Military History

Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders	Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals	Dozinghem Military Cemetery
Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
25 Dec 1915	see below	Kineton
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Enlisted	Other War Memorials
Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele)	Sep 1914	Kingswood School  |  St. Catherine's College
Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units	Other Service Information
47th CCS at Poperinghe		Commissioned to 2nd Lt on 26 Mar 1915
		Promoted to Lt ?

Military Cross

• Gazetted 26 Jul 1916 "For conspicuous gallantry on patrol. He went right up to the enemy's parapet, and, though wounded, remained out for two
  hours to verify what he had heard. He has shown great coolness and bravery on many occasions".

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

Douglas is listed as dying of his wounds on 16 Aug 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres (aka Battle of Passchendaele)

Battalion Report of Operations 15th to 18th August 1917

Leipzic Farm 14/8/1917 7-30pm: The Battalion marched to Canal Bank and relieved units of the 59th Brigade

Canal Bank 15/8/1917 10-15pm: The Battalion left the Canal Bank for the place of assembly on the west bank of the Steenbeek. On reaching Iron Cross (C.3.a.8.6) the battalion came under heavy bombardment and was considerably delayed, only forming up on the taped area by 3-15am.

Between that hour and zero(4-45am) the battalion remind in shell holes under heavy shell fire (5.9’s). At zero plus 15 the battalion moved forward making the passage of the Steenbeek at several points,  over bridges at 5-10am. When in artillery formation the going was most difficult up to the blue line. The 20 minute halt here enabled all men to be rescued from the marshes and mud and the battalion advanced to the green line. The outskirts of Langemarck held enemy machine guns and snipers which were cleaned up, many enemy killed and 46 prisoners sent back. Alouette Farm was dealt with similarly and battalion headquarters established there. The battalion was deployed 100 yards east of the green line, then occupied by the 6^th Oxf and Bucks LI.

At 7.30am the battalion advanced with two Companies in front supported with one Company in support as moppers up. The going was better, but against the strong opposition from the Ferro-concrete forts, hedges and ditches. Intense machine gun fire was opened from the Mill, White House and from a concrete Fort due east of Rat House. After clearing the large concrete block houses West of the salient the three Companies pressed on killing scores in hand to hand fighting and sending back batches of 26 – 32 – 19 – 11 and 42 unwounded prisoners.

At 7.45am the final objective was captured forming the chord across the two shoulders of the salient. The three Companies came into line and consolidated throwing out a screen 150 yards in front call ma with three Lewis guns. The enemy was driven out of Kangaroo Trench and shell holes, making for the small ward behind White House. This latter was dealt with by Rifle Grenades and then rushed by one officer and eight men who killed 9 huns, sending back 5 unwounded prisoners.

During the day the 12^th K.R.R.C were heavily counter-attacked we lent them two Bombing Sections, 2 Rifle sections, 2 Lewis guns, 2 machine guns and the Stokes mortar to drive out the enemy who had gained a footing in their trench on the left.

By 10:00am the 9th Lancashire Fusiliers who had not made the last liaison at White House with us, as arranged, was seen some 250 yards to the right rear and still falling back.

The enemy made five attempts to form up for a counter attack behind the White House, 200 yards away, only to be annihilated. The night was quiet and really good consolidation took place. During the night the Lancashire Fusiliers not having come up, and the right flank being exposed, the White House, which was not in our area was evacuated and the right of the battalion throwing back in a quater circle to the right rear. At midnight 2 platoons of the 12th Rifle Brigade arrived and took over the right wing, with two lewis guns and two machine guns.

During the remainder of the tour the enemy made several attempts to counter attack that was smashed never getting within 150 yards of the battalion. The enemy put an intense bombardment repeatedly on battalion headquarters at Alouette Farm and from the Rat House concrete Fort kept it constantly under machine gun and rifle fire. The morale of the battalion what excellent going in and very considerably improved as each counter attack was annihilated. The battalion maintained and improved the captured positions completing A continuous trench and on the 18/19^th August were relieved by the 10^th Battalion Welsh Regiment when the situation was normal.

Casualties during the period in the line:

Wounded
Capt H.M. C’Connor MC (since died of wounds)
Lieut D.G. Smith MC (since died of wounds)
2/Lieut E.M. Hannah MC (since died of wounds)
2/Lieut V.C Hares
2/Lieut J.T. Hannon

Other Ranks
Killed in action 39
Wounded 147
Missing 5