L/Cpl
Charles Andrews
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1891 |
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Place of birth: Sirhowy, Blaenau Gwent, Wales, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: Verenigd Koninkrijk |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Lance Corporal |
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Service number: 14193 |
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Enlistment place: Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Devonshire Regiment, 2nd Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 31/07/1917 |
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Place of death: Frezenberg, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 26 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXIX Row: C Grave: 3 |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Charles Andrews was born in Sirhowy, Blaenau Gent, Wales in 1891. He was the son of Fanny and Thomas Andrews. Afterwards, he moved to Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Wales, where he also enlisted in the British Expeditionary Force. Charles enlisted in the 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment (23rd Brigade, 8th Division).
31 July 1917, the day Charles died, marked the start of the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, which lasted until 2 August 1917. The 8th Division attacked with the 23rd and 24th Brigades and another Brigade in support. The 23rd Brigade attacked with the 2nd Battalion The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) on the right and the 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment on the left. The 2nd Battalion moved out of the Railway Wood dugouts as early as 10 pm on 30 July to take up their assembly positions for the attack. At 3.50 am on 31 July, the attack began and the battalion advanced. The first three lines were taken. The battalion then advanced to the Blue Line, near Ziel House, which was the final objective. They took it with little resistance. Then the battalion companies reorganised and advanced at 10.50 am to take up their positions in support of the 25th Brigade. There, the troops came under heavy German shelling and machine-gun fire from the right around the Hanebeek Valley and Glencorse Wood, causing many casualties. The advance to the Green Line, on the other hand, was held up as troops on the right failed to reach their objective. This caused the troops to come under fire. The 2nd Battalion took position about 200 metres east of South Station Buildings. At 2 pm, companies from the battalion had to support the right flanks of the 2nd Rifle Brigade because a German counterattack was expected. At 10 pm, the battalion began to relieve the 2nd Rifle Brigade: 2 companies of the 2nd Battalion were in front line and 2 companies of the battalion were in support with the battalion headquarters at Sexton House. Throughout the night and early morning of 1 August, the battalion was exposed to heavy German shelling and machine-gun fire.
On the first day of the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, Charles Andrews died at the age of 26. He is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery (Plot XXIX, Row C, Grave 3).
31 July 1917, the day Charles died, marked the start of the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, which lasted until 2 August 1917. The 8th Division attacked with the 23rd and 24th Brigades and another Brigade in support. The 23rd Brigade attacked with the 2nd Battalion The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) on the right and the 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment on the left. The 2nd Battalion moved out of the Railway Wood dugouts as early as 10 pm on 30 July to take up their assembly positions for the attack. At 3.50 am on 31 July, the attack began and the battalion advanced. The first three lines were taken. The battalion then advanced to the Blue Line, near Ziel House, which was the final objective. They took it with little resistance. Then the battalion companies reorganised and advanced at 10.50 am to take up their positions in support of the 25th Brigade. There, the troops came under heavy German shelling and machine-gun fire from the right around the Hanebeek Valley and Glencorse Wood, causing many casualties. The advance to the Green Line, on the other hand, was held up as troops on the right failed to reach their objective. This caused the troops to come under fire. The 2nd Battalion took position about 200 metres east of South Station Buildings. At 2 pm, companies from the battalion had to support the right flanks of the 2nd Rifle Brigade because a German counterattack was expected. At 10 pm, the battalion began to relieve the 2nd Rifle Brigade: 2 companies of the 2nd Battalion were in front line and 2 companies of the battalion were in support with the battalion headquarters at Sexton House. Throughout the night and early morning of 1 August, the battalion was exposed to heavy German shelling and machine-gun fire.
On the first day of the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, Charles Andrews died at the age of 26. He is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery (Plot XXIX, Row C, Grave 3).
Sources 3
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23 Infantry Brigade: 2 Battalion Devonshire Regiment war diary (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/1712/2). http://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), p. 26-27. 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/461745 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=eceef92d-8f5a-41af-9677-a768456d1c8f |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/56277 |