Gibson, James. Died 7th Aug 1915

Corporal James Gibson. R/73.

James was born to John & Adelaide in July 1892 in Northampton one of 4 children. Between 1901 & 1911 his family moved to Hunter Street Rugby his father was a stonemason.

He became an apprentice at BTH and completed it in May 1913.

He joined the Kings Royal Rifle Corps on the 2 September 1914 on a 3 year short service attestation and was assigned to the 2^nd Battalion and later the 7^th.

He died on the 7 August 1915 of war wounds at ‘The Action of Hooge’ at Flanders and is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory Medal & British War Medal.

At the age of 23 he was one of 12,840 men who lost their lives at the battle.

 

RUGBY REMEMBERS HIM

 

 

Watts, Albert Edward Joseph. Died 30th Jul 1915

Albert Edward Joseph Watts, was born in Swinford, Leicestershire on 17th Oct 1893, the son of Albert Edward Watts and his wife Annie Elizabeth (nee Bailey). Albert senior was born in Newbold and worked as a railway engine stoker on the L & N W railway.

In 1901 the family were living in Old Station Square, Rugby and by 1911 had moved to 38 Dale Street. By this time Albert junior was working as a core maker in an Iron Foundry. At the age of 17 he was the eldest of five children, all boys. The family subsequently moved to 2 Worcester Street, Rugby.

Albert enlisted as a Private in the 7th Battalion of The King’s Royal Rifle Regiment, No. R/1607. He must have enlisted at a similar time to Rifleman Herbert Smith, regimental number R/1621. They both went out to France.

He had been promoted to Lance Corporal before he was killed in action at the Battle of Hooge on 30 July 1915. (See more information about the Battle of Hooge Crater, on Rugby Remembers)

The Rugby Advertiser of 14^th August 1915 reported:

LANCE-CORPL A E WATTS REPORTED MISSING.

 Amongst the men of the King’s Royal Rifles from Rugby and district who have recently been killed in action or are missing, it is feared must be included the name of Lance-Corpl Bert Watts, whose parents live at 2 Worcester Street, Rugby. The first intimation that Lance-Corpl Watts was missing came from his “ pal,” Rifleman Alf Potter, whose home is in Victoria Avenue, New Bilton. The following is an extract from the letter to Mrs Watts:—” We went to the trenches the other night, and towards evening some bombardment started, and both sides had a very hot time of it. Everything went all right till the evening. I saw Bert, and we had a chat together. There was going to be an attack, so we had to leave one another, and both of us wished the other the best of luck. There was a charge made, and Bert was seen to fall and many others. In the evening we were released from the trenches and we had a lot of chaps either killed, wounded or missing. I enquired who they were, and was told Bert was one of them. You can guess how I felt when I heard this—absolutely down-hearted. Of course, we did not give him up, for he might have crawled out of the firing line, and perhaps be picked up by somebody and taken to some hospital. We are staying at a rest camp now, and all the hospitals round about have been visited to see who could be found, but nothing has been heard of Bert, so it does not seem as if there is any hope of him.” Up to the time he enlisted Lance-Corpl Watts was employed as a coremaker at Messrs Willans & Robinson’s Works. He was a footballer and popular amongst his workmates. He has two brothers in the Army, one being at the front in the Royal Field Artillery.

Albert was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Albert has no known grave but is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Panel 51 and 53.  He is also remembered on the Rugby Memorial Gate.

 

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Tomlinson, William. Died 30 Jul 1915

WILLIAM TOMLINSON

William Tomlinson was born at Hyson Green in Nottingham in 1891. He was the youngest child of the 7 living children of Henry, a Lacemaker, and Harriet Tomlinson. In 1911 he was working as a Carriage Hand in a Lace Factory in Nottingham.

On 28 December that year he moved with his parents to 20 James Street Rugby as his elder brother Ernest’s wife had committed suicide by drowning in the Brownsover canal leaving 15 month old baby Jim to be looked after.

William then worked in the Pattern Shop at the BTH Rugby. He was 5’6″ tall and 35 days short of his 23rd birthday when he and his elder brother Ernest enlisted with the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 7th Battalion on 3 September 1914 and were posted to Aldershot on 5 September.

On 19 May 1915 they landed at Boulogne and fought in France and Flanders. The British Infantry had captured Hooge on 19 July but on 30 July the Germans used their new flame throwers and reclaimed their positions.

William R/79 a Rifleman was shot and killed on 31 July 1915 and his brother Ernest was shot in the head & badly injured at the same time.

William was awarded the British Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Photo of William Tomlinson in February 1914.

 

RUGBY REMEMBERS HIM

Smith, Herbert. Died 30th Jul 1915

 Herbert Smith died 30 July 1915

Herbert Smith’s birth was registered in April 1894 in Rugby.  His parents were Edwin and Elizabeth Ellen Smith, née Mawby, who were married in 1885.

Herbert had two older siblings, William and Mabel Nellie.

In 1901 the family were living at 21 Rokeby Street, Rugby. Herbert’s father was an Engine Driver with the L & N-W Railway.

In 1911 the family were living at 186 Oxford Street. His father was still working at the L & N-W Railway and Herbert, aged 17, was a newsagent’s assistant.

By the time war broke out Herbert was employed in the wagon department on the railway. He was a teacher in the Sunday School and member of the Bible Class at the Wesleyan Church in Cambridge Street. The Rugby Advertiser reported that he was the third young man from the Church to give his life in the war.

Herbert enlisted as a Private in the 7^th Battalion of The King’s Royal Rifle Regiment, regimental number R/1621 and he went out to France.

Rifleman Herbert Smith was killed in action at the Battle of Hooge on 30 July 1915. (See more information about the Battle of Hooge Crater, on Rugby Remembers)

He was awarded the Victory, British and 1915 Star Medals.

Herbert has no known grave but is commemorated with honour on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, on Panels 51 and 53, and on the Memorial Gate at Rugby.

 

RUGBY REMEMBERS HIM

Preston, John Henry. Died 30th Jul 1915

Rifleman John Henry Preston died 30 July 1915

John Henry Preston’s birth was registered in the fourth quarter of 1883 in Rugby. He was the son of George William Preston and Zillah Taylor.

In 1901, John Henry was aged 17 and a House Painter living with his family in 68 South Street, Rugby.   In 1911 he was still with the family but now at 97 Wood Street, Rugby. He was still a house painter.

On 2 September 1914 he enlisted in the 7^th Battalion of The King’s Royal Rifle Corps and his regimental number was R/78.

He was killed in action, aged 31, at the Battle of Hooge Crater on 30 July 1915. (See more information about the Battle of Hooge Crater, on Rugby Remembers)

The Rugby Advertiser reported John Henry Preston’s death as follows:

“A note was received by Mr G W Preston of 97 Wood Street Rugby on Thursday morning that his son, Rifleman John Henry Preston, of the King’s Royal Rifles, had been killed in action. The message came from the Captain of the Company to which deceased belonged, and briefly stated that he was killed on July 30^th. It has not yet been officially confirmed.

Previous to enlisting, on September 2^nd last year, Rifleman Preston was employed as a painter at the BTH Works. He went over to France in May last. He was a native of Rugby and as a boy attended Murray School. For some time he worked as a painter for Mr F G Rainbow (his brother in law) and about four years ago transferred his services to the BTH Co. In the past few months he had had a number of very narrow escapes. The shell by which Rifleman Fiddler was killed threw him a distance of five yards, and he was quite close to Rifleman Benford when the latter received his fatal wounds. Rifleman Preston’s relatives have regularly kept him supplied with food and delicacies, a parcel being dispatched as recently as Wednesday – the day before the news of his regrettable death was received.”

John Henry Preston is remembered on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial, Panel 51 and 53 and on the Rugby Memorial Gate.

 

RUGBY REMEMBERS HIM

 

 

Pee, Frederick. Died 30th Jul 1915

FREDERIC PEE

Frederic is my husbands 1^st cousin

He was born on 15^th December 1895 at 15 Rossetter Gardens Flood Street South Chelsea London his father it says on his birth certificate was William Henry Pee and his mother Annie Elizabeth Pee formerly Andrews.

Frederick or should I say Frederic as his birth certificate says was registered 1896 Q1 Chelsea, he was the 4^th child of William Edward or William Henry Pee and Anne Elizabeth Andrews, sometimes called Andrew, although his father appeared on his birth certificate it was always a saying in the family that Eric Pike was his father but that’s another story.

Frederic in 1901 census was living as Fred Allen age 5 with his mother Elizabeth Allen age 26 and 4 siblings at 391 Spoilbank Rugby; we still don’t know why the family called themselves Allen. No father in the household.

Frederic in 1911 age 14 he was Frederick Branston and a paper deliverer for Whymans newsagents and living 391 Clifton Road Rugby with his step father Henry Branston his mother Elizabeth and 4 siblings, his mother Elizabeth had married Henry Branston 6 months earlier.

He was Frederick Pee when he “joined up” on 8th September 1914 and his regimental number given was S2152 in the 8^th Battalion Rifle Brigade. He was 19 years and 30 days old and his trade was Press hand he was 5ft 6 inches tall he weighed 115 lbs his chest expansion was 34 inches and his range of expansion was 2 inches.

Our Frederick was not a perfect soldier on 6^th December 1914 Frederick was at Grayshott and was late “falling in” on Church Parade, punishment was 3 days CB i.e. Confined to Barracks name of witness was Company Quarter master sergeant Jackson, punishment was awarded by the Captain, he again committed an offence on 8^th December 1914 while at Grayshott his offence was making an improper reply to an NCO i.e. None Commissioned Officer   witnessed by Corporal Belbow and Sergeant Browning, and again on February 14^th 1915 our Frederick was absent from midnight on 14^th February his punishment was 4 days CB i.e. Confined to Barracks and on 26^th February 1915 —-? Illegible rank his punishment was 2 days no pay.

His Medal card tells us he was awarded the Victory, British and 15 Star Medals.

His mother Elizabeth Branston signed for the 15 Star Medal on 15^th March 1919 and signed for Victory medal on 10^th August 1919 it also confirms British Star Medal was despatched to Mrs E Branston of 19 Houston Road Rugby on 16^th February 1921.

His military history tells us his entitlement went from 7^th September 1914 to 19^th May 1915 and looks like 253 days he got another 72 days entitlement from 20^th May 1915 to 30 July 1915 he was reported missing or killed in action on 30^th July 1915.

He was in France on 20th May 1915.

“Rugby Advertiser on 25^th March 1916 says Rugby Soldier reported killed, Rifleman F Pee age 19 who has been missing since July 30^th, has now been reported killed in action on that date. His home was at 391 Clifton Road rugby and before war broke out he worked in the machine shop at the B.T.H. He enlisted in the Rifle Brigade the beginning of September 1914 and went to France the following May.   He was in the liquid fire attack at Hooge on the 30^th July and was not seen afterwards. His name has been put on the Hooge Memorial”

Hooge is in Flanders Belgium on the road from Ypres to Menin, and is mentioned as the Hooge Crater, a private award winning museum has been set up in Hooge their website is http://www.hoogecrater.com

In May 1919 Statement of names and address of all the relatives of Private Frederick Pee gives his mother Elizabeth Branston age 46 and his brother John William Pee age 26 both living 19 Houston Road Rugby his married sister Ellen Elizabeth Montgomery age 28 living at 32 Sandown Road Rugby and his other sister Florence Pee age 25 living 19 Houston Road Rugby.

17^th September 1919 Memorandum effects form 118a from the Officer in charge Infantry Winchester to the War Office Imperial Institute South Kensington London SW7 says that any article of personal property now in the possession of Mrs Elizabeth Branston of 32 Sandown Road Rugby it also adds any medals granted to the deceased that are now in your possession or that may hereafter reach you should be disposed of to Mother and it is signed by C Harris Assistant Financial Secretary.

Frederick Pee S/2152 8^th Bn Rifle Brigade who died on 30^th July 1915 is remembered with honour on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

 

Rachel Andrews

 

RUGBY REMEMBERS HIM

Jenkins, James Henry. Died 30th Jul 1915

James Henry SIMS a.k.a. JENKINS, died 30 July 1915

James ‘Jenkins’ is recorded on the Rugby Memorial Gates as JENKINS J. S., and proved very difficult to identify. His story will explain why.

James was born in about January 1895, in the town of ‘Mexico’, in the United States as James SIMS.   Mexico is a town in the northeast part of Oswego County, New York state.

His mother Louisa Margaretta Evans, was born in Swansea in 1870, the daughter of William and Louisa Evans, and she was 10 months old and living in Swansea for the 1871 census. Her marriage to James’s father, William James Sims, was registered in the Swansea registration district in the first quarter of 1892.

Very little census information is available, and it seems likely that the family spent much of their time abroad, seeing that James was born in the USA.

At some date James came to Rugby and the BTH records show that he was employed as a ‘winder’.

Fortunately James’s Service File has survived in The National Archives ‘Burnt Records’, although some sections are not legible or are now missing. It is these that have helped ‘reunite him with his name and family’ and provided the evidence of his birth in America.

Just before the war, James had been an apprentice and his Attestation noted that his ‘leave to enlist expires August 1916’. When he joined up he was 5ft. 9⅓in. tall, weighed 131lbs., and had blue eyes and brown hair.

James enlisted at Rugby for three years on 31 August 1914, as Private No. A/3456, in the 8^th Battalion of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. He was 19 years and 216 days old and was posted to his unit on 3 September 1914.

After 216 days ‘Home Service’, during which time he would have been at the Winchester Depot and elsewhere undergoing training, he went out to France on 19 May 1915, landing at Boulogne.

He was ‘killed in action – in the field’, 73 days later, during the Battle of Hooge Crater on 30 July 1915.

(For more background to his training and more detailed information on the Battle of Hooge Crater, see the separate article on ‘Rugby Remembers’)

James was awarded the 1914-15 Star – received by his mother on 25 March 1920; the British War Medal – received on 2 February 1921; and the Victory Medal – received on 18 May 1921.

James Henry SIMS has no known grave but is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Panels 51 and 53.  The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record noted that he was the ‘Son of Mrs. Louisa Margaretta Sims’.

However, there is no record of a James Sims on the Rugby Memorial Gates. It seems that his father had died, and his mother had ‘remarried’ although, again, there appear to be no formal records, and quite possibly, his death and her remarriage were actually both abroad.

The details provided in the Service Records for the return of James’s effects, on 6 March 1916, now gave his mother’s name as Mrs. Louisa M S Jenkins’ and her address as ‘16 Hallbrook Place [probably Holbrook Avenue], Rugby’. His effects included: ‘Correspondence, Photos, Photo no Case, Diary, Note Book, Religious Books.’

His Service Records include documents detailing his next of kin, to allow payment of outstanding back pay and gratuities. The form was postmarked Winchester, and then ‘Rugby Station’ on 12 May 1919, but the return was not signed by his mother until ‘23 July’ – the year being burnt, but presumably 1919. His father, Henry James Sims was recorded as deceased.   His mother had moved house and was now recorded as Louisa Margretta Jenkins of 49 Manor Road, Rugby. There were two younger brothers, ‘of the full blood’, named in the army records: William Frederick Albert Sims, and George Stanley Sims, then aged 21 and 18 respectively, suggesting births in about 1898 and 1900.

There were also three children who were ‘of the half blood’: William ?Freeon? Jenkins, then 14, having been born in about 1905; and two girls: Daisy and Mabel Jenkins, then aged 12 and 10 born later.

The names and ages would suggest that James’s father died sometime about 1900, and his mother remarried [or commenced a relationship] with a Mr. Jenkins by about 1904.

The first payment of James’s financial effects, on 26 February 1916, was to’ Mrs Louisa Margaretta Sims Jenkins’, who received £4-13-9d. James’s two brothers received payments of £1-3-6d each. His mother received a further £3 on 5 September 1919.

It was no doubt his mother’s new surname that caused the confusion and use of the Jenkins surname for James on the Memorial Gate, and in the BTH Memorial Book.

The BTH Memorial Book records ‘Jenkins J H S – Winding Dept., Rugby – Rifleman – King’s Royal Rifles – 3456 – killed 30 July 1915’ as serving. He is then recorded in the Roll of Honour as ‘Jenkins H S’ with exactly the same details.

However, the list of names on the BTH War Memorial as reported in the Rugby Advertiser, on 4 November 1921, included him as ‘SIMS James H’.

A ‘SIMS W F A’ is also recorded as ‘serving’ and was also in the BTH ‘Winding Department’ at Rugby.   He was a ‘signalman’ in the Royal Naval Division, No. BZ 2304. This would have been James’s brother, William Frederick A Sims, who seems to have retained his original surname – no doubt as he was available to correct matters.

The list of BTH casualties also included a SIMS Frank William W. He seems to be unrelated, although working in Rugby, and seems to have been Private, No: 295288, who served in 2nd/4th Bn., London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), and who was killed on 26 October 1917; he also has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

 

RUGBY REMEMBERS HIM

Coley, George Edwin. Died 30th Jul 1915

George Edwin Coley died 30 July 1915

George Edwin Coley’s birth was registered in the fourth quarter of 1888 in Crewe, Cheshire. He was the third child and first son of Frederick Coley (b.1854) and Elizabeth Jane Smith, who were married in 1879 in Newport Pagnell.

In 1891 the family were living at 46 Sandbach Street, Crewe. George’s father was a Blacksmith’s Striker.

In both 1901 and 1911 they were living at 1004 Old Station, Rugby. Railway workers had to live within walking distance of work, and it was useful to the railway to be able to get hold of staff if something unexpected happened. By providing houses for their staff spread along the line, the railway solved all these problems and the London and Birmingham Railway built several hundred houses. The houses were each given a number and the earliest in Rugby were in the 700s. These were all near the new station, on the west side Newbold Road, both north and south of the railway.

In the 1901 census, George’s father, Frederick, was described as “deaf”, quite possibly caused by the nature of his work. The 1911 census described George as a boilermaker in the loco department of the LNWR railway.

By 1915 Mr and Mrs Coley were living at 89 Newbold Road, Rugby.

On 7 September 1914, George enlisted as a Private in the 8^th Battalion of The King’s Royal Rifles Corps, and was later to be promoted to Lance Corporal; he served at the front in the stretcher-bearer section.

George was present at the action at Hooge, in which the Battalion had the misfortune to be the first to be attacked by the German flamethrower.
“On the night of 29^th-30^th July, 8^th Rifle Brigade, 41 Brigade, took over this sector. They were new to the trenches. They had only been in France since May and the Germans opposite were aware of their lack of experience and that that they were total strangers to the positions they had just taken over. So they attacked at 3.15am using liquid fire for the first time, spewing it out from pipes that passed though their parapet. What it was like when these jets of flame and thick burning smoke hit the front line of trenches of 8^th Rifle Brigade we will never know because no-one from the two companies who manned it survived. Those on the periphery spoke of the intense heat. The Germans then opened up with artillery and machine guns. German infantry followed and 8^th Rifle Brigade was overwhelmed. Eventually they were forced to fall back with losses of nearly 500.”[1]

More details of the Battle of Hooge Crater on 30 July 1915, are given elsewhere on ‘Rugby Remembers’.

The Rugby Advertiser reported:

One of the most popular and highly respected men employed in recent years at the L & NWR Erecting Shop at Rugby was George Coley, a boiler-maker, son of Mr and Mrs Coley of 89 Newbold Road, Rugby. On September 7^th 1914 he enlisted in the 8^th Battalion of the King’s Royal Rifles and had been serving at the front in the stretcher-bearer section.   News reached Rugby at the end of last week that he had been killed during an action in which the regiment suffered very heavily, and the tidings caused much regret amongst all the shop mates, who were pained to think they would never see their old friend again.

The deceased came to Rugby from Crewe when a boy. He spent a year or so in the time office at the erecting shop and then was apprenticed to the boiler-making, subsequently serving as a journeyman. He was always sociable and affable with a cheery word for his fellow workmen by whom his death is regarded as a personal loss.   Mr Shaw the foreman in the erecting shop suggested that a flag-pole should be erected and the Union Jack flown at half-mast in memory of Rifleman Coley. This was done and erected near the entrance on Mill Road.

A letter sent to George’s mother by Sergeant Cowen said “Your son gave his life for his comrades. He was shot while looking after the wounded. In fact he was in the act of dressing a wounded man when he was killed….”

The Erecting Shop Insurance Society, of which George was a member, sent a letter of condolence to his parents.

The Commonwealth Grave Registration document noted

‘COLEY, Lce. Cpl. George Edwin, S/1275. 8^th Bn. The rifle Brigade. 30^th July, 1915. Age 25. Son of Frederick and Elizabeth Jane Coley, of 155, Newbold Rd., Rugby.’

George is remembered on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial, Panels 46 – 48 and 50. and the Rugby Memorial Gates.

[1] http://www.londonwarmemorial.co.uk/view_profile.php?id=19634&limit=20&offset=0&sort=&a=Lived/Born In&f=James&s=jenkins&r=Rank&u=Unit&b=&d=Date Of Death#sthash.GA4fS2og.dpuf

 

RUGBY REMEMBERS HIM

 

30th Jul 1915. Battle of Hooge Crater

 

In spring 1915, the Army was suffering a shortage of heavy artillery and machine guns and general orders limited operations to small aggressive threats which will not require much ammunition or many troops.

On 2 June 1915, a German bombardment followed by an infantry, led to the loss of the ruins of the Hooge Chateau and Stables, then on 19 July, a large mine, the first using the explosive ‘Ammatol’, was exploded under the German trench positions at Hooge, and the crater was occupied by 4^th Middlesex whilst artillery quelled German attempts to recover the crater.

In the Hooge Crater action that was to follow on 30 July 1915, eight men from Rugby were ‘Killed in Action’ in the defence and counter attacks. Their biographies are given in more detail on this ‘Rugby Remembers’ site, but all were in various battalions of the Rifle Brigade or the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, which although having similar names, and in this case the same Battalion numbers and histories, were separate Regiments.

In the 41^st Brigade, two of the Rugby men who died that day were in the 8^th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade: Lance Corporal George Edwin COLEY, S/1275; and Rifleman Frederick PEE, S/2152.

Three and most likely four were in the 7^th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps: Rifleman, John Henry PRESTON, R/78; Rifleman Herbert SMITH, R/1621; and Lance-corporal, Albert Edward WATTS, R/160; together with Rifleman William TOMLINSON, R/79, who having the next number after John Preston, was probably also in the 7^th Battalion and had joined up at the same time.

One other Rugby man was in the 8^th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps: Rifleman James Henry SIMS a.k.a. JENKINS, A/3456. The 7^th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade was also in the 41^st Brigade.

In the 42^nd Brigade, Sergeant Charles ROBERTS, R/1243 from Rugby was killed in action that day serving in the 9^th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps. The 9^th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade was also in the 42^nd Brigade.

The 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th Battalions of the Rifle Brigade were formed from volunteers at Winchester on 21 August 1914 as part of K1 [Kitchener’s New Army, K1 Army Group] and all came under command of 41^st Brigade [and 42^nd for the 9^th Battalion] in 14^th (Light) Division. They moved to Aldershot, going on to Elstead, Grayshott and Petworth respectively in November before returning to Aldershot in February [9^th with 42^nd Brigade] and March 1915. They arrived in France, landing at Boulogne in May 1915.

There is a similar history for the 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th Battalions of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. They were also formed from volunteers in Winchester as part of K1, on 19 and 21 August [and on an unspecified date for the 9^th].   They also came under command of 41^st Brigade [and 42^nd for the 9^th Battalion] in 14^th (Light) Division. They moved to Aldershot, with the 7^th and 8^th going to Grayshott in November and in February 1915 to Bordon and then returned to Aldershot in March 1915.   The 9^th went to Petworth in November with 42nd Brigade and in February 1915 returned to Aldershot. The three Battalions also landed in Boulogne, France in May 1915 (on the 19^th, unspecified and 20^th respectively).

Initially without equipment or arms of any kind, the new recruits in the 41^st Division were judged to be ready by May 1915, and landed in Boulogne, although their move to the fighting front was delayed by lack of rifle and artillery ammunition.

The first significant action for the 41^st Division was in the Hooge area and the 41^st Brigade of 14^th Division took over in the sector a week before the end of July 1915. The 8^th Rifle Brigade held the Hooge Crater lip, with the 7^th Battalion of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps was to their right.

Hooge Crater (from http://www.ramsdale.org/hooge.htm )

On that fateful day, 30 July 1915, the Germans launched an attack to recover the Hooge Crater. The attack began at 03.15am using flamethrowers with ‘jets of flame streaming from the German parapets rather like water might come from a large hose’.   This was the first use of these terrifying ‘fire weapons’ against the British. The Germans achieved complete surprise, and caused much confusion and panic amongst the British defenders. The British front line was evacuated. The 42^nd Brigade on the left was not attacked at that time.[1]

At 11.30am, a counterattack by both the 41^st and 42^nd Brigades was ordered after a short artillery bombardment. The 41^st Division attack failed, although the 9^th KRRC of the 42^nd recovered some of the lost lines. The 43^rd Brigade relieved the 41^st during the later afternoon. Another flamethrower attack that night was repulsed, and further efforts on 31 July came to nothing.

A subsequent attack by 6^th Division on 9 August 1915 regained all of the ground lost, including the ruins of the Hooge Chateau Stables.

The 14^th Division lost almost 2,500 men at Hooge on 30 July 1915.

 

 

This article on the Hooge Crater action was written for a Rugby Family History Group [RFHG] project, by John P H Frearson and is © John P H Frearson and the Rugby Family History Group, July 2015.

 

[1]       Information and illustration from: http://www.ramsdale.org/hooge.htm.