Maj.
Horace Salkeld Green
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1883 |
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Place of birth: St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Clerk in the House of Commons. |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Major |
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Service number: / |
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Units: — London Regiment, 2/7th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 20/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Würst Farm, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 34 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: VIII. Row: C. Grave: 5. |
Distinctions and medals 3
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British War Medal Medal |
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Mentioned in Despatches Honourable mentioning |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 1
| #1 | Place of birth |
My story
Major Horace Green served in the London Regiment 2/7th Battalion (in April 1918 renamed as the 7th Battalion), part of the 174th Brigade of the 58th Division.
The Battalion arrived on the 27th of August 1917 in St.-Julien. On the 20th of September 1917, the Battalion participated in the Battle of The Menin Road.
In the original plan of the attack, the 2/5th and 2/8th Battalions were to capture Hubner Trench.
The 2/7th Bn. had to attack left up the Stroombeek Valley, with the 2/6th Bn. going through to the London Ridge.
Owing to the waterlogged state of the valley, it was decided to alter the scheme of the attack, by attacking each side of the valley and not through it.
The 2/7th Bn. became a reserve Battalion to the Brigade in this new plan.
The Battalion got in position and settled down to wait for zero hour. The remaining three Battalions were to move up in the morning of the attack and go straight into action.
At 5.40. a.m. the artillery started to put up a barrage.
The 2/7th Bn. received orders to move and advanced by half platoons under German shell fire, which caused several casualties. The Battalion arrived to the position near Hubner Trench and made a double line of half platoons.
There were a lot of casualties and stretcher bearers of all battalions and a company of the 175th Brigade attached specially for this duty took the wounded away.
While awaiting to participate in the next attack, the Battalion took shelter in shell holes and dug themselves in, to obtain some protection during German shell fire. Several casualties fell during this waiting period.
When the order came to move forward, the Battalion advanced about two hundred yards around the flank of Hubner, to the area of Genoa Farm. During the advance, the German shell fire increased. Notwithstanding the German shell fire, the Battalion carried out the operation, but Genoa farm appeared to be a death trap. Meanwhile, the stretcher bearers continued to carry wounded soldiers away.
Through the barrage, Major Green, followed by his runner Pte. Page walked from platoon to platoon. A sergeant, lost four machine gunners out of five and asked Major Green to arrange some reinforcement. Major Green said he would send reinforcements once they were settled. He proceeded on to the next platoon near Wurst Farm. Within a few minutes Pte. Page came running back with the message that Major Green had been killed. Lieutenant Wards immediately took over command.
Shortly after this, the Battalion received orders to get back to the Hubner position. At dusk the order came to move up to the front line, to London Ridge. The 2/6th Bn. managed to hold the Ridge, which had a line of posts on the crest and others on the forward slope. The three Companies of the 2/7th Bn. filled in the gaps between these posts and dug in.
Major Green was killed in action near Wurst Farm. It’s highly likely stretcher bearers took Major Green behind the front line. He was initially buried at coordinate 28. D. 1. a. 30.40. near Flora Cottage.
The Battalion arrived on the 27th of August 1917 in St.-Julien. On the 20th of September 1917, the Battalion participated in the Battle of The Menin Road.
In the original plan of the attack, the 2/5th and 2/8th Battalions were to capture Hubner Trench.
The 2/7th Bn. had to attack left up the Stroombeek Valley, with the 2/6th Bn. going through to the London Ridge.
Owing to the waterlogged state of the valley, it was decided to alter the scheme of the attack, by attacking each side of the valley and not through it.
The 2/7th Bn. became a reserve Battalion to the Brigade in this new plan.
The Battalion got in position and settled down to wait for zero hour. The remaining three Battalions were to move up in the morning of the attack and go straight into action.
At 5.40. a.m. the artillery started to put up a barrage.
The 2/7th Bn. received orders to move and advanced by half platoons under German shell fire, which caused several casualties. The Battalion arrived to the position near Hubner Trench and made a double line of half platoons.
There were a lot of casualties and stretcher bearers of all battalions and a company of the 175th Brigade attached specially for this duty took the wounded away.
While awaiting to participate in the next attack, the Battalion took shelter in shell holes and dug themselves in, to obtain some protection during German shell fire. Several casualties fell during this waiting period.
When the order came to move forward, the Battalion advanced about two hundred yards around the flank of Hubner, to the area of Genoa Farm. During the advance, the German shell fire increased. Notwithstanding the German shell fire, the Battalion carried out the operation, but Genoa farm appeared to be a death trap. Meanwhile, the stretcher bearers continued to carry wounded soldiers away.
Through the barrage, Major Green, followed by his runner Pte. Page walked from platoon to platoon. A sergeant, lost four machine gunners out of five and asked Major Green to arrange some reinforcement. Major Green said he would send reinforcements once they were settled. He proceeded on to the next platoon near Wurst Farm. Within a few minutes Pte. Page came running back with the message that Major Green had been killed. Lieutenant Wards immediately took over command.
Shortly after this, the Battalion received orders to get back to the Hubner position. At dusk the order came to move up to the front line, to London Ridge. The 2/6th Bn. managed to hold the Ridge, which had a line of posts on the crest and others on the forward slope. The three Companies of the 2/7th Bn. filled in the gaps between these posts and dug in.
Major Green was killed in action near Wurst Farm. It’s highly likely stretcher bearers took Major Green behind the front line. He was initially buried at coordinate 28. D. 1. a. 30.40. near Flora Cottage.
Sources 3
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2/7 Batallion London Regiment, (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/3005/8). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14303 Further reference |
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McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995), pg. 76, 79. Sources used |
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Planck D.C., The history of the 7th (City of London) Battalion The London Regiment, (London, The Old Comrades' association, 1946), pg. 169-172. 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/462955 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=57e86c7d-202c-4306-ad3f-6d1d13952f09 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/1443942 |