Military History

Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave of Memorial
France and Flanders	1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals	Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
19 Dec 1914	~	Tredington
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Enlisted	Other War Memorials
The Battle of Bellewaarde	On or after 5 Aug 1914 at Redditch
Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units
Bellewaarde	~

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

The 9th Inf. Bde. supported by 7th Inf Bde ordered to attack the enemy’s trenches north of Hooge. After heavy bombardment by our artillery the 9th Inf. Bde. advanced up to Bellewaarde Lake, with little loss. Owing to rapid advance of our Infantry and smoke due to bombardment, our artillery were unable to see advance of Infantry and the enemy’s third line and part of their second line had to be abandoned owing to our heavy Shell fire on these positions. The orders to the Battalion were to support and consolidate the positions gained by the 9th Inf. Bde. in the captured trenches about “Y” Wood and to the north of Hooge, and help them consolidate.

After an examination of the position had been made, it was decided that immediate support was not necessary. After the assault by the 9th Inf. Bde. the 7th Inf. Bde. had orders to occupy their assembly trenches and this was done. The H.A.C. at once followed the battalions of Royal Fusrs. and 1st Lincs. and helped them to consolidate, but after communication with them in captured trenches it was found that immediate support to the H.A.C. which had been ordered, was not necessary, so battalion remained in the assembly trenches vacated by the 9th Inf. Bde., remaining there under heavy shell fire, and a good many casualties occurred.

At 3.15 pm orders received for the Battalion to push through captured trenches and endeavour to take enemy’s third line trenches about Bellewaarde Lake. Orders were that an Artillery Bombardment on these trenches would begin at 3pm. When ‘B’ Company under command of Capt. Maitland supported by ‘C’ Company under Capt Buckland advanced to attack. The attack was held up by heavy shell, Rifle and Machine Gun fire and companies could not advance. Situation was then ‘B’ & ‘C’ Companies by “Y” Wood. A & D Companies in 9th Bde Assembly Trenches near Witteport Farm.

At 7pm Enemy opened very heavy artillery bombardment on trenches and our line about “Y” Wood, Railway Wood, and Witteport Farm. Bombardment lasted till 8.15 pm and heavy casualties occurred, as many as 90 shells per minute being fired on our positon. 8th Inf. Bde. with 2 battalions of the 14th Div. 41st Bde. came up at dusk and took over the position won.

The above from, and courtesy of, Worcestershire World War 100