Lost Relative.

[Sharonp]

I am researching my family history and came across a relative that is MIA presumed dead, he is William Joseph Jones Private 24510 1/6bn South Staffordshire Regiment. Date of Death 3rd Oct 1918. He is on the Vis-en-Artois memorial in France. As he is posted missing presumed dead and he is shown on a memorial the date of death is this and accurated date of death of when he was posted missing. Also is there anybody who could shed some light on where his regiment was and what they were doing when he died.

If anybody could help it would be greatly appreciated.

Sharon P

[Blackblue]

Welcome Sharon,

The 1/6th South Staffs were part of the 137th Infantry Brigade, 46th Division.

From CWGC which you probably already have:

Casualty Details

Name: JONES, WILLIAM JOSEPH

Initials: W J

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment: South Staffordshire Regiment

Unit Text: "A" Coy. 1st/6th Bn.

Age: 23

Date of Death: 03/10/1918

Service No: 24510

Additional information: Son of Alfred Joseph and Sarah Jane Jones, of 328, Stoney Lane, Smethwick, Staffs.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 6 and 7.

Cemetery: VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL

From Soldiers Died in the Great War:

Confirms born and enlisted in Smethwick.

On the day he died the 1/6th South Staffs were involved in The Battle of Beaurevoir. The Beaurevoir Line was the last of a series of German defensive lines known collectively by the Allies as the Hindenburg Line. It was approximately eight kilometres to the rear of the main Hindenburg Line and consisted of thick barbed wire entanglements and well-sited machine and anti-tank gun bunkers. The bulk of the trenches, however, were only partly dug. The original attack on the Hindenburg Line launched on 29 September had been intended to smash right through the Beaurevior Line as well, but had not succeeded in this objective. Along with the 46th British Division, the 2nd Australian Division was ordered to breakthrough the Beaurevoir Line on 3 October 1918. The Australians were to seize the village of Beaurevoir, and the British Montbrehain. The Australian attack was a success, but was stopped short of the village due to insecure flanks. The British 46th Division captured Montbrehain, but were unable to retain it. After an ill-fated attempt to capture Beaurevoir on 4 October, the 6th Australian Brigade was launched against Montbrehain the next morning. The village was secure by the end of the day, but came at the expense 430 casualties - a cost regarded as excessively high for such a limited objective. The action at Montbrehain was the last battle fought by Australian infantry during the war.

Hope this helps. It is a general account....someone may have a regimental history of access to the war diary and be able to assist further.

Rgds

Tim D

[Blackblue]

Sharon,

Found this information in another post courtesy of Roy.

You can buy 'The War History of the 6th Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment' on CD Rom for a very reasonable sum from:

www.midlandshistoricaldata.org

Rgds

Tim

[Sharonp]

Sharon,

Found this information in another post courtesy of Roy. 

You can buy 'The War History of the 6th Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment' on CD Rom for a very reasonable sum from:

www.midlandshistoricaldata.org

Rgds

Tim

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Sharonp]

Sharon,

Found this information in another post courtesy of Roy. 

You can buy 'The War History of the 6th Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment' on CD Rom for a very reasonable sum from:

www.midlandshistoricaldata.org

Rgds

Tim

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Sharonp]

Hi Tim,

Thank you for your quick reply you have been very helpful.

Just one last question, my grandfather Walter McGee Oxford was in the 1st North Staffs Reg No 9404 he then become reg No 91093 Royal Enginners, how come he became a Royal Engineer.

Thank you

Sharon.

[Blackblue]

Could be a number of reasons Sharon,

Often men were sent home after wounding or illness and were then drafted into another unit or corps when fit again. In many cases transfers to the RE were medical downgrades. It may be that he was no longer fit for front line infantry service and was transferred to the RE on some task which did not require that standard of fitness. It may be the case that he possessed a particular skill, such as a miner or a railwayman, that was desirous to the RE and been transferred straight accross from 1 North Staffs. Or then again it may be as simple as him being transferred because the RE needed men, and the 1 North Staffs were instructed to provide them.

Rgds

Tim

[Sharonp]

Thanks Tim for all your help,

Sharon