Pte
Gregory Hoban
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 16/04/1899 |
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Place of birth: Gowran, Kilkenny, Ireland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Day laborer |
Army information
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Country: Ireland, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 11671 |
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Enlistment place: Kilkenny, Kilkenny, Ireland, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Irish Guards, 2nd Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 13/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Ney Wood - Toten Wäldchen, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 18 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 10 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Gregory Hoban was born in Gowran, County Kilkenny, Ireland in 1899. He enlisted in Kilkenny and joined the 2nd Battalion Irish Guards, part of the 2nd Guards Brigade, of the Guards Division.
From July 1917 onward, the Guards Division participated in the Battle of Passchendaele. On the 12th of September, Gregory’s Battalion relieved the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards in the frontline northwest of Langemark.
A part of the 2nd Irish Guards took up positions in Ney Copse and in Ney Wood, on the eastern bank of the Broembeek stream. The Broembeek was a narrow stream, waist-deep with water. The banks of the stream were very marshy. Between Ney Copse and Ney Wood, there was only one good bridge. The other way to cross the Broembeek, was a line of duckboards to the northwest of Ney Copse, which were used as stepping stones. The positions on the eastern bank of the stream were within about 100 yards of the German posts.
At 2.45 a.m. in the morning of the 13th, the Germans put down a heavy barrage on the posts across the Broembeek. After 25 minutes of shelling, the barrage was lifted and came down on the lines on the western bank. The moment the barrage lifted, at least one Company of Württemberg sturmtruppen, clad in body armour, rushed the posts on the eastern bank. All posts south of Ney Copse had been blown to pieces, were bombed and then rushed by the Württemberg raiding party. Only the survivors in Ney Copse were able to resist the attack. At 4.45 a.m. the Germans put down a new artillery barrage, to cover the retreat of the raiding party. The 2nd Irish Guards had lost 82 men in two hours. They had either been killed or had been taken prisoner.
After the raid it was decided to evacuate all posts, east of the Broembeek stream. Under the cover of darkness the men fell back on the ridge above Brienne House, Montmirail Farm and Craonne Farm.
Gregory, just 18, was reported missing on 13 September 1917. He was later declared killed in action. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
From July 1917 onward, the Guards Division participated in the Battle of Passchendaele. On the 12th of September, Gregory’s Battalion relieved the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards in the frontline northwest of Langemark.
A part of the 2nd Irish Guards took up positions in Ney Copse and in Ney Wood, on the eastern bank of the Broembeek stream. The Broembeek was a narrow stream, waist-deep with water. The banks of the stream were very marshy. Between Ney Copse and Ney Wood, there was only one good bridge. The other way to cross the Broembeek, was a line of duckboards to the northwest of Ney Copse, which were used as stepping stones. The positions on the eastern bank of the stream were within about 100 yards of the German posts.
At 2.45 a.m. in the morning of the 13th, the Germans put down a heavy barrage on the posts across the Broembeek. After 25 minutes of shelling, the barrage was lifted and came down on the lines on the western bank. The moment the barrage lifted, at least one Company of Württemberg sturmtruppen, clad in body armour, rushed the posts on the eastern bank. All posts south of Ney Copse had been blown to pieces, were bombed and then rushed by the Württemberg raiding party. Only the survivors in Ney Copse were able to resist the attack. At 4.45 a.m. the Germans put down a new artillery barrage, to cover the retreat of the raiding party. The 2nd Irish Guards had lost 82 men in two hours. They had either been killed or had been taken prisoner.
After the raid it was decided to evacuate all posts, east of the Broembeek stream. Under the cover of darkness the men fell back on the ridge above Brienne House, Montmirail Farm and Craonne Farm.
Gregory, just 18, was reported missing on 13 September 1917. He was later declared killed in action. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Sources 5
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Ancestry http://www.ancestry.co.uk Further reference |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/836746/hoban,-gregory/ Sources used |
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The Long, Long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
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The National Archives of Ireland https://www.nationalarchives.ie/ Sources used |
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WarDiaries http://www.nmarchive.com Further reference |