IN MEMORy by Pierre Vandervelden

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

WARGNIES le GRAND Churchyard (Nord France)

From left to right first plot: T. Berry - T. G. Davies - R. E. Harris - L. P. Tate - A. Redford - W. T. Moor - H. Wadsworth - C. Shirtcliffe - W. J. G. Bednall - H. Cropper - J. Reilly - G. Willoughby - E. Butroid - J. Maitland - W. McCree - G. Brunt - R. T. Dunstan - G. E. Moore. Second plot: H. J. Canty - S.F. Bee - R. E. Green - J. A. Griffin - D. W. A. McLachlan - G. S. Willcocks.

Private George Edward Moore 04/11/1918 aged 21 The road that links the two villages of Jenlain and Curgies (SE of Valenciennes) was the front line on the morning of Nov 4th and the starting point for an attack to an area NE of Jenlain that was held by the Germans. At 0600 on Nov 4th the attack commenced with the Cheshire regiment advancing east towards the high ground. Stiff opposition was met from the east of the river in addition to a ‘troublesome’ friendly artillery barrage which caused some casualties. A regiment to the south of the Cheshire’s came under machine gun fire from the village of Wargnies le Grand and the Cheshires were ordered to capture the village and silence the guns. The Regiment therefore swung south following a parallel road into the village of Wargnies le Grand, and consequently captured it A sharp fire fight ensued on the road into Wargnies but was soon silenced by the Cheshire’s. Another pocket of German resistance located in the south of Wargnies le Grand, giving 'enfilade fire’ to the rest of the Division, was silenced by a Company commander and a body of men at around 1000hrs. They captured both the gun and prisoners from the village and hence finished any ‘mopping up’. During this operation 2nd Lieut J.H.B Young MC was awarded the DSO, his citation reads - ”Near Jenlain…..he led his company into a gap against determined opposition, capturing prisoners and securing the safety of his Battalion. He then reorganized his company and led them in attack, securing his objectives and capturing prisoners and machine guns and mopping up Wargnies le Grand “ It was also during this action that George Edward lost his life, his death being recorded as Killed in Action and he lies in the small village cemetery. for Mike Moore (Fleet, Hampshire, UK)

Private Ernest Butroid 18/05/1895 - 04/11/1918 Extract of the local gazette: Killed in the last Fight. A month ago, we published photographs of the three soldier sons of Mr. and Mrs. J. Butroid, Poplars Farm, Westwoodside, formely of Owston Ferry. We learn with much regret that Private Ernest Butroid, the second son, has fallen in the last fight of his company before they were with drawn as the result of the armistice. He was 23 years of age, joigned the Lincs. Regt. in February, 1915, and served in France, Gallipoli, Egypt, and again in France, being transferred tothe North Staffs. Regt. He was wounded in 1915, and in hospital last year with a sceptic hand. The following letter was received by his parents on Saturday: 8th North Staffs. Regt., B.E.F., France. Nov. 12th, 1918. Dear Mr. Butroid, -- I am very sorry to inform you that your dear son was killed in action on Nov. 5th. It was an awful catastrophe as this was the last fight before we were withdrawn owingto the armistice. He was killed during our advance to Maubeuge when we advanced over 20 miles in five days, and went over the top five times. He died in a glorius fight, for we took many villages as Jenlain, Waragies, and Bettrham, and released many hundreds of French civilians who had been in captivity for four years. Your son I knew personally as a gallant boy, ever ready to do his bit, and always cheerful and willing in all moments of anxiety. He was in my platoon during my sojourn with the N. Staffs., and I can say he was a good British soldier hero at all times, facing charges many times with a true English smile. It is a thousand pities to have lost such a gallant boy in the last days of this war, especially after the good and strenuous fights we previously had had. All the men of "A" Coy., and the officers send their most sincere sympathy to you in your great loss, hoping that you may find a little consolation in knowing of the great work he did, and for which he sacrifieed his noble life. F. H. Hallworth, Lieut. for O. C. "A" Coy. for his Great Grand Nephew Kevin Grantham Lincolnshire,England)

Pte Harold Wadsworth 04/11/1918 aged 23 for his great great niece Jade Wadsworth

Pte Reginald Thomas Dunstan 04/11/1918 for his grandson Gerald Dunstan

2nd/Lt Lionel Percy Tate 17/04/1892 - 04/11/1918 Known as Percy, he was born in Newcastle Upon Tyne, the eldest child of Robert William Tate and his wife Emma (nee Stainsby). He attended Chillingham Road school and Skerry’s college in Newcastle and was working as an accounts clerk when he enlisted in the 1st/1 Northumberland Hussars (Territorial Army) on 17/02/1913. His was the first territorial regiment to be sent overseas, they arrived at Zeebrugge on 05/10/1914. Percy spent almost the whole war in France, with only a handful of days on leave in England each year. He survived many terrible battles in France, including Ypres and the Somme and rose to the rank of Corporal before returning to England to cadet school in 12/1917. He was appointed to a commission in the North Staffordshire Rgt in 05/1918 and returned to serve with them in France. After surviving so much, serving throughout the war, it is so sad that he died within only a few days of the armistice, this was also a tragedy for his fiancée, Cissy Dryden, who always kept a photo of Percy and never married. Later, she worked in a sweet shop. Percy’s brother Lance Corporal Norman Tate, 2nd Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers, was killed in action on 06/10/1918, commemorated at Vis-En-Artrois memorial, Pas de Calais, France. More about Percy here. for his great niece, Jenny Cowling

Pte George Samuel Willcocks 06/11/1918 aged 39 for his great grandson Steve Barrett

L/Cpl Frank Sidney Bee 04/11/1918 He was the son of Thomas Bee and Louisa Bee. for his great granddaughter Jacqueline Jackson

24 casualties

BEDNALL WILFRED JOHN GODFREY
United Kingdom Private North Staffordshire Regiment 8th Bn. Age: 19 Date of Death: 04/11/1918 Service No: 55069

BEE S F
United Kingdom Lance Corporal North Staffordshire Regiment 8th Bn. Date of Death: 04/11/1918 Service No: 40339

BERRY THOMAS
United Kingdom Private North Staffordshire Regiment 8th Bn. Age: 20 Date of Death: 04/11/1918 Service No: 51056

BRUNT GEORGE
United Kingdom Private North Staffordshire Regiment 8th Bn. Age: 20 Date of Death: 04/11/1918 Service No: 41277

BUTROID ERNEST
United Kingdom Private North Staffordshire Regiment 8th Bn. Age: 23 Date of Death: 04/11/1918 Service No: 42685

CANTY HORATIO JOHN
United Kingdom Serjeant North Staffordshire Regiment 8th Bn. Age: 26 Date of Death: 04/11/1918 Service No: 235314

CROPPER HARRY
United Kingdom Private North Staffordshire Regiment 8th Bn. Age: 20 Date of Death: 04/11/1918 Service No: 41044

DAVIES THOMAS GLYN
United Kingdom Private Cheshire Regiment "B" Coy. 9th Bn. Age: 19 Date of Death: 04/11/1918 Service No: 53249

DUNSTAN R T
United Kingdom Private Cheshire Regiment 9th Bn. Date of Death: 04/11/1918 Service No: 72214

GREEN ROBERT EDWARD
United Kingdom Serjeant Machine Gun Corps (Inf) 24th Bn. Age: 26 Date of Death: 04/11/1918 Service No: 35040

GRIFFIN J A
United Kingdom Private Machine Gun Corps (Inf) 24th Bn. Age: 19 Date of Death: 04/11/1918 Service No: 132836

HARRIS R E
United Kingdom Second Lieutenant North Staffordshire Regiment 8th Bn. Date of Death: 04/11/1918

MAITLAND JOHN
United Kingdom Private North Staffordshire Regiment 8th Bn. Age: 19 Date of Death: 05/11/1918 Service No: 238097

McCREE W
United Kingdom Private North Staffordshire Regiment 8th Bn. Age: 24 Date of Death: 04/11/1918 Service No: 40756

McLACHLAN D W A
United Kingdom Lance Corporal Cheshire Regiment 9th Bn. Date of Death: 04/11/1918 Service No: 64379

MOOR WILLIAM THOMAS
United Kingdom Private North Staffordshire Regiment 8th Bn. Age: 21 Date of Death: 04/11/1918 Service No: 42292

MOORE GEORGE EDWARD
United Kingdom Private Cheshire Regiment 9th Bn. Age: 21 Date of Death: 04/11/1918 Service No: 50597

REDFORD A
United Kingdom Private North Staffordshire Regiment 8th Bn. Age: 26 Date of Death: 04/11/1916 Service No: 40757

REILLY J
United Kingdom Serjeant North Staffordshire Regiment 8th Bn. Date of Death: 04/11/1918 Service No: 34910

SHIRTCLIFFE C
United Kingdom Private North Staffordshire Regiment 8th Bn. Age: 20 Date of Death: 04/11/1918 Service No: 52370

TATE LIONEL PERCY
United Kingdom Second Lieutenant North Staffordshire Regiment "C" Coy. 8th Bn Age: 26 Date of Death: 04/11/1918

WADSWORTH HAROLD
United Kingdom Private North Staffordshire Regiment 8th Bn. Age: 23 Date of Death: 04/11/1918 Service No: 41953

WILLCOCKS G S
United Kingdom Private Machine Gun Corps (Inf) 24th Bn. Age: 39 Date of Death: 06/11/1918 Service No: 19730

WILLOUGHBY GEORGE
United Kingdom Private North Staffordshire Regiment 8th Bn. Age: 20 Date of Death: 05/11/1918 Service No: 61220

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

Inmemories.com © Pierre Vandervelden - Belgium