South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project
The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One |
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Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France & Flanders | 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals | Dickebusch New Military Cemetery |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| 20 Dec 1914 at Le Havre, France | ~ | Stratford on Avon King Edward VI School |
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Died | Date and Place Enlisted | Other War Memorials |
| Battle of Neuve Chapelle | Commissioned 10 Aug 1914 | Cheltenham Borough War Memorial |
| Cheltenham College Chapel | ||
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | Newquay War Memorial |
| St Eloi, Dickebusch | 3rd Battalion, DoC LI | |
Circumstances of Death
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Duncan is listed as being killed in action on 13th March 1915. However the 2nd Battalion war diary contradicts this and suggests that he joined the 2nd Battalion on the 13th and was killed the very next day, 14th. The war diary entries for the 13th and 14th are transcribed below and are self-explanatory. Dickebusch – 13 Mar 1915: Battn relieved the Royal Irish Regt in the trenches. A quiet night. Captain A.C. Laurenson, Lt. D.M.K. MacD. O’Callaghan and 2nd Lieut. N.J.S. Macdonald arrived. Dickebusch – 14 Mar 1915: The morning and afternoon were particularly quiet. At 5 p.m. a terrific explosion took place under the mound which collapsed, burying the machine gun team which was stationed in it. At the same moment, trenches 19 & 19A blown up by miners. The Germans at once swarmed and proceeded to attack the blown in trenches. They were headed by men who had no rifles but who carried bombs and hand grenades. A & C Coys were bombed out of their trenches and forced to retire, after suffering very heavy casualties. D Coy on the right was not so severely attacked and was able to hold its trenches and B Coy remained in 39. Our casualties were Officers killed: Capt. A.C. Laurenson, Lieutenant A.N. Bolton, Lieut. J.G. Paulinson, 2nd Lt. V. V. Vowler, 2nd Lt. A. Kelly, 2nd Lt. D.M.K. MacD. O’Callaghan missing believed killed, Lieut. R.M. Aston. Wounded: Capt. & Adjt. H.N. Tanner, Lt. Harrison, M.O., Lt. A.S. Ashton. Other results: killed 42, wounded 59, missing 35. 2nd Lt. A.T. Morse joined today. |
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
|---|---|
| 4 Jun 1891 in Ludlow, Shrops | 25 Jul 1891 in Knowle, Bristol |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| Surgeon-Major George Henry & Suzanna O'Callaghan | Minto House, Newquay |
| Schools | Colleges |
| Cheltenham College | Trinity College, Oxford |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1891 - Castle Square House, Ludlow | 1900 - Scholar at Cheltenham College |
| 1901 - Cheltenham College, Cheltenham | 1911 - Forestry Student at Trinity College |
| 1911 - Minto House, East Pentire, Newquay | 1912 - Games Master, King Edward School |
| 1915 - 1911 - Minto House, East Pentire, Newquay | 1914 - Army Officer |
- KEVI School Obituary page
- Photograph courtesy of KEVI School