Military History

Military History

Ernest died of suspected dysentery in the German Field hospital at Czersk Prisoner of War Camp in what is now Poland (Red Cross record) he was originally reported missing on 21 Mar 1918, the first day of the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion war diary for the 21 Mar 1918 is transcribed below and shows that they were taken completely by surprise and took 750+ casualties including over 500 missing.

Ronnsoy - 21 March 1918:

The German attack was launched at dawn in the thick fog. The enemy's bombardment was very heavy. Battalion headquarters in the centre of Ronnsoy had no knowledge of the attack until the enemy was a problem. They had come in from the right flank of the battalion. Battalion headquarters fought their way out suffering heavy heavy casualties. Lt Col Walker what wounded, the a/2^nd in Command Major Pan DSO was captured. The Adjutant Captain Robbins is missing, the signalling officer 2/Lt W A Wilkinson was killed, the intelligence officer Lt J R Moseley MC was subsequently wounded in the fighting that followed. No company officers came out of the battle consequently it is impossible to form a connected narrative of what happened. The remnants of the Battalion fell back and took up a position in the brown line at St. Emilie, after some severe fighting the Battalion was ordered to fall back and the remains of the Brigade were formed into the 49th Infantry Brigade under major Harrison of the 2nd Royal Irish Regiment.

This battalion subsequently fought a rearguard action back to Hamel in front of Amiens, which village it held against repeated attacks. The battalion came out of the action with the following officers the Medical Officer, CVapt Alley MC, Capt Reid MC and 2/Lt J J Nulty who returned from leave on the 22^nd March.

Casualties:                  Off             OR

Killed                             3               13
Died of Wounds              1                7
Prisoners                       8               13
Wounded                       4              200
Missing                         2              500
                                   18             733

Military History

His register of effects states that he was a member of the 12th Entrenching Battalion, late of 14th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment.

His Soldiers Who Died in the Great War record states that he was a member of 14th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment.

His CWGC record states that he was "Gloucestershire Regiment 12th Entrenching Bn., late 14th Bn attached to 7th Bn. Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)".

Research reveals that the14th Battalion Gloucestershire was disbanded on 11 Feb 1918 and 12 officers and 250 men transferred to 13th Battalion. [The Long Long Trail]. This is confirmed by War Diary [WO 95/2488/1], the last entry in which is dated 14 Feb 1918 and the entry on 11 Feb 1918 states "12 officers and 250 men transferred to 13th Gloucester Regt. The remainder of the Battalion marched to Proven... and then marched to Surplus Wing II Corps Reinforcement Camp. 

The Long Long Trail website tells us that the 12th Entrenching Battalion was formed from the surplus of four Service Battalions: 14th Gloucestershire Regiment; 16th Cheshire Regiment; 20th Lancashire Fusiliers and 23rd Manchester Regiment. Appears to have been formed at II Corps Reinforcement Camp at Merckeghem. III Corps reported that the battalion was merged into the 7th Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) on 1 April 1918 when they were in the lines near Bois de Hangard SE of Amiens.

The 12th Entrenching Battalion war diary [WO 95/761/5] consists of only a report written 7 years later by Lt. Col. W. Hodson of Liverpool which confirms, more or less the above information, except that its states that the 12th Entrenching were absorbed by the 7th RWK's at Genetelles, however we know from the 7th Bn war diary that they did not reach Gentelles until 5 Apr 1918 by which time the two battalions has already merged and Fred had been killed.

In conclusion it seems that Fred was a member 7th Royal West Kent Regiment when he was wounded and then died of his wounds on 4th April 1918.

Fred is listed as dying of wounds on 4 Apr 1918 and was buried at Namps-au-Val cemetery which at the time was used by the 41st, 50th and 55th Casualty Clearing Stations which had arrived there at the start of the German Spring Offensive. The 7th Battalion war diary - Report on Operations 1st/12th April 1918 - is partly transcribed below (up to the 4th).

7^th Battn Royal West Kent Regiment
Narrative of Operations 1/12 April 1918

Ref Map Sheet 62d. [Plot the following Map References on TMapper]

Military History

John is listed as being killed in action on 2 Jan 1915. The 2nd Battalion war diary entry for that day is transcribed below.

Trenches - Touquet - 2/1/15: Quiet day. C Coy shelled and bombarded with grenades in afternoon at Well Farm.

Quiet night. 2 killed 1 wounded

Major A.J. Poole arrived and assumed command. END