Military History

Clement is listed as dying of his wounds on 11 Feb 1917. A report in the Warwick Advertiser and medical notes in his service record reveal that:

On 9 Feb 1917 the 5th Brigade Australian Field Artillery were in the lines at Martinpuich and were under constant shellfire when Clement was wounded in the abdomen, legs and arms at which time he was admitted to 5th Australian Field Ambualance On 10 Feb 1917 he was transferred and admitted to the 11th Stationary Hospital at Rouen by which time the wounds had become badly infected. Clement died there from those wounds at 1am on the 11th Feb 1917. 

The war diary entries for the 5th Brigade, Australian Field Artillery for the 8th and 9th February are transcribed below:

8.2.17 - Martinpuich: During the night Lufont Wood, Loos Cut and various tracks etc were subjected to bursts of fire. Martinpuich, Le Sars and Destremont Farm shelled by 15cm Howitzers during the day. Enemy planes active.

9.2.17 - Martinpuich: Usual enemy approaches, Headquarters etc were kept under fire. Considerable movement noticed and engaged. END

Military History

George is listed as dying of wounds on 16th August 1918 having been wounded on 10th August 1918. He was buried in Etretat Cemetery which was used for burials by the 1st General Hospital.

The war diary does not give any information about casualties. It shows that on 10th August the 82nd Brigade were Headquartered at map reference 62d.j.18.d.0.1 which was SW of Moylancourt and they were taking part in the Battle of Amiens. The diary states:

J.18.d.0.1 - Aug 10: By Aug 10 the batteries of the 82nd Brigade were in position in the valley south of Moylancourt, A,B & C [Batteries] in K.15.a [directly south of Moylancourt and D in K.8.d. [SSW of Moylancourt]. END

Military History

Alfred is listed as being killed in action on 25 Jul 1916. The 1st/7th Battalion war diary entry for the 25 Jul 1916 is transcribed below:

Trenches [near Pozieres] 25/7/16: At 2.0am on the 25th, owing to a bombing attack on our left the Germans put up a very heavy barrage on our trenches which prevented our Company from coming up in time to make the attack before daylight so the scheme had to be abandoned. 2^nd Lt Loveitt was killed by rifle fire whilst reconnoitring the ground in front preparatory to the attack.

During the whole of this tour from the 22/7/16 to the 27/7/16 Major Hanson was most conspicuous by the way in which he was always at the front organising and leading attacks and bombing raids.

At about 9am on this day after a short bombardment of the strong post by the Stokes Mortars we endeavoured to bomb up the trench but owing to the Germans heavy bombing etc we were unable to get past their barricade.

About 1.0pm the attack was organised & two Stokes guns were ordered to fire on the point for 5 minutes, bombing parties were to approach as near as possible undercover of the Stokes gunfire and we're then to rush the trench. Unfortunately for some reason (it is thought owing to the guns sinking in the soft ground) the Stokes bombs all fell short and killed about seven of our men and wounding about 10. Naturally this disorganised the bombing parties and all the men were very shaken.

Early in the evening D Coy relieved A Coy who then went to La Boissel. At about 8.0pm we had orders from Bdge to attack the strong point over the open and take it at all costs. Casualties for this day amounted to approximately 18 killed [including Enoch], 27 wounded and 22 missing.

Military History

Frederick died of dysentery (death certificate) on 29th June 1916 at the No 2 Rawal Pindi British General Hospital, Amara. The following newspaper obituary reports on his death.

Stratford Herald Friday 14th July 1916
SUCCUMBED TO DISEASE PRIVATE F. W. HODGKINS

Mrs. Arthur Bliss of Victoria Terrace, Shakespeare Street, has just received from the Infantry Record Office, Warwick a notification of the death of Private F. W. Hodgkins who succumbed to disease on June 19th.

Private Hodgkins was a native of Stratford and for nine years served in the capacity of porter to Dr. Norbury and Dr. Fox. He joined the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in November of last year and after completing his training in the Isle of Wight was drafted to Mesopotamia. On Wednesday afternoon the first post card
dated June 7th was received from him since he landed and on this he stated that he was quite well. Lance Corporal Arthur Bliss, his step-brother is now serving with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in France having left this country in May.