Military History

Henry died of Fatty Degeneration of the Heart on Christmas Day 1914. We do not know if Henry died at a medical facility but his Register of effects say that he died in La Couture. His original burial place was clearly lost as he his remembered on the La Touret Memorial

Military History

According to his death certificate Ernest died of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Bishops Itchington on Saturday 3rd January 1920. He had been transferred into the Labour on 8 Mar 1918 due to his suffering from Tuberculosis and was demobilised on 24 Feb 1919.

We have not been able to locate Ernest's grave and he is not listed on the CWGC website.

Military History

Edgar is listed as being killed in action on 25th September 1915. The 10th Battalion war diary entry for the 25th September is transcribed below.

Trenches - 25 Sep 1915: The Battalion was ordered to deliver an assault on the first line system of German defences, which included three lines of entrenchments with the primary objective Hulluch and Puits No 14 B.15. The assault was carried out in 3 lines, frontage being Bois Carree inclusive to Point 39 in G.17.d. The attack was delivered at 6.30am on 25/9/1915 with the accompaniment of gas and smoke. The wind was not quite favourable with the result that from the start several men were affected. Notwithstanding this drawback the three lines moved forward punctually to the moment machine guns accompanying.

The German wire entanglement which had been torn into gaps by bombardment proved a considerable obstacle. The wind proving more favourable to the enemy than ourselves, in the smoke direction was not properly maintained but deflected to the right. Heavy resistance was encountered at the support and reserve German works. At the first. At the first the enemy eventually evacuating these positions and retreating towards Hulluch.

Our bombers suffered severely, their bombs in the main refusing to explode, the Brock lighter having got wet with the rain, which fell in the early morning. Nevertheless the assault was pushed home with the utmost resolution over the 2^nd German line into the third and up the flanking communication trenches to eastwards. In this phrase the Camerons and Black Watch co-operated .

The officers fell as the position of their bodies showed, leading their men, and 16 out of 21 officers were lost. The bodies of our dead indicated how they died with their faces to the enemy. One of our machine guns was put out of action on coming over the parapet, but two other guns reached a point in advance of Point 89, constructed later.

The action resulted in many German surrenders, and their flight from the position they were forced to evacuate by the rapid and continuous push of the assault. During night, under heavy rain, unit was reformed, some 60 survivors assembling, increased by 3^rd day to 130.

Military History

Edward is listed as being killed in action on 8th May 1915 during the Second Battle of Krithia. The Auckland Battalion war diary entries for the period 7th to 9th May are trancribed below.

Cape Helles – 7 May 1915 – 1pm: Moved from reserve to occupy position on left flank in 2^nd line in front of Krithia

7pm: Entrenched in reserve trenches

8.30pm: Orders to move to 2^nd line of trenches

Cape Helles - 8 May 1915 – 8am: Orders that the Battalion would move forward to the front line of trenches at 10.30am. Wellington Battalion on left, Canterbury on right, Otago in reserve.

The 3^rd Coy and 6^th Coy moved forward followed by 15^th Coy and 16^th Coy under heavy fire. The Battalion advanced within 800 yards of enemy’s trenches being engaged.

5pm: Meanwhile orders received that there would be a general advance at 5.30pm. Bayonets were fixed and punctually at 5.30pm the Battalion was ordered to charge.

Lt Col Plugge leading the Battalion which was exposed to heavy machine gun and rifle fire and casualties were consequently heavy.

Casualties among officers: Killed 2/Lt’s Steadman, Screaton, Carpenter, Morgan and Reid. Wounded Lt Col Plugge (2^nd time), Major Harrowell, Major Dawson, Capt Craig, Capt Bartlett, Lt’s West, MacFarlane, Weir & Fletcher.

Other Ranks: Killed 24, Wounded 177, Missing 20.

The Battalion was unable to hold the ground gained and had to retire to the trenches. Strength 5 Officers and 264 other ranks.

Cape Helles 9 May 1915: The Battalion was ordered back to the 2^nd line to reorganise. Reinforcements posted to Battalion.