - Croston Hall, Preston | 1912 - Private Secretary at Moreton Hall |
| 1911 - Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester | |
