I am hoping you may be able to help me. I am helping to put a package of information together as a surprise 'report' for a friend who will be celebrating her 60th birthday and into family tree research. Her relative is 14235 Pte William James Tandy, 2nd Bn. who died of wounds on 6/7/16 and is buried in Lillers Cemetery. I have Stacke, which as ever is most useful. What I am really looking for are the details of the 2nd Bn. War Diary from 1-8 July 1916...in undertaking this, I have come across something else that was a little unexpected and something that can hopefully be put right as a tribute to this soldier.
I know William arrived in France on 27/5/15 as part of a draft for the 2nd Bn following the Battle of Festubert. He would have likely have taken part in the Battle of Loos near Cite St Elie. The battalion remained in the Loos/La Bassee sector throughout.
Stacke records a successful large trench raid by the 2nd Bn on the trenches in front of Auchy on the night of 1-2 July 1916. here are two recorded OR fatalities, 15 seriously injured and many more less so. From 'Soldiers Died' there were 7 OR fatalities. Two are buried side by side at Cambrin, four have no known grave and are commemorated on the Loos Memorial. The 7th died of wounds on 2/7/16 and is buried in Bethune Town cemetery. This would be sensible as the 33rd (Divn) CCS was based there. There is only one further recorded fatality, i.e. William Tandy on 6/7/16 buried at Lillers, before 15/7/16 when the battalion was engaged in the second phase of the Somme battle.
Following the Auchy Raid, Stacke gives the battalion was relieved on the night of the 2-3rd July and returned to billets at Beuvry, not that far from the front line. On the 6th July, the battalion marched back from Beuvry to Busnettes, between Bethune and Lillers. On 8th July, the battalion entrained at Lillers en route for the Somme.
If someone has access to the 2nd Bn War Diary between 1-8 July 1916, please could you check if there is a mention of any incident occurring between 2-6th July that resulted in casualties. Beuvry was certainly within shelling range.
Clearly, William could have been one of those seriously injured during the trench raid. Indeed he could have passed through the 33rd CCS in Bethune and was on his way further down the line (Lillers is next stop on the railway line back from Bethune), when he possibly died in transit or taken off the train at Lillers, succumbing in one of the hospitals there. I would just like to explore/rule out the possibility of a post-raid event at Beuvry.
William Tandy (according to Soldiers Died) was born in Worcester, enlisted in Worcester and gave his residence as Barbourne, Worcester. His parents address, as given on his CWGC entry, is indeed in Barbourne. I did find a lovely picture of the 1914-18 war memorial at the Parish Church in Barbourne. It was sad to find William's name is not listed there (there may be several reasons why, as we know). I also looked for his name on the Worcester Guild Hall memorial. He is not listed on this either. Given the size of the Barbourne memorial, it may not be possible for his name to be added. However, the website regarding the Guild Hall memorial did say some names have been added to this as researches have discovered suitable candidates - William Tandy of the Worcestershire regiment may indeed be one such. Any help/advise in trying to bring this about to finally honour this man in his home city would be gratefully received.
This website is really very good indeed. It is a few years since I wrote my little book on 'Uncle Albert' when the Regimental Museum staff were so helpful (no website then!). It is nice to find a page on this website about my book. I have always retained an interest in the Worcestershire regiment and always do my best to help people out regarding a soldier from this regiment (I never charge).
Here's hoping someone can help me once again!