Pte
William Henry Westlake Abbott
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1890 |
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Place of birth: Tollesbury, Essex, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: East Ham, Essex, England, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: Verenigd Koninkrijk |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 352787 |
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Enlistment place: East Ham, Essex, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — London Regiment, 2nd/7th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 20/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Von Tirpitz Farm, Sint-Juliaan, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 27 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XX Row: A Grave: 19 |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
William Henry Westlake Abbott was the son of Mary Ann Abbott and Abraham Abbott. He was born around 1890 in Tollesbury, in Maldon, Essex. William enlisted in the British army. He belonged to the 2/7th (City of London) Battalion London Regiment (174th Brigade, 58th (2/1st London) Division).
William was killed on 20 September 1917 at the Battle of Menin Road Ridge, which lasted until 25 September 1917. The battle marked the resumption of the Battle of Passchendaele after a break in August due to bad weather. When the weather improved in September, the British army was able to resume the attack. Here, the British attacked the German positions near Geluveld Plateau on both sides of the Ypres-Menin Road. Although most of the objectives in this battle were achieved, the battle still cost many lives.
The 174th Brigade was near St Julian's that day and attacked towards Wurst Farm. The brigade attacked with the 2/8th, 2/5th and 2/6th Battalions London Regiment. At 7.40 am, the battalion received a verbal order from the brigade commander to move the battalion to a position between Hübner Farm and Springfield-Keerselare Road. The battalion moved at 8.10 am from their starting positions near St Julien, with the end of the battalion column passing Bund Trench at 9.10 am. At 10.35 am, A Company of the battalion was ordered to advance 300 yards to move in front of the 2/8th Battalion London Regiment. 15 minutes later, B Company was ordered to move and take the defensive line in and around Stroppe Farm and Tirpitz Farm to reinforce the 2/5th Battalion London Regiment. Indeed, a German counterattack was in progress in the vicinity of Hübner Farm and the line Stroppe Farm - Von Tirpitz farm. At 11.30 am, both companies were moved to relieve the congestion between Hübner Farm and the Springfield-Keerselare Road. The 2/8th Battalion was in the same area.
At 1.30 pm, a verbal message was delivered that no companies of the 2/7th Battalion were to be in the Bund Trench vanguard. Therefore, A Company had to withdraw to its original positions, which were located near St Julian. 15 minutes later, B Company had consolidated Stroppe Farm and Von Tirpitz Farm, where they were to remain. Around 4.15 pm, they saw Germans advancing in strength. So 5 minutes later D Company of the 2/7th Battalion was preparing to advance to positions north and south of Stroppe Farm. A Company was ready to move to Hübner Trench in support.
Around 5.30 pm, B Company saw the enemy advancing towards Von Tirpitz Farm. The battalions asked A Company for reinforcements. An hour later, 2 platoons from A Company arrived to provide reinforcements. 4 patrols and 2 listening posts were also set up by B Company. The patrols covered the company in front of the listening posts and made contact with the 2/5th Battalion towards Hübner Farm. Around this time, the Germans were planning a counterattack, where they were seen close to the Stream Brook. The Germans advanced in formation to 1,200 yards. They were probably advancing from Von Tirpitz Farm to Würst Farm. The 2/7th Battalion reinforced again, as A Company received orders to move those remaining to Würst Farm to reinforce the 2/6th Battalion. Eventually, Hübner Farm, Dimple Trench, Cluster Farm, Olive House and Clifton House were taken by the brigade.
The 2/7th Battalion lost 114 casualties during this attack: five went missing, 88 were wounded and 21 lost their lives. The latter included 27-year-old William Henry Westlake Abbott. His body was buried near Von Tirpitz Farm. Afterwards he was reburied in Tyne Cot Cemetery (Plot XX, Row A, Grave 19).
William was killed on 20 September 1917 at the Battle of Menin Road Ridge, which lasted until 25 September 1917. The battle marked the resumption of the Battle of Passchendaele after a break in August due to bad weather. When the weather improved in September, the British army was able to resume the attack. Here, the British attacked the German positions near Geluveld Plateau on both sides of the Ypres-Menin Road. Although most of the objectives in this battle were achieved, the battle still cost many lives.
The 174th Brigade was near St Julian's that day and attacked towards Wurst Farm. The brigade attacked with the 2/8th, 2/5th and 2/6th Battalions London Regiment. At 7.40 am, the battalion received a verbal order from the brigade commander to move the battalion to a position between Hübner Farm and Springfield-Keerselare Road. The battalion moved at 8.10 am from their starting positions near St Julien, with the end of the battalion column passing Bund Trench at 9.10 am. At 10.35 am, A Company of the battalion was ordered to advance 300 yards to move in front of the 2/8th Battalion London Regiment. 15 minutes later, B Company was ordered to move and take the defensive line in and around Stroppe Farm and Tirpitz Farm to reinforce the 2/5th Battalion London Regiment. Indeed, a German counterattack was in progress in the vicinity of Hübner Farm and the line Stroppe Farm - Von Tirpitz farm. At 11.30 am, both companies were moved to relieve the congestion between Hübner Farm and the Springfield-Keerselare Road. The 2/8th Battalion was in the same area.
At 1.30 pm, a verbal message was delivered that no companies of the 2/7th Battalion were to be in the Bund Trench vanguard. Therefore, A Company had to withdraw to its original positions, which were located near St Julian. 15 minutes later, B Company had consolidated Stroppe Farm and Von Tirpitz Farm, where they were to remain. Around 4.15 pm, they saw Germans advancing in strength. So 5 minutes later D Company of the 2/7th Battalion was preparing to advance to positions north and south of Stroppe Farm. A Company was ready to move to Hübner Trench in support.
Around 5.30 pm, B Company saw the enemy advancing towards Von Tirpitz Farm. The battalions asked A Company for reinforcements. An hour later, 2 platoons from A Company arrived to provide reinforcements. 4 patrols and 2 listening posts were also set up by B Company. The patrols covered the company in front of the listening posts and made contact with the 2/5th Battalion towards Hübner Farm. Around this time, the Germans were planning a counterattack, where they were seen close to the Stream Brook. The Germans advanced in formation to 1,200 yards. They were probably advancing from Von Tirpitz Farm to Würst Farm. The 2/7th Battalion reinforced again, as A Company received orders to move those remaining to Würst Farm to reinforce the 2/6th Battalion. Eventually, Hübner Farm, Dimple Trench, Cluster Farm, Olive House and Clifton House were taken by the brigade.
The 2/7th Battalion lost 114 casualties during this attack: five went missing, 88 were wounded and 21 lost their lives. The latter included 27-year-old William Henry Westlake Abbott. His body was buried near Von Tirpitz Farm. Afterwards he was reburied in Tyne Cot Cemetery (Plot XX, Row A, Grave 19).
Sources 3
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2/7 Battalion London Regiment, (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/3005/8). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7355113 Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 85. Sources used |
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Soldier's Effects records (National Army Museum, Chelsea (NAM) 1901-60; NAM Accesion Number: 1991-02-333). https://www.nam.ac.uk/ Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461701 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=de902695-5168-483b-b3d9-6272993229da |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/3234 |