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John Cassidy
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 23/11/1893 |
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Place of birth: Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: 84 Oldham Road, Waterloo, Ashton under Lyne, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Cotton Mill Worker |
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Religion: Roman Catholic |
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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Enlistment place: Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Manchester Regiment, 2/8th Bn. (Last known unit) — Manchester Regiment, 1/9th Bn. |
Information about death
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Date of death: 09/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Berlin Wood, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 23 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 121 A |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
John Cassidy was the eldest son of John and Annie Cassidy. He was born on 23 November 1893 in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, UK. As a 13-year-old, he started working as a labourer in the local cotton mill. Shortly after the outbreak of war, he enlisted in the British army in November 1914. He initially belonged to the 1/9th Manchester Regiment. After a six-month rehabilitation period due to injuries sustained, he was reassigned to the Lewis Gun Section of the 2/8th Manchester Regiment (199th Brigade, 66th Division).
John was killed on 9 October 1917 at the Battle of Poelcapelle, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 66th Division attacked with the 197th and 198th Brigades. The 2/8th battalion, commanded by the 198th Brigade, was on the far left of the front line. Their trenches ran from Berlin Wood to the farmhouse situated today at 24 Tynecotstraat. The objective was to reach the line between Haalen and Vienna Cotts via Augustus Wood.
At 5.20am, 3/5th Battalion attacked first. The attack was then taken over by the 2/6th and 2/8th Battalions. The advance was slow due to the poor state of the ground. Eventually, the 3/5th Battalion managed to take the first objective, the line between Waterfields, Heine House and Hillside Farm. They joined up with the 198th Brigade, which was in August Wood at the time. They had come to a halt some 270m from their first objective. German fire from Bellevue and the difficult conditions around the Ravebeek made their advance difficult. The reserve battalions also failed to advance to the second objective. As a result, the 2/8th Battalion had to defend some 730 metres of front line. Two German counterattacks, which took place in the morning, were repelled by the 197th Brigade. The 2/8th Battalion and part of the 3/5th Battalion managed to reach the second objective, the line between Haalen and Vienna Cotts. However, they mistook a defensive retreat for a general retreat, so they retreated to the first objective around 13h30. In the evening, German troops again launch counterattacks, but these too are repelled.
The 2/8th Manchester Regiment counts 82 losses in this attack. Among them is almost 24-year-old John Cassidy. His body was not recovered or identified. His name is commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial (panel 121, stone A).
John was killed on 9 October 1917 at the Battle of Poelcapelle, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 66th Division attacked with the 197th and 198th Brigades. The 2/8th battalion, commanded by the 198th Brigade, was on the far left of the front line. Their trenches ran from Berlin Wood to the farmhouse situated today at 24 Tynecotstraat. The objective was to reach the line between Haalen and Vienna Cotts via Augustus Wood.
At 5.20am, 3/5th Battalion attacked first. The attack was then taken over by the 2/6th and 2/8th Battalions. The advance was slow due to the poor state of the ground. Eventually, the 3/5th Battalion managed to take the first objective, the line between Waterfields, Heine House and Hillside Farm. They joined up with the 198th Brigade, which was in August Wood at the time. They had come to a halt some 270m from their first objective. German fire from Bellevue and the difficult conditions around the Ravebeek made their advance difficult. The reserve battalions also failed to advance to the second objective. As a result, the 2/8th Battalion had to defend some 730 metres of front line. Two German counterattacks, which took place in the morning, were repelled by the 197th Brigade. The 2/8th Battalion and part of the 3/5th Battalion managed to reach the second objective, the line between Haalen and Vienna Cotts. However, they mistook a defensive retreat for a general retreat, so they retreated to the first objective around 13h30. In the evening, German troops again launch counterattacks, but these too are repelled.
The 2/8th Manchester Regiment counts 82 losses in this attack. Among them is almost 24-year-old John Cassidy. His body was not recovered or identified. His name is commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial (panel 121, stone A).
Sources 7
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2/8 Battalion Manchester Regiment (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/3145/4). http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 372). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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British Army World War I Service Medal and Awards Rolls, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WBO 329). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG13). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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McCarthy Chris, Passchendaele: The Day-By-Day Account (Londen, Arms & Armour, 2018), 120-122. Sources used |
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Soldiers Effects Records (National Army Museum, Chelsea (NAM) 1901-60; NAM Accesion Number: 1991-02-333). https://www.nam.ac.uk/ 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/1628284 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=501d120a-c7e6-4751-a554-607ad6f55bde |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/745876 |