Pte
Henry Newman Mckears

Information about birth

Year of birth:
1881
Place of birth:
Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom

General information

Last known residence:
373 London Road, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom
Profession:
Tailor
Religion:
Church of England

Army information

Country:
Verenigd Koninkrijk
Force:
British Expeditionary Force
Rank:
Private
Service number:
44835
Enlistment place:
Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom
Units:
 —  Manchester Regiment, 2/9th Bn.  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
09/10/1917
Place of death:
Augustus Wood, Passchendaele, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
36

Cemetery

Tyne Cot Cemetery
Plot: XXVI
Row: F
Grave: 19

Distinctions and medals 2

Points of interest 4

#1 Place of birth
#2 Last known residence
#3 Enlistment place
#4 Place of death (approximate)

My story

Henry Newman McKears was the son of Lucy and William McKears. He was born around 1881 in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire. Before the war he worked as a tailor. He enlisted in the British Army and belonged to the 2/9th Battalion Manchester Regiment (198th Brigade, 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division).

Henry was killed on 9 October 1917 during the Battle of Poelcappelle, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 2/9th Battalion Manchester had its starting positions near Hamburg and launched an attack towards Haalen and Vienna Cotts. At 5:24 a.m., the battalion followed its own barrage towards its first objective near Heine House. However, the Germans launched one barrage after another and soon counterattacked. This forced the battalion to retreat to Augustus Wood. Further counterattacks were repelled, and the line was held until relief arrived.

Henry died at the age of 36. After the war, his body was found near Augustus Wood. He was reburied in Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.

Sources 5

2/9 Battalion Manchester Regiment. (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/3141/7).
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, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14).
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Sources used
McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), p. 121-122.
Sources used
Sheffield and Rotherham, Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1948.
https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/
Sources used

More information 3