South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project |
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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 | Arras Memorial |
| Arrived in Theatre | Other Medals | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| 14 Aug 1914 | Queens South Africa Medal & 3 Clasps | Lillington | Leamington Spa |
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Moblised | Other War Memorials |
| Third Battle of the Scarpe (Battle of Arras) | 5 Aug 1914 in London | ~ |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | |
| near and west of Vis-en-Artois | 1st Battalion | |
Circumstances Leading to Death Courtesy of the LightBobs website
'Z" day was 3rd May and zero hour 3.45 a.m. The following is Lieut.-Colonel H. L. Wood's Official Report of action of the Battalion:--
At zero the Battalion was formed up as follows :
A and C Companies in the front line, A on the right, C on the left;
B and D Companies in the second line, B on the right, D on the left; each company in two lines of two platoons. The front line was on the taped line, the second line in Ape Trench.
The German artillery and machine-guns opened fire within 3 minutes of our barrage commencing; most of the artillery fire was between Ape and Bison. Until the advance commenced at zero plus 18 there were only a few casualties from artillery fire in Ape, and none in the companies in front. On the other hand, the machine-gun fire was very heavy and accurate, and came from the left flank (either from St. Rohart Factory or from the Quarry in 0.15.c) and front (from the Quarry at 0.21.b.8.0 or from Triangle Wood).
At zero plus 18 the advance commenced and reached a line about 50 yards west of New Trench, beyond which it was found impossible to advance farther on the left.
On the right of the line 2nd Lieut. Peel (A Company) found it possible to avoid the machine-gun fire by crawling, and he got a few men forward and occupied part of New Trench. As touch had been lost with the 8th K.R.R.C., 2nd Lieut. Peel brought up the reserve platoon of A Company on his right flank, and gained touch with them. This was about 4.30 a.m. About this time the remainder of A Company and part of D Company managed to get into New Trench on the left of A Company.
The Germans who had been holding New Trench retired to a line about 40 yards in rear, from which they heavily bombed and opened fire with two machine-guns on New Trench. These were, however, soon silenced by rifle and Lewis-gun fire. It was, however, found impossible to advance owing to the very accurate and unceasing machine-gun fire from the left, and also to a certain extent from the front. The artillery fire also became fairly heavy about this time.
The situation now was as follows : about 50 men of all companies in New Trench, and parties of B and D Companies (about two platoons in all) in a line of shell-holes about 40 yards behind. This party tried to consolidate, but found it impossible to work owing to the incessant machine-gun fire, snipers, and heavy Vane-bomb fire, which came from the left flank, probably from Hillside Work.
The situation remained unchanged until about 10.45a.m., New Trench being shelled continuously, while a very heavy barrage was maintained on the Assembly Trenches.
At about 10.45 a.m. the troops on our right were observed retiring, and a strong enemy counter-attack in 6 or 7 waves (each estimated by those in the front line at about 150 to 200 men) was launched against New Trench. Fire was immediately opened on them with all available rifles, Lewis-guns, and two Vickers which had come up, and many casualties were inflicted, but without stopping the counter-attack. When the enemy had got within 50 yards of New Trench, and our ammunition was practically all expended, the remnants withdrew to the Assembly Trenches, bringing back as many Lewis-guns as possible. The two Vickers had to be abandoned.
Owing to there being no room in the front Assembly Trenches I rallied the Battalion in Buck Trench, where it remained until relieved.
The casualties were :--
A Company (Right leading) 75, out of 129 who attacked.
C Company (Left leading) 84, out of 118.
B Company (Right Support) 57, out of 123.
D Company (Left Support) 62, out of 123.
H.Q. 13, out of 30, including bombers who went over behind the leading company
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HONOURS OR REWARDS.
Captain Claude Boisragon Crawford ;
2nd Lieut. John Horace Peel ; Awarded Military Cross (immediate)
10892 Sergeant James Lewendon ; awarded Military Medal (immediate).
8223 Sergeant George Capel ; awarded Military Medal (immediate).
11049 Private Sidney Southern ; awarded Military Medal (immediate).
10996 Lance-Corporal George Edward Collins ; awarded Military Medal (immediate).
8764 Private John Enticott ; awarded Bar to Military Medal (immediate)
13106 Private Leonard Unsworth ; awarded Military Medal (immediate).
10147 Corporal Hosia Paul ; awarded Military Medal (immediate).
27912 Private John Quinn ; awarded Military Medal (immediate).
32720 Private Stanley Wonnacott;
17311 Private Frank Henry Wright;
26363 Private George Ayris.
CASUALTIES, 3RD MAY 1917.
Killed.
Lieut. S. Ashman, B Company.
2nd Lieut. W. C. Haynes, D Company.
And 22 N.C.O.'s and Men.
Wounded.
2nd Lieut. J. N. Jackson (C).
Captain L. J. Goodwyn (D).
Lieut. T. Hutchinson (A).
And 158 N.C.O.'s and Men.
Missing.
2nd Lieut. R. J. Richards (B). (It was afterwards learned that 2nd Lieut. Richards was captured when wounded and died of his wounds. )
2nd Lieut. C. C. Harper (C).
2nd Lieut. J. L. Bulmer (A).
And 111 N.C.O.'s and Men.
(Fifteen N.C.O.'s and men were also captured, 7 of them being wounded (3 died).
(The other 2 officers and 96 N.C.O.'s and men were subsequently reported killed.)
Total Casualties.—8 officers and 291 N.C.O.'s and Men, out of 12 officers2 and 523 N.C.O.'s and Men who went into action.
(The four officers who came out of action unwounded were Lt.-Colonel Wood Captain Crawford (Adjutant), 2nd Lieut. Peel (A Company), and 2nd Lieut. Palmer (B Company).)
At zero the Battalion was formed up as follows :
A and C Companies in the front line, A on the right, C on the left;
B and D Companies in the second line, B on the right, D on the left; each company in two lines of two platoons. The front line was on the taped line, the second line in Ape Trench.
The German artillery and machine-guns opened fire within 3 minutes of our barrage commencing; most of the artillery fire was between Ape and Bison. Until the advance commenced at zero plus 18 there were only a few casualties from artillery fire in Ape, and none in the companies in front. On the other hand, the machine-gun fire was very heavy and accurate, and came from the left flank (either from St. Rohart Factory or from the Quarry in 0.15.c) and front (from the Quarry at 0.21.b.8.0 or from Triangle Wood).
At zero plus 18 the advance commenced and reached a line about 50 yards west of New Trench, beyond which it was found impossible to advance farther on the left.
On the right of the line 2nd Lieut. Peel (A Company) found it possible to avoid the machine-gun fire by crawling, and he got a few men forward and occupied part of New Trench. As touch had been lost with the 8th K.R.R.C., 2nd Lieut. Peel brought up the reserve platoon of A Company on his right flank, and gained touch with them. This was about 4.30 a.m. About this time the remainder of A Company and part of D Company managed to get into New Trench on the left of A Company.
The Germans who had been holding New Trench retired to a line about 40 yards in rear, from which they heavily bombed and opened fire with two machine-guns on New Trench. These were, however, soon silenced by rifle and Lewis-gun fire. It was, however, found impossible to advance owing to the very accurate and unceasing machine-gun fire from the left, and also to a certain extent from the front. The artillery fire also became fairly heavy about this time.
The situation now was as follows : about 50 men of all companies in New Trench, and parties of B and D Companies (about two platoons in all) in a line of shell-holes about 40 yards behind. This party tried to consolidate, but found it impossible to work owing to the incessant machine-gun fire, snipers, and heavy Vane-bomb fire, which came from the left flank, probably from Hillside Work.
The situation remained unchanged until about 10.45a.m., New Trench being shelled continuously, while a very heavy barrage was maintained on the Assembly Trenches.
At about 10.45 a.m. the troops on our right were observed retiring, and a strong enemy counter-attack in 6 or 7 waves (each estimated by those in the front line at about 150 to 200 men) was launched against New Trench. Fire was immediately opened on them with all available rifles, Lewis-guns, and two Vickers which had come up, and many casualties were inflicted, but without stopping the counter-attack. When the enemy had got within 50 yards of New Trench, and our ammunition was practically all expended, the remnants withdrew to the Assembly Trenches, bringing back as many Lewis-guns as possible. The two Vickers had to be abandoned.
Owing to there being no room in the front Assembly Trenches I rallied the Battalion in Buck Trench, where it remained until relieved.
The casualties were :--
A Company (Right leading) 75, out of 129 who attacked.
C Company (Left leading) 84, out of 118.
B Company (Right Support) 57, out of 123.
D Company (Left Support) 62, out of 123.
H.Q. 13, out of 30, including bombers who went over behind the leading company
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HONOURS OR REWARDS.
Captain Claude Boisragon Crawford ;
2nd Lieut. John Horace Peel ; Awarded Military Cross (immediate)
10892 Sergeant James Lewendon ; awarded Military Medal (immediate).
8223 Sergeant George Capel ; awarded Military Medal (immediate).
11049 Private Sidney Southern ; awarded Military Medal (immediate).
10996 Lance-Corporal George Edward Collins ; awarded Military Medal (immediate).
8764 Private John Enticott ; awarded Bar to Military Medal (immediate)
13106 Private Leonard Unsworth ; awarded Military Medal (immediate).
10147 Corporal Hosia Paul ; awarded Military Medal (immediate).
27912 Private John Quinn ; awarded Military Medal (immediate).
32720 Private Stanley Wonnacott;
17311 Private Frank Henry Wright;
26363 Private George Ayris.
CASUALTIES, 3RD MAY 1917.
Killed.
Lieut. S. Ashman, B Company.
2nd Lieut. W. C. Haynes, D Company.
And 22 N.C.O.'s and Men.
Wounded.
2nd Lieut. J. N. Jackson (C).
Captain L. J. Goodwyn (D).
Lieut. T. Hutchinson (A).
And 158 N.C.O.'s and Men.
Missing.
2nd Lieut. R. J. Richards (B). (It was afterwards learned that 2nd Lieut. Richards was captured when wounded and died of his wounds. )
2nd Lieut. C. C. Harper (C).
2nd Lieut. J. L. Bulmer (A).
And 111 N.C.O.'s and Men.
(Fifteen N.C.O.'s and men were also captured, 7 of them being wounded (3 died).
(The other 2 officers and 96 N.C.O.'s and men were subsequently reported killed.)
Total Casualties.—8 officers and 291 N.C.O.'s and Men, out of 12 officers2 and 523 N.C.O.'s and Men who went into action.
(The four officers who came out of action unwounded were Lt.-Colonel Wood Captain Crawford (Adjutant), 2nd Lieut. Peel (A Company), and 2nd Lieut. Palmer (B Company).)
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
|---|---|
| 21 Mar 1882 at Paddington | ~ |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| Thomas Henry and Emma Long | Paddington |
| Wife & Marriage Date/Place | Children & Year of Birth |
| Lucy Long nee Ford | Rosa May born 1 Apr 1906 |
| Jul Qtr 1905 in Medway District | Frederick George born 12 Nov 1907 |
| Harold Victor born 23 Dec 1909 | |
| Schools | Colleges |
| 1886 - Campbell Street School, Paddington | ~ |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1882 - 4 Campbell Street, Paddington | 1891 - Scholar |
| 1891 - Huntsworth Terrace, Paddington | 1901 - Private in 1st Bn Oxford & Bucks LI |
| 1901 - South Africa | 1911 - Private in 1st Bn Oxford & Bucks LI |
| 1911 - Wellington Barracks, India | 1914 - Postman in Coventry |
| 1914 - 23 Manor Road, Lillington | |
| 1916 - 1 Church Terrace, Leamington Spa | |
