Private Robert Bradshaw Kings (Liverpool Regt) 6th Bat

[Guest]

Hi all

I am looking for any further info on Private Robert Bradshaw 242616. He served with the King's Liverpool Regiment 6th Battalion until he was killed in action on 23rd November 1917.

His death is listed as France and Flanders then I found he is buried in Tincourt New British Cemetery, Somme.

Any info on the movements of his battalion or service records etc would be gratefully received.

regards

Anthony

[daggers]

6th Battalion, The King's (Liverpool Regiment) were territorials, based at Princes Park Barracks, Upper Warwick Street. They carried the sub-title 'Rifles' and were considered 'smart'.

On 10 Sep 1914 a second line battalion was formed, which became 2/6th, with most of the original becoming 1/6th, in which your man served.

1/6th crossed to France on 25 Feb 1915 and became part of 15th brigade, 5th Division. In Nov 1915 they became Army troops, but in Jan 1916 they moved into 165th Brigade, in 55th (West Lancs) Division which was almost entirely from the Liverpool area.

The division was involved in the Battle of Cambrai, 1917 (20 Nov-3 Dec) which included the capture of Bourlon Wood, which is dated 23rd-28th November 1917. It seems likely that this is where your man met his fate.

The 'Story of the 55th Division', by its senior chaplain, Rev J.O. Coop wll tell you more. I think there is a reprint available. There is another publication about the ethos of this battalion, but someone else will be able to give you more detail.

You should also look at this site:

http://www.liverpoolregt.co.uk/Index.html#

Click on the 1/6th Battalion option, then scroll down the names to Bradshaw, Robert...

D

[Amor]

Anthony,

His casualty and MIC details are available in ancestry:

Name: Robert Bradshaw

Birth Place: Formby, Lancs

Residence: Formby

Death Date: 23 Nov 1917

Death Location: France & Flanders

Enlistment Location: Formby Rank:

Private Regiment: King's (Liverpool Regiment)

Battalion: 6th Battalion

Number: 242616

Type of Casualty: Died

Theatre of War: Western European Theatre

If you have not already done so, you will probably be able to find information on his battalion's movements here:

http://www.1914-1918.net/kings.htm

Rgds,

Alex

[sotonmate]

Anthony

The place of burial for this soldier was also a base for Casualty Clearing Stations at the time,so it is possible that he died of wounds,though the SDGW entry just says Died so he may have been sick.Tincourt Cemetery also has quite a few re-burials from smaller cemeteries which were concentrated into it after the Armistice.You can read about this from the CWGC site:

http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=25100&mode=1

The 1/6 Bn War Diary is a digital one and can be downloaded from the National Archives Catalogue for 3.50. It runs from Jan 1916 to Apr 1919.From your subject's number he probably entered the war in 1917,and maybe was enlisted earlier in that year as the number is in a re-numbering series and he hasn't a previous number on his Medal Index Card.

Sotonmate

[Guest]

Thank you so much for all your help !

On going onto Liverpoolregt.co.uk I found out all of his movements in the first world war. Thanks daggers !

Robert Bradshaw was the second of five soldier brothers two of whom died during the war - his brother Private George Bradshaw was killed with the Cheshire Regt.

He embarked Southampton 8/12/16 for Boulogne and joined 24 Infantry Base Depot on 9/12/16.

He Left Base for Battalion 13/12/16 and attended a Musketry Course between 20/12/16 and 4/1/17.

Admitted 1/3 West Lancashire Field Ambulance 18/5/17 (inflammation of the connective tissue of the neck).

Admitted 17 Casualty Clearing Station 25/5/17.

Admitted 83 General Hospital 27/5/17 (cellulitis).

To No 2 Convalescent Depot 29/5/17.

Joined 24 Inf Base Depot 10/6/17.

Rejoined Battalion 20/6/17.

Admitted 2/1 Wessex Field Ambulance 21/11/17 (tetanus) - he had scratched his hand on barbed wire.

Admitted 5 Casualty Clearing Station 21/11/17.

Died from tetanus 22/11/17

So my poor Great Grand Uncle seemed to spend most of his war being injured and then died by scratching his hand on barbed wire !!!!!

[SWorrall]

I know that you're ancestor was 1/6th Kings (Liverpool), but the 2/6th Kings had a regimental history authored by Captain C. E. Wurtzburg. Available from good booksellers.

And if your interests are across the Great War experiences of the battalions of the Kings (Liverpool) more generally then there is also a 3-volume set of the Regimental History.

Not as expensive as you might think....

Simon.

[Guest]

Thanks Simon. I will have a look