South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 342 Reginald Milnes BLAKEMORE - 15th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment


Died of Wounds on Tuesday 1st August 1916 aged 22

reginald blakemore


Military History

     
Theatre of War Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals Heilly Station Cemetery 
     
Arrived in Theatre Medal Citation (if app) SWFHS Area Memorials
21 November 1915 in Boulogne, France ~ Knowle Soldiers Chapel
    Knowle War Memorial 
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed Date and Place Enlisted  
Battle of the Somme January 1915 in Birmingham Other War Memorials
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units  
36th CCS at Mericourt-l’Abee ~  
     

Circumstances of Death

Reginald is listed as dying of wounds at the 36th Casualty Clearing Station in Mericourt. We are not sure when he was wounded and the 15th Battalion war diary for the period 28th July, when they entered the line and the 1st August when Reginald died.

28/7/1916 – Between Mametz & Montauban: Battn in Reserve in Pommieres Redoubt as before. Moved up to old German trench W of Montauban. Battn on fatigue for 95th Brigade. 450 men carried rations water etc, ammunition to Longueval.

2/Lt B Mutlow slightly wounded, buried for 9 hours and dug out by Sgt of W Kents. Casualties: Killed OR’s 2; Wounded Officers 1 & Other Ranks 32.  Weather bright

29/7/1916 – Caterpillar Trench: Battn resting during the morning & making preparations for going into the line at night.

11.30pm: Moved off to Longueval. Battn occupied the old German trench in S.16.b. 2 Platoons of A Coy in forward trench 100 yards in front.

30/7/1916 – Longueval: Operation Orders received for attack by 51st & 5th Divisions in the evening. Bombardment commenced 4.45pm, barrage lifted 6.10pm & assault delivered. 2 K.O.S.B attacked N edge of Longueval. 14th R War on their left.

6.30pm: B Coy called upon to reinforce & occupy part of line vacated by 14th R War Regt attacking party. The attack was not successful & the 14th R War Regt had to draw back to their starting off point.

31/7/1916 – Montauban area: Battn relieved 14th R War Regt by 6am in the front line system. 2 Platoons of B Coy remained behind in old German trenches in Battn Reserve.

Disposition: B Coy on left, A Coy in Centre with 2 Platoons occupying points A & B. D Coy on right, 2 Platoons of C Coy in close support.

Received orders from Brigade to consolidate between strong points during the night. The 15th Inf Bde during the evening, the Battn remaining in position & came under Command of D.G.C at 8.30pm.

Commenced digging at dusk. Continual shelling made work very difficult. Weather very bright.

1/8/1916 – West of Longueval: Battn in the line W of Longueval. Consolidation of forward trench during the night. The strong points A & B linked up & cover obtained between the points.

Some shelling during the day but by good luck few casualties. Only 2 wounded during the day in one of the hottest parts of the line.

Relief of 5th Division by 17th Division. Battn relieved by 9th Northumberland Fusiliers. A good, well organised relief completed by midnight.

Casualties: 29/31/7/16: OR’s Killed 6, wounded 25 & missing 2.  1/8/16 wounded OR’s 2.



 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
8 Aug 1893 in Knowle 12 Nov 1893 at Knowle Parish Church
   
Parents Names Abode
George and Catherine Blakemore 57 Priestley Road, Sparkbrook                    
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1893 - Red Lion Inn, Knowle 1901 - School age
1901 - Red Lion Inn, Knowle 1911 - Hardware Factor’s assistant
1911 - 58 Priestley Rd Sparkbrook  
1915 - 57 Priestley Road, Sparkbrook  
   
  •  Photograph courtesy of Moseleians Association