Gnr
Henry Alfred Longworth

Information about birth

Year of birth:
1887
Place of birth:
Hull, Kingston upon Hull, England, United Kingdom

General information

Profession:
Labourer

Army information

Country:
England, United Kingdom
Force:
British Expeditionary Force
Rank:
Gunner
Service number:
99669
Enlistment place:
Hull, Kingston upon Hull, England, United Kingdom
Units:
 —  Royal Field Artillery, "A" Bty. 83rd Bde.  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
02/08/1917
Place of death:
Clapham Junction, Zonnebeke, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
30

Cemetery

The Huts Cemetery
Plot: I
Row: C
Grave: 6

Distinctions and medals 3

Points of interest 3

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

My story

Henry Alfred Longworth served with “A” Battery Royal Field Artillery of the 83rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery, part of the 18th (Eastern) Division’s Divisional Artillery.

In August 1917 the 18th Divisional Artillery was on the Ypres front. On the 31st of July, the opening day of the offensive, the 18th (Eastern) Division supported the attack of the 30th Division along the Menin Road.

During the first half of August the 18th Divisional Artillery, including the 83rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery, worked in the area that had been gained by the 18th and 30th Division on the 31st of July. They repaired roads and positions and had to lay grid walks in the devastated area near Surbiton Villas and Clapham Junction. They kept on working along the Menin Road till they were relieved on the 13th and 14th of August 1917.

Throughout the month of August the 18th Divisional Artillery only lost one man. The war diary states that the casualties had been very light considering the work that had been done in the forward area. Nevertheless Gunner Henry Alfred Longworth was killed in action on the 2nd of August 1917, possibly while repairing roads or laying grid walks in the devastated area near Surbiton Villas and Clapham Junction. He was buried on the Huts Cemetery in Dikkebus.

Connection to other soldiers 1

Files 1

Sources 2

83 Brigade Royal Field Artillery , (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2025/1 ).
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14303
Further reference
McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995), pg. 22-23.
Sources used

More information 3