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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


Private 19737 Frank FERRIS - 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment


Killed in Action Wednesday 16th June 1915 aged 19


Military History

   
Theatre of WarMedalsCommonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial 
     
Arrived in TheatreMedal Citation (if app)SWFHS Area Memorials
5 May 1915 in France ~ Umberslade Baptist Church
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason KilledDate and Place Enlisted Other War Memorials
The Second Battle of Ypres  in Birmingham Shirley, Solihull War Memorial
     
Place of DeathPrevious Regiments or Units 
near Hooge, Ypres ~  
     

Circumstances of Death

Frank is listed as being killed in action on 16 Jun 1915 during actions near Hooge, Ypres. The 1st Battalion war diary for the period 15th to 17th June is transcribed below.

15th June to 11am 16th June

Near Ypres – June 15th 1915: Marched to assembly trenches on Menin Road west of Hooge, arrived in position about 11.45pm

West of Hooge – June 16th 1915: 2.50am Our artillery commenced bombardment on German trenches situated between Roulers Railway & southern end of Y Wood.

4.15am: Artillery lengthened range and 9th Brigade assaulted first line of German Trenches.

4.20am: The 9th Brigade had carried the first line of German trenches & 1 platoon of Coy assaulted trench at south end of Y Wood which was taken without difficulty. A bombing party started to work up the enemies trench in the direction of Hooge and made rapid progress. The remainder of C Coy + D Coy followed up.

5.00am: The leading men reached a point some 100 yards from Hooge village, meanwhile a communication trench was dug from Culvert under Menin Road to southern end of Y Wood & endeavours made to join up two pieces of German trench running east towards Hooge. Until 6am the situation remained unchanged.

6.00am: More progress towards Hooge was made, a point within 50 yard of the village being reached in the German trench. Between 6am & 9am the situation remained unchanged. Work of barricading & ? the parapets was continued.

9.00am: The Germans advanced down two communication trenches from the north and under the cover of a heavy fire started bombing heavily. We replied with grenades, this exchange lasted about 1½ hours.

10.30am: Our supply of grenades became exhausted and the German’s succeeded in driving us slowly back down the trench. In retiring we suffered heavy casualties during the period of the action.

11.00am: We evacuated the eastern portion of the German trench. We retired in the open & lost a considerable number of men in doing so. A counter charge was organised about this time to check the enemy’s advance but without success, as the officer and many men were shot down & the remainder made no progress.




 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/PlaceBaptism Date/Place
Jan Qtr 1896 in Hockley Heath 18 Nov 1896 at Hockley Heath
   
Parents NamesAbode
James and Elizabeth Ferris Marshall Lake Road, Shirley 
   
SchoolsColleges
  ~
   
Address HistoryEmployment History
1896 - Hockley Heath 1901 - Hay thresher
1901 - Spring Lane, Hockley Heath 1911 - Servant (Page)
1911 - Oak Lodge, Hockley Heath  
1915 - Marshall Lake Road, Shirley