South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Rifleman S/13384 John William LAMBOURNE - 13th Battalion, Rifle Brigade


Killed in Action on Sunday 9th July 1916 aged 17


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
12 Dec 1915 in France ~ Clifton upon Dunsmore
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed Date and Place Enlisted Other War Memorials
Battle of the Somme 6 July 1915 at Coventry  
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units  
36th Field Ambulance    
     

Age at Enlistment

John's service record shows that he said he was 19yrs and 6 days old when he enlisted on 12 Jul 1915, however, as was quite common, he only 16, which may have been why he spelt his name Lamborn and not Lambourne on his Attestation form.

Circumstances of Death

John is listed as dying of wounds on 9 Jul 1916. His Service Record states that he was wounded on 8 Jul 1916 and his Register of Effects card shows that he died at the 36th Field Ambulance. It normal practise to bury those that died close to the Field Ambulance and so it is highly likely that his grave was later lost or destroyed and his remains were never subsquently recovered which is why he is now remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.

The 13th Battalion war diary entries for the 8th & 9th July 1916 are transcribed below.

Old British Front Line Trench - S of La Boisselle - 8/7/1916: The battalion remained in position [following the battle on 7 Jul]. Shelling in the neighbourhood was continuous during the day and was particularly heavy during the late afternoon and at intervals during the night. The bulk of the enemy shells fell in La Boisselle in front of the Battn and in the valley and slopes to the left and long the Albert - Bapaume Road but the left of the trench was also occasionally shelled, with the result that B Coy had 9 casualties during the day and night of 8th/9th.

Some progess was made in deepening the trench and in cleaning the ground of the bodies of those who had falled 6 days before between the British and German lines. Lacrymatory [Tear Gas] shells were used by the enemy but the use of goggles rendered their effect very slight.

During the night the 13th Royal Fusiliers again made an advance.

S of La Boisselle 9/7/1916: The battalion remained in the same position. Were shelled intermittently during the day.

10pm: The Battalion relieved the 8th Battn N. Staffs in front line. Relief carried out with 10 casualties. END



 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
Apr Qtr 1899 Newton & Biggin, Rugby 21 May 1899 at Brownsover 
   
Parents Names Abode
William Henry and Margaret Clifton on Dunsmore
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1899 - Newton & Biggin, Rugby 1911 - Scholar                                                              
1901 - Newton & Biggin, Rugby 1915 - Plumber
1911 - Buckwell Lane, Clifton on Dunsmore (with Uncle)  
1916 - Clifton on Dunsmore  
   
  • John's last name is spelt Lamborn, Lambourn and Lambourne depending on what records you look at. His CWGC record is in the name
    of Lamborn, we have used the spelling on the Clifton war memorial, Lambourne.