Rfn
Michael Foley
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1895 |
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Place of birth: St. Pancras, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Rifleman |
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Service number: R/5064 |
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Enlistment date: 14/09/1914 |
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Enlistment place: St. Pancras, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — King's Royal Rifle Corps, 8th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 24/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Inverness Copse, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 22 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 117 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal — 07/04/1920 |
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Victory Medal Medal — 07/04/1920 |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
Rifleman Michael Foley served in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps 8th Battalion, part of the 41st Brigade. This Brigade was part of the 14th Division of the British Expeditionary Force.
The 8th Battalion had attacked on the 22nd of August 1917, and was to be relieved during the night between August 23rd and 24th. Moving back to Zillebeke Bund, the relief was interrupted by a German counter-attack between Inverness Copse and Glencorse Wood, northwest of the village of Geluveld.
At 4 a.m. a heavy German barrage came crashing down on Inverness Copse and Glencorse Wood. After half an hour of shelling the German infantry advanced. One and a half company of the Battalion remained in the line, occupying a defensive flank to the south, running from Inverness Copse to Stirling Castle.
The Germans kept on attacking throughout the day. Almost driving back the Battalion out of Inverness Copse. At 1.10 p.m., orders came for all troops in Zillebeke Bund to reinforce the original front line. The support moved up through intense shelling. The 72nd Brigade moved into support to help suppress the German attacks. With the help of the reinforcements the German advance was eventually halted. However the Germans had recaptured about half the terrain, that was gained on the 22nd of August.
The King’s Royal Rifle Corps 8th Battalion had suffered over a hundred losses on the 24th of August, including six officers, due to German shell fire. During the night of the 24th/25th of October the Battalion went into Brigade Reserve.
Rifleman Michael Foley was killed in action in Inverness Copse on the 24th of August 1917. His remains were never recovered or identified and he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Zonnebeke.
The 8th Battalion had attacked on the 22nd of August 1917, and was to be relieved during the night between August 23rd and 24th. Moving back to Zillebeke Bund, the relief was interrupted by a German counter-attack between Inverness Copse and Glencorse Wood, northwest of the village of Geluveld.
At 4 a.m. a heavy German barrage came crashing down on Inverness Copse and Glencorse Wood. After half an hour of shelling the German infantry advanced. One and a half company of the Battalion remained in the line, occupying a defensive flank to the south, running from Inverness Copse to Stirling Castle.
The Germans kept on attacking throughout the day. Almost driving back the Battalion out of Inverness Copse. At 1.10 p.m., orders came for all troops in Zillebeke Bund to reinforce the original front line. The support moved up through intense shelling. The 72nd Brigade moved into support to help suppress the German attacks. With the help of the reinforcements the German advance was eventually halted. However the Germans had recaptured about half the terrain, that was gained on the 22nd of August.
The King’s Royal Rifle Corps 8th Battalion had suffered over a hundred losses on the 24th of August, including six officers, due to German shell fire. During the night of the 24th/25th of October the Battalion went into Brigade Reserve.
Rifleman Michael Foley was killed in action in Inverness Copse on the 24th of August 1917. His remains were never recovered or identified and he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Zonnebeke.
Sources 4
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8 Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps , (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/1895/2). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14303 Further reference |
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Byron, R., The King's Royal Rifle Corps Chronicle, (London, Warren and son, 1920), pg. 104-105. Sources used |
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Hare S., The Annals of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, (London, John Murray, 1932), pg. 233. Sources used |
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McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995), pg. 60. 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/1632139 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=a27effe3-1a5d-4a09-827b-d376c6a0637a |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/2498119 |