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Remembered Today:

Harry Abernethy


IanA

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I wouldn't bother posting this but I know that there are one or two pals out there who are very hot shots when it comes to Grenadier Guards so here goes......

Lance Corporal Harry Abernethy 26799 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards was killed in December 1917 and is buried (I think the only CWGC grave) in Gonnelieu Communal Cemetery. I obviously have the CWGC site details but I don't know whether there are any further details on SDGW. There is a photo of his headstone in one of the Battleground series books (I have a broken ankle just now so I am not staggering upstairs to find out which one :( ).

I am hoping to visit his grave when I go out there in October. Does anyone have any further information for me? Any idea why he was buried in splendid isolation in Gonnelieu?

All contributions most gratefully received.

Ian

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Hello

Born, lived and enlsited in Liverpool

Ian

post-3871-1152438872.jpg

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Ian,

Thanks for this. I assume what you have sent me is the standart printout for SDGW.

The family originally came from Stromness but, yes, he (like me) was a scouser.

Incidentally, do you reckon Ian is the commonest name on the list? :D

Cheers,

Ian

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Ponsonby says on Dec 1st No3 Company under Capt Burke manged to get into the village of Gonnelieu but it seemed impregnable against Infantry unsupported by tanks or artillery. Lt Hardinge and a few men managed to get a Lewis team into the Cemetery.German counter attacks made their postion untenable and they had to pull out.

Fighting continued in other parts of the village until such heavy losses and a further counter attack forced the Company to withdraw.

The same day Capt Paton of No4 Company won his VC.

I wonder if L/Cpl Abernathy was one of those with the Lewis Gun in the Cemetery and was buried where he fell?

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Thanks Owen D.

This is the sort of gold I was hoping for.

Ian

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Hello

Yes its the format of the soldiers died CD

Ian

And I prefer to think as Ian being a popular name rather than common :P:lol:

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  • 7 years later...
Guest grahamapt

Investigating my paternal grandfather, George William Thompson DOB 1/3/1898. I knew him well but he never spoke about his War experience. He was in 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards.

He was wounded in Gonnelieu on 5th October 1916. He lost an arm and a thumb. I am gathering information about him for my grandchildren.

Any information would be appreciated.

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  • Admin

Investigating my paternal grandfather, George William Thompson DOB 1/3/1898. I knew him well but he never spoke about his War experience. He was in 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards.

He was wounded in Gonnelieu on 5th October 1916. He lost an arm and a thumb. I am gathering information about him for my grandchildren.

Any information would be appreciated.

Hi and welcome to the forum, it's generally considered good form, and inevitably more useful to start your own thread :thumbsup:

The service records for the Grenadier Guards are available from the Regimental HQ for a fee http://www.theguardsmuseum.com/Family-Research.

The war diary is available as a download from TNA for £3.30 http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C7351850

Suggest you also look at the parent site the Long Long Trail 'Research a Soldier' link top left.

Ken

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