JohnBelcher Posted 30 October , 2006 Share Posted 30 October , 2006 Tracing the names on the Chippenham war memorial have come across an article in the Wiltshire times for 10 October 1914 about L/Cpl James Webb. A Brave Soldier’s Death Mrs Webb of Frogwell, Chippenham, widow of L/Cpl Webb of the 1st Wiltshire Regiment, who was killed in action at the front on August 26th has by means of a letter received from Pte J Britten, now in Charing Cross Hospital, a chum of L/Cpl Webb, received some additional particulars of her husbands death: - Pte Britten who is a native of Derry Hill, Chippenham writes: "I knew that L/Cpl that you mentioned in your letter, but I am sorry to break the news to you that the poor chap got Killed in action at Cambrai on Wednesday 26th August. He was Killed in action by a shell from the Germans about 8.30am. The one you spoke about had a locket around his neck and had two photos in it; so you can see that I knew him, he used to work in the foundry. We went into action about 3 o’clock in the morning and the Germans very nearly surrounded us, so you can see we were in a tight corner. As I was crawling along I noticed him and he was hit in the head, poor chap. I should have taken the locket off only I had no chance as the Germans were on top of us. We only lost about 10 at Mons, that was in one trench, although we were shelled all the time by them devils." The writer adds that he and L/Cpl Webb went to Belgium together. Wilts Times 31 October 1914 Also in the same paper was the Casualty list dated 26 Aug 1914 6922 L/Cpl J Webb, wife of Meadowfield, Frogwell, Chippenham. Killed in action in action. 26 Aug is listed as the "Battle of CIPLY" according to the Wilts Regt war diary. Is this near Cambrai? Yet in 1917 in the In Memory colum of the paper, Mrs Webb said that he killed on the 24th Aug 1914 In loving memory of My dear husband L/Cpl James Webb. 1st Wiltshires who fell in the battle of Mons, August 24th 1914. Ever remembered by his Wife and darling Child. Could we have raised his dying head. And heard his last farewell. The grief would not have seemed so hard To those who loved him so well. Also remembered by his loving Father, Mother, Sisters and Brothers. Frogwell Farm Chippenham. Wilts Times 25 August 1917 The same date is given in 1918 In loving memory of L/Cpl Webb who was Killed in action in action in the battle of Mons August 24th 1914. Yet Webb is not listed on the Town's memorials nor is he listed by the CWGC or SDGW, well not as far as I can see. Could Pte Britten have been mistaken and Webb was not killed but wounded and spent the rest of the war as a PoW? If this was the case would have his wife not have been informed of this? It appears that she still believed he was dead up to Aug 1918. Any suggestions or comments gratefully recieved. Many thanks in advance John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 30 October , 2006 Share Posted 30 October , 2006 John There is an entry in the Medal Rolls for L/Cpl James WEBB 6922 1st Wiltshire Regt under WO372/21. The image reference is 59412/14203. The medal card is downloadable for the charge of 3.50. Best wishes Sotomate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 30 October , 2006 Share Posted 30 October , 2006 John CIPLY is about 4 kms south of MONS in Belgium,and quite a way (50 kms)north east of CAMBRAI. Sotonmate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tombowcock Posted 30 October , 2006 Share Posted 30 October , 2006 John CIPLY is about 4 kms south of MONS in Belgium,and quite a way (50 kms)north east of CAMBRAI. Sotonmate Hi John, Certainly an interesting one you've got there. My hard copy of SDGW for the Wilts does not show a fatality for James Webb. As I'm sure you have already checked nor does the CWGC site. After the battle of Mons, some regiments retreated to CIPLY and on towards Cambrai. I guess it is possible that the eye witness did not know where he was, but knew he was heading for Cambrai, and therefore said he was at Cambrai. I would not be suprised to find that he was injured and taken POW, otherwise this may be a missing man from all eneteries either SDGW or CWGC. It may be worth trawling the Wiltshire papers further especially towards the end of the war when POW's started to return. Not sure wether Kew would have lists of known POW's ? Best of Luck James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBelcher Posted 30 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 30 October , 2006 Sotonmate Thanks for the reply re the medal roll and the location of Ciply. I would tend agree that Britten didn't really know where he was when he described the action and might have got confused. I take it the Medal roll would confirm that he was eligible for the medals rather than date of death etc? James Thanks for your reply - I have gone through the papers up to 1920 and have not found anything more on Webb. That's not to say that I didn't miss the entry though. I have used the CD version of SDGW and played around with names and date combinations but no joy. Thanks again for your help John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 30 October , 2006 Share Posted 30 October , 2006 John Yes,entitlement to medals. I am puzzling as to whether I have seen a card somewhere with a KIA date on it, but I am sure that there are people here who will confirm if this is a frequent practice. Sotonmate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tombowcock Posted 30 October , 2006 Share Posted 30 October , 2006 James Thanks for your reply - I have gone through the papers up to 1920 and have not found anything more on Webb. That's not to say that I didn't miss the entry though. I have used the CD version of SDGW and played around with names and date combinations but no joy. Thanks again for your help John Hi John, This man definetly died in 1914. There is a death certificate issued for him as follows:- L/Cpl James Webb - 6932 - Wiltshire Regiment War Deaths 1914 - 1921 for the year 1914 Volume I.58 Page 155. You should be able to get a copy of the death cert from that reference. As he was a Frogwell Farm, was that in the Parish of Chippenham, or is it possible that he might be on Corsham or Biddestone memorials ? But even still he does not seem to be on SDGW or CWGC. Good Hunting James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted 30 October , 2006 Share Posted 30 October , 2006 John, 1914 star medal Webb, J Pte 6922 embarked 14-8-1914 1st Btn, Killed 24-8-1914 1/122 silver war medal roll state Webb , James , L/Cpl 6922 1st Wiltsjoined as Private. Killed in action 24-8-1914. vols 1540,1548 1914 star medal Britten J ,Pte 7057 embarked 14-8-1914, 1//14. silver war medal Private Britten ,James 7057, 1st Wilts, To the reserves classZ, 21-2-1919 vols 1538, 198 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBelcher Posted 31 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 31 October , 2006 James Many thanks for confirming the details and giving the ref to the Death Certificate. Frogwell is in the Parish of Chippenham Without but there are a number of men from that parish on the main memorial. So still not sure what happened there nor his non-CWGC or SDGW entries. Chaz Thanks for the details from the medal card. Thanks again to all for your help in tracing the details. Now to find out where he is buried......but guess he will end up on a memorial if his death is accepted by the CWGC and they record him. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBelcher Posted 27 March , 2007 Author Share Posted 27 March , 2007 Just to add to this topic. I was out looking at memorials round Melksham today and found the church at Atworth was open. Inside I found a memorial plaque to Webb. The plaque confirms the details that I already had and those given by members in this topic. Now even more confused though as his name is listed as having served but not being killed on the war memorial in the village. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 27 March , 2007 Share Posted 27 March , 2007 John best to transfer this over to the non commemorated sub forum in cemeteries & memorials - you will get all the advice you need there to LCpl Webb commemorated by the CWGC Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBelcher Posted 28 March , 2007 Author Share Posted 28 March , 2007 Added the photo and details to the Possible non-commemorations - Webb topic Cheers John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob@apetts.freeserve.co.uk Posted 28 March , 2007 Share Posted 28 March , 2007 Yes, my Gt Uncle was KIA and it was recorded on his medal card. Rob John Yes,entitlement to medals. I am puzzling as to whether I have seen a card somewhere with a KIA date on it, but I am sure that there are people here who will confirm if this is a frequent practice. Sotonmate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbryt Posted 9 November , 2013 Share Posted 9 November , 2013 a l/corp John James Head 8479 kia 27 oct 1914 1st wilts aged 30 is listed on the memorial plaque Milton Lilbourne church Mons Star Only 10 casualties from this village 1914-18 and I am am trying to get together little biographies for a planned war memorial; we have only the church plaque update no known grave listed on Le Touret memorial panel 33 and 34 born in Milton Lilbourne, lived in Pewsey enlisted Devizes killed La Bassee, Mons Star Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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