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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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 The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Sergeant Z/818 Innes William BONHAM - 7th Battalion, Rifle Brigade

1s
Killed in Action on Tuesday 10th April 1917 aged 27

grave for i bonham


Military History

     
Theatre of War Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals Tigris Lane Cemetery, Wancourt
     
Arrived in Theatre Medal Citation (if app) SWFHS Area Memorials
13 Aug 1915 in France ~ Cubbington
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed Date and Place Enlisted Other War Memorials
First Battle of the Scarpe (Arras) August 1914 at Rugby  
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units  
near Wancourt    
     

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

Innes is listed as being killed in action on 10 April 1917 and the war diary for the 9th and 10th is transcribed below as the operations on both days overlapped.

War Diary 9 Apr 1917

BATTLE of ARRAS

9 [April 1917]: Zero was at 5.30am – The attack of the XIV Light Division Command at 7.30am.

1st Objective the Harp defenses due S of Tilloy – 2nd & final objective the Feuchy Line running roughly N&S some 800 yds E of Wancourt and about 5000 yards from the starting line.

The 42nd and 43rd Infantry Brigades attacked. The 41st Infantry Brigade was kept in Divisional Reserve. At 7.30am the 41st I Bde left the caves and assembled in the original British lines FE Sector this Battalion on the left the 7 KRRC on the right & the two 8th Bns in rear.

At noon the Brigade moved in the same order into the German lines opposite where it spent the night. Very little enemy shelling & by the evening the 43rd Bde was reported to be slowly getting a footing in the final objective. END

War Diary 10 Apr 1917

1917 April 10th: at noon the Brigade moved in the same order towards the Feuchy line. The battalion in artillery formation D Coy on the left, C on the right, the Bn was on roughly a Company frontage. The HQ’s party followed and in rear A & B Coys followed the same formation. After a halt for a meal the battalion reassembled for the final advance and on to the final objective which had not been and entirely made good. Its orders were to relieve the 43rd Infantry Brigade and if circumstances favourable to push on beyond the Feuchy line. At this time 2 cavalry brigades came up on the left and the final move was made in conjunction with the cavalry in a heavy snowstorm which blew into the face of the enemy and to a certain ? Screened our movements.

A considerable enemy artillery barrage and heavy machine gun fire from Wancourt and the ridge behind it caused some casualties. The cavalry advance was checked by wire in front of the objective. The 43rd infantry brigade withdrew as the battalion took over this position. The cavalry did the same after dark having suffered heavily and the situation remained stationary for the time. END


 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
Apr Qtr 1896 at Cubbington  
   
Parents Names Abode
John Henry and Mercy Bonham New Street, Cubbington
   
Schools Colleges
Cubbington School ~
   
Address History Employment History
1896 - Cubbington 1911 - Assisting in family Dairy business
1901 - Cubbington  
1911 - New Street, Cubbington  
1917 - New Street, Cubbington