Lance Corporal Henry Snelling, 8th Norfolks (Tivetshall) Killed in Action Westhoek August 1917

The edition of the Norwich Mercury dated Saturday October 6 1917 included this picture along with the caption Lance-Corpl H. Snelling, of Tivetshall, killed in action.

 

Lance Corporal SNELLING, HENRY

Service Number:……….16160

Died:…………………………. 11/08/1917

Unit:……………………………8th Bn.,Norfolk Regiment

Remembered……………Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/914254/snelling,-henry/

 

Soldiers Died in the Great War records that Lance Corporal Henry Snelling was Killed in Action on the 11th August 1917 whilst serving in France & Flanders with the 8th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. He was born Tivetshall, Norfolk, and enlisted Norwich. No place of residence is shown.

 

The Medal Index Card for Private 16160 Henry Snelling, Norfolk Regiment, is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/18/191857

discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D5310491

 

Some of his Service Records appear to have survived the incendiary attack during the Blitz on the Warehouse where all the Army Service Records were stored.

 

Henry Snelling, single, and a labourer was born on the 8th August 1891 at Tivetshall Norwich. He was 23 years and four months old when he attested at Norwich on the 4th November 1914 for three years with the colours. Henry was 5 feet 4 and a quarter inches tall and weighed 130lbs. He had a fresh complexion, with blue eyes and brown hair. His religion is given as Wesleyan. His next of kin was:-

Father…Colin Snelling….Tivetshall, Norfolk

Mother…Mary Snelling….Tivetshall, Norfolk

Sister….Florence(?) Snelling..Waybourne(? – poss Weybourne, Norfolk)

Brothers..Herbert Snelling

………….Colin Snelling

………….Joe Snelling

 

He was posted on the 7th November to the 8th (Service) Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment at Colchester and given service number 16160.In April 1915 the unit moved to Codford. From the 1st July 1915 to the 7th July 1915 he was in the military hospital at Codford with rheumatism.

 

He landed in France on the 25th July 1915. There is a note that reads something like G H Cl 11 Prof. Pay @ 3d per diem which was awarded from the 4th November 1916, so looks like he had some kind of skill or proficiency – I’m just not sure what it was.

 

On the 24th July 1917 he was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal with the 8th. On the 11th August 1917 he would be killed in action – place unknown. The next of kin notified on the 24th August 1917 was his father. At the time of his death there were no allocations being made from his pay, so most likely he never married.

 

He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His Medals and effects were to be sent to Mr. Colin Snelling of Tivetshall St Mary, Norfolk.

 

Post-war, when the government was looking to issue medals and pay war gratuities for those men who had died, the Army issued form W.5080 to the last notified next of kin. These forms asks for the details of the relatives who were still alive and follow the hierarchy for dealing with estates as the law then stood.

 

Widow of the Soldier: None

Children of the Soldier: None

 

Father of the Soldier: Colin Snelling. Tivetshall St Mary, Norwich.

Mother of the Soldier: Mary Snelling. Tivetshall St Mary, Norwich.

 

Brothers of the Soldier – Full Blood:

Colin Snelling. South Repps.

Elijah Snelling. In the army.

Joseph Snelling. In the army.

Hebert E Snelling. Tivetshall St Mary, Norwich.

 

Brothers of the Soldier – Half Blood: None.

 

Sisters of the Soldier – Full Blood:

Annie Maria Beales, aged 26, Weybourne, Holt.

 

Sisters of the Soldier – Half Blood: None.

 

Mary Snelling completed the form on the 3rd June 1919, and had it witnessed by the Rector of Tivetshall.

 

No missing person enquiry appears to have been received by the International Red Cross.

 

No match on Picture Norfolk, the County image Archive.

 

There is no obvious Soldiers Will or Civil Probate for this man.

 

Henry is remembered on the War Memorials at both Tivetshall St Mary and Tivetshall St Margaret.

www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/TivetshallStMary.html

www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/TivetshallStMargaret.html

 

The same memorials also list a Reginald Guy Snelling who died serving with the Royal Sussex Regiment in France in 1916.

 

 

8th August 1891 – birth?……………

 

Date from his Army service record. The birth of a Henry Snelling was registered with the Civil Authorities in the District of Depwade in Norfolk in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1891. Depwade Registration District included the civil parishes of Tivetshall St Mary and Tivetshall St. Margaret.

 

1901 Census of England and Wales

 

The 9 year old Henry Snelling, born Tivetshall St Mary, Norfolk, was recorded living at a dwelling on Rectory Road, Tivetshall, St Mary. This was the household of his parents, Colin, (aged 55, a Thatcher, born Tivetshall St. Margaret), and Mary, (aged 48, born Shelfanger, Norfolk). As well as Henry their other children still single and living at home were:-

Herbert “Edwd”…aged 17…born Tiveteshall St.Mary…Thatcher

Joseph Ernest……aged 14…born Tivetshall St Mary….Shop Boy

Maria…………….aged 13…born Tivetshall St Mary

Reginald…………aged 11…born Tivetshall St Mary

Elijah Harvey……aged 7. …born Tivetshall St Mary

 

1911 Census of England and Wales

 

The Snelling family were still living in Tivetshall St Mary, although the exact address is not recorded. Parents Colin, (65, Thatcher) and Mary, (57), have been married 29 years and have had 7 children, all then still alive. Still single and living at home were Herbert, (28, Thatcher), Annie M., (23, Post Office Assistant), Reginald G., (21, Boot Maker), Henry, (19, Farm Labourer), and Elijah H.

 

On the 1912 Norfolk Register of Electors, a Colin Snelling is recorded as entitled to vote in Parliamentary, County Council and Parish Council elections as he is a (male) householder of a dwelling house “Near Rectory”, Tivetshall St Mary.

www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HB4-6HH

 

 

On the day……………………..

 

Saturday 11th August 1917 - Day 12 Third Ypres

 

Westhoek

 

18th Div

 

During the relief of 7th Bedfords by 8th Norfolks at 4.30am the Germans attacked and captured a pillbox. The Norfolks recaptured it at 6am.

forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/showthread.php?t=11535

 

The 8th Norfolks were at Canal Reserve Camp for a week, still under heavy enemy shelling and gas attacks. On 10th August with the weather still appalling and the ground a morass, they returned with the rest of the 53rd Brigade to Inverness Copse to relive the 54th Brigade.

 

"Barely had the 8th Norfolks relieved the Fusiliers and Bedfords at 4.15 a.m. on the 11th, the enemy penetrated our line and carried a strongpoint. The Norfolks had come up from Canal Reserve Camp and had been on their legs for twelve hours. The reverse stung them into fresh feats of endurance. Without a barrage they pressed forward and by 6 o'clock (a.m.), under Captain Morgan's leadership, had retaken the post and released several of their comrades and two of our machine guns."

richarddace.website/pdf/SADs War.pdf

 

One of the appendices to the Battalion War Diary for August is “A Short Narrative describing the part played by the 8th (Service) Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment in the Ypres Operations between the 10th and 17th August 1917.”

 

At about 7.30 am on the 10th August, a warning message was received from the Brigade to the effect that the Battalion was to be ready to proceed to the CHATEAU SEGARD area and possibly up to the trenches in front of INVERNESS COPSE, to take part in an attack at about 7pm in order to capture the N.W corner of this wood, which objective, the 55th Infantry Brigade had been unable to take in their attack that morning. At about 8.30am orders were received for the Battalion to move at once to the CHATEAU SEGARD area. This move was completed by 11.30am. The Battalion remained in this area until 2pm with the Commanding Officer and Adjutant at Divisional Headquarters. We were then ordered to move to the Ritz Street area, were we would come under the orders of G.O.C 54th Infantry Brigade. This move was completed by 3.30pm, the Commanding Officer and Adjutant joining the Battalion at about 6pm, at 54th Inf. Bde. HQ.

 

Orders were then received from the G.O.C 54th Inf. Bde., that the Battalion, together with the 6th Royal Berkshire Regiment, was to take over the front of the 54th Inf.Bde., with as little delay as possible. Company commanders were therefore sent off at once to reconnoitre the line. On their return, the G.O.C 54th Inf. Bde., owing to a report that the enemy were concentrating for a counter attack, ordered two Companies to move at once to the line. This move was carried out by one Company of the 6th Royal Berkshire Regiment and one Company of the 8th Norfolk Regt. Owing to the difficulty of the 54th Inf. Bde. , in supplying guides, the remainder of the Battalion did not move up until 7.30pm. Orders were then issued to the Commanding Officer to the following effect:-

1) That on arrival at the front line, he was to take command of all units then in the line,

11) In the event of the situation becoming critical and the enemy developing an attack or capturing part of the line then held, he was to counter attack with the 6th Royal Berkshire Regiment, holding the 8th Norfolk Regiment in reserve.

111) That the JARGON TRENCH line as far as J.14.a.5.6 - the strong point J.14.a.3.2 - and thence to J.13.d.9.9 (The YPRES - MENIN ROAD exclusive), was to held at all costs.

1V) That he was to remain in Command until the completion of the relief, when he would come under orders of the G.O.C 53rd Infantry Brigade.

 

On receipt of these orders, the Commanding Officer at once moved up to the forward Battalion Headquarters, situated in the TUNNEL at the bend in the YPRES - MENIN Road. On arrival he found that the O.C of the 6th Royal Berkshire Regiment had been brought up in short time previously by a guide of the 54th Infantry Brigade, had commenced to take over the JARGON TRENCH Line as far South as J.14.a.5.6 and had sent on “A” Company of the 8th Norfolk Regt., to endeavour to take over the strongpoint at J.14.a.3.2 and the switch trench between this strong point and JARGON Trench at J.14.a.5.6. The Commanding Officer had previously decided that the dispositions of the Battalion were to be as follows:-

 

“A” Company in the front line from J.14.a.5.6 to the strong point (inclusive) J.14.a.3.2.

 

“D” Company in the front line from the strong point (exclusive) to J.13.d.9.9 (The YPRES - MENIN Road exclusive), “B” Company in support and “C” Company in reserve in the trench system around SURBITON VILLAS.

 

The remaining Companies, therefore, followed after “A” Company, but owing to the darkness, the lack of guides, and the confusion in the trenches held by the 54th Infantry Brigade, due to the heavy fighting which had taken place that day, the relief was carried out under very trying conditions, and although the relief was reported complete at about 3 am, it would appear that elements of the 11th Royal Fusiliers, 7th Bedford Regiment, 5th Northants Regiment and 2 Machine Gun teams were still holding a line approximately from J.14.a.35.20 to J.35.a.35.16, and there were also a few of the 11th Royal Fusiliers between “A” and “D” Companies at approximately J.14.a.30.18.

 

At about 4.15 am on the 11th August, the enemy commenced a light barrage on the front line. At 4.30 am this barrage became intense, and under cover of this the enemy launched an attack in strength on the strong point and the line held by the Battalion. Within a short time, the officer commanding 11th Royal Fusiliers who had still remained at Battalion Headquarters until all his men were out of the front line, reported that the enemy had penetrated that portion of the strong point held by the men of his Battalion. As soon as the S.O.S Signal, which had been sent up from the front line at 4.35am was reported to the Commanding Officer, orders were issued to “B” Company to hold themselves in readiness to counter-attack immediately. A message then being received from the platoon Sergeant of the right platoon of “A” Company, stating that the right flank of this Company had been driven back, but the left was still holding on, the Commanding Officer ordered “C” Company to counter attack at once and re-capture the strong point and any portion of the switch trench N.E. of the Strong Point that had been occupied by the enemy. On going forward and finding that the enemy who were in occupation of the strong point had brought 4 Machine Guns into action and appeared to be in considerable strength, the Commanding Officer decided to strike with his reserve Company, (“B” Company), simultaneously with “C” Company who were striking from the immediate front. Under covering fire of Lewis guns and snipers, with assistance from one platoon of the 6th Royal Berkshires, this attack was carried out by sectional rushes and the strong point recaptured and consolidated. The counter attack had been launched at 5.25am and the position was again in our hands by 6 am, together with 9 prisoners, our own two machine guns and elements of the garrison which had been captured by the enemy. This attack was carried out over the open over a distance of 600 yards through very difficult country under direct observation from the strong point, and owing to the fact that the enemy was then in possession of the high ground, he was able to sweep the whole line of advance of the attack with machine gun and rifle fire. After our counter attack had been launched, the enemy’s artillery and machine gun fire slackened considerably on the front of the right Company and this Company was able to give excellent covering fire for the troops carrying out the counter attack, thus inflicting by enfilade fire very heavy losses on the enemy who were running about in the open and endeavouring to form up between the Strong Point and INVERNESS COPSE.

 

At about 8.30 am, on receiving definite information about the situation, the Commanding Officer decided to re-organise the Companies in the line. Accordingly “A” Company took over that portion of the line from the strong point (exclusive) to J.14.a.5.6, “C” Company, (who were considerably weakened by casualties), the strong point, “B” Company from the strong point (exclusive) to J.13.d.9.9 (The YPRES-MENIN Road exclusive): “D” Company were withdrawn from the line into reserve in the area around SURBITON VILLAS.

 

During the evening of the 11th and the night of the 11th/12th, the enemy made several attempts to recapture this strong point but was easily driven off on each occasion, the position having been wired and consolidated in the meantime.

 

During the morning of the 12th August the situation remained unchanged. In the afternoon, information was received that the 9th London Regiment (Q.V.R.) would relieve the Battalion in the line from J.14.a.5.6 as far South as the Strong Point at J.14.a.3.2 (inclusive), and that the 8th Suffolk Regiment would take over the remainder of the Battalion front. The relief was completed by 10.30 p.m. and the Battalion moved to Railway dug-outs.

 

The night of the 12/13th August and the day of the 13th August were spent in resting at Railway Dug-outs.

(There are more pages to be transcribed, time permitting).

 

Casualties from Noon 10th to Noon 11th

Officers: 1 killed , 7 wounded. Other ranks: 42 killed, 3 died of wounds, 87 wounded

Casualties from Noon 11th to Noon 12th

Other ranks: 2 killed, 12 wounded.

 

 

Mildly photoshopped to minimise impact of damage present on the original image.

 

Done