william c bryant 9895

[biddy]

Hi,
can you give me any information on my g great uncle William C Bryant 9895.Have just started researching my ancesters and would like to know more about his life and death as a soldier. He was killed on 20th July 1916 and buried at Dartmoor cemetery, Becordel-Becourt. Thats all I know.

[scully]

Hi Biddy,

He enlisted into the Worcestershire Regiment at Chatham, Kent.

He died of wounds whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion.

If I find any more information I will post it here.

Regards,

Louis

[Mike Jones]

Hello Biddy,
The parents of William were John and Clara Bryant, who must be your Great Great Great Grandparents, I think. They gave an address in Chatham Kent for 1921. Does any of the family still live in Medway?
Regards Mike

[allanp]

Hi Biddy

I have 9895 Pte W. Bryant admitted wounded to West Hospital Ampthill on the 16 December 1914, reported 16 January 1915.

Regards Allan

[biddy]

Hi
thanks for the information.
do you know what he's wounds were? and where do you get the information?
I'm new to this.
Thanks alot
Biddy

[biddy]

Hi Mike
I sent e mail hope you got it.
Thanks
Biddy

[allanp]

Hi Biddy

Just for continuity (email reply has been sent) I found this information in the Worcester Herald. They can be viewed via microfishe at the Worcester Library & History Centre, Trinity St, Worcester.

Regards Allan

[Mike Jones]

Hi Biddy,
Yes, I did get your E/mail, thank you. To keep my workload down, unless I know who I am writing to and a general location for them, I dont answer. Anyhow YOU ticked the right boxes. Which is good, as I have some good information on William.
Yes, the address for his parents was 178 Beacon Road, Luton, Chatham, Kent. Which is 1 mile from where I am sitting now! On November 5th 1914, William Bryant 9895 arrived in France with the 1st Battalion. We know that as he was awarded the 1914 Star and his details are on the Star List. The "Wound" for which he was hospitalised in 1914, was almost certainly FROSTBITE. The 1st Bn. had just arrived back from Egypt and were sent straight to France. 1914 was a very cold winter and the men were not properly prepared or equipped. About 480 of the 1st Bn. were sent to England with frosbite. It is dealt with in detail on pages 39 and 40 of Captain Stacke's Regimental history. It was part of the battle of Neuve Chappelle. So not only were they being killed by bullet and shell. Captain Stacke says of one platoon only 18 men could stand up. Frostbitten hands and feet. Any how when he recovered, he was sent to the 2nd Battalion. William Died of Wounds 20th July 1916. I do not know if you know but he died in the early part of the battle of the Somme. He would have received his wound in High Wood. The grandfather of my friend was also in the 1st Bn., got frostbitten, recovered, sent to 2nd. Bn. and died in High Wood on the 15th July 1916.
The location of the grave of your relative does have lots of visitors. Not only is it in the Somme region but buried in the same plot are, uniquely, George and Robert Lee. Not brothers but Father and son, killed together in the same incident.
Regards Mike

[biddy]

Hi Mike,
thank you so much for the information. I used to live off Luton Rd!
If you find any more it will be most welcome.
Biddy