Military History

Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders	British War & Victory Medals	Tyne Cot Memorial
Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
After March 1916	~	Tysoe & Compton Wyngates
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Attested	Date Mobilized
Battle of the Menin Road Ridge	Feb 1916 at Chester	~
Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units
west of Zonnebeke	~

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

On the 20th September 1917 the battalion was ordered to attack and capture two objectives, the first a line running from Iberian Farm to Zonnebeke (blue markers) and the second a line running north and south from Delva Farm (red markers). The line of attack was due east and along the banks of the Zonnebeke (Canal).

The first lines formed up and advanced from Pommern Castle and got close under the barrage following by the rear lines. Almost immediately on leaving the assembley position the battalion suffered casualties from Machine Guns at Kaynorth, Iberian Farm and Hill 35. The ground was literally a mass of shell holes and got worse as progress was made. This caused the lines to get mixed up.

The first waves were held up by the Strong Points at Iberian Farm and Kaynorth which comprised a number of reinforced concrete dugouts. The supporting waved were pushed on and reinforced. The Platoons detailed to take the Strong Points failed on account of heavy cross machine gun fire. On account of its being on high ground the most bitter fighting was round Iberian Farm. Several Gallant attempts to rush the Point failed. It was finally stormed at 6.45am with the assistance of Machine Guns, Lewis Guns, Rifle Grenades and Bombs. Kaynorth was captured about the same time with the assistance of the South Africans on the right flank.

At 7.00am the first objective was captured and the second at 8.,30am. Two strongpoints were then constructed, one at Delva Farm and the other between Delva Farm and the Zonnebeeke. The rest of the day was spent consolidating the gains in anticipation of a counter attack that never materialised.

John was killed at some stage during these actions.