Choques Military Cemetery - D Bty 251 Bde RFA

[ianjonesncl]

The Choques Military Cemetery contains a single row of graves all from "D" Bty. 251st Bde.

The CWGC cemetery details specifies "From April to September 1918, during the German advance on this front, the burials were carried out by field ambulances, divisions and fighting units. The groups of graves of a single Royal Artillery brigade in Plot II, Row A, and of the 2nd Seaforths in II D, and III A, are significant of the casualties of the 4th Division at that time."

The cemetery plan details Plot II Row A as containing 12 graves.

I have gone through the CWGC cemetery reports, the War Graves of the British Empire - Vol 7 France 95-102 and can only identify 11 Gunners in Row A in graves 1 to 11. I have also gone through the Roll of Honour of the 4th Durham Howitzer Brigade from The History of the 3rd Durham Volunteer Artillery by Brig. OFG Hogg, again only identifying 11 Gunners.

Are there 12 graves in Plot II Row A ? Is there a man buried in Plot II Row A Grave 12?

I would be grateful for any help to answer these questions.

This is the list in graves 1 to 11: - all "D" Bty. 251st Bde. RFA died 18th April 1918

Grave

1. Hillbeck A Driver MM 2555
2. Wilson F Driver 127301
3. Allcott H Driver MM 4678
4. Fewings RT Gunner 52505
5. Harris AS Gunner 10235
6. Hunt JAF Gunner 234324
7. Bennet H Gunner 10315
8. Jewell WS Driver 1288
9. Maidment A Driver 10318
10. Pearce EG Driver 82773
11. Rich WG Driver 4546

[stoj22]

I happened to catch plot 2 row A in a photo I took earlier this year, it was in the distance but there are clearly 12 headstones.

hope it helps,

Steve.

[ianjonesncl]

Many thanks

First part of the mystery solved. Just need to find the 12th man.

Ian

[KevinBattle]

Courtesy of that wonderful Geoff;s Search Engine, here's your 12th man:-

Name: RICHARDSON, JAMES HUDSON

Initials: J H

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Driver

Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery

Unit Text: "D" Bty. 251st Bde.

Age: 25

Date of Death: 25/04/1918

Service No: 755887

Additional information: Son of James and Elizabeth Jane Richardson; husband of Alice Prime Richardson, of 10, Ivy St., South Shields.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: II. A. 12.

Cemetery: CHOCQUES MILITARY CEMETERY

Presumably died of wounds or maybe a separate incident?

[rflory]

755887 Dvr. James Hudson Richardson, RFA was Killed in Action on 25 April 1918 so he obviously died in a separate incident from those who died on 18 April 1918.

Regards, Dick Flory

[Hywyn]

Geoffs Engine strikes again. Best thing since sliced bread. I've lost count of how many niggly questions it has resolved at a stroke. Saves hours of head scratching time.

Thanks Geoff

Hywyn

[ianjonesncl]

Many many thanks to all for the information.

The mystery of firstly, was their a 12th man, and if so who is he, has been frustrating for a while.

It appears that his name is missing from the Roll of Honour of the 4th Durham Howitzer Brigade from The History of the 3rd Durham Volunteer Artillery by Brig. OFG Hogg,