graves

 

 

 

IN MEMORy by Pierre Vandervelden

The visit of Commonwealth graves in Communals Cemeteries & Churchyards in Belgium & France

pierre.vandervelden@pi.be

GORDON DUMP Cemetery (Ovillers la Boisselle) (Somme France)

Page 1 The Pictures

Page 2 List of Casualties

 

S/Lt Arthur Delano Maconachie 01/07/1916 aged 22
Arthur Delano Maconachie, mort pour la liberté et pour le Royaume-Uni, si jeune comme tant d’autres ! A ce grand-père inconnu et dont j’ai cherché à connaître les origines écossaises et anglaises. Nul doute que ton courage et ta détermination ont été hérités de ton ancêtre américain Henry Delano. Nous n’oublierons jamais ton sacrifice ainsi que celui de millions d’autres. Et pour cela, nous sommes tous redevables à Pierre Vandervelden qui a mis en ligne son travail méticuleux et généreux de relevés des cimetières militaires. Que cette immense tragédie nous incite toujours à rechercher la paix et la tolérance.
His Granddaughter Muriel Frank-André (France)
Lt John Walton Bamber 01/07/1916 aged 29
John (known as Jack) was born in Ladysmith, Natal, South Africa, where he grew up in Ladysmith, where he was present during the siege of that town during the Boer War.
He was in Canterbury in England, studying to become a priest, when war broke out and he joined up in 12/1914. He was attached to the 10th Bn. K.O.Y.L.I. and the battalion sailed to France 09/15.
On 01/07/1916, the 9th and 10th K.O.Y.L.I. led the 64 Brigade assault at 7:30 am on July 1st, attacking to the North West of Fricourt. The 10th Bn suffered 9 officers killed and 16 wounded, 50 Other Ranks killed, 292 wounded and 135 missing.
For his great nephew Ian van Zyl (Canada)
Sjt Henry Charles Gudgeon 01/07/1916 aged 30
for his nephew Colin Albon
Pte Gordon Geoffrey Steenson 31/07/1916 aged 20
Pte Henry (Harry) Stewart 01/07/1916 aged 32
He left a wife and two sons, aged 3 years and and 9 months, the youngest of whom he was never to see.
His widow eventually married his oldest brother who had promised to look after them all if anything happened to Harry.
for his grandson Alan Stewart
Pte Walter Henry Humphries 01/07/1916 aged 22
He was born in Shepton Montacute, Somerset. His parents Henry and Harriet Humphries lived at Laurence Hill near Wincanton, Somerset at the time of his death.
Because Walter’s father was an agricultural labourer he moved frequently and the family had lived in Bratton Seymour, Somerset and Cerne Abbas, Dorset.
Walter had two brothers, William and Charles and two sisters Rose and Harriet.
Walter went to Taunton to enlist in the Somerset Light Infantry, joining the 8th Bn.
On the 01/07/1916, the first day of infamous Battle of the Somme the 8th Somerset Light Infantry (SLI) were on the right of the two King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry bns. They came under very heavy machine gun fire from the moment they left their trenches. The Somersets battled on through the German front line system but could not advance as far as the Yorkshiremen. The SLI were cut to pieces and were beaten back with severe losses, a similar fate was encountered by the 4th Middlesex alongside them. Walter Humphries was one of those many casualties to German machine gun fire that day.
for Tony Goddard, chairman of the Royal British Legion in Somerset
The Sacrifice of the Skinners Brothers
Pte Frank Skinner 01/07/1916 aged 21
for Mark Leighton
The three brothers gave their lifes for King and Country on the Somme,
left, Pte Harry Skinner 05/04/1918 commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial;
middle, Pte Edward Charles Skinner 09/08/1916 commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial;
right, Pte Frank Skinner.
They were sons of of Charles and Ellen Skinner, of New Wimpole, Royston, Herts.
Sgt Joseph Jamieson 01/07/1916 aged 26
for Merry Bell
Joseph standing middle with regimental pals.
Mjr Graham Bromhead Bosanquet MC 17/11/1885 - 01/07/1916
The only son of Admiral Sir Day Hort Bosanquet GCVO, KCB (1843 – 1923) and Mary Butthe, he was born in Liandinabo, Herefordshire.
On 23/02/1910 Graham married Flora Macdonald Lindsay Stewart in the Parish Church of Brompton, London.
In 02/1905, he was promoted 2nd Lt in 3rd Bn. Suffolk Regt.
He Re-joined the Gloucesters on 30/10/1914 joining the rgt at Zillebeke on 07/11/1914.
On 21/12/1914, beeing Captain, his Bn reached Bethune and were ordered to re-take the trenches at Festubert where he was wounded along with 5 other officers.
He returned to the regiment on 27/03/1915 at Neuve Chappelle.
On 09/05/1915, Graham was wounded a second time in the area of Rue du Bois.
He was reported in the London Gazette on 22/06/1915 as having been Mentioned In Despatches.
The Day after, the London Gazette reported that he had received the Military Cross.
On 18/08/1915, he re-joined his regiment.
In 11/1915 Graham was awarded the Legion of Honour 'Croix de Chevalier' by the French Government after having taken part of the battle of Loos along the French troops.
On 21/04/1916 Capt. Bosanquet was promoted to Brevet Major.
In 06/1915, the London Gazette reported that G B Bosqnquet had been again Mentioned In Despatches.
On 01/07/1916, (1st Day of the Somme), about 300 yards from the sunken road, Major Bosanquet went over the open ground towards Crucifix Trench.
Unfortunately a German machine gun was brought into action at this moment, Graham and several men were hit.
Major Bosanquet was killed instantly.
He is also commemorated on Llanwarne War Memorial.
Compiled by William Webb
Gnr John Henry Bartleson 1897 - 26/07/1916
Born in Bright, Victoria, Aus., he was the son of Thomas Henry and Mabel Rebecca Bartleson of Albury, New South Wales, Aus.
He died during the battle of Pozieres.
for his great niece gwen McArthur
Pte Thomas Dugdale 05/07/1916
for the Royal Welch fusiliers & Dr H.J. Krijnen
L/Cpl Edward Brown 01/07/1916
for his great grandson Mark Vickers

623 casualties

 

IF You have a casualty picture, please send me a copy, I'll be glad to show it on this page.

IF You want a king size copy of this picture (300/900 ko - 2592/1944 pixels) please e-mail me.

Casualties informations come usualy from Commonwealth War Graves Commission, see links for more informations

Inmemories.com © Pierre Vandervelden - Belgium