1st Bn. Royal Warwickshire Casualties

[Chris_B]

I'd appreciate any information about the events surrounding these two casualties in the 1st Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regt. One in 1914, the other in 1915. Perhaps someone with access to "The Story of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment" by C.L. Kingsford could help.

The two men's details are:

Walter Thomas BENTLEY

Name: BENTLEY, WALTER THOMAS

Initials: W T

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Lance Corporal

Regiment: Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Unit Text: 1st Bn.

Date of Death: 09/12/1914

Service No: 931

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 2 and 3.

Cemetery: PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL

KIA - Possibly Regular Army

David SLAYMAKER

Name: SLAYMAKER, DAVID

Initials: D

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment: Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Unit Text: 1st Bn.

Date of Death: 25/04/1915

Service No: 10420

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 8.

Cemetery: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

KIA, 2nd Day Battle of St.Julien, 2nd Ypres.

Both men are named on the Mitcham War Memorial.

With Thanks,

Chris.

[brindlerp]

page 138 from "The Story of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment" by C.L. Kingsford, for the period 09/12/1914.

Regards

Richard

[brindlerp]

page 144 from "The Story of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment" by C.L. Kingsford, for the period 25/04/1915.

Regards

Richard

[Chris_B]

Richard,

Thanks so much for posting the relevant scans from the "The Story of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment". Looks like Walter Bentley was a victim of the daily attrition in the trenches, whilst David Slaymaker's fate of men charging machine guns seems to be the story of the war. It makes me weep, and always leaves me asking the same question. Why did we fight bullets with men's breasts, over and over and over and over again?

Regards,

Chris.