South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One
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Military History |
Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
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France and Flanders | British War & Victory Medals | Arras Memorial |
Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
After 1 Jan 1916 | ~ | Alcester |
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Enlisted | Other War Memorials |
Battle of Arras | September 1915 at Warwick | |
Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | |
Bullecourt | ~ | |
Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)
William is listed as being killed in action on 4 May 1917. A description of the days events taken from C. L. Kingsford's book The Story of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. 2nd Battalion at BullecourtThe fighting has now extended southwards where on May 8 the Australians broke through the Hindenburg Line east of Bullecourt. On that day the 22nd brigade was in reserve on May 4 but the 2nd Royal Warwickshire attacked northeast of Ecoust. The enemy, who at once put down a heavy barrage, held their position with many machine guns and with uncut wire. Unable to get forward the Royal Warwickshire dug in in scattered posts along the railway embankment before Bullecourt. Later in the afternoon in conjunction with the first Royal Welsh Fusiliers, about 200 men under Captain V. J. Sharkey were pushed forward, but the village was honeycombed with passages like a maze, and in face of the enemy's strong fire the assault failed with heavy casualties. On the two days two officers and 18 men were killed and ten officers and 228 men were wounded or missing. The 2nd Royal Warwickshire was relieved that night on May 5 for a short rest. War Diary Entry 4 May 1917The battalion war diary reveals that they attacked enemy lines at Bullecourt and Ecoust incurring at least 246 casualties in the process. A full account of the days events can be found in the war diary by clicking here. Please note and respect the copyright of The National Archives. |
Personal & Family History |
Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
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Jul Qtr 1891 at Stourbridge | ~ |
Parents Names | Abode |
Benjamin and Martha Emma Bowen | Alcester |
Schools | Colleges |
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Address History | Employment History |
1891 - Stourbridge | Not found |
1901 - High Street, Alcester | |
1911 - Not found | |
1917 - Victoria House, Alcester |