K Ronson Posted 8 July , 2009 Share Posted 8 July , 2009 Thank you all in advance for your attention. Faithful readers will perhaps have noticed that we are interested in finding out about soldiers buried in a particular part of Picardie around the house that we visit regularly. We are now curious to know as much as possible about the events that led to the deaths of 3 members of the hawke Battalion namely J Fenton LZ2509, W Stephenson T/Z4823 and Sub Lieutenant Stanley Peace Hancock - no number. They are buried in Doudelainville and at least 1 of the graves is still visited and has a photo on it. We know that they were killed by a defective grenade. Like most of the other graves that we have visited, their graves are beautifully kept and we have met the man who looks after them on several occasions. The Town Hall knows nothing of the circumstances so we will pass on whatever anyone can tell us. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 8 July , 2009 Share Posted 8 July , 2009 Hawke Battalion (with the rest of the RND) had recently arrived in France from Gallipoli and were undergoing training before becoming operationally ready for the BEF. All were killed by the explosion of a Mills bomb thrown by AB James Henry Custance, TZ/5251, who suffered bomb wounds and lost some fingers. Douglas Jerrold in "The Hawke Battalion" wrote "Only one sad mischance had marred the initial stages of preparation. This was a disastrous bombing accident, on June 2nd [1916], involving the death of Sub Lieutenant Hancock and two men. The cause was, without doubt, a defective bomb..." The War Diary states "DOUDELAINVILLE. In forenoon, bombing accident occurred on ground taken over for instructional purposes. The following casualties resulted: Sub Lt AP [sic] HANCOCK and 2 OR killed, 2 OR severely injured and 2 OR slightly injured. Court of Inquiry to investigate circumstances of foregoing assembled. Funeral service at 7 pm. GOC RND, GOC 2nd Bde and Battalion attended." Hancock was MiD and was Adjutant of Hawke Bn. Mar - May 1916. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NFS Posted 1 August , 2009 Share Posted 1 August , 2009 I've just happened on this item, and this may be of interest: 'J.Fenton' was a relative (my Mother's elder half brother), and was aged just eighteen years when he was killed at Doudelainville. He enlisted at Twickenham in July 1915, and was originally destined for the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force (MEF), which, following the general withdrawal from the Dardanelles Campaign, was diverted to France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 1 August , 2009 Share Posted 1 August , 2009 Bigfeet, Welcome to the Great War Forum Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force (MEF), - that should be Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) I would also like to second H2's mention of Douglas Jerrold's book 'The Hawke Battalion' (available from the N & M Press) Thoroughly recommended best regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NFS Posted 1 August , 2009 Share Posted 1 August , 2009 Thanks for the correction! I'm just working my way through 'Hawke Battalion'-a very readable account. With Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K Ronson Posted 4 September , 2009 Author Share Posted 4 September , 2009 Thanks for the reply. I found it yesterday. Are you the person who visits the grave and has left a photograph? Regards. K Ronson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NFS Posted 4 September , 2009 Share Posted 4 September , 2009 No, not me I'm afraid. I had hoped to get down there this summer, as my Mother would like a photograph of the grave to add to her family research, but work keeps getting in the way! Interesting that someone is leavinga photograph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 4 September , 2009 Share Posted 4 September , 2009 Records online or downloadable free at the UK National Archives, Kew. Name Fenton, John Service Number(s): Z/2509 Rank or Rating: Ordinary Seaman, Able Seaman Date of Birth: 13 September 1896 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=6 Name Hancock, Stanley Pearce Catalogue reference ADM 337/119 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...;resultcount=29 Name Stephenson, William Service Number(s): Z/4823 Rank or Rating: Ordinary Seaman, Able Seaman Date of Birth: 20 December 1895 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 4 September , 2009 Share Posted 4 September , 2009 Name: Stanley Pearce Hancock Service Branch: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Unit: Hawke Bn. Rank: Temporary Sub Lieutenant Awards: MiD Death Date: 2 Jun 1916 Cause Of Death: Accidentally killed (Bombing accident, premature explosion of defective Mills Grenade) Burial: Doudelainville Communal Cemetery (FR 1545) Service History: Commissioned Temporary Sub Lieutenant RNVR 4/5/15 ; Draft for MEF 5/10/15, joined 'C' Company Hawke Bn. 25/10/15-2/6/16 DD. Notes: Assistant Adjutant Hawke Bn. vice Lieutenant Jerrold on leave 23/2/16 ; Adjutant Hawke Bn. vice Lieutenant Jerrold 24/3/16-27/5/16 ; MiD for distinguished & gallant services MEF (London Gazette 13/7/16 p.6952) ; London Z/2509 AB J. Fenton & Tyneside Z/4823 AB W. Stephenson were also killed. Grenade thrower was Tyneside Z/5251 AB James Henry Custance, who suffered bomb wounds to his Neck & left hand, 2nd & 3rd fingers blown off. ; b.25/2/1886 ; Mother, A.J., Craigside, Kingwear, S.Devon. Name: John Fenton Service Branch: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Unit: Hawke Bn. Rank: Able Seaman Death Date: 2 Jun 1916 Cause Of Death: Accidentally killed (Bombing accident, premature explosion of defective Mills Grenade) Burial: Doudelainville Communal Cemetery (FR 1545) Service History: Enlisted 3/7/15 ; Draft for MEF (Bomber) 25/10/15, joined Hawke Bn. 2/12/15-2/6/16 DD. Service Number: London Z/2509 Notes: Temporary Sub Lieutenant S.P. Hancock RNVR & Tyneside Z/4823 AB W. Stephenson were also killed. Grenade thrower was Tyneside Z/5251 AB James Henry Custance, who suffered bomb wounds to his Neck & left hand, 2nd & 3rd fingers blown off. ; A Labourer ; b.13/9/1896 ; Next-of-Kin & home address: Father, B., 18 Colne Rd., Twickenham, Middlesex. Name: William Stephenson Service Branch: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Unit: Hawke Bn. Rank: Able Seaman Death Date: 2 Jun 1916 Cause Of Death: Accidentally killed (Bombing accident; premature explosion of defective Mills Grenade) Burial: Doudelainville Communal Cemetery (FR 1545) Service History: Enlisted 25/5/15 ; Draft for MEF 5/12/15, joined Hawke Bn. at Mudros 7/2/16-2/6/16 DD. Service Number: Tyneside Z/4823 Notes: London Z/2509 AB J. Fenton & Temporary Sub Lieutenant S.P. Hancock RNVR were also killed. Grenade thrower was Tyneside Z/5251 AB James Henry Custance, who suffered bomb wounds to his Neck & left hand, 2nd & 3rd fingers blown off. ; A Miner ; b.20/12/1895 ; Next-of-Kin & home address: Father, William, 59 Gilbert St., South Shields. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NFS Posted 5 September , 2009 Share Posted 5 September , 2009 Thanks to you both for the additional information re. James Henry Custance-seems he survived the incident? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 5 September , 2009 Share Posted 5 September , 2009 He did, his brother, AB Richard John Custance died on 4th June 1915 with Hood Bn. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 5 September , 2009 Share Posted 5 September , 2009 Name Custance, James Henry Service Number(s): [T]Z/5251 Rank or Rating: Ordinary Seaman, Able Seaman Date of Birth: 1 June 1890 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=4 Name Custance, Richard John Service Number(s): KX/428 Rank or Rating: Able Seaman, Durham Light Infantry, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Date of Birth: 21 January 1889 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=4 Their other brother Matthew Edward Custance also served in the DLI & RND. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawke Battalion Posted 11 September , 2009 Share Posted 11 September , 2009 Thanks for the reply. I found it yesterday. Are you the person who visits the grave and has left a photograph? Regards. K Ronson Kevin, The photograph of Bill Stephenson at Doudelainville is that of my husband's uncle. In fact we are planning to visit the grave again this Sunday and put a replacement photo of Bill and his family. Regards B.Jenkins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawke Battalion Posted 15 September , 2009 Share Posted 15 September , 2009 Kevin, The photograph of Bill Stephenson at Doudelainville is that of my husband's uncle. In fact we are planning to visit the grave again this Sunday and put a replacement photo of Bill and his family. Regards B.Jenkins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawke Battalion Posted 15 September , 2009 Share Posted 15 September , 2009 This is a message to Kevin, Bigfeet and all the other members of the Forum who have been posting information about the Hawke Battalion in France. My husband, Bill Jenkins, is the nephew of William Stephenson who was killed by a faulty Mills grenade on the 2nd June 1916 along with two comrades in Doudelainville. Four years ago we visited William's grave in Doudelainville and placed a photo of him and his family taken around 1911 on the grave, so we are the people you're looking for. Today we returned after a long weekend in the Somme region where we visited the railway station at Pont Remy where Hawke Battalion arrived from Marseilles in May 1916 before transferring to Doudelainville. Once there, we visited William's grave again and left a replacement photo there on Sunday, 13 September. Yesterday we re-visited Thiepval and found out some very interesting facts from the Historian in the Visitors' Shop about the Hawke Battalion's movements after leaving Doudelainville and their involvement in battles on 1st July 1916 onwards, which is what Messrs. Stephenson, Hancock and Fenton would have faced had they survived the 2nd June accident. We were told in Thiepval that out of approximately 800 men of the Hawke Battalion some 519 were killed in that offensive. We still have to sort out exactly what information we were given about the Battalion's movements back and forth, with dates, in that area. We were also told that many of the RNVR Battalions' fallen (including Hawke) were in the Cemetery at Ancre, which we also visited. An out of the way cemetery quite close to Thiepval, but very well worth the visit. Once we've assimilated the info gained over the last few days, I will post another message with the details. It would be great to get photos of Messrs Hancock and Fencock to put with William's - any ideas anyone. I'm not very good at finding my way round this site yet, so would appreciate knowing if this message gets through to anyone. Thanks, Betty Jenkins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K Ronson Posted 18 September , 2009 Author Share Posted 18 September , 2009 Hello. The information got to me and was gratefully received. This is a message to Kevin, Bigfeet and all the other members of the Forum who have been posting information about the Hawke Battalion in France. My husband, Bill Jenkins, is the nephew of William Stephenson who was killed by a faulty Mills grenade on the 2nd June 1916 along with two comrades in Doudelainville. Four years ago we visited William's grave in Doudelainville and placed a photo of him and his family taken around 1911 on the grave, so we are the people you're looking for. Today we returned after a long weekend in the Somme region where we visited the railway station at Pont Remy where Hawke Battalion arrived from Marseilles in May 1916 before transferring to Doudelainville. Once there, we visited William's grave again and left a replacement photo there on Sunday, 13 September. Yesterday we re-visited Thiepval and found out some very interesting facts from the Historian in the Visitors' Shop about the Hawke Battalion's movements after leaving Doudelainville and their involvement in battles on 1st July 1916 onwards, which is what Messrs. Stephenson, Hancock and Fenton would have faced had they survived the 2nd June accident. We were told in Thiepval that out of approximately 800 men of the Hawke Battalion some 519 were killed in that offensive. We still have to sort out exactly what information we were given about the Battalion's movements back and forth, with dates, in that area. We were also told that many of the RNVR Battalions' fallen (including Hawke) were in the Cemetery at Ancre, which we also visited. An out of the way cemetery quite close to Thiepval, but very well worth the visit. Once we've assimilated the info gained over the last few days, I will post another message with the details. It would be great to get photos of Messrs Hancock and Fencock to put with William's - any ideas anyone. I'm not very good at finding my way round this site yet, so would appreciate knowing if this message gets through to anyone. Thanks, Betty Jenkins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 18 September , 2009 Share Posted 18 September , 2009 We were told in Thiepval that out of approximately 800 men of the Hawke Battalion some 519 were killed in that offensive. Not quite accurate. During the Hawke Bn.'s time on the Ancre in late 1916 about 150 men were k.i.a., m.i.a. or d.o.w. Many more were wounded, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valerie59 Posted 15 March , 2018 Share Posted 15 March , 2018 On 15/09/2009 at 20:35, Hawke Battalion said: This is a message to Kevin, Bigfeet and all the other members of the Forum who have been posting information about the Hawke Battalion in France. My husband, Bill Jenkins, is the nephew of William Stephenson who was killed by a faulty Mills grenade on the 2nd June 1916 along with two comrades in Doudelainville. Four years ago we visited William's grave in Doudelainville and placed a photo of him and his family taken around 1911 on the grave, so we are the people you're looking for. Today we returned after a long weekend in the Somme region where we visited the railway station at Pont Remy where Hawke Battalion arrived from Marseilles in May 1916 before transferring to Doudelainville. Once there, we visited William's grave again and left a replacement photo there on Sunday, 13 September. Yesterday we re-visited Thiepval and found out some very interesting facts from the Historian in the Visitors' Shop about the Hawke Battalion's movements after leaving Doudelainville and their involvement in battles on 1st July 1916 onwards, which is what Messrs. Stephenson, Hancock and Fenton would have faced had they survived the 2nd June accident. We were told in Thiepval that out of approximately 800 men of the Hawke Battalion some 519 were killed in that offensive. We still have to sort out exactly what information we were given about the Battalion's movements back and forth, with dates, in that area. We were also told that many of the RNVR Battalions' fallen (including Hawke) were in the Cemetery at Ancre, which we also visited. An out of the way cemetery quite close to Thiepval, but very well worth the visit. Once we've assimilated the info gained over the last few days, I will post another message with the details. It would be great to get photos of Messrs Hancock and Fencock to put with William's - any ideas anyone. I'm not very good at finding my way round this site yet, so would appreciate knowing if this message gets through to anyone. Thanks, Betty Jenkins Hope you get notifications. Book “Unknown warriors” isbn 9780750959223 is by the nurse who tended Fenton and Stephenson. She describes their dying words on page 202. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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