Military History

Charles is listed as dying on 14 May 1917 at the Langansalza POW Camp Military Hospital War in Germany, having initially being reported as missing. Red Cross records [click here] [here] and [here] show that John was captured on 23 April 1917 in the Arras sector and he was then held in the Military Hospital at the Langansalza Prisoner of War Camp at Bad Langensalza, Germany where he died on 14 May 1917. The 16th Battalion war diary for the 22nd, 23rd and 24th April 1917 are transcribed below.

April 22^nd - 3.15am: 15^th Inf Bde [Infantry Brigade] O.O.97 [Operational Order] received saying that on Z day 1^st Norfoks and 1^st Bedfords will attack and capture German Trenches. 16^th R. War. R will be in support in La Chaudiere Trench.

1.55pm: - 15^th Inf Bde O.O.98 received saying that 16^th R. War. R will be in support – 2 Coys in La Chaudiere Trench S.6.c.1.4 with two Coys at S.18.a.1.3. Message from Bde saying that Z Day was the 23^rd and zero hour 4.45am.

8.45pm: Bn moved to positions per 15^th Inf Bde O.O.98

April 23^rd – 7.30am: Message to say that 1^st Bedfords were hung up by wire and machine guns

9.50am: I ordered B Coy to move up to Cyril Trench to take up following positions: 2 platoons in trench between T.1.c.9.2 and T.1.c.4.4; 2 platoons from S.6.d.95.55 and S.6.d.4.7. I notified Bde to this effect.

11.50am: Message from B Coy to say that Cyril Trench was impossible owing to heavy barrage

11.55am: I ordered B Coy to withdraw to original position in front of Battn HQ.

4pm: I moved C & D Coys to trench from T.7.a.6.3 to S.12.a.7.3. D Coy on right C Coy on left

4.25pm: 15^th Inf Bde O.O. No 1 received to say that there would be a relief by a Bn of the 13^th Inf Bde

5.10pm: At the request of the O.C. 1^st Bedfords I sent a Lewis Gun team to T.1.c.5.7.

6.20pm: 15^th Inf BDe relief orders received saying that Bn would be relieved by the 15^th R. War. R and 1^st R. West Kents and on relief would be in reserve in Viny-Angres line with HQ in Givenchy S.11.c.3.7

April 24^th  –11.30am: Message from 15^th Inf Bde to say that the Battn could withdraw to Bertonval Wood where further instructions would be received. At Rugby Dump Battn received instructions to move to Cambligneul.

6pm. Battn arrived at Cambligneul.

Casualties during Operations 14^th to the 24^th:
                        Officers                       O.R.
Killed                    0                             15
Wounded              3                             63
Missing                1                              2