L/Cpl
Herbert James Pitchford
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1876 |
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Place of birth: St. George's, Telford, Shorpshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Licensed Victualler |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Lance Corporal |
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Service number: 55764 |
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Units: — Welsh Regiment, 10th Bn. (1st Rhondda) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 02/08/1917 |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 41 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 37W |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 1
| #1 | Place of birth |
My story
Herbert James Pitchford was a victualler from Shifnal, Shropshire. Lance corporal Pitchford was part of the 10th Battalion Welsh Regiment, 114th Brigade, 38th Division. At the end of July 1917, his battalion was deployed in in the opening battle of the Battle of Passchendaele, the Battle of Pilckem Ridge.
On the 30th of July 1917, preparations were made for an attack. At 9 p.m. his battalion moved to the assembly point at Helme Trench and the Old Front Line. Several hours later, at 3.50 a.m. on the 31th of July, the attack was launched. The 10th and 13th Welsh Regiment were the first to attack. Despite the difficult orientation due to the dark, they managed to capture the Blue Line (Gallwitz farm – Hindenburg farm). They encountered little opposition. Most of the German soldiers were taken prisoner at Caesar Support. Further attacks were taken up by the 15th and 14th Welsh Battalion who captured Pilkem Village, Iron Cross and Rudolphe Farm. While subjected to severe bombardments, the 10th battalion provided material, rations and water to the battalions in front. On the 2nd of August at 5 p.m., eventually, the 10th battalion was relieved.
During these couple of days, 6 officers and 151 other ranks were killed, wounded or missing. Lance Corporal Pitchford was one of them. He was reported ‘killed in action’ on the 2nd of August. His body was never found. Today, he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, panel 37W.
On the 30th of July 1917, preparations were made for an attack. At 9 p.m. his battalion moved to the assembly point at Helme Trench and the Old Front Line. Several hours later, at 3.50 a.m. on the 31th of July, the attack was launched. The 10th and 13th Welsh Regiment were the first to attack. Despite the difficult orientation due to the dark, they managed to capture the Blue Line (Gallwitz farm – Hindenburg farm). They encountered little opposition. Most of the German soldiers were taken prisoner at Caesar Support. Further attacks were taken up by the 15th and 14th Welsh Battalion who captured Pilkem Village, Iron Cross and Rudolphe Farm. While subjected to severe bombardments, the 10th battalion provided material, rations and water to the battalions in front. On the 2nd of August at 5 p.m., eventually, the 10th battalion was relieved.
During these couple of days, 6 officers and 151 other ranks were killed, wounded or missing. Lance Corporal Pitchford was one of them. He was reported ‘killed in action’ on the 2nd of August. His body was never found. Today, he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, panel 37W.
Sources 6
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1624376/HERBERT%20JAMES%20PITCHFORD/ Sources used |
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John, Steven. The Welsh at war. Through mud to victory: third Ypres and the 1918 offensives. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military, 2018. 9-12. Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: the day by day account. Londen: Uniform, 2018. 31-2. Sources used |
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Naval and Military Archive http://www.nmarchive.com Sources used |
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The Long Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/welsh-regiment/ Sources used |