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. He later 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).
The Battle of Pilckem Ridge took place from 31 July 1917, the day Charles died, to 2 August 1917. This battle was the opening attack of the Battle of Passchendaele. The battle began when Allied guns opened fire on the German lines, after which British and French divisions attacked the front over a distance of 15 miles. The greatest success was achieved over Pilckem Ridge. In the afternoon it began to rain on the battlefield, after which it turned into deep bogs. After three days the Allies found that they had only reached half of what had been planned.
During this battle 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. Their starting positions were on the line between Railway Wood and Outpost Farm. The 2nd Battalion moved out of the dugouts at Railway Wood as early as 10pm on 30th July to take up their assembly positions for the attack. At 3.50am on 31st July the attack began and the battalion advanced. The first three lines were captured. The battalion then advanced to the Blue Line, near Ziel House, which was the final objective. They captured it with little opposition. The battalion's companies then reorganised and at 10.50 am moved up to take up positions in support of the 25th Brigade. There they came under heavy German shelling and machine-gun fire from the right around the Hanebeek Valley and Glencorse Wood, causing many casualties. The advance towards the Green Line, however, was held up because the troops on the right failed to reach their objectives. This resulted in the troops coming under fire. The 2nd Battalion took up position about 200 yards east of the South Station Buildings. At 2 pm companies of the battalion were to support the right flank of the 2nd Rifle Brigade as a German counter-attack was expected. At 10 pm the battalion began to relieve the 2nd Rifle Brigade: 2 companies of the 2nd Battalion were in the front line and 2 companies of the battalion were in support of the battalion HQ at Sexton House. Throughout the night and early morning of 1 August, the battalion was subjected 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. His body was found near the Frezenberg in Zonnebeke. He is reburied in Tyne Cot Cemetery (plot XXIX, row C, grave 3).
The Battle of Pilckem Ridge took place from 31 July 1917, the day Charles died, to 2 August 1917. This battle was the opening attack of the Battle of Passchendaele. The battle began when Allied guns opened fire on the German lines, after which British and French divisions attacked the front over a distance of 15 miles. The greatest success was achieved over Pilckem Ridge. In the afternoon it began to rain on the battlefield, after which it turned into deep bogs. After three days the Allies found that they had only reached half of what had been planned.
During this battle 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. Their starting positions were on the line between Railway Wood and Outpost Farm. The 2nd Battalion moved out of the dugouts at Railway Wood as early as 10pm on 30th July to take up their assembly positions for the attack. At 3.50am on 31st July the attack began and the battalion advanced. The first three lines were captured. The battalion then advanced to the Blue Line, near Ziel House, which was the final objective. They captured it with little opposition. The battalion's companies then reorganised and at 10.50 am moved up to take up positions in support of the 25th Brigade. There they came under heavy German shelling and machine-gun fire from the right around the Hanebeek Valley and Glencorse Wood, causing many casualties. The advance towards the Green Line, however, was held up because the troops on the right failed to reach their objectives. This resulted in the troops coming under fire. The 2nd Battalion took up position about 200 yards east of the South Station Buildings. At 2 pm companies of the battalion were to support the right flank of the 2nd Rifle Brigade as a German counter-attack was expected. At 10 pm the battalion began to relieve the 2nd Rifle Brigade: 2 companies of the 2nd Battalion were in the front line and 2 companies of the battalion were in support of the battalion HQ at Sexton House. Throughout the night and early morning of 1 August, the battalion was subjected 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. His body was found near the Frezenberg in Zonnebeke. He is reburied 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 |