Pte
John Atkinson
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1893 |
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Place of birth: Padiham, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Cotton Mill Worker |
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: 235394 |
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Enlistment place: Burnley, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — King's (Liverpool Regiment), 12th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 18/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Schreiboom, Langemark, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 24 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 31 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
Private John Atkinson – a Cotton Mill worker from Padiham, Lancashire - served in the 12th Battalion King’s Liverpool Regiment, part of the 61st Brigade of the 20th (Light) Division.
John’s unit participated in the Battle of Langemarck which lasted from the 16th of August till the 18th. On the 16th it captured the final objective, at the hamlet of Schreiboom, east of the ruins of Langemarck. When a German counterattack almost encircled the King’s positions, the right flank of the 12th Battalion was forced to retreat some 200 yards.
On the following day the centre Company, having lost all its officers and senior N.C.O’s, suddenly vacated its position and fell back. The Germans quickly recaptured these positions and the 12th King’s were ordered to recapture the lost ground during the afternoon. But the attack was to no avail. The Germans held their line and only 250-odd yards were gained.
The 12th King’s were relieved on the night of 17th and 18th August. Losses had been heavy. Four officers and forty-one men were killed, seven officers and 230 other ranks were wounded and thirty-four men went missing. During the relief two soldiers were killed.
Private John Atkinson, aged 24, was killed in action on 18 August 1917. John has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
John’s unit participated in the Battle of Langemarck which lasted from the 16th of August till the 18th. On the 16th it captured the final objective, at the hamlet of Schreiboom, east of the ruins of Langemarck. When a German counterattack almost encircled the King’s positions, the right flank of the 12th Battalion was forced to retreat some 200 yards.
On the following day the centre Company, having lost all its officers and senior N.C.O’s, suddenly vacated its position and fell back. The Germans quickly recaptured these positions and the 12th King’s were ordered to recapture the lost ground during the afternoon. But the attack was to no avail. The Germans held their line and only 250-odd yards were gained.
The 12th King’s were relieved on the night of 17th and 18th August. Losses had been heavy. Four officers and forty-one men were killed, seven officers and 230 other ranks were wounded and thirty-four men went missing. During the relief two soldiers were killed.
Private John Atkinson, aged 24, was killed in action on 18 August 1917. John has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Sources 6
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Ancestry https://ancestry.co.uk Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/846537/atkinson,-john/ Sources used |
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Long Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/20th-light-division/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, C., "Passchendaele the Day by Day Account", Londen, Unicorn Publishing Group, 2018, pg. 59-60. Sources used |
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War Diary http://www.nmarchive.com/ Sources used |
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Wyrall E., "The History of the King's Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919", London, Edward Arnold & Co., 1935, pg. 509-513. Sources used |