Pte
Thomas Frederick Bancroft
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 26/12/1897 |
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Place of birth: Allestree, Derby, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Allestree, Derby, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 242436 |
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Enlistment place: Derby, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom |
Information about death
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Date of death: 26/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Glencorse Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 19 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XLIV Row: B Grave: 26 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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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
Thomas Frederick Bancroft was born on 26 December 1897 in Allestree, Derbyshire, United Kingdom. He was the son of William Bancroft and Clara Askin. During the First World War, he enlisted in his hometown and was assigned to the 1/9th Battalion (Glasgow Highlanders), Highland Light Infantry.
In September 1917, the men of the 1/9th Battalion were in the region around Ypres. The Battle of Passchendaele had already been raging for nearly two months. On 24 September, they were sent to the frontline near Clapham Junction, Inverness Cops, and Glencorse Wood. There, they took over positions from one company of the 11th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, and two companies of the 11th (Service) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment). On 25 September, during the relief, the entire frontline of the 33rd Division, of which the 1/9th Battalion was part, was attacked. Part of the newly occupied positions was lost to the Germans.
On 26 September, the Battle of Polygon Wood began. While the Australians were tasked with capturing Polygon Wood, the men of the 1/9th Battalion were ordered to retake the lost positions. Initially, the attack on the right flank was repelled, and the positions remained in German hands. Around 2:30 PM, the left flank of the 1st Battalion, Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey), was attacked. Two platoons of the 1/9th Battalion managed to repel the German counterattack along the flank of the 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, which awaited the Germans with two Lewis Guns. Of the approximately 70 Germans who attacked, barely four were able to retreat to their own lines. The two platoons then succeeded in recapturing part of the lost positions. Around 4 PM, the last lost bunker was captured by the 1/6th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Around 5 PM, the Germans launched a bombardment, followed by another counterattack. This was crushed by British artillery.
Thomas Frederick Bancroft was killed on 26 September at the age of 19 near Glencorse Wood. He was reburied after the war in Tyne Cot Cemetery, plot XLIV, row B, grave 26.
In September 1917, the men of the 1/9th Battalion were in the region around Ypres. The Battle of Passchendaele had already been raging for nearly two months. On 24 September, they were sent to the frontline near Clapham Junction, Inverness Cops, and Glencorse Wood. There, they took over positions from one company of the 11th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, and two companies of the 11th (Service) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment). On 25 September, during the relief, the entire frontline of the 33rd Division, of which the 1/9th Battalion was part, was attacked. Part of the newly occupied positions was lost to the Germans.
On 26 September, the Battle of Polygon Wood began. While the Australians were tasked with capturing Polygon Wood, the men of the 1/9th Battalion were ordered to retake the lost positions. Initially, the attack on the right flank was repelled, and the positions remained in German hands. Around 2:30 PM, the left flank of the 1st Battalion, Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey), was attacked. Two platoons of the 1/9th Battalion managed to repel the German counterattack along the flank of the 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, which awaited the Germans with two Lewis Guns. Of the approximately 70 Germans who attacked, barely four were able to retreat to their own lines. The two platoons then succeeded in recapturing part of the lost positions. Around 4 PM, the last lost bunker was captured by the 1/6th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Around 5 PM, the Germans launched a bombardment, followed by another counterattack. This was crushed by British artillery.
Thomas Frederick Bancroft was killed on 26 September at the age of 19 near Glencorse Wood. He was reburied after the war in Tyne Cot Cemetery, plot XLIV, row B, grave 26.
Sources 5
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9 Battalion Highland Light Infantry war diary (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2431/1). http://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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British Army World War I Service Medal and Awards Rolls, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 329). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG13). http://ancestry.com Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 89-92. Sources used |
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UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919, His Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO), 1921. http://Ancestry.com 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/461815 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/165647 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=d92972e8-58c9-4b58-ba12-b28823b08a9b |