4th BN 1917

[Freckles]

I've recently got back from Belgium where upon I found my great-grandfathers grave - L.CPL Leonard Taylor, 4th BN Worcestershire Regiment - died 9th October 1917 (Buried in cement house cemetary)

I was wondering if anyone has any photographs of his particular regiment/battalion at that time - we have found none so far and it would be interesting to see.

Equally it would be great to know of any other people on this website who had relatives in the same battalion and died on the same day.

Any information on his movements around that time would be great also

Many thanks.

[Kevin Lynott]

The 9/10/17 was the opening day of the Battle of Poelcappelle. The 29th Div attacked north west from Langemarck. The 4th Worcs who were in the 29th Div took their first objective at the railway embankment near Namur Crossing. One of the German block houses had survived the artillery barrage and a machine gun firing from it checked the attack. Pte Frederick Dancox single-handedly outflanked the block house and captured the machine gun and forty Germans. For his actions Pte Dancox was awarded the VC. The 4th Worcs pressed on and took the second objective, they halted and reorganised whilst the NewF Reg passed through and took the 3rd objective. The 4th Worcs consolidated their position and were relieved at nightfall.

[Mike Jones]

Hello Freckles,
I do not know if you have a copy of Captain Stacke's book, The Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War. It is full of Photos and maps, large book. If you dont , maybe someone on the Forum will look through their copy to see if there are any 4th Battalion pictures. Hint, hint to all you lot out there ! If not contact the Regimental Archives at Norton Barracks. They have thousands of unpublished Photos. They are spending a lot of time and energy indexing them all.
With regard to other relatives contacting you. There should be quite a few of them about but will they see your posting? There were 43 men from the 4th Battalion killed that day. Six of them are in Cement House Cemetery with your g/grandfather. Strangely, 3 others are buried in 3 different cemeteries. The rest of the men have no known grave and are on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing. The fortune of war denied them the known and honoured place of burial. Lets hope they all rest in peace. Do you think they do?
Regards Mike