Martham War Memorial WW1 - Panel 1

With grateful acknowledgement to the Roll of Honour (RoH) web-site that served as the starting point for my research.

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

 

Allen, Frederick………………………………………………(RoH)

 

Driver 60648. "B" Battery, 57th Brigade Royal Field Artillery. Died on 31st March 1919. Aged 33. Son of John Frederick and Jane Allen, of Martham, Norfolk; husband of Beatrice Allen, of 142, Colney Hatch Lane, Muswell Hill, London. Buried: Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Greece. Ref. 1329.

 

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=340311

 

Picture Norfolk – no match

 

1901 Census. There is a 15 year old Frederick E, born Martham, Norfolk, whose relationship to the head of the household, John S Waddell, (aged 30 Grocer, Draper and Clothier Shop Keeper from Stirling, Scotland) is recorded as a Servant. However his occupation is given as Assistant Grocer and Draper. The household concerned is Bon Marche, Snape Road, Leiston, Suffolk – which sounds like the family and shop assistants were living on the premises. John Waddell has four children, the youngest of which is only one, all of whom were born Martham. He has three other live-in shop assistants, with one of them born Martham – sounds very much like he moved wholesale from a shop in Martham within the last 12 months.

 

As Frederick wasn’t living with his family, I went back to the 1891 census, when the 5 year old Frederick was living at White Street, Martham. This was the household of his parents, John, (aged 31 and a Prudential Assurance Agent from Southwark, Surrey) and Sarah, (aged 30 and from Upton, Norfolk). Their other children are:-

Jane…………..aged 7………….born Martham

Walter………..aged 4………….born Martham

Alice…………aged u/1………..born Martham

 

Additional info (November 2015) - see comments below

 

 

Bracey, William Daniel………………………………………….(RoH)

 

Private 19913. 7th Battalion Norfolk Regiment. Died of wounds on 8th May 1917. Aged 19. Born Martham. Enlisted Gt. Yarmouth. Son of Albert Ernest and Henrietta Bracey, of Morse House, Martham, Norfolk. Buried: Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais, France. Ref. V. D. 26.

 

CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=283548

 

Picture Norfolk – no match

 

1911 Census. There is a William Bracey born Martham circa 1898 who was recorded in the Flegg District that covers the village. He doesn’t appear to be on the 1901 census. Absent also is Albert and Henrietta. Henrietta is on the 1911 census in the Flegg district but there is still no Albert.

 

The Commonwealth section of the FAUBOURG D'AMIENS CEMETERY was begun in March 1916, behind the French military cemetery established earlier. It continued to be used by field ambulances and fighting units until November 1918. The cemetery was enlarged after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields and from two smaller cemeteries in the vicinity.

www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=28800&...

 

The Battalion had sustained a number of casualties in an attack on the 29th/30th April and Private Bracey could have been one of those. They returned to the same sector of the front between the 4th to 8th May, with casualties every day - the Battle of Arras was winding down into a stalemate.

 

Extract from the Battalion War Diary for this last period.

 

4th May 1917 Monchy Wood.

News was received this morning that the attack made by the 36th + 37th Infantry Brigades had been unsuccessful. A slight advance had been made by the 36th Infantry Bde. At 9 pm tonight the 35th Infantry Bde relieved the 37th Infantry Bde with the 7:Norolk regt in the front line, 9:Essex Regt in support. 7:Suffolk Regt + 5:R.Berks Regt in reserve. The 7:Norfolk Regt relieved the Queens + Royal W. Kents in RIFLE TRENCH+MONCHY TRENCH with Battn HQ in MONCHY WOOD. Relief was complete by twelve midnight.

(Side note - On the way up to the front line, the Bn came under heavy shelling. 2nd Lieut C F W Nash was wounded, O.R’s 1 killed, 6 wounded).

 

5th May 1917 Monchy Wood 11pm

There has been no work done on the trenches since the 7:Norfolk Regt was relieved on April 30th and it is still dangerous to go to the front line from Bn HQ in daylight. Tonight large working parties of the Essex Regt, Pioneers and R.Es beside our own parties are working on new trenches and on the C.T to the Front Line. 2nd Lieut. H English was wounded by rifle fire while out supervising the digging of a new trench.

 

6th May 1917 Monchy Wood. 11pm.

The enemy shelled MONCHY TRENCH (Support Line) and the vicinity of Bn HQ during the day, knocking out a Vickers Gun crew and causing two casualties to ourselves - 1 killed + 1 wounded. Working is in progress tonight as last night and all trenches should be complete by daylight tomorrow.

 

7th May 1917 Monchy Wood. 11pm.

The enemy bombarded our Support Line and Bn HQ intensely + at short intervals throughout last night + this morning. Retaliation was obtained from our Field Guns + Heavies.

2nd Lieut K R POTTER, commanding “A” Coy, was wounded by shrapnel in the face during the afternoon.

At about 10 pm the 5’ Royal Berkshire Regt.began to relieve the 7’Norfolk Regt in the front line. Our relief companies moved off independently to the BROWN LINE.

 

8th May 1917 Brown Line 11pm.

About 1 am this morning, the enemy shelled the BROWN LINE. Major H L GIELGUD was wounded in the shoulder and later 3 men were killed and 12 others severely wounded. The remainder of the day has passed uneventfully. The batteries in rear of BROWN LINE were shelled at intervals but we have sustained no further casualties. We found a working party of 250 other ranks for work under OC 7’ Suffolk Regt at 9pm tonight.

 

Additional info (November 2015) - see comments below

 

 

Brown, Arthur………………………………………………………(RoH)

 

RoH - No further information available at present.

 

Picture Norfolk – no match

 

Arthur’s recorded in the Flegg District on the 1911 census

Arthur born Winterton circa 1903

Reginald Arthur born Caister on Sea circa 1902

 

Update November 2015 - now identified - see comments below

 

Brunson (Arthur) Frederick………………………………………..(RoH)

 

Second Hand 519 SA. H.M.S. City of London Royal Naval Reserve. Died on 12th March 1919. Aged 26. Son of Mr. and Mrs. James Brunson, of Repps Rd., Martham, Great Yarmouth. Buried: Martham (St. Mary) Churchyard Extension. Ref. F. 42

 

CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2802653

(Arthur Frederick)

 

Norlink – no match

 

The 8 year old Arthur F. born Martham, was recorded on the 1901 census at Somerton Road, Martham. This is the household of his parents, James W, (aged 33 and a Labourer on Farm&Garden) and Ellen (aged 32 and from Salhouse). Their other children are:-

Dora……………………..aged 10

Elsie M…………………..aged 4

James……………………aged 6

Sydney…………………..aged 2

 

The normally reliable Naval Net site has no record of this individual, so it is likely that he had already been demobilised at this time. The Spanish Flu was rampant during this period- (see the later entry for Redvers Turner on Panel 3)

 

The death of an Arthur F Brunson, aged 26, was recorded in the Flegg District of Norfolk, (which covers Martham) in the January to March 1919 quarter.

 

Additional info (November 2015) - see comments below

 

 

Brunson, John Dyball………………………………………………………(RoH)

 

Able Seaman 199115. H.M.S. Coquette Royal Navy. Died on 7th March 1916. Born circa 1883 at Martham. Listed as a Crew Member, Ordinary Seaman, in the 1901 census, aged 18, born Martham. Son of Calara Brunson (widow in 1891 census), brother of Ethel, Charles and Ann. Commemorated: Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent. Column 16.

 

CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3050685

 

Norlink – no match

 

Coquette, old destroyer

MINED AND SUNK IN COMPANY IN NORTH SEA

www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1916-03Mar.htm

 

Additional info (November 2015) - see comments below

 

 

Dyball, Leslie Uric………………………………………………………..(RoH)

 

Private 28318. 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment. Formerly T4/084429 Royal Army Service Corps. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 23rd October 1918. Aged 26. Born and lived Martham. Enlisted Norwich. Father of Phyllis Dyball. Buried: Ovillers New Communal Cemetery, Solesmes, Nord, France. Ref. A. 7/26.

 

CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=336212 (L.U.)

 

Norlink – no match

 

The 9 year old Leslie U, born Martham, was recorded on the 1901 census at Hemsby Road, Norwich. This was the household of his grandparents, Thomas, (aged 69 and a Farmer from West Somerton) and Maria, (aged 65 and from Martham). Also in the household is another grand-son, Frank C. (aged 17 and a Railway Porter from Catfield). Thomas and Maria also have a married daughter living with them, Naomi L, Harriss (aged 22 and born Martham) along with her husband, Walter, (aged 25 and a Carpenter and Wheelwright from Filby) and their children :- Dorothy M. (aged 1) and Walter A, (aged 3), both born Martham.

 

23rd October 1918

02.00. Battn in conjunction with 7th Battn Leicestershire Regt on the left and 64th Inf Bde on the right attacked red dotted line W of OVILLERS and red line W of VENDIGIES-AU-BOIS. Battn succeeded in taking all its objectives and held them until 6th Battn The Leicestershire Regt and 62nd Inf Bde went through to capture further objectives. Casualties: Killed Officers. 2nd Lieuts H R Palmer & H B Cooper. Ors 23. Wounded Officers Lieut W J E Ross, 2nd Lieuts E G Blackmore and H Aston. Ors 120. Missing Officers Nil. ORS 7. 16.00 Battn took over defence of RED LINE. Battn HQ established at E.23c.8.2. (Map sheet 57b.NE)

 

Dyball, Lewis Ernest………………………………………………………(RoH)

 

Corporal 15937. 9th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, attd. Trench Mortar Battery. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 1st December 1916 (CD gives 1st December 1917) Born Martham. Enlisted Norwich. Buried: Woburn Abbey Cemetery, Cuinchy, Pas de Calais, France. Ref. I. E. 20.

CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=594279(shown as L E)

 

The Great War Roll of Honour records the death of Private 15937 Lewis Dyball of the Norfolk Regiment in 1916.

 

Norlink – no match

 

On the 1901 census, the 5 year old “Louis E” is recorded at Hemsby Road, Martham. This is the household of his parents, Edgar E, (aged 26 and a Farmers Son from Martham) and Elizabeth R, (aged 27 and from Chesham, Surrey). Their other children are:-

Edgar J G………………aged u/1………born Martham

Edith S M………………aged 2………..born Martham

Marjorie N……………..aged 4………..born Martham

On the 1911 one, a Lewis E, born circa 1896 Martham, is recorded in the Flegg District that covers the village.

 

Futter, Robert Benjamin…………………………………………………..(RoH)

 

Private 15510. 9th Battalion Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 15th September 1916. Born Martham. Enlisted Great Yarmouth. Commemorated: Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 1 D.

 

CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=750499

 

Norlink – no match

 

The 5 year old Robert, born Martham, is recorded on the 1901 census at Black Street, Martham. This is the household of his parents, Henry, (aged 39 and a Builder from Martham) and Alberta (?), (aged 38 and from Gt.Yarmouth). Their other children are:-

Alberta……………aged 10………born Martham

Edward……………aged 6……….born Martham

Emily……………..aged 14………born Martham

Flora………………aged 3……….born Martham

John………………aged 12………born Martham

Maud……………..aged 19………born Martham….Dressmaker

Thomas………….aged 17……….born Martham…..Carpenter

 

Family headstone in the Church yard

In Loving Memory of

Henry

The beloved husband of

Arletta Futter

Who passed away Dec.6th 1938

Aged 77(?) years

Also of the above Arletta

Who passed away Aug.2nd 1958

Aged 98 years

Re-united

Also of Robert

Son of the above

Killed in Action in France

15th September 1916

Aged 2? Years

 

15th September 1916 Battle of the Somme

The last great Allied effort to achieve a breakthrough came on 15 September in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette with the initial advance made by 11 British divisions (nine from Fourth Army, two Canadian divisions on the Reserve Army sector) and a later attack by four French corps.

The battle is chiefly remembered today as the debut of the tank. The British had high hopes that this secret weapon would break the deadlock of the trenches. Early tanks were not weapons of mobile warfare—with a top speed of 2 mph (3.2 km/h), they were easily outpaced by the infantry—but were designed for trench warfare. They were untroubled by barbed wire obstacles and impervious to rifle and machine gun fire, though highly vulnerable to artillery. Additionally, the tanks were notoriously unreliable; of the 49 tanks available on 15 September, only 32 made it to the start line, and of these, only 21 made it into action

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Flers-Courcelette

 

An intense preliminary bombardment began on 12 September and at 6.20am on Friday 15 September the advance began in mist and smoke. XIV Corps attack, on the extreme right, where hopes of breakthrough were pinned, fared badly; 56th Division and 6th Division lost heavily as tanks and artillery support failed to neutralise vital defensive positions

www.cwgc.org/somme/content.asp?menuid=27&id=27&me...

 

151 Soldiers of the 9th Battalion appear to have died on this day using the (late lamented) Geoff‘s Search Engine on the CWGC database.

 

Garman, Harry…………………………………………………………….(RoH)

 

Private 2247. 1st/4th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 18th June 1915. Aged 26. Born Norwich. Lived Great Yarmouth. Enlisted Hull. Railway Porter by trade. Son of William [Railway Gateman - 1901 census] and Elizabeth Garman, of 42, Gatehouse, Martham, Great Yarmouth; brother of Blanche (below). Commemorated: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 21 and 31.

 

CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=930467

 

Norlink – no match

 

The 13 year old Harry, born Norwich and already working as Labourer on Farm, is recorded on the 1901 census at No.42. Gatehouse, Martham. This is the household of his parents, William, (aged 39 and a Railway Gate Man from Aylsham), and Elizabeth, (aged 32 and from Norwich). Their other children are:-

Blanch…………aged 3…………..born Holt …see below

Ernest………….aged 10…………born Norwich

George…………aged 17………..born Norwich……..Railway Porter

Nellie………….aged 8…………born Holt

William………..aged 6…………born Holt

See below for details from Blanche’s headstone.

 

Garman, Blanche…………………………………………………………(RoH)

 

Blanche was suffering from Chlorosis, which is a severe form of anaemia which turns to complexion green and can weaken the heart. Whilst workng as a tractor driver in the Land Army her tractor caught fire which resulted in her having a fatal heart attack, between April and June 1919 [GRO reference Flegg 4 b 45]. Aged 21, born 1898 at Holt. Daughter of William [Railway Gateman - 1901 census] and Elizabeth Garman, of 42, Gatehouse, Martham, Great Yarmouth; sister of Harry (above).

 

Norlink – no match

 

See brother Harry above for census details.

 

Blanche is buried in the Churchyard. Her headstone reads

BLANCHE ELIZABETH

The beloved daughter of William and Elizabeth Garman, died June 30th 1919, aged 21 years.

Also of their son

PRIVATE HARRY W.GARMAN ??? E.Yorks

Killed in Action near Ypres

June 18th 1915

Aged 26 years.

 

Gymer, William……………………………………………………………(RoH)

 

Private 43219. 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment. Died of wounds in France & Flanders on 21st September 1916. Aged 19. Son of William and Laura Gymer, of Cess, Martham, Norfolk. Buried: Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte, Somme, France. Ref. I. H. 14.

 

CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=31135

 

Norlink – no match

 

The four year old William, born Martham, is recorded on the 1901 census at Cess, Martham. This is the household of his parents, William, (aged 39 and a Coal Carter from Martham) and Laura, (aged 39 and from East Ruston).They also have another son, Arthur E. (aged 6 and from Martham), while Laura has a son prior to marrying William as there is a Walter Watson, (aged 9 and born Martham) whose relationship to William is shown as Step Son.

 

From a family headstone in the churchyard

In loving memory of

Private WILLIAM GYMER ???Norfolk Regiment

The beloved son of William & Ann Mary Gymer

Killed in action Sept.21st 1916

Aged 19 years.

Buried in the British Military Cemetery, Groves Town.

Also of

HARRIET, the beloved wife of WILLIAM GYMER

Died August 9th 1885 Aged 23 years

Also of

ANN MARY his second wife

Died December 14th 1899 Aged 30 years

Also 2 children died in infancy

 

GROVE TOWN CEMETERY, MEAULTE

In September 1916, the 34th and 2/2nd London Casualty Clearing Stations were established at this point, known to the troops as Grove Town, to deal with casualties from the Somme battlefields.

www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=3200&a...

 

From an article in the EDP in 2009

 

This prolonged carnage on the Somme, one of the lowest points of that war, has resurfaced as the result of a phone call to a former Gorlestonian from a Norfolk family that lost young men in the mud of France in 1916.

 

Mike King, now of Lowestoft, tells me: “In 1983 an old friend and long-time Gorleston neighbour, Henry Leonard (“Pop”) Gymer, died, aged 80. Later his daughter Lily rang to ask me to visit her at her home off Southtown Road so she could give me some items relating to her father, found in his loft, because she knew of my interest in local and family history.

“Those items made up a small archive of artefacts from the First World War, including: four medals and gold-printed scroll relating to Private John James Gymer, Imperial War Graves Commission book on Grove Town Cemetery in France, 20 postcards of wrecked villages in the Somme area, parcel wrapper sent home from France, and photographs of a large group of people on a railway station and of wooden crosses in a war cemetery.

 

“Lily explained that John James Gymer was Pop's older brother who was killed fighting on the Somme. The cemetery book's index included an adjacent entry that was also a Gymer, and Lily said these young Gymer men were cousins.”

Recently Mr King researched the Gymers, discovering that James John Gymer. born in 1896 in Martham, lived with his parents, Henry John and Georgiana, and younger siblings Lily and Henry junior in Anson Road, Southtown. On joining the Norfolk Regiment he was assigned to the 9th Battalion.

Also, his cousin, William Gymer, born 1897, lived with his parents, William and Laura Gymer, and siblings at Cess, Martham. He too joined the Norfolk Regiment as a private, assigned to the 1st Battalion. Henry John and William senior were brothers, sons of John and Sarah Gymer, of Martham. The Gymer family had been in the Damgate area of Martham for several generations.

 

Mr King mused: “Did James John and William junior know each other? It is possible, but by the 1901 census Henry and Georgiana had moved with their children to Anson Road, before James was four. Certainly they would have known of each other's existence. Maybe either family got on the M&GN Railway at Beach Station in Yarmouth, or Martham, to visit one another!”

 

He wonders if the Gymer cousins, who fought in that epic Battle of the Somme, were aware they were fighting in the same area? “Were they in touch with each other? We will never know.”

 

“William was the first casualty, killed outright in September, aged 19. James lasted nine more days before dying of wounds although it is possible he was wounded in action much earlier. By coincidence they are buried in adjacent rows in the Grove Town Cemetery.

 

“The bodies of the fallen were moved there in April 1917 and the cemetery was immediately closed. This cemetery contains the bodies of 1366 UK soldiers, 14 from Australia, one from New Zealand and one from France as well as 36 German prisoners.

 

“The two photographs are quite poignant and I imagine they were hung on a wall in the family home. About 1920, the Government paid for relatives to visit the graves of their loved ones and the first shows a group - mainly female (mothers and widows presumably), on platform one at Thorpe Station in Norwich - of relatives of Norfolk Regiment casualties.

 

“Many folk from the Yarmouth area were in this group but the only one I can identify is the lady on the extreme right with a white shawl, Georgiana Gymer. In all probability her sister-in-law Laura Gymer is near her. Those who remember Pop Gymer will see that he was the spitting image of his mother!

“The second photograph is of the grave itself, marked with a temporary wooden cross. Georgiana had put a wreath on the cross with the words 'From his dear mother…' Her umbrella and other personal items can be seen leaning against the cross. “

 

The name of James appears on the war memorial in St George's Park, Yarmouth, and that of William is on the war memorial in Martham churchyard.

 

www.edp24.co.uk/news/casualties_of_the_somme_recalled_1_5...

 

Hayton, George…………………………………………………..(RoH)

 

Private 6930. 9th Battalion Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 15th July 1918. Aged 36. Born Martham. Enlisted Norwich. Son of George and Emma Hayton, of Martham, Norfolk. Buried: La Clytte Military Cemetery, Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Ref. V. E. 1.

 

CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=438432 (G)

 

Norlink – no match

 

The 18 year old George W., born Martham, and employed as a Carpenters Labourer, was recorded on the 1901 census at Black Street, Martham. This was the household of his parents, George, (aged 48 and a Parish Clerk and Gardener from Martham) and Harriet, (aged 50 and from Ingham, Norfolk). Their other children are:-

Edmund J ………aged 15…….born Martham…….Engineers Labourer

George W……….aged 13…….born Martham…….Carpenters Labourer

James A…………aged 13…….born Martham

Leopold…………aged 17…….born Martham…..Agricultural Labourer

Ruth…………….aged 10……..born Martham

 

Hodds, John Spencer……………………………………………………(RoH)

 

Private 18711. 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action in Mesopotamia on 22nd April 1916. Aged 35. Born Martham. Enlisted Norwich. Husband of Lilian Maud Hodds, of Repps Rd., Martham, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Commemorated: Basra Memorial, Iraq. Panel 10.

 

CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=866036

 

Norlink – no match

 

The 19 year old John, born Martham and employed as an Agricultural Labourer is recorded on the 1901 census at Piggins Yard, Martham. This is the household of his widowed Grandmother, Mary Utting, (aged 74 and a Charwoman from Repps cum Bastwick). Also in the household is John’s brother, William, aged 17 and also an Agricultural Labourer from Martham. On the 1891 census, the 10 year old John is recorded at 2 Repps Road, Martham, the household of his parents Charles, (aged 43 and a General Labourer from Martham) and Elizabeth, (aged 40 and from Martham). As well as William and John, there is a Frederick, (13), Gertrude, (5), Edward (3) and Mildred, (2 months) – all born Martham.

 

To protect the British owned oil fields in Persia and to stop Turkish domination of the Middle East an Indian Expeditionary Force was sent to the Persian Gulf. As part of this Force the Norfolk Regiment left Belgaum for Bombay under the command of Lieu-Colonel E C Peebles and boarded HM Transport Elephanta on 6 November1914. The 2nd Norfolks arrived at Seniyeh in the Persian Gulf on 15 November 1914 and joined the 18th Brigade, which consisted of the 7th Rajput's, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry and 120th Rajputana Infantry.

www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/pte_wilby.htm

 

After some initial, (but costly) victories , the Allied force were eventually forced to retreat, and out-manoeuvred, found themselves trapped inside the city of Kut. Most of the 2nd Battalion was caught inside the city walls, although a few were outside, and together with the remnants of another holed up battalion from the Dorset Regiment, formed a composite unit, the “Norsets”, which was involved in several attempts to lift the siege.

 

The Siege of Kut

During the siege of Kut which lasted for 5 months aircraft were first used to try and drop supplies to the garrison. The aircraft could not carry enough supplies some were shot down and the attempt ended in failure. The Turks used aircraft more successfully in bombing the town, many troops having been wounded were then killed in hospital by an air raid. Several attempts were made to break out across the river on floating bridges, but as the river was in flood at this time of the year the attempts failed. Radio contact with the outside world was kept up until the end.

 

Towards the end of the siege the daily ration for British troops was reduced to ten ounces of bread and one pound of horse or mule flesh. Indian troops who refused to eat flesh were dying of scurvy at the rate of 10 to 20 a day. In all 1746 people died during the siege from wounds or disease.

Kut falls

 

On 29 April 1916 Kut surrendered to the Turks. After agreeing terms, Townshend marched his troops out into captivity, and certain death for most of them. Most of the Arabs left in Kut were hanged by the Turks for helping the British.

www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/pte_wilby.htm

 

On 22nd April the Norsets (part of the 21st Brigade) were in the marsh area trying to relief the Kut fortress. Heavy fighting took part in the early hours of the day. Of the 45 officers and 858 other ranks 22 OR's were killed, 146 wounded and 22 missing.

 

The attack was beaten back and the Norsets eventually retired when Kut was captured.

1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t...

 

Private Hodds could therefore have died in the relief party who attacked on the 22nd, the day of his death or could have been part of the main Battalion holed up in Kut.

 

 

Done