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 | Campaign Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France & Flanders | British War & Victory Medals | Thiepval Memorial |
| Arrived in Theatre | Bravery & Conduct Medals | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| After 1st January 1916 in France | ~ | Leamington Spa War Memorial |
| Leamington All Saints Memorial | ||
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Died | Date and Place Enlisted | Leamington St. John's Memorial |
| Battle of the Somme (Bazentin) | December 1914 in Leamington Spa | |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | Other War Memorials |
| La Boisselle | Royal Horse Artillery | |
Circumstances of Death
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John is listed as being killed in action on 14 Jul 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. The 1st/7th Battalion war diary entries for the period 13th to 15th July are transcribed below. Bouzincourt 13-7-1916: Fine & warm at 1.30pm Battn moved by motor lorries to just outside Bouzincourt from there we moved in fighting order to Albert where lay down in a field until midnight having had orders thast the Bttn would attack NE of La Boisselle at 7.30am NE of La Boisselle 14-7-1916: Moved into position in trenches and were heavily shelled going into La Boisselle. At 7.30am, after artillery preparation A&B Coys [including Roland] proceeded to assault. They reached their objective. Many casualties resulted chiefly from machine guns the following officers being killed 2nd/Lt Bullock and the following attached officers of the 3rd Dorset Regiment - 2nd Lt Jones, 2nd Lt Baker and 2nd Lt Forman. We held the trench for 7 hours when we had to evacuate it on account of the enemy's extremely heavy enfilade fire both shell and machine guns. Lieut Col Knox who led the attack and had shown the greatest bravery thoughout was wounded later. Major Hanson them took command of the Bttn. Our casualties estimated at 150 of whom 68 were reported killed. [Reginald's name then appears in an appendix listing all those killed and wounded during the attack.]Albert - 15-7-1916: Battalion bivoucked in a field near Albert |
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
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| Oct Qtr 1895 in Leamington Spa | 13 Nov 1895 at Leamington Spa, St John's |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| James and Emma Drake | 16 Grove Place, Leamington Spa |
| Schools | Colleges |
| ~ | |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1895 - 16 Grove Place, Leamington Spa | 1911 - Errand Boy |
| 1901 - 16 Grove Place, Leamington Spa | |
| 1911 - 16 Grove Place, Leamington Spa | |
| 1915 - 16 Grove Place, Leamington Spa | |
