Pte
Peter Ackers
Information about birth
|
Date of birth: 31/12/1890 |
|
Place of birth: Great Altcar, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
|
Last known residence: Church Road, Formby, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
|
Profession: Shoemaker |
|
Religion: Church of England |
Army information
|
Country: Verenigd Koninkrijk |
|
Force: British Expeditionary Force |
|
Rank: Private |
|
Service number: 51438 |
|
Enlistment place: Southport, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
|
Units: — Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 10th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
|
Date of death: 26/09/1917 |
|
Place of death: St. Joseph's Institute, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
|
Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
|
Age: 26 |
Cemetery
|
Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXV Row: J Grave: 9 |
Distinctions and medals 2
|
British War Medal Medal |
|
Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Peter Ackers was the son of Ellen and John Ackers. He was born on 31 December 1890 in Altcar, Lancashire. Before the war he worked as a shoemaker and lived in Formby, Lancashire. Peter enlisted in the British army and was part of the 10th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers (76th Brigade, 3rd Division).
Peter was killed on 26 September 1917 during the Battle of Polygon Wood, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. That day, the 76th Brigade carried out an attack on Zonnebeke. Their starting lines were located south of the Ypres-Roulers railway, just past Potsdam. The first troops would advance to Mühle and St. Joseph's Institute. The second troops, including the 10th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, would then push through and take Zonnebeke centre.
The attack began at 3.40 a.m. with bombardments. Half an hour later, the German troops responded with their own bombardment, which caused several casualties. What's more, the attack was launched in low fog. After capturing the first targets, the 10th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers advanced as the barrage was lifted. In doing so, they eliminated German positions in a ruin, which caused delays. However, the capture of the second target resulted in many casualties. After crossing the Zonnebeek, only a few men were visible and they were under heavy machine gun fire from the direction of the station. Nevertheless, the Zonnebeke church was reached. On the left, the advance came to a halt some 200 yards from the station, with their left flank located on the railway embankment.
Peter died at the age of 27. His body was found near St Joseph's Institute after the war. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
Peter was killed on 26 September 1917 during the Battle of Polygon Wood, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. That day, the 76th Brigade carried out an attack on Zonnebeke. Their starting lines were located south of the Ypres-Roulers railway, just past Potsdam. The first troops would advance to Mühle and St. Joseph's Institute. The second troops, including the 10th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, would then push through and take Zonnebeke centre.
The attack began at 3.40 a.m. with bombardments. Half an hour later, the German troops responded with their own bombardment, which caused several casualties. What's more, the attack was launched in low fog. After capturing the first targets, the 10th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers advanced as the barrage was lifted. In doing so, they eliminated German positions in a ruin, which caused delays. However, the capture of the second target resulted in many casualties. After crossing the Zonnebeek, only a few men were visible and they were under heavy machine gun fire from the direction of the station. Nevertheless, the Zonnebeke church was reached. On the left, the advance came to a halt some 200 yards from the station, with their left flank located on the railway embankment.
Peter died at the age of 27. His body was found near St Joseph's Institute after the war. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
Sources 8
|
11 Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO95/1436/2). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
|
British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO372). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
|
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG12). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
|
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG13). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
|
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
|
Lancashire, England, Church of England Births and Baptism, 1813-1911 (Lancashire archives). https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries-and-archives/archives-and-record-office/ Sources used |
|
McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 97. Sources used |
|
Soldiers 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
|
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461704 |
|
Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=874f319a-2854-4a4f-94e7-c782cb0531c7 |
|
Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/629304 |