South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project |
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1s |
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Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France and Flanders | 1914 Star & Clasp, British War & Victory Medals | Landrecies Communal Cemetery |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| 12 Aug 1914 at Le Havre | ~ | Brinklow |
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Enlisted | Other War Memorials |
| Battle of Landrecies | 16 Dec 1908 at Coventry | ~ |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | |
| Landrecies | ~ | |
Circumstances of Death
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Benjamin is listed as being killed on 25 Aug 1914 at Landrecies after initially having been reported Missing in Action. The 3rd Battalion war diary for that day refers to Appendix A Landrecies. The appendix is transcribed below. 4.45am to 5.30pmOn the morning of the 25th August we paraded at 4.5am to March to Landrecies. The remainder of the brigade leaving two hours later. Between US and then came a lot of artillery and ammunition columns. The day was intensely hot and the men suffered terribly from want of water. On arrival at Pont sur Sambre, Colonel fielding managed to make a halt of 20 minutes I'm by distributing the battalion in various parts of the town all water bottles were filled. At the end of the next 50 minutes March we again halted for the usual 10 minutes, it was during the halt that a staff officer of the division brought the news that it was greatly desired to get the whole force over the Sambre as soon as possible so that the bridge there might be blown up and that consequently there were to be no further halts until ordered. Accordingly the battalion marched for nearly three hours without a halt. The men suffered more and more and began to fall out wholesale. Between 9.15 & 9.45am 92 men fell out absolutely exhausted and the column hardly moved two mph. Nothing was gained by the mistaken order of doing away with the usual hourly halt as the column moved so slowly that time was lost by the rate of marching. At length at 9.45am the CO took it upon himself to halt and reported the fact. The battalion arrived at Landrecies at about 1.0pm and went into billets in the barracks which lie on the NW of the Sambre. At the level crossing NW of the barracks a post was placed. Information was read that the French cavalry were NW of us, The town shortly before our arrival. I was quiet until about 5:30pm when civilians came rushing in saying that a hostile column was moving towards the village from the NW, viz from the Foret de Normal. The alarm was sounded and the battalion turned out. To the NW on the other side of the railway level crossing run a narrow street called Faubourg Soyere. No 2 Coy was immediately sent to the end of the street under Capt. C.P. Heywood Hoover selected a position for the outposts for the night. On the right there was a turnip field rising to a skyline. On the left was more forest and 200x in front was the junction of two roads. It was South of this Road junction that our outposts were placed. Civilians came in and informed pause that Uhlans [Light Cavalry] were approaching and that a large body of about 1000 infantry and two guns were close behind them. 5.30pm to MidnightAt about 7pm a Uhlan patrol appeared at the junction of these 2 roads. They were immediately fired on by our machine guns who were with the outpost company and retired leaving two of their number on the ground. Captain Heywood then moved up to the Road junction and placed our gun so as to sleep each road unblocked each road with wire. No 2 Coy was now relieved by No 3 Coy under Capt Hon C.H.S Monck. Soon after the information was brought that some French troops should be expected. At about 7.30pm the sound of advancing infantry was heard. The men came along singing French songs, Capt Monck challenged and the answer came back that they were our friends. The officer in front flashed a light on Capt Monck’s face and someone flashed one on to the advancing infantry. The light revealed the fact that in front were men dressed as Frenchmen and that behind they were all Germans. Capt Monck immediately gave the order to fire. Pte Robson who was working our machine gun was bayoneted, the men were pushed back and our gun captured. It was however so badly knocked about as to be useless. German officers and men rushed in with bayonet and revolver but were gradually driven back by our fire and retired to the Faubourg Soyere lining the end of the village where they took up a position with one machine gun. Major T.G. Matheson and three platoons of No 1 Coy under Capt Longueville rushed to the front while shots hailed down the village street. At the end of the street on the left was a barn with a narrow exit to the forest. Capt Longueville on going to this exit heard the sound of the enemy's gun being placed in position and men were posted to guard this point. This was held by 2 Lt C.S. Jackson both with revolver and by scouting. Midnight to 3.30amThroughout the night the Germans attacked again and again, but each time they were repulsed by the steady firing of our men who were magnificently controlled by Major Matheson. Shells of high explosive burst all around covering their faces of all those who were there with yellow dye. No 1 & 3 Coys practically holding the NW exit of the village, No 2 & 4 Coys were lining the village guarding all other exits. The 2nd Grenadier Guards & 1 section of Howitzers and 1 section RFA were at the railway level crossing. About 1am Colonel Fielding brought up 1 howitzer gun and putting it in the firing line and indicated the position where we had seen the flash of their gun which had been firing at us at point blank range. Our howitzer fired about three shots and evidently hit the German gun for it did not trouble us again. Our losses were heavy, 12 killed, 105 wounded, 7 missing. This included Lieuts Hawarden and Windsor Clive killed; Capt Whitbread, Lieuts Keppel & Rowley wounded. In the middle of the fight the Germans pushed us back a little only a few paces. On our left was abound which was twice set on fire and which was both times extinguished by no 5854 Pte G. Wyatt Who behaved with great gallantry. No 4710 Sgt ? and no 7525 Pte A Thomas were as cool as on parade working the machine gun throughout the night and controlling the 2nd Grenadier guns which was sent to our assistance under Lt the Hon W.R. Cecil. Maj Matheson, Capt A Tritton, Lt D Bingham with the machine gun section were all conspicuous, the former taking command & keeping the men cool and collected. At about 3am [26th August] the Irish Guard arrived but all attacks had long ceased & at 3.30am the order to retire was received as the column was evacuating Landrecies and continuing its march. An interesting point in the fight was that the Germans threw hand grenades at us. They were of high explosive and had the same effect as shells. Immediately our rearguard left the town was heavily shelled. END |
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
|---|---|
| Oct Qtr 1891 at Brinklow | 24 Jul 1892 at Brinklow |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| Jeremiah and Emily Watkins | Brinklow |
| Schools | Colleges |
| ~ | |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1891 - Brinklow | 1911 - Guardsman in Coldstream Guards |
| 1901 - High Street, Brinklow | |
| 1911 - Tower Hill Barracks, London | |
| 1914 - Brinklow |
