Sergeant Bernard Reginald SHEIL DCM

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Sergeant 305148 Bernard Reginald SHEIL DCM - 1st/8th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Killed in Action on Saturday 1st July, 1916 aged 26

Military History


Theatre of War	Campaign Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders	1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals	Serre Road Cemetery No 2

Arrived in Theatre	Bravery & Conduct Medals	SWFHS Area Memorials
23 March 1915 in Havre, France	Distinguished Conduct Medal (Gazette)	Leamington Spa War Memorial
		Leamington All Saints Memorial
Action, Battle or Other Reason Died	Date and Place Enlisted
Battle of Albert (Somme)	1913/14 in Wa	Other War Memorials
		Birmingham Education Committee WW1
Place of Death	Original Service (1977) No / Enlistment Date	Saltley St Peters College Memorial
Beaumont Hamel	1709 issued on the 16th January 1913	Saltley, St Saviour's Memorial
	2196 issued on the 16th April 1914

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Citation: "No 1677 Private R. B. Sheil (now Corporal) A Company 1/8th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment for great courage and resource in seizing and taking a prisoner in one of the enemy's listening patrol about 2am on 18-19th April"

The Leamington Courier reported that on April 19th 1915 Bernard and a comrade, Private Rainsford, were on duty at a listening post in the advanced trenches when they observed two members of a Bavarian regiment come out of their cover evidently bent on a scouting mission, and Bernard and Pte Rainsford resolved in a daring plan to capture them. They rushed at them at close quarters but the one Bavarian shot Rainsford dead. Sheil's old Rugby experience however stood him in good stead and he rushed upon this man, collared him before he had time to use his revolver and taking the weapon off him, marched him into the Warwickshire Territorials lines.

Circumstances of Death

Bernard is listed as being killed in action on 1 July 1916, having originally being reported as missing in action. The 1st/8th Battalion war diary entry for that day is transcribed below.

The Sucerie in Front of Mailly-Maillet – 1 July 1916 – Attack on Beaumont Hamel:

Morning 1st July 1916

2.00am: Battalion reported present in forming up trenches

4.30am to 7.00am: Reported that everyone had a good breakfast. Artillery bombardment was intense and not a lot of retaliation from Bosch. Artillery increased in intensity & enemy replying with Field Guns and 15cm.

7.00am: Very intense artillery on both sides

7.25am: Enemy machine guns opened all along line. Three minutes later our troops are lying on parapet ready to advance.

7.30am: Advance begins, enemy first line reached and passed very quickly as also was the second. Only in one or two cases were any enemy seen in these two lines. Having plenty of casualties from machine gun fire in enemy third and fourth lines. At the third line men were temporarily held up by machine gun fire but took it by rushers.

From this point the fighting was all with bombs along trenches. We reached our objective probably 35-40 minutes from Zero hour (7.30am) & at once commenced consolidating & cleaning rifles under the directions of Capt. Martin & 2/Lt Turner. By this time the rest of the Battalion was arriving but had had so many casualties that they could not go through us so helped consolidate. This happened with all Battalions following us. Many times we were bombed from this position and regained it until bombs ran out.

We had to retire to the 3^rd line, line the parapet & hold on with machine [gun] and rifle fire. Parties were detailed to collect as many bombs as could be found (both English & German) & when we had a good store we again reached our objective. No supply of bombs were coming from rear so could not hold on & retired again. Enemy machine guns & snipers were doing a great amount of damage all the while. Enemy artillery opened but fortunately their range was over.

Afternoon/Evening 1st July 1916

7.30pm: Held onto this position until relieved by a Battalion from the rear. All through the action no troops were seen on our right or left. This has a great deal to do with the inability to push past our objective.

11pm: Arrived at Mailly-Maillet & were put into billets.

Mailly-Maillet – July 2^nd: Resting except for Roll Call.

Casualties arrived at from Roll Call:

Officers Killed: Lt Col C.A. Dixon; Major A.A. Leadrich; Capt S.W. Ludlow; Lt’s Hoskins, Fussell & Proctor; 2^nd Lt’s Mareham & Key.

Officers Wounded 12; Wounded & Missing 1, Wounded & Prisoner of War 1.

Other Ranks: Killed 57; Wounded 255 and Missing 251

Total Casualties were 585.

Personal & Family History

Birth Date/Place	Baptism Date/Place
Oct Qtr 1889 in Leamington Spa	11 Dec 1889 at Leamington, St John's

Parents Names	Abode
James Frederick and Sydonia Sheil	17 Campion Terrace, Leamington Spa

Schools	Colleges
Shrubland Street, School	~

Address History	Employment History
1889 - 125 Shurbland Street, Leamington Spa	1901 - School age
1891 - 125 Shurbland Street, Leamington Spa	1911 - Class teacher at Shrubland Street School
1901 - 125 Shurbland Street, Leamington Spa	1914 - Teacher at St. Peter's College, Saltley
1911 - 17 Campion Terrace, Leamington Spa
1916 - 17 Campion Terrace, Leamington Spa

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