TheWarMe mor i al s i n
Me naiBr i dgeEngl i s hPr e s by t e r i anChur c h ——
1
Publ i s he df or Me naiBr i dgeEngl i s hPr e s by t e r i anChur c h byTheCapt ai n' sLi br ar y c apt ai ns l i br ar y @c y be r s e r v i c e s . c om ht t ps : / / c apt ai nj ac ko. s i mdi f . c om Maj orI v orJac ks onS. A. -Edi t or © 201 8.Copy r i ghtoft hi sc ompi l at i oni sas s i gne dt ot he Me naiBr i dgeEngl i s hPr e s by t e r i anChur c h.
Someoft hemat e r i ali spubl i s he dbype r mi s s i onandt hi sbook maynotbedi s t r i but e dc omme r c i al l y . Thee di t orwe l c ome sanyaddi t i onsorc or r e c t i ons .
2
Th e ys h a l lg r o wn o to l d , a swet h a ta r el e f tg r o wo l d : Ag es h a l ln o twe a r yt h e m, n o rt h ey e a r sc o n d e mn . Att h eg o i n gd o wno ft h es u na n di nt h emo r n i n g Wewi l lr e me mb e rt h e m. Fr om ForTheFal l e n Laur e nc eBi ny on
3
[ Forr e f e r e nc e s( ¹²³e t c )s e epage20]
4
TheWarMe mor i al s Me naiBr i dgeEngl i s hPr e s by t e r i anChur c h —— For e wor d
Thef i r s tme mor i alt o bes e e n on e nt e r i ng t hec hur c hi st heWar Me mor i alac r os st henav ef r om t hepor c hdoor .Suc hme mor i al sar eof gr e ati nt e r e s tt of ami l yandl oc alhi s t or i ans ,buti ti sas adf ac tt hat ,as c hape l sandc hur c he sar ede mol i s he dort ur ne dt os e c ul arus e ,manyar e be c omi ngl os torde s t r oy e d. Thi s me mor i alr e c or ds t he name s off our y oung me nf r om t hi s c ongr e gat i onwhol os tt he i rl i v e si nt heGr e atWarof1 91 4-1 91 8;Pr i v at e s J. W.Le av e t t ,J. R Dav i e s ,S. Os bor neand Abl eSe aman Wi l l i am H. Di bbe n.Pr i v at eOs bor newass hotbyas ni pe rj us ts e v e nday sbe f or et he Ar mi s t i c e .Anadde dmar bl epl aquemar kst hede at hofSgtFr e de r i c k Wi l l i amsdur i ng t he Cr os s i ng oft he Rhi ne i nt he f i nalpus hi nt o Ge r manyt owar dst hec l os eoft heSe c ond Wor l d Wari n1 945.The me mbe r soft heDav i e sf ami l y ,t hee ar l ybe ne f ac t or soft hi sc hur c h,who l os tt he i rl i v e si nt heGr e atWarhav et he i ri ndi v i dualme mor i al si nt he t r ans e ptt oy ourr i ght . Me mor i al si nt het r ans e ptr e c or dt heDav i e s 'f ami l y ' sl os s e si nt heGr e at War :Ri c har dDav i e s 'y ounge s ts onCapt ai nAr t hurChar l e sDav i e swho waski l l e datSuv l aBayi nt heGal l i pol ic ampai gn( 1 0Augus t1 91 5,j us ta f e w day sbe f or ehi sbat man,Pr i v at eLe av e t t ,i nt hes amec ampai gn) ; Capt ai nKe nne t hRe e sHabe r s hon,ki l l e dne arYpr e s ,1 2Fe br uar y1 91 6; Capt ai nLe onar dOs bor neHabe r s hon,ki l l e dne arSe r r e ,1 3Nov e mbe r 1 91 6.TheHabe r s hon br ot he r swe r et hes onsofRi c har d' sdaught e r Cat he r i newhoi sal s or e me mbe r e dont hi swal l . Thi sl i t t l ebookl e tpay st r i but et ot he s eme nbyt e l l i ngs omeoft he i rs t or y .
5
JohnWi l l i am Le av e t t Pt e .JohnWi l l i am Le av e t t[ 2504]oft heI s t /6t hBat t al i onRoy alWe l c h Fus i l i e r s ,waski l l e datSuv l aon22ndAugus t1 91 5. Age d34hel e f tawi dow,El i z aJaneLe av e t tandt woy oungc hi l dr e n, Fr anc i sWi l l i am age d7andhi sy ounge rs i s t e r6y e arol dGwe ndol i ne Sar ah.Hi shomewas8,Be ac hRd. ,Me naiBr i dge ,Angl e s e y . ¹| ².Hi s 8 par e nt sl i v e dat1Foundr yTe r r ac e . The1 91 1c e ns usgi v e shi soc c upat i onasy ac ht s man.Hi sgr e at ni e c e c onf i r mst hathehadwor ke df ort heDav i e sf ami l yandwasbat mant o Capt ai nAr t hurChar l e sDav i e s .TheTe l f or dCe nt r ei nMe naiBr i dgehas ac ol l e c t i onofl e t t e r st hathes e nthomedur i ngt hewar . Pr i v at eJohnWi l l i am Le av e t ti sr e me mbe r e dont he He l l e sMe mor i al whi c hs e r v e st hedualf unc t i onofCommonwe al t hbat t l eme mor i alf or t hewhol eGal l i pol ic ampai gnandpl ac eofc omme mor at i onf ormanyof t hos eCommonwe al t hs e r v i c e me nwhodi e dt he r eandhav enoknown gr av e .TheHe l l e sMe mor i als t andsont het i poft heGal l i pol iPe ni ns ul a andt ake st hef or m ofanobe l i s kov e r30me t r e shi ght hatc anbes e e nby s hi pspas s i ngt hr ought heDar dane l l e s . ¹
Suv l a Suv l awaspar tofan e i ghtmont hc ampai gn i n Gal l i pol if oughtby Commonwe al t handFr e nc hf or c e si nanat t e mptt of or c eTur ke youtof t hewar ,t or e l i e v et hede adl oc koft heWe s t e r nFr onti nFr anc eand Be l gi um,andt oope nas uppl yr out et oRus s i at hr ought heDar dane l l e s andt heBl ac kSe a.TheAl l i e sl ande dont hepe ni ns ul aon2526Apr i l 1 91 5.On6Augus t ,f ur t he rl andi ngswe r emadeatSuv l abr i ngi ngt het he c ampai gnt oac l i maxwhe nbutt hedi f f i c ul tt e r r ai nands t i f fTur ki s h r e s i s t anc es oonl e dt ot hes t al e mat eoft r e nc hwar f ar e .
6
7
Wi l l i am R.Di bbe n ABWi l l i am R.Di bbe n. ( 21 4950)R. N. Ki l l e di nac t i on,age d31 ,aboar d HMSI r i sI Idur i ngt her ai donZe e br ugge ,23r dApr i l1 91 8. ¹Dur i nghi s s e r v i c eonHMSCul l i s hher e c e i v e dac omme ndat i on. ⁴Hei sbur i e di n Dov e r( StJame s ' )Ce me t e r y . ¹SonofWi l l i am He nr yDi bbe n.8 Al t hough name d asWi l l i am H.Di bbe n on t heChur c h' sme mor i al pl aqueAbl eSe aman Di bbe ni se nt e r e dasWi l l i am Rowl andDi bbe n e l s e whe r e .Hei sl i s t e dasW. R. Di bbe nont heWarMe mor i alon Chur c h I s l and.The me mor i alf r om t he ' I r i s 'doe snotgi v e hi m a mi ddl e name . ¹| ²| ³
TheI r i s
' I r i s ' wasaMe r s e yf e r r yope r at i ngbe t we e nLi v e r poolandWal l as e y .Bui l t byRobe r tSt e phe ns on&SonsofNe wc as t l e ,s hewasl aunc he di n1 906. ' I r i s ' ,r e name dHMSI r i sI I ,andhe rs i s t e rMe r s e yf e r r y' Daf f odi l 'we r e r e qui s i t i one dbyt heRoy alNav yi n1 91 8t ot akepar tatZe e br ugge . Whathappe ne datZe e br ugge ? OnStGe or ge ' sDay ,23r dApr i l1 91 8,' I r i s 'and ' Daf f odi l 'we r et owe d ac r os st he Engl i s h Channe lby HMS Vi ndi c t i v e .The yc ar r i e df our pl at oonsoft heFour t hBat t al i onofRoy alMar i ne s ,andas t or mi ngpar t y ofs ai l or s ,c ommande dbyMaj orEagl e sandLi e ut e nantCommande r Ge or geNi c hol s onBr adf or dr e s pe c t i v e l y .The ywe r es uppor t e dbyt wo Vi c ke r smac hi ne gun s e c t i onsand t wo St oke smor t arc r e ws .Whe n ' Vi ndi c t i v e 'ne ar e dt heZe e br uggeMol es hec as tof ft het wof e r r i e s .' I r i s ' at t e mpt e dt opul lupt ot hemol eunde rhe av yf i r ei nor de rt odi s e mbar k t her ai di ngpar t i e swhi c hwe r eonboar d.Thef i r s tat t e mptf ai l e dast he gr appl e hookswe r enotl ar gee nough.Twonav alof f i c e r s ,Li e ut e nant Commande rBr adf or dandLi e ut e nantHawki ngsbr av e l yc l i mbe das hor e andunde rhe av yf i r eat t e mpt e dt os e c ur et hes hi p.Bot hwe r eki l l e dand Br adf or dr e c e i v e d a pos t humousVi c t or i a Cr os s .' I r i s 'c ont i nue dt o s us t ai nhe av yf i r eandatonepoi ntas he l lbur s tt hr ought hede c ki nt oan ar e awhe r e56mar i ne swe r epr e par i ngt ol and,49we r eki l l e dandt he r e s ts e r i ous l yi nj ur e d;1 8s e ame nal s odi e di nt hi sat t ac k.Af t e rt hewar ,a br as spl aque ,l i s t i ngt hos ewhodi e daboar dt he' I r i s ' wasmount e dont he v e s s e l .Thepl aquewasgi v e nt ot heI mpe r i alWarMus e um af t e rI r i swas de c ommi s s i one d. ' I r i s 'and' Daf f odi l 'r e c e i v e dahe r oe swe l c omewhe nt he yr e t ur ne dt o t heMe r s e yon1 7May1 91 8.Re name d' Roy alI r i s 'i nr e c ogni t i onofhe r par ti nt hi sac t i ons her e t ur ne dt oc i v i l i andut i e saf t e rr e pai r s ,asdi d ' Daf f odi l ' .Shewass ol di n1 931andr e name d' Bl ar ne y 'i n1 946.Shewas s c r appe di nDe c e mbe r1 961 . 8
[ Seeappendi xf orf ur t herphot ogr aph] 9
Samue lOs bor ne Pr i v at e .Samue lOSBORNE( 58092) .9t hBnWe l c hRe gt .Ki l l e di nBr y , Nor d,Fr anc e ,4t hNov . 1 91 8Age1 9. SonofGe or geandMi r i am Loui s aOs bor ne ,Me naiCot t age Hei sbur i e datt heCr os sRoadsCe me t ar y ,Font ai ne auBoi s Jus tonewe e kbe f or et heAr mi s t i c ewass i gne d,Br ys t oodi naz one whe r et hewasac e as ef i r e .I twast houghtt hatt heGe r manf or c e shad l e f tt hear e a,s oSamue lwasnote xpe c t i nganye ne myac t i onaswal ke d al ongt hes t r e e ti nt hes mal lFr e nc hv i l l age .Al as ,aGe r mans ni pe rwas s t i l li npos i t i onandt hi sy oungBr i t i s hTommywasane as yt ar ge tf orhi s ac c ur at es hoot i ng.6
10
11
JohnRi c har dDav i e s Pr i v at eJohnRi c har dDav i e s( 51 1 88)2ndBat t al i onLanc as hi r eFus i l i e r s waski l l e d age d1 8on9t hAugus t1 91 8atLaBas s é eCanal .Sonof Wi l l i am andEmi l yDav i e s ,of" Ar os f a" ,Me naiBr i dge ,Angl e s e y . ¹ Hi sgr av ei si nLeVe r t annoyBr i t i s hCe me t e r y ,Hi nge s ¹
LaBas s è eCanal Thev i l l ageofGi v e nc hyandLaBas s é eCanalhadbe e nt hes c e neoff i e r c e f i ght i ngt hr oughout1 91 4and1 91 5,butt hef i ght i ngmov e dt ot heSomme andt he nYpr e s .Ther i ghtr e t ur ne di nt hewi nt e rof1 91 71 8,whe nt he s e c t orwas he l d by t he Lanc as hi r e Fus i l i e r s .The ys uf f e r e d 3, 000 c as ual t i e si nt hi sphas eoft hef i ght i ngknownasOpe r at i onMi c hae l . I nt hee ar l yhour sof9t hApr i l1 91 8,t heGe r mansl aunc he dt hes e c ondof t he i rSpr i ngof f e ns i v e s ,Ope r at i onGe or ge t t e .Li keOpe r at i onMi c hae l t hr e ewe e kse ar l i e r ,t heGe r mansus e di nf i l t r at i ont ac t i c si nt hee ar l y mor ni ngmi s tt os ur r ound,i s ol at eandde s t r oyBr i t i s hs t r ongpoi nt sand mades i gni f i c antgai ns . TheBr i t i s hs t oodf i r m wi t hdi s as t r ousc ons e que nc e sf ort heGe r man pl ans :de s pi t ebe i ngat t ac ke dbyt hr e eGe r mandi v i s i onsandwi t ht he di v i s i onont he i rl e f t( 2ndPor t ugue s e )be i ngc ompl e t e l yov e r whe l me d, 9 t heFus i l i e r she l dt he i rgr ound,al t houghnotwi t houtl os s e s .
12
13
Fr e de r i c kHughWi l l i ams Se r j e antFr e de r i c kHughWi l l i ams , 1 s tBat t al i onGr e nadi e rGuar ds .He waski l l e di nac t i onon5t hMar c h,1 945.Age27.ยน 8 Thes onofF.H.andE.Ros sWi l l i amsofWoodSt r e e t andhus bandof Anni eWi l l i ams ,Shi ne yRow,Co. Dur hamยน ( Not e :Thear c hai cs pe l l i ngSe r j e anti sus e dbyCWGCf oral lGr e nadi e rGuar dshol di ng t her ank) ยน
Se r ge antWi l l i amsi st heonl yc as ual t yofWor l dWarI Iont heme mor i al s . 5 Hel os thi sl i f ei nt hatf i nalt hr us toft hewar ,t hec r os s i ngoft heRhi ne . Hei sbur i e di nRe i c hs wal dFor e s tWarCe me t e r y ,Ge r many . ยน 1 s tBat t al i onGr e nadi e rGuar dsdur i ngWor l dWarI I . 3Se pt e mbe r1 939:TheBat t al i onwasbas e datPi r br i ght ,Sur r e y ,and par toft he7t hBr i gade . Se pt e mbe r1 939:I tbe c amepar toft heBEF s e r v i ngi n Fr anc eand Be l gi um.The ywe r eat t ac he dt o3r dI nf ant r yDi v i s i on. June1 940:Ev ac uat e df r om Dunki r kandr e t ur ne dt ot heUK. Se pt e mbe r1 941 :I tt he ns e r v e dasaMot orBat t al i onwi t ht heGuar ds Ar mour e dDi v i s i on. 6June1 944:I tt ookpar ti nt heNor mandyl andi ngs .Fr om he r ec ar r i e d 7 onf i ght i ngi nNor t hWe s t e r nEur ope .
14
15
Ar t hurChar l e sDav i e s Capt ai nAr t hurChar l e sDav i e s .6t hBat t al i onRoy alWe l c hFus i l i e r s . Ki l l e datSuv l aBay ,1 0t hAugus t1 91 5.Age38. ยน They ounge s ts onofRi c har dDav i e sofTr e bor t hi snotname dont he mai nme mor i al ,buti sr e me mbe r e donat abl e ti nt het r ans e ptwi t ht he ot he rf ami l yme mor i al s .Hewaski l l e di nt hes ameas s aul tashi sbat man, JohnWi l l i am Le av e t t . I n1 908hehadmar r i e dSi s l iMi f anwyHampt onLe wi st hedaught e rof 1 0 Col one lThomasLe wi sHampt onLe wi sJ. P. Heal s or e me mbe r e dont heChur c hI s l andMe mor i alandont heHe l l e s Me mor i alwhi c hs e r v e st he dualf unc t i on ofCommonwe al t h bat t l e me mor i alf ort hewhol eGal l i pol ic ampai gnandpl ac eofc omme mor at i on f ormanyoft hos eCommonwe al t hs e r v i c e me nwhodi e dt he r eandhav e noknowngr av e .ยน Formor ei nf or mat i ononSuv l aBays e et hepage sf orJohnWi l l i am Le av e t t .
16
Ke nne t hRe e sHabe r s hon Capt ai nKe nne t hRe e sHabe r s hons e r v e di nt he1 2t hBat t al i onRi f l eBr i gade . Hedi e dont he1 2t hFe br uar y1 91 6,age d26,ne arYpr e s .Hei sbur i e dat Pope r i ngheNe wMi l i t ar yCe me t e r y , We s t Vl aande r e n, Be l gi um.1|5 Ke nne t handhi sbr ot he rLe onar d,whoi sal s or e me mbe r e dhe r e( s e et he ne xte nt r y ) ,we r et hes onsofRi c har d' sdaught e rCat he r i newhoi sal s o r e me mbe r e d on t hi s wal l .Cat he r i ne was mar r i e dt o Dr Samue lH. Habe r s hon,aHar l e ySt r e e tphy s i c i an. Ypr e s Knownt ot heBr i t i s hTommyasWi pe r s ,Ypr e si nFl ande r swasat ownof r e l at i v e l yl i t t l es t r at e gi ci mpor t anc e ,buti twasf oughtov e rt hr oughoutt he whol ewar .The r ewashi ghgr oundwhi c hdomi nat e dt hi sbat t l e f i e l d,t ot he nor t h,s out hande as toft het own.TheFi r s tBat t l eofYpr e swasf oughti n Oc t obe r / Nov e mbe r1 91 4andt hear e abe c ameamaj ors al i e nt .Wi t ht he Al l i e sde t e r mi ne dt ohol dont oYpr e s ,whi c ht he ydi dal t hought hear e a ar oundt het ownwasaf i e r c e l yf oughtov e rbat t l e gr oundf ort hene xtf our 1 1 y e ar s .
17
Le onar dOs bor neHabe r s hon Capt ai n Le onar dOs bor neHabe r s hon s e r v e dwi t ht he1 2t hBat t al i on Eas tYor ks hi r eRe gi me ntandwaski l l e dne arSe r r eon1 3t hNov e mbe r 5| 1 1 91 6,age d23. 5 Hei sr e me mbe r e datt heThi e pv alMe mor i al ,Somme ,Fr anc e .
Se r r e Se r r ewasoneoft hes t r ongl yf or t i f i e dv i l l age she l dbyt heGe r mansat t hes t ar toft heBat t l eoft heSommei n1 91 6.Thev i l l age ,aboutf i v emi l e s nor t hofAl be r t ,wast hemos tnor t he r npoi ntoft hemai nat t ac kont he 1 s tofJul y1 91 6( al t hought he r ewasas ubs i di ar yat t ac katGomme c our t , ami l eors of ur t he rnor t h) .Se r r et odayi sj us tas mal lc l us t e rofhous e s 1 1 andaf ar m ont he1 91 9r oad.
18
Ri c har dLl oy dDav i e s Al t houghnotac as ual t yoft heGr e atWar ,anot he rme mbe roft heDav i e s f ami l ywi t hmi l i t ar ys e r v i c ehasapl aquet ohi sme mor yi nt het r ans e pt . Ri c har d' ss onRi c har dLl oy dDav i e s( 1 8701 91 3)s e r v e di nt heSout h 5 Af r i c anWarwi t ht hePr i nc eofWal e s ' Li ghtHor s e .
19
Re f e r e nc e s 1 .I nf or mat i oni sc ompi l e df r om t her e s our c e sofandus e dby Cour t e s yoft heCommonwe al t hWarGr av e sCommi s s i on. 2.1 91 1Nat i onalCe ns us . 3.I mpe r i alWarMus e um. 4.Cas ual t yRe c or ds .Ge ne s Re uni t e d. 5. Me mor i alpl aquei nt hec hur c h. 6.Ane c dot al .Mr s Dor e e n Hughe st ol dt he e di t or t hat t hi s i nf or mat i onwasgi v e nt ohe rbyav i s i t orr e l at e dt oPt eOs bor ne . 7. ht t ps : / / www. f or c e s war r e c or ds . c o. uk/ uni t s / 347/ gr e nadi e r guar ds / 8. I nf or mat i onf r om f ami l yme mbe r . 9.Maj orPaulKni ghtonc e nt e nar y ne ws . c om 1 0.Bi r t h,Mar r i ageandDe at hRe c or dsatt heGRO. 1 1 .www. ww1 bat t l e f i e l ds . c o. uk Phot ogr aphsofWarGr av e sandMe mor i al sbyc our t e s yoft he Commonwe al t hWarGr av e sCommi s s i on. Phot ogr aphsofme mor i al si nt hec hur c har ebyt hee di t or .
Thee di t orwr i t e s : The Commonwe al t h War Gr av e s Commi s s i on we bs i t e has c e r t i f i c at e st odownl oad.I fy ouhav eac onne c t i onwi t ht hes ol di e r ors ai l ory oumayl i ket ohav eac opy .Iam awar e ,howe v e r ,t hat note v e r y onehast her e qui r e de qui pme ntor' knowhow't opr i nt t he m out ,s oIwi l lqui t ehappi l ys uppl yy ouwi t honeoft he s ei f y ouas kme( i npe r s ononl y ,Idon' twantt opos tt he m) .
20
Appe ndi x ________________________
21
Abl eSe amanWi l i am RDi bbe nwashe av y we i ghtboxi ngc hampi onoft he Me di t e r r ane anFl e e t .(PhotographbycourtesyofDwynwenRoberts)
22