One hundred and one years ago today

[RaySearching]

One hundred and one years ago today Pte 3/7727 having crossed the Canal Du Nord two days earlier

finally paid the ultimate sacrifice

 

Thomas on his wedding day

 

LAWRENCE THOMAS HORNBY  M,M    ( M.M L/G 17th Sept 1917)

Private THOMAS HORNBY LAWRENCE

3/7727 2nd Bn Yorkshire Regiment

Thomas was killed in action aged 23 on the 29th September1918 during an advance, commencing the 27th of September

He was the son of William and Lydia Lawrence (nee Hornby) and the husband of Louisa Lawrence (nee Blackburn) the couple married in Middlesbrough in 1915 having one child Wilfred Blackburn Lawrence

His widow Louisa married Thomas’s brother Samuel in 1919 in Middlesbrough

Thomas can be found on the 1911 census aged 16 residing with his parents at 43 Pierson Street South Bank employed as a labourer in Dorman Long steelworks

The register of soldiers effects list his widow Louisa and son Wilfred as the legatees of his effects

The claimant of a dependents pension is listed as widow Louisa born 12/01/1897 of 46 Cleveland Street South Bank

Born South Bank enlisted Middlesbrough

SUCRERIE CEMETERY EPINOY          (South Bank war memorial)

 

The 2nd Bn Yorkshire Regiment crossed the Canal Du Nord near Baralle about 1 pm on the 27th

The battalion commenced to attack the village of Epinoy about 3pm moving forward in columns

of platoons by 6 pm the village had been reached  the advance being much slower than intended

Epinoy was found to be still defended by two or three machine guns the battalion suffering from

enfilade fire before the guns were silenced.  By 7.15 that evening the village was in British hands

the battalion capturing some one hundred prisoners, field and machine guns

The battalion casualties during the advance of the 27th being one officer killed, two wounded, seven other ranks killed, 46 wounded, five missing

 On the 28th the battalion’s position was consolidated on the 29th the battalion pushed forward on two occasions in the attack but was forced to withdraw due to heavy machine gun fire and heavy gas shelling

The battalion suffering many casualties The total casualties sustained by the battalion from the 27th to 29th being 8 officers and 185 other ranks

 On the 30th the battalion were relieved, moving to brigade reserve

 

Note His brother Samuel enlisted into the Royal Navy on the 30th August 1910 (Stoker S.S.110201) serving with the Royal Navy until 1919, when he was discharged from service having completed his term of engagement

 

Ray

 

Edited 29 September , 2019 by RaySearching

[GWF1967]

[phil andrade]

Ray,

 

Intrigued as to the fate of the five men reported missing on the fighting of the 27th September.

 

Unlikely that many were taken prisoner by the Germans, as they had been in the spring ; but the advance allowed for better accounting of dead or wounded : in the previous years, the men reported missing were, all too often, dead.  Maybe the speed and relentlessness of the successful attacks were themselves disruptive to the method of casualty reporting.

 

Phil