Cpl
Percy James Ransford Hendley
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1892 |
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Place of birth: West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Miner |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Corporal |
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Service number: 18591 |
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Enlistment place: Walsall, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — South Staffordshire Regiment, 7th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 19/08/1917 |
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Place of death: The Cockcroft, Keerselare, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 25 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 90 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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British War Medal Medal |
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Military Medal Medal — 21/10/1916 |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
Corporal Percy James Ransford Hendley served with the 7th (Service) Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment of the 33rd Brigade which was part of the 11th Division. On Sunday the 19th of August 1917, the 7th South Staffordshire Regiment carried out an attack in the direction of Keerzelaarstraat (Kerselare) and the Cockcroft. Previously, on the 16th of August the 11th Division had already carried out an attack in this direction. On August 16 the initial assault troops were from the 34th Brigade. The attack was then taken over by 33rd Brigade with the 7th South Staffordshires of Corporal Percy James Ransford Hendley. During the attack their right flank was exposed owing to the 145 Brigade being held up.
On August 19, 1917, two platoons of the 7th S. Staffs were ready in a shell-hole position to advance along with the 47th and the 48th Division who attacked at 4.45 a.m. zero hour, supported by seven tanks of 1 Tank Brigade. They moved along the Zonnebekestraat under cover of a smoke- and shrapnel barrage and captured four pillboxes which had held up the 48th Division previously on the 16th of August. The 7th Staffs was ordered to take the Cockcroft with tank support. Yet, at 5.50 a.m. “C” Company reported that only one and not two tanks were moving up the Poelkapelle Road toward Cockcroft. In the meantime Hollick Farm fell at 6 a.m. when the German garrison ran way. Maison du Hibou could not be reached by the tanks which could not get closer than 80 yards because of the boggy ground. At 6.40 a.m. Maison du Hibou was hit with a smoke barrage. The male tank which was equipped with two Hotchkiss 6-pounder (57 mm) guns and 4 machine guns stood off. It fired 50 shells from the rear, thus forcing the German garrison to run and be shot down by a female tank working in close cooperation. Female tanks only carried 5 machine guns. Triangle Farm was kept under covering fire as the infantry entered and neutralized the garrison.
The male tank which was to support the platoons of 7th Staffs Regiment in their attack got ditched about 100 yards short of the Cockcroft. Brigade Order 91 stated defensibly that the action would not be undertaken without tanks so the attack was not made, pending further instructions. However, on receipt of the note that “C” Company had captured Maison Du Hibou, it became clear that their posts were consolidated at the Triangle. On the strength of this, operation Officer Commanding of the 7th S. Staff Regt decided to attack the Cockcroft without the cooperation of the tanks. The 48th Division and the 7th Staffs Regt succeeded with slight casualties.
The Cockcroft eventually fell at 6.45 a.m. and was harassed by a female tank which ditched 50 yards away. Approximately a hundred Germans ran away from the pillbox and surrounding bunkers at the Cockcroft. The German defenders suffered heavy casualties when the majority of them was caught in the crossfire. Posts were immediately established to consolidate the new position in spite of considerable German fire from the direction of Bulow Farm. At 10 a.m. a German aeroplane flew low over the new position of the 7th Bn. Shortly afterwards they were subjected to a heavy bombardment during which the Battalion suffered casualties. They were subsequently heavily shelled during the afternoon and throughout the rest of the day. The 7th South Staffordshire Battalion, of Corporal Percy James Ransford Hendley, was relieved at night by the 6th Lincoln Regiment. The Commanding Officer of the 7th Battalion reported 2 officers and 87 other ranks amongst the casualties.
It’s possible Corporal Percy James Ransford Hendley fell victim to German shell fire coming from Bulow Farm while he was defending the Battalion’s newly acquired position at The Cockcroft. His
On August 19, 1917, two platoons of the 7th S. Staffs were ready in a shell-hole position to advance along with the 47th and the 48th Division who attacked at 4.45 a.m. zero hour, supported by seven tanks of 1 Tank Brigade. They moved along the Zonnebekestraat under cover of a smoke- and shrapnel barrage and captured four pillboxes which had held up the 48th Division previously on the 16th of August. The 7th Staffs was ordered to take the Cockcroft with tank support. Yet, at 5.50 a.m. “C” Company reported that only one and not two tanks were moving up the Poelkapelle Road toward Cockcroft. In the meantime Hollick Farm fell at 6 a.m. when the German garrison ran way. Maison du Hibou could not be reached by the tanks which could not get closer than 80 yards because of the boggy ground. At 6.40 a.m. Maison du Hibou was hit with a smoke barrage. The male tank which was equipped with two Hotchkiss 6-pounder (57 mm) guns and 4 machine guns stood off. It fired 50 shells from the rear, thus forcing the German garrison to run and be shot down by a female tank working in close cooperation. Female tanks only carried 5 machine guns. Triangle Farm was kept under covering fire as the infantry entered and neutralized the garrison.
The male tank which was to support the platoons of 7th Staffs Regiment in their attack got ditched about 100 yards short of the Cockcroft. Brigade Order 91 stated defensibly that the action would not be undertaken without tanks so the attack was not made, pending further instructions. However, on receipt of the note that “C” Company had captured Maison Du Hibou, it became clear that their posts were consolidated at the Triangle. On the strength of this, operation Officer Commanding of the 7th S. Staff Regt decided to attack the Cockcroft without the cooperation of the tanks. The 48th Division and the 7th Staffs Regt succeeded with slight casualties.
The Cockcroft eventually fell at 6.45 a.m. and was harassed by a female tank which ditched 50 yards away. Approximately a hundred Germans ran away from the pillbox and surrounding bunkers at the Cockcroft. The German defenders suffered heavy casualties when the majority of them was caught in the crossfire. Posts were immediately established to consolidate the new position in spite of considerable German fire from the direction of Bulow Farm. At 10 a.m. a German aeroplane flew low over the new position of the 7th Bn. Shortly afterwards they were subjected to a heavy bombardment during which the Battalion suffered casualties. They were subsequently heavily shelled during the afternoon and throughout the rest of the day. The 7th South Staffordshire Battalion, of Corporal Percy James Ransford Hendley, was relieved at night by the 6th Lincoln Regiment. The Commanding Officer of the 7th Battalion reported 2 officers and 87 other ranks amongst the casualties.
It’s possible Corporal Percy James Ransford Hendley fell victim to German shell fire coming from Bulow Farm while he was defending the Battalion’s newly acquired position at The Cockcroft. His
Sources 5
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"The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995, pg. 51; 57. Sources used |
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.co.uk/ Further reference |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/836221/hendley,-percy-james-ransford/ Sources used |
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The Long, Long Trail Sources used |
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War Diary 7th Bn South Staffordshire Regt http://www.nmarchive.com Further reference |