Pte
Thomas O'Connor

Informatie over geboorte

Geboortedatum:
11/03/1885
Geboorteplaats:
Birkenhead, Cheshire, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Algemene Informatie

Beroep:
Arbeider Scheepswerf - Cammell Laird/ Hulpagent

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Strijdmacht:
British Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Private
Service nummer:
239129
Dienstneming plaats:
Birkenhead, Cheshire, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Eenheden:
 —  Herefordshire Regiment, 5th Bn. attd. King's Shropshire Light Infantry, 5th Bn.  (Attached)

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
22/08/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
Glencorse Wood, Zonnebeke, België
Doodsoorzaak:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Leeftijd:
32

Gedenkplaats

Tyne Cot Memorial
Paneel: 154A

Onderscheidingen en medailles 2

British War Medal
Medaille
Victory Medal
Medaille

Points of interest 3

#1 Geboorteplaats
#2 Dienstneming plaats
#3 Plaats van overlijden (bij benadering)

Mijn verhaal

Private Thomas O’Connor served in the Herefordshire Regiment, 5th Battalion, but was attached to the 5th Battalion of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, part of the 42nd Brigade, of the 14th (Light) Division.
On the 22nd of August 1917 the Battalion took part in an advance by the 14th Division through Glencorse Wood. “A” and “B” Companies were positioned in Jargon Trench, with outposts as far as Glencorse Wood. “D” Company was in support at Jargon Switch and “C” Company functioned as a reserve in Ignorance Trench.
At zero hour “A” and “B” Companies were the first to jump-off. They advanced through Glencorse Wood and quickly captured their objective throughout the line. Only the right flank wasn’t captured, because the parties on the right had to maintain connection with the 43rd Brigade, which was held up by machine gun fire from Fitzclarence Farm.
The going had been hard. Both Companies had to face heavy German machine gun fire. Within five minutes of the advance “B” Company, on the left, had lost almost all its officers. Consequently the line had been broken on several places and “B” Company needed to be reorganized by a Captain from “D” Company. Communications between the two Companies were restored, but “A” Company, on the right, was no longer in touch with the 43rd Brigade. Casualties kept stacking up and more officers were sent up to replace the fallen or wounded officers in the frontline. By noon at least a fourth of the Battalion was killed, wounded or missing. Notwithstanding the heavy casualties the Battalion held the line, and managed to establish contact with the 43rd Brigade on the right.
During the night the Germans launched a heavy counterattack on the 43rd Brigade, which was fend off with the help from machine guns of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 5th Battalion. The Battalion held its ground till it was relieved on the night of the 23rd and 24th of August 1917. The Battalion had suffered heavy casualties. Twenty men were killed, and 111 men were wounded; twelve men went missing.
Private Thomas O’Connor was killed in action on the 22nd of August 1917, while the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry 5th Battalion advanced through Glencorse Wood. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Bestanden 1

Bronnen 5

"The History of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry in the Great War", Wood B., London, The Medici Society. LTD, 1925, pg. 156-159.
Gebruikte bronnen
Ancestry
http://home.ancestry.co.uk/
Verdere verwijzing
CWGC
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/832556/O'CONNOR,%20THOMAS
Gebruikte bronnen
The Long, Long Trail
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/
Gebruikte bronnen
War Diary King’s Shropshire Light Infantry 5th Bn.
http://www.nmarchive.com/
Verdere verwijzing