Pte
James Skelton
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 10/02/1886 |
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Place of birth: Camberwell, Surrey, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Labourer |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: G/6995 |
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Enlistment place: Guildford, Surrey, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 1st Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 26/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Veldhoek, Geluveld, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 31 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 16 |
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
Private James Skelton served in The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) 1st Battalion, part of the 100th Brigade, of the 33rd Division.
The 33rd Division participated in the Battle of Polygon Wood (26 September – 3 October) part of the Third Battle of Ypres. The Division relieved the 23rd Division in the frontline, between Polygon Wood and the Menin Road, on the 25th of September. The 98th Brigade was on the left flank of the divisional front, just south of Polygon Wood, and the 100th Brigade was positioned on the right flank near the hamlet of Veldhoek.
At 5.30 a.m. the 1st Queen’s and a part of the 1/9th Highland Light Infantry were driven back by a German attack. At 9 a.m. a company of the Queen’s and the 9th Highland Light Infantry managed to retake part of the lost ground.
On the 26th the 33rd Division attacked with the 98th Brigade covering the right flank of the Australians, who advanced through Polygon Wood. The 100th Brigade had to recover the ground, which they had lost the previous day. It’s attack on the 26th was carried by the 1/9th Highland Light Infantry and the 1st Queen’s.
At 5.50 a.m. the 1st Queen’s advanced, in conjunction with the 39th Division on their right. The Queen’s attack was checked 50 yards short of their objective. A German strongpoint armed with machine guns halted the advance and no further progress could be made as the left flank was in the air. Consequently the 1st Queen’s consolidated their positions.
At 2.30 p.m. a German counter attack on the Queen’s left flank was driven off by platoons of the 1/9th Highland Light Infantry. A company of the 1st Cameronians was sent up to help the pinned down 1st Queen’s. Together they rushed and captured the strongpoint round 7 p.m. With the German strongpoint gone, the men were able to resume the advance. With the exception of one pillbox near the Menin Road, the whole ground lost on the 25th had been recaptured. Another German counter attack at 5 p.m. was stopped with the help of the artillery.
Private James Skelton was killed in action on the 26th of September 1917, probably during the attack of the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) 1st Battalion near Veldhoek, part of the Battle of Polygon Wood. His remains were not recovered and James Skelton is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial.
The 33rd Division participated in the Battle of Polygon Wood (26 September – 3 October) part of the Third Battle of Ypres. The Division relieved the 23rd Division in the frontline, between Polygon Wood and the Menin Road, on the 25th of September. The 98th Brigade was on the left flank of the divisional front, just south of Polygon Wood, and the 100th Brigade was positioned on the right flank near the hamlet of Veldhoek.
At 5.30 a.m. the 1st Queen’s and a part of the 1/9th Highland Light Infantry were driven back by a German attack. At 9 a.m. a company of the Queen’s and the 9th Highland Light Infantry managed to retake part of the lost ground.
On the 26th the 33rd Division attacked with the 98th Brigade covering the right flank of the Australians, who advanced through Polygon Wood. The 100th Brigade had to recover the ground, which they had lost the previous day. It’s attack on the 26th was carried by the 1/9th Highland Light Infantry and the 1st Queen’s.
At 5.50 a.m. the 1st Queen’s advanced, in conjunction with the 39th Division on their right. The Queen’s attack was checked 50 yards short of their objective. A German strongpoint armed with machine guns halted the advance and no further progress could be made as the left flank was in the air. Consequently the 1st Queen’s consolidated their positions.
At 2.30 p.m. a German counter attack on the Queen’s left flank was driven off by platoons of the 1/9th Highland Light Infantry. A company of the 1st Cameronians was sent up to help the pinned down 1st Queen’s. Together they rushed and captured the strongpoint round 7 p.m. With the German strongpoint gone, the men were able to resume the advance. With the exception of one pillbox near the Menin Road, the whole ground lost on the 25th had been recaptured. Another German counter attack at 5 p.m. was stopped with the help of the artillery.
Private James Skelton was killed in action on the 26th of September 1917, probably during the attack of the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) 1st Battalion near Veldhoek, part of the Battle of Polygon Wood. His remains were not recovered and James Skelton is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial.
Sources 2
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1 Battalion Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) , (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2430/1). 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. 82-86. 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/3065021 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=763630cc-7177-499e-b0dc-51b98a582d1b |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/4059723 |