IN MEMORy by Pierre Vandervelden

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

DOZINGHEM Military Cemetery (Westvleteren) (West Vlaanderen Belgium)

Page 1 The Pictures

Page 2 List of Casualties

Pte Henry George Collett 09/10/1917 aged 33 Here with his wife Hannah and children Henry enlisted 24/05/1915 and was sent to France 17/02/1917, but was admitted to Hospital with Pyrexia and transfered to England for convalescence. He was sent a second time to France 23/07/1917. 08/10/1917, He was on the front, in Cemetery Trench, at 400 yards of Winchester Farm, south of Poelcapelle, where he was diedly wounded by Shrapnel to head and legs and fractured femur. He died the next day. For his Grandson Bob Collett and Family

Pte F. Walshaw 15/07/1917 aged 35

Cpl Percy Granville Blyth 25/07/1917 aged 23 for his great niece Andrea Sanders nee Blyth

Gnr Ralph Walters Clarkson KIA 22/10/1917 aged 31 Ralph was born in 12/1886 in Preston, son of Ralph W. Clarkson and Ann Pacey. In 1901, aged 14, he was a woollen drapers assistant. He married Mary Ada Hall at Preston in 1908 and they had a daughter Phyllis born in 1909, he was a woollen merchants warehouseman. For his great grandson Aidan Rimmer

Pte Albert Oldham 02/10/1917 for Samantha

Pte James George Evans 28/10/1917

Cpl Walter E. Downs 13/10/1917

Pte Ernest J. Wood 1886 - 05/08/1917

Pte Charles Holebrook 23/08/1917 aged 38 He was wounded near Langemarck during 3rd Ypres and DoW at 47th CCS. His brother, Pte Pte Reginald Holebrook 25/10/1918 is buried in Harlebeke New British Cem. His nephew Pte Allan Holebrook 25/10/1917 is commemorated in Tyne Cot Memorial. for Paul Greenhalgh

Pte John. Henry Hughes MM 09/11/1917 aged 22 for his nephew John Hughes

Pte James Masson Davidson 01/08/1917 with his Medals and Dead Penny. for his nephew James M. Davidson

Pte Stephen Henshaw 23/08/1917 aged 30 With his wife Sarah, (+ 1971, having never remarried), son Harold, daughters, Ethel (1914 - 1998) and Dora.

Gnr Reginald Peers 29/11/1917

Pte Harry Brownell 29/09/1917

Sgt Frederick John Griffiths 13/09/1873 - 30/10/1917 Fred was born in Presteigne, Wales, son of a coal merchant. He had a professional career of football player, as goalkeeper begining in Welsh junior football with Presteige and between 1894 and 1907, playing for twelve Clubs, including Blackpool, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and New Brompton where he was captain. He ended his career at age of 33 following an injury and became player coach at Moore's Athletic club. Fred had made two appearances for the Wales National Team in the 1900's. He enlisted in 12/1914 and was KiA in the Battle of Passchendaele. for his great grandson Stewart Woodland and George Lancett, friend of Presteigne St Andrews Football Club. (Photos are not free for any usage without permission of Mr Stewart Woodland, the webmaster thanks him for his kind permission for this site)

Capt Robert CHARLTON MC 05/10/1917 An only son, Robert was an old boy of Queen Mary’s School, Walsall where he was a member of the Officer Training Corps. He was reported to be an excellent cricketer playing for Walsall Cricket Club. At the outbreak of war Robert was on the point of being articled as a mining engineer and was entered at Birmingham University as a student. He, however, continued at school until his 17th birthday and then took a commission in the South Staffordshire Rgt. On Monday 17/09/1917 he was awarded the Military Cross and, at about the same time, promoted to Captain. The citation read, “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During an attack he made a daring reconnaissance of the position under enemy fire, and brought back valuable information. Subsequently, when the posts held by his company were being heavily shelled, he continually went from post to post under heavy rifle fire and machine gun fire, encouraging his men and supervising the work of consolidation.” Robert succumbed to injuries received when his battalion took part in the Battle of Broodseinde, near Poelcapelle. for Graeme Clarke and the people of Walsall

Pte Thomas Port 26/10/1917 aged 41

2nd/Lt Arthur John Powney 15/09/1917 aged 28 Arthur joined No 9 Squadron on the 10/09/1917 as an observer on probation. He flew his first sortie on that same day with Lt Young. He drove off an attack by the enemy on the 11/09 with a double drum of ammunition. He flew again on the 12th and 13th of September. His Final sortie was in RE8, B765 and was on the 15th of September. His pilot was 2/Lt Hackman. They were attacked by the enemy over the German lines in the Irish Farm area. Arthur was hit in the abdomen but managed to drive off the attackers. They managed to force land on the British side of the lines where Arthur was taken to No 25 causality clearing station but died the same day. He was buried by the Rev Kerr. His attacker was possibly Lt van der Osten of Jasta 11. for his great nephew Alex Abrams
Arthur, Cpl in the Royal Engineers and training a machine gun in the Royal Flying Corps

2nd/Lt Bertram John William Andrews 1895 - 31/07/1917 for Simon Coxall and the Bancrofts School, Woodford Green, Essex. More about Frederick here

Capt William George Williams 29/08/1917 for the Royal Welch fusiliers & Dr H.J. Krijnen

Mjr Frank Stuart Lloyd 05/09/1917 for the Royal Welch fusiliers & Dr H.J. Krijnen

Pte Arthur William Holton 26/07/1917 With his son Arthur William Holton Jr (+1940) for his great grandson Ricky Arthur Holton

Pte Thomas Ernest Wilbraham 22/09/1917 aged 19 Thomas enlisted just 2 months after the death of his brother George in 08/1916. Son of Thomas and Margaretta Wilbraham, he was drafted to France on Whit-Monday. Like his brother he was educated at Wallasey Grammar school and was a keen footballer, playing for Montrose. He was wounded on 20/09/1917, receiving shell wounds to his right arm and side. He died of those wounds two days later. His brother Pte George Herbert Wilbraham died on 09/08/1916 and has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. for their niece Shelagh Mills and their great niece Tracey Warren

Lt Harold Mackie 18/11/1917 aged 23

Pte George Henry Poulton 08/10/1917 aged 19

Pte Herbert Thomas Day 01/11/17 aged 23 Herbert was born on the 01/09/1894 the son of Thomas & Mary Day of 59 Walkern Road Stevenage and was to lose his life during the closing stages of The Battle of Passchendaele. The offensive had been launched on 31/07/1917 and continued until the fall of Passchendaele village on 06/11/1917. Although it resulted in gains for the Allies it was by no means the breakthrough General Haig intended, and such gains as were made came at great cost in human terms. The area had suffered the heaviest rains it had seen for 30 years and this, combined with intensive shelling from both sides, had turned the ground into a hellish morass. The battalion was involved in an attack near Westrozebeke, which is North-West of Ypres. The assault commenced at 05.50am and the going was very bad with many men up to their knees in mud. To make matters worse the Germans were expecting the attack and once it commenced they brought heavy shelling to bear on the advancing British troops. Even those who were not caught in the barrage could not move and were shot by German snipers while sticking in the mud. Little headway was made and the Battalion suffered some 234 casualties, including 157 wounded. It is believed that Herbert Day was amongst those wounded and died the following day as a result of his injuries. (Source: http://www.stevenageatwar.com/GW.html#HTDAY) The Hertfordshire Express - Saturday November 10th 1917 says: STEVENAGE CHORISTER Private Herbert Thomas Day has died as a result of wounds received in action. This brings a war bereavement to Mr and Mrs Day of 59 Walkern Road, whose youngest son he was. He was a well known painter & decorator, and also an auxiliary postman at the Stevenage Post Office. He was a member of the Stevenage Football Club, a member of the Chesfield Cricket Club, and a Parish Church Chorister. He was the grandson of Thomas Day of Albert Street. (Photo of him on page 3 of the November 24th edition) for Lloyd Briscoe (historian for Stevenage Football Club)

L/Cpl Alma Horton 22/10/1917 for his nieces Jacqueline, Jean and Joyce

Pte James Fenwick Heron 31/10/1917 aged 30 He died of wounds at N°4 Casualty Clearing Station. Son of Charles Fenwick Heron and Mary Rebecca Heron, of Maxwell, Ontario. He is also remembered on his family headstone located at Maxwell Union Cemetery, Maxwell, Ontario, Canada. for Mark Dinan

3 240 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