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Harry Hankins
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1898 |
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Place of birth: Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: Wales, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 56690 |
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Enlistment place: Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 10th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 26/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Zonnebeke Station, 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: XV Row: E Grave: 19 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Harry Hankins was the son of G. A. and R. Hankins. He was born around 1898 in Cardiff, Glamorgan. Harry enlisted in the British Army and was part of the 10th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers (76th Brigade, 3rd Division).
Harry was killed in action on 26 September 1917 during the Battle of the Polygon Wood, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The preliminary barrage started at 3.40 a.m., The German artillery reacted with a barrage of their own only thirty minutes later. At zero hour, 5.50 a.m., the 76th Brigade attacked on the right side of the railway, while the 8th Brigade attacked left of the 76th. The starting position was west of Zonnebeke, near Potsdam.
The 8th Battalion The King’s Own and the 1st Gorden Highlanders were to capture and consolidate the first objective. There was little resistance in this phase of the attack. However, the men were briefly held up as they sought a crossing point over the Hanebeek. After they had crossed the Hanebeek, the advance continued towards the first objective, near the St. Joseph’s Institute.
On the lifting of the barrage, the 10th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, together with the 2nd Suffolks, continued to the final objective, the village of Zonnebeke. The attack lost momentum because of heavy machine gun fire from the station of Zonnebeke. The center of the village was eventually taken by the 10th Fusiliers and 2nd Suffolks. The right company of the 10th and some men of the 2nd succeeded in reaching the ruins of the church, while the left was stopped at about 200 yards from the station. The Germans showed little resistance, except when the battalions were approaching the final objective. It was during the final advance that the Battalion suffered the heavy casualties.
At 2.30 p.m. the first German counter-attack commenced, but it was relatively easy repulsed with artillery-, Lewis gun and rifle fire. The second counter-attack started at 6.30 p.m. The attack gained momentum, but was eventually halted. No more counter-attacks developed, as the Germans had suffered heavy casualties.
On the left the 8th Brigade withdrew, which left the left flank of the 76th Brigade uncovered. During the evening and the night of the 26th/27th September, the Battalion was reorganized. Parties were organized to carry ammunition to the frontline positions.
Harry Hankins was killed at the age of 19. His remains were found after the war near Zonnebeke Station. He was reburried at the Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
Harry was killed in action on 26 September 1917 during the Battle of the Polygon Wood, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The preliminary barrage started at 3.40 a.m., The German artillery reacted with a barrage of their own only thirty minutes later. At zero hour, 5.50 a.m., the 76th Brigade attacked on the right side of the railway, while the 8th Brigade attacked left of the 76th. The starting position was west of Zonnebeke, near Potsdam.
The 8th Battalion The King’s Own and the 1st Gorden Highlanders were to capture and consolidate the first objective. There was little resistance in this phase of the attack. However, the men were briefly held up as they sought a crossing point over the Hanebeek. After they had crossed the Hanebeek, the advance continued towards the first objective, near the St. Joseph’s Institute.
On the lifting of the barrage, the 10th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, together with the 2nd Suffolks, continued to the final objective, the village of Zonnebeke. The attack lost momentum because of heavy machine gun fire from the station of Zonnebeke. The center of the village was eventually taken by the 10th Fusiliers and 2nd Suffolks. The right company of the 10th and some men of the 2nd succeeded in reaching the ruins of the church, while the left was stopped at about 200 yards from the station. The Germans showed little resistance, except when the battalions were approaching the final objective. It was during the final advance that the Battalion suffered the heavy casualties.
At 2.30 p.m. the first German counter-attack commenced, but it was relatively easy repulsed with artillery-, Lewis gun and rifle fire. The second counter-attack started at 6.30 p.m. The attack gained momentum, but was eventually halted. No more counter-attacks developed, as the Germans had suffered heavy casualties.
On the left the 8th Brigade withdrew, which left the left flank of the 76th Brigade uncovered. During the evening and the night of the 26th/27th September, the Battalion was reorganized. Parties were organized to carry ammunition to the frontline positions.
Harry Hankins was killed at the age of 19. His remains were found after the war near Zonnebeke Station. He was reburried at the Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
Sources 3
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10 Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/1436/2). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Burton F., The War Diary (1914-1918) of 10th (Service) Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers, (Plymouth, William Brendon & Son, 1926), 82-84. Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 2018), 89-92. 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/463045 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=d7bc73af-908a-4fce-b1ce-61432fc9dc98 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/1535980 |