Lincolnshire Regiment 8th Bn

[renton.ukml]

Can anyone help me with futher info on a Private Thomas Pearson (service no 16712) who died on 28th April 1917.

I think he might have died at the battle of Arras. Any info on his regiment, where it was on the day he died would be most appreciated.

[Chris_Baker]

His Commonwealth War Graves Commission register entry (to save us all looking it up): http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...casualty=533310

8th Lincolns were in 63rd Brigade of 37th Division and were certainly in action in the Arras area.

Does anyone have their war diary for 28 April?

[Terence Munson]

8th Lincolns were in 63rd Brigade of 37th Division and were certainly in action in the Arras area.

Does anyone have their war diary for 28 April?

From Simpson's "History of The Lincolnshire Regiment 1914 - 1918" - The battles of Arras 1917, The Battle of Arleux 28th - 29th. Page 237:

28th April 1917, zero hour 4.20 am.

"The battalion diary of the 8th Lincolnshire contains no narative of the operations: "Battalion in attack. Left of brigade front," and then casualties.

The advance began punctually at zero hour, but owing to darkness and smoke from the barrage, which completely enveloped the troops, direction was lost. Instead of attacking Cuthbert Trench, the troops must have turned north and north east, for the trenches they attacked were Whip and Wish. Then happened a rather extraordinary thing: several of the attackers passed over and far beyound the two latter trenches, even beyond Why and Weak, nearly to Railway Copse. During this advance prisoners were taken and three or four batches were sent back, but were recaptured by the enemy probably about Weed Trench.

Gradually those who had advanced west of Cuthbert Trench returned as they were unsupported, and by nightfall the brigade was back in its original line.

Four officers missing and one wounded, twenty-two other ranks killed, one hundred and sixty-four wounded and one hundred and five missing were the casualties suffered by the 8th Lincolnshire in this attack. On the 29th when they had withdrawn from the line and reached Beaufort on the 30th they must have been a mere skeleton of a battalion, for they had lost four hundred and twenty-seven other ranks alone in two battles"

Cheers Terry

[jim_davies]

Enlisted around 13 May 1915.

Jim

[renton.ukml]

Thank you very much for all the info

[Guest]

We are also looking for information about Tom Pearson as we are planning to visit Gavrelle in April. Tom was the brother of my husband's grandfather. We would be interested to know of any connection you may have to Tom.