Information about birth

Year of birth:
1899
Place of birth:
Stanbridge, Bedfordshire, England, United Kingdom

General information

Last known residence:
Stanbridge, Bedfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Army information

Country:
England, United Kingdom
Force:
British Expeditionary Force
Rank:
Private
Service number:
29186
Enlistment place:
Luton, Bedfordshire, England, United Kingdom
Units:
 —  Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 1st/6th Bn.  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
04/10/1917
Place of death:
York Farm, Poelkapelle, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
18

Cemetery

Tyne Cot Cemetery
Plot: XIII
Row: D
Grave: 32

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 Abell was the son of Jane and Arthur Abell. He was born around 1899 in Stanbridge, Bedfordshire, where he also continued to live. Henry served in the First World War with the 1/6th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment (143rd Brigade, 48th (South Midland) Division).

Henry was killed on 4 October 1917 during the Battle of Broodseinde, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The starting positions of the 143rd Brigade ran from Tweed House to Vale House. Half an hour before the attack was due to start, the 5th and 6th Battalions of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment suffered heavy losses in a German attack on the forward positions.

The 6th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment took charge of the central section of the attack zone. They first took the German positions to the west of the Stroombeek. After about 200 yards, however, they came under machine-gun and rifle fire from the areas to the right and higher up, as well as from the road in front of York Farm and Winchester Farm. This led to a high number of casualties. Moreover, their own barrage was lifted too quickly. Taking Burns House and Vacher Farm became impossible. The 6th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment suffered 27 dead, 41 missing and 160 wounded.

Henry died at the age of 18. His body was found near York Farm. After the war, Henry was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.

Sources 7

1/6 Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2755/2).
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Sources used
143 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters. (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2754/5).
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, 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
McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 114.
Sources used
War Office and Air Ministry: Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War. (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 329).
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Sources used

More information 3