Sgt
Harry Tedstone
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1886 |
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Place of birth: Yardley, Worcestershire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: 78 Percy Road, Greet, Birmingham, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Packer |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Sergeant |
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Service number: A/3762 |
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Enlistment date: 29/08/1914 |
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Enlistment place: Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — King's Royal Rifle Corps, 8th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 24/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Winding hole of the Ypres-Comines Canal, Ypres, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 31 |
Cemetery
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Poelcapelle British Cemetery Plot: VII Row: A Grave: 1 |
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
Harry Tedstone was born in Yardley, Worcestershire, near Birmingham, Warwickshire. According to his registration papers, it would have been in May 1886. He lost his father at a young age and later lived with an aunt and uncle. At the outbreak of war, he volunteered. He was eventually taken on by the 8th Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, part of the 41st Brigade of the 14th (Light) Division. He remained in England until 18 May 1915 after which he left for France. On 5 October 1916, he was promoted to sergeant.
In August 1917, the 14th Division arrived at Ypres from France. On 23 August 1917, part of the 8th Battalion KRRC was relieved and marched to Chateau Segard south-west of Ypres, between the town and the Dikkebus pond. The rest of the battalion; one and a half companies, headquarters and communications sections moved into a tunnel under the Menin Road near Clapham Junction. On the night of 23-24 August 1917, units of the 42nd Brigade were ordered to relieve the remainder of the 8th KRRC, but the relay was interrupted by a German attack. The one-and-a-half company remained in the line and established a defensive flank running from Inverness Copse to Stirling Castle. Several heavy counterattacks took place during the day. At one point, units in Inverness Copse were almost driven out of their positions. The situation looked critical and the 41st Brigade, which was in reserve, was sent to the front line. By the end of the day, the Germans had recaptured a significant part of the ground won in the previous days.
The 8th KRRC had suffered heavy losses on 24 August 1917, mainly from German shellfire. About 100 men were killed or wounded. Sergeant Harry Tedstone died on 24 August 1917 at the age of 31. He was buried near the winding hole of the Ypres-Comines Canal, immediately south of Ypres. Later, his body was interred at Poelcapelle British Cemetery, Plot VIIA, Row A, Grave 1.
In August 1917, the 14th Division arrived at Ypres from France. On 23 August 1917, part of the 8th Battalion KRRC was relieved and marched to Chateau Segard south-west of Ypres, between the town and the Dikkebus pond. The rest of the battalion; one and a half companies, headquarters and communications sections moved into a tunnel under the Menin Road near Clapham Junction. On the night of 23-24 August 1917, units of the 42nd Brigade were ordered to relieve the remainder of the 8th KRRC, but the relay was interrupted by a German attack. The one-and-a-half company remained in the line and established a defensive flank running from Inverness Copse to Stirling Castle. Several heavy counterattacks took place during the day. At one point, units in Inverness Copse were almost driven out of their positions. The situation looked critical and the 41st Brigade, which was in reserve, was sent to the front line. By the end of the day, the Germans had recaptured a significant part of the ground won in the previous days.
The 8th KRRC had suffered heavy losses on 24 August 1917, mainly from German shellfire. About 100 men were killed or wounded. Sergeant Harry Tedstone died on 24 August 1917 at the age of 31. He was buried near the winding hole of the Ypres-Comines Canal, immediately south of Ypres. Later, his body was interred at Poelcapelle British Cemetery, Plot VIIA, Row A, Grave 1.
Sources 10
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8 King's Royal Rifle Corpse (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/1895/2_5). https://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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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG12). 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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Hutton E., Morland T.L.N., Mends H., Fortescue F.A., Pearce-Serocold E., Byron R., The King's Royal Rifle Corps Chronicle 1917, (London, John Murray, Albemarle Street, W., 1920), 104-105. Sources used |
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McCarthy Chris., Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account (London, Unicorn Publishing Group, 2018), 64. Sources used |
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Steuart Hare; The Annals Of The King's Royal Rifle Corps, Vol V: The Great War (London, John Murray, Albemarle Street,W, 1932), 233. Sources used |
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UK, World War I Service Medal and Awards Rolls, 1914-1920(The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 329). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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War Office: Soldiers' Documents (The National Archives, Kew (TNA) WO363). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.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/492174 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/4384936 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=756323ca-ad9a-4b7f-a4bf-5674d751970e |