South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 9846 George Henry GURNEY - 10th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

1s
Killed in Action on Sunday 30th July 1916 aged 20


Military History

     
Theatre of War Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals Thiepval Memorial
     
Arrived in Theatre Medal Citation (if app) SWFHS Area Memorials
18 Jul 1915 in France ~ Church Lawford and Kings Newnham
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed Date and Place Enlisted Other War Memorials
Battle of the Somme November 1914 at Rugby  
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units  
Delville Wood    
     

Circumstances of Death

George is listed as being killed in action on 30 Jul 1916 during the Battle of the Somme at Delville Wood. The war diary for the day is transcribed below:
 
Trenches - 30-7-16 - Sunday:

During the night of 29th/30th a patrol went out to ascertain the amount of wire the enemy had in front of his line. The patrol returned safely and reported that the wire was well cut.

Zero hour was fixed for 6.10pm and there was to be an intense bombardment for one minute at 6:09pm as a matter of fact there was heavy shelling by both sides for quite one hour before the assault which rather upset things.

At one minute to zero the Coys, who were now all in the front line, crept out under the barrage, B&C making the first line A&D Coys the 2nd line. A, B and C Coys reached their objectives D Coy were stopped halfway by heavy M.G. Fire and lack of officers (casualties). Nevertheless they were led up into the line later.

Meanwhile urgent messages came down to Batt HQ for reinforcements and more munitions. The H.Q Coy Was then sent out to support and the Coys began consolidating. About 20 prisoners were taken and a machine gun, the majority of the prisoners being killed by their own shell fire together with their escort on the way back.

The S.W. Borderers then went up and the communication trench was dug back to our original line. The Batt got into touch with the Kings Own Regt on the right but had no one on our left as the 10th Worcesters had failed. We were in fact the only Batt in the Bde who had gained their objectives. The shelling all through was very severe. END



 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
Oct Qtr 1895 at Wolston 5 Jan 1896 at Wolston
   
Parents Names Abode
Harry and Clara Gurney Church Lawford
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1895 - Wolston 1911 - Farm Labourer
1901 - Village, Church Lawford  
1911 - Village, Church Lawford  
1914 - Village, Church Lawford