2nd Lt
Samuel Bird Teasdale
Information about birth
|
Year of birth: 1889 |
|
Place of birth: Bolton, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
|
Profession: Police Constable |
Army information
|
Country: England, United Kingdom |
|
Force: British Expeditionary Force |
|
Rank: Second Lieutenant |
|
Service number: / |
|
Units: — York & Lancaster Regiment, 10th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
|
Date of death: 31/07/1917 |
|
Place of death: Beek Farm, Wieltje, Belgium |
|
Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
|
Age: 28 |
Memorial
|
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 55 |
Distinctions and medals 2
|
British War Medal Medal |
|
Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Second Lieutenant Samuel Bird Teasdale served in the York & Lancaster Regiment, 10th Battalion, part of the 63rd Brigade, of the 37th Division.
On the 31st of July 1917, the 63rd Brigade participated in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, a phase in the Third Battle of Ypres. The 63rd Brigade initially attacked under command of the 19th Division, along with the 4th Middlesex and the 8th Lincolns. It later fell under command of the 37th Division along with the 8th Somerset Light Infantry. The York & Lancaster Regiment 10th Battalion were on a front that extended from Blaupoortbeek to Beek Wood. Their orders were to advance some 300 yards towards the enemy lines and then dig in and erect barbed wire. The advance was intended to create a diversion in order that the Germans could not withdraw any troops from the area and relocate them elsewhere.
At 3.50 am the attack began and the 4th Middlesex advanced towards July Farm-Rifle Farm. This objective was reached and not long after, at 7.50 am, the main attack began. The Somersets and the Lincolns made their way towards the western edge of Beek Farm. They eventually managed to secure their objective, i.e. the line July Farm – Wambeke Farm.
Later on, the Division met some resistance at May Farm which forced them to halt. An attempt was made to take the farm but it proved unsuccessful. The Division also tried to clear Beek Wood, but did not succeed.
The situation remained unchanged until 8 pm, when the Germans marched for a counter-attack. They were, however, soon dispersed by artillery fire.
Second Lieutenant Samuel Bird Teasdale was killed in action on the 31st of July 1917. Lt. Teasdale was possibly killed whilst digging in near Beek Farm. His remains were never identified so it is difficult to say in what stage of the battle he fell. He is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
On the 31st of July 1917, the 63rd Brigade participated in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, a phase in the Third Battle of Ypres. The 63rd Brigade initially attacked under command of the 19th Division, along with the 4th Middlesex and the 8th Lincolns. It later fell under command of the 37th Division along with the 8th Somerset Light Infantry. The York & Lancaster Regiment 10th Battalion were on a front that extended from Blaupoortbeek to Beek Wood. Their orders were to advance some 300 yards towards the enemy lines and then dig in and erect barbed wire. The advance was intended to create a diversion in order that the Germans could not withdraw any troops from the area and relocate them elsewhere.
At 3.50 am the attack began and the 4th Middlesex advanced towards July Farm-Rifle Farm. This objective was reached and not long after, at 7.50 am, the main attack began. The Somersets and the Lincolns made their way towards the western edge of Beek Farm. They eventually managed to secure their objective, i.e. the line July Farm – Wambeke Farm.
Later on, the Division met some resistance at May Farm which forced them to halt. An attempt was made to take the farm but it proved unsuccessful. The Division also tried to clear Beek Wood, but did not succeed.
The situation remained unchanged until 8 pm, when the Germans marched for a counter-attack. They were, however, soon dispersed by artillery fire.
Second Lieutenant Samuel Bird Teasdale was killed in action on the 31st of July 1917. Lt. Teasdale was possibly killed whilst digging in near Beek Farm. His remains were never identified so it is difficult to say in what stage of the battle he fell. He is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Sources 2
|
10 Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment , (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2529/3). 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. 16-19. Sources used |
More information 3
|
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1626014 |
|
Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=2f6b85fd-faad-4ffc-8437-e7bd6824a775 |
|
Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/4384001 |