South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 5509 Frederick William BLACK - 4th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment


Killed in Action on Monday, April 23, 1917 aged 36


Military History

     
Theatre of War Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders British War & Victory Medals Arras Memorial
     
Arrived in Theatre Other Medals SWFHS Area Memorials
Not yet established Queens South Africa Medal & 4 Clasps Warwick St. Nicholas
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed Date and Place Mobilised  
Second Battle of the Scarpe  8 Mar 1899 at Worcester  
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units Other War Memorials
Monchy le Preux  2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regt  
     

Circumstances of Death

Frederick is listed as being killed in action on 23 Apr 1917 and the 4th Battalion war diary for that day is transcribed below.

Trenches S of Monchy le Preux – 23.4.1917: By 4am the Bn was formed up in the jumping off trench as follows: Y Coy on left and X coy on right in the trench W Coy on left and Z Coy on right behind the parados of the same trench. Bn HQ was established in the shaft of a dug out in a sunken road about 10 yards in front of the extreme left of the Bn.

At 4.45am the barrage started, although it was supposed to fall 200 yards in front of our trench a great many shells dropped in close proximity both in our front and in rear of our trench. 2/Lt Acton was killed just previous to this. The German barrage opened a few minutes after our own and was directed chiefly on our front line and its main approaches.

The Bn advanced under cover of the barrage to the Blue Line taking Pick and Shrapnel trenches in its stride & one machine gun and about 80 prisoners were captured. On  arrival at the first objection (Blue Line) companies were very much disorganized owing to the very high percentage of losses among officers and N.C.O’s. Z Coy on the right in front of the Copse at O.8 central had their right flank in the air owing to the attack by the 15th Div on our right having failed.

Consolidation of this position was immediately commenced but considerably hampered by enemy sniping from the direction of the Bois de Vert. During this period the German artillery searched all the ground between our original front line and the new position and at the same time keeping a large number of guns for counter battery work and for hindering communications on the Cambrai Road and approaches to Monchy.

At 9am Bn HQ moved up to the Cross Roads at Point 86.

At about 10am the Germans made a counter attack which was beaten off  mainly by rifle and Lewis Gun fire but some of the advanced posts occupied by Z Coy were rounded up. Intense shelling and sniping continued throughout the day.

At 3.45pm 1 Coy 16th Middlesex Regt was detailed to form a defensive flank between Z Coy and the 2nd Hants Regt who were in Pick and Shovel trenches.

At 4pm another heavy counter attack was launched by the Germans who tried to force their way round the Copse at O.8 central. Part of X & Z Coys were forced back from in front of the Copse but the remainder of the line held good and heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy by fire from Shovel Trench. Col Kerans reorganised the men who had fallen back from the Blue Line and led them together with all available men at Bn HQ to Shrapnel trench.

At 5pm a third attack was attempted by the enemy but our S.O.S signal was answered by the Artillery within 30 seconds and the attacking enemy was completely broken up.

At 6pm the C.O of the 2nd Hants Rgt was badly wounded and Lt Coil Kerans took command of the Brigade front. At dusk I Coy 16th Middlesex Rgt and 40 2nd Hants Reg attempted to reoccupy the part of the Blue Line which had been lost but finding the position too strongly held had to withdraw. Shortage of flares and ammunition was now felt and under extreme difficulties the line was reorganised as follows: I Coy 16th Middlesex on the right, 40 Hants in the centre, 4th Worc Regt on left, 1 Coy 2nd Hants in Shovel trench, the remainder of 2nd Hants in Shrapnel trench. The work of consolidation was continued and 2 Sections Field Coy R.E. and 1 Coy Monmouthshire Rgt were sent up for this purpose their main objective being to be clear again, by 2am they only put up wire in front of Shrapnel trench.

Rations were brought up to Fosses Farm. 2 Limbers and 10 horses were lost by shell fire.

2am [24.4.1917] At this hour orders were received that the Battalion would be relieved by the Royal Fusiliers. The relief was completed before dawn with the exception of 42 men under 2nd Lt Williamson who were not relieved until the following night.

Casualties Officers and Men: 38 Killed, Missing 55, Wounded 328.



 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
Oct Qtr 1879 at Lincoln  
   
Parents Names Abode
William and Elizabeth Black 33 Union Road, Warwick 
   
Wife and Marriage Details Children
Florence Black nee Weyman George, Gladys & Doris 
23 Jul 1911 at Worcester  
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1881 - Not found 1899 - Striker
1891 - 15 Union Road, Warwick 1899 - Soldier in 2nd Bn Worcestershire Regt
1901 - 33 Union Road, Warwick 1911 - Soldier in Worcestershire Regt
1911 - 33 Union Road, Warwick 1914 - Soldier in Worcestershire Regt  
1917 - 33 Union Road, Warwick