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Arthur Jeffries

Information about birth

Year of birth:
1895
Place of birth:
Heywood, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Army information

Country:
Verenigd Koninkrijk
Force:
British Expeditionary Force
Rank:
Private
Service number:
200105
Enlistment place:
Heywood, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom
Units:
 —  Lancashire Fusiliers, 1/5th Bn.  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
06/09/1917
Place of death:
Frezenberg, Zonnebeke, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
22

Cemetery

Tyne Cot Cemetery
Plot: XXVII
Row: C
Grave: 2

Points of interest 3

#1 Place of birth
#2 Enlistment place
#3 Place of death (approximate)

My story

Arthur Jeffries was the son of Eliza Jeffries. He was born around 1895. Arthur enlisted in the British Army and served in the 1/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers (125th Brigade, 42th (East Lancashire) Division).

Arthur was killed on 6 September 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele. At that time, the battalion was in reserve lines near Borry Farm, west of Zonnebeke. Two companies arrived around midnight in the assembly trench awaiting the start of the attack. At 7:15 a.m., heavy shelling began on Borry Farm, after which the two companies launched their assault. Simultaneously, Beck House, Iberian, and Hill 35 were attacked by neighbouring troops. Skirmishes occurred throughout the day, with machine-gun fire coming, among other places, from Vampir. The attack stalled after 150 yards, followed by heavy counterattacks at 10:45 a.m., 7:30 p.m., and 11:10 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., the left flank of the 1/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers had to retreat to its original line. The right flank held its position and consolidated their positions, which lay between Frost House and Vampir.

Arthur died at the age of 22. After the war, his body was found near Frezenberg. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.

Sources 2

1/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers war dairy (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95 95/2654/2).
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Sources used
McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), p.72-73.
Sources used

More information 3