Rfn
George Honeybun
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 02/06/1895 |
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Place of birth: Hampstead, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Stockman |
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: 5529 |
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Enlistment date: 1914 |
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Enlistment place: Sussex, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — The Rifle Brigade, 1st Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 13/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Landing Farm, North of Poelcapelle, 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: 146 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal — 31/01/1920 |
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Victory Medal Medal — 31/01/1920 |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
Rifleman George Honeybun served with the Rifle Brigade 1st Battalion of the 11th Brigade which was part of the 4th Division. On the 12th of October 1917, the 4th Division participated in the First Battle of Passchendaele, a stage of the Third Battle of Ypres.
On October 12, 1917 the 4th Division attacked at 5.25 a.m., zero hour, with a composite Brigade. It consisted of the 1st Royal Warwickshire Regiment and the Household Battalion; the 1st King’s Own (R Lancs) were in support and the 1st Rifle Brigade was in reserve. At zero hour, the attack was punctually launched and the supporting Companies of the 1st Rifle Brigade were well over the road before the German barrage fell. However, the advance of the 1st Rifle Brigade came under fire from Poelcappelle on their right hand side and in particular from Helles House. During the attack the 18th Division on their right was unable to capture the Brewery and as a result the 4th Division was exposed to very heavy machine gun fire coming from the right flank. “I” Company of the 1st Rifle Brigade formed a defensive flank together with the King’s Own southwest of Requette Farm. Part of the 1st Battalion served as support for “I” while the rest dug in on their objective line Landing farm-Compromis Farm.
During the evening the Germans launched several unproductive counterattacks. At dusk the frontline was as follows: south- west of Requette Farm – east of Besace Farm – Memling Farm. At night the 1st Rifle Brigade moved forward as support battalion to the line Landing Farm-Besace Farm-Bower House. Throughout the operation the weather was most trying but the Brigade succeeded in accomplishing their task and reached their objectives in spite of the dreadful conditions.
On Saturday 13 October the 4th Division was relieved by the 34th Division. The 1st Rifle Brigade suffered a total of 158 casualties. Rifleman George Honeybun was killed in action on the 13th of October 1917 near Landing Farm just north of Poelkappelle. His remains were never recovered but he is commemorated at Tyne Cot Memorial.
On October 12, 1917 the 4th Division attacked at 5.25 a.m., zero hour, with a composite Brigade. It consisted of the 1st Royal Warwickshire Regiment and the Household Battalion; the 1st King’s Own (R Lancs) were in support and the 1st Rifle Brigade was in reserve. At zero hour, the attack was punctually launched and the supporting Companies of the 1st Rifle Brigade were well over the road before the German barrage fell. However, the advance of the 1st Rifle Brigade came under fire from Poelcappelle on their right hand side and in particular from Helles House. During the attack the 18th Division on their right was unable to capture the Brewery and as a result the 4th Division was exposed to very heavy machine gun fire coming from the right flank. “I” Company of the 1st Rifle Brigade formed a defensive flank together with the King’s Own southwest of Requette Farm. Part of the 1st Battalion served as support for “I” while the rest dug in on their objective line Landing farm-Compromis Farm.
During the evening the Germans launched several unproductive counterattacks. At dusk the frontline was as follows: south- west of Requette Farm – east of Besace Farm – Memling Farm. At night the 1st Rifle Brigade moved forward as support battalion to the line Landing Farm-Besace Farm-Bower House. Throughout the operation the weather was most trying but the Brigade succeeded in accomplishing their task and reached their objectives in spite of the dreadful conditions.
On Saturday 13 October the 4th Division was relieved by the 34th Division. The 1st Rifle Brigade suffered a total of 158 casualties. Rifleman George Honeybun was killed in action on the 13th of October 1917 near Landing Farm just north of Poelkappelle. His remains were never recovered but he is commemorated at Tyne Cot Memorial.
Sources 3
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11 Infantry Brigade: 1 Battalion Rifle Brigade. (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/1496/5). Further reference |
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McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995), pg. 117-118. Sources used |
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Seymour W., The history of the Rifle Brigade in the War of 1914-1918, (London, The Rifle Brigade Club, 1936), pg. 161-162. 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/837128 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=6a91b62e-e40e-4e55-b736-3e793699aa38 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/1953361 |