Pte
John Cassidy
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 23/11/1894 |
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Place of birth: Ashton-under-Lyne, 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: 303456 |
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Enlistment date: 05/11/1914 |
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Units: — Manchester Regiment, 2/8th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 09/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Berlin Wood, 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: 121A |
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
John Cassidy was in November 1894 in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire. During the war he served in the Manchester Regiment, 2/8th Battalion, part of the 199th Brigade, of the 66th Division.
On the 9th of October 1917, the 66th Division participated in the Battle of Poelcappelle, a stage of the Third Battle of Ypres. It advanced from positions around Hamburg Farm through Augustus Wood towards the village of Passchendaele. The Division attacked with the 197th and 198th Brigades; the 199th Brigade was in support. At 1 a.m. the 2/8th Battalion took over the trenches on the left. They were in support and by 6.30 a.m. the men were ready in case they had to attack. While waiting in support about 2 companies of the 1/5th Battalion K.O.Y.L.I who had lost their direction arrived at their lines. They were then directed to a neighboring West Riding Battalion. By 12.27 p.m. the 2/8th Battalion was holding the old British line near Berlin Wood in support of the 198th Brigade. Their orders were to cover the left of the divisional front from Berlin Wood until touch was obtained with 2/5th Battalion on the right. However the 2/5th Battalion failed to take position and the Battalion covered a front of about 800 yards.
While covering the left of the attack from Berlin Wood the Battalion was shelled continuously for 6 hours and the intensity of the fire was increased. Heavy casualties were reported. Private John Cassidy was killed in action on 9 October 1917. The 24-year-old was one of 82 casualties of the 2/8th Battalion on this day. John Cassidy has no known grave and is remembered in the Tyne Cot Memorial, panel 121A.
On the 9th of October 1917, the 66th Division participated in the Battle of Poelcappelle, a stage of the Third Battle of Ypres. It advanced from positions around Hamburg Farm through Augustus Wood towards the village of Passchendaele. The Division attacked with the 197th and 198th Brigades; the 199th Brigade was in support. At 1 a.m. the 2/8th Battalion took over the trenches on the left. They were in support and by 6.30 a.m. the men were ready in case they had to attack. While waiting in support about 2 companies of the 1/5th Battalion K.O.Y.L.I who had lost their direction arrived at their lines. They were then directed to a neighboring West Riding Battalion. By 12.27 p.m. the 2/8th Battalion was holding the old British line near Berlin Wood in support of the 198th Brigade. Their orders were to cover the left of the divisional front from Berlin Wood until touch was obtained with 2/5th Battalion on the right. However the 2/5th Battalion failed to take position and the Battalion covered a front of about 800 yards.
While covering the left of the attack from Berlin Wood the Battalion was shelled continuously for 6 hours and the intensity of the fire was increased. Heavy casualties were reported. Private John Cassidy was killed in action on 9 October 1917. The 24-year-old was one of 82 casualties of the 2/8th Battalion on this day. John Cassidy has no known grave and is remembered in the Tyne Cot Memorial, panel 121A.
Sources 5
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"Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Uniform, 2018, pg. 120-122. Sources used |
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.co.uk/ Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1628284/john-cassidy/ Sources used |
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The Long, Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
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War Diary Manchester Regiment, 2/8th Bn. http://www.nmarchive.com/ Sources used |