Pte
Stephen Henshaw
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 18/11/1886 |
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Place of birth: Woodgate, Worcestershire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Stonehouse Lane, California, Worcestershire, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: machine fitter |
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: 204232 |
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Enlistment place: Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 1/1st Bn. (Buckinghamshire) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 23/08/1917 |
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Place of death: No. 61 Casualty Clearing Station, Dozinghem, Westvleteren, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Died of wounds (D.O.W.) |
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Age: 30 |
Cemetery
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Dozinghem Military Cemetery Plot: III Row: H Grave: 7 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 5
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of wounding | ||
| #5 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Stephen Henshaw, a former stoker, was born on 18 November 1887 in Northfield, Worcestershire, England. He was the son of Ephraim and Sarah Ann Moore. In 1910, he married Sarah Brookes and lived with her in Stonehouse Lane, California, Worcestershire. The couple had three children, the last of whom was born in January 1917. Shortly afterwards, Stephen enlisted in Birmingham and served as a private in the 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, part of the 145th Brigade, of the 48th (South Midland) Division.
The 48th Division took part in the Battle of Langemarck on 16 August 1917. The 145th Brigade attacked from the western bank of the Steenbeek stream with the 1/4th Bn. Ox and Bucks Light Infantry on the left, the 1/1st Bn. Ox and Bucks Light Infantry in the centre and the 1/5th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment on the right. The 1/4th Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment was in reserve. The aim of the attack was to take the ruins of Saint Julien and reach the Langemarck-Zonnebeke Road which was 800 metres to the north-east.
The attack began at 4.45 am. The attacking troops encountered heavy resistance due to machine-gun fire from German blockades, causing heavy losses. They were able to advance some 200 to 300 metres east of the Steenbeek stream, but eventually ran into difficulties. The men began to consolidate their positions, but the battalion continued to suffer casualties from machine gun and sniper fire throughout the day. One group continued and reached Springfield Farm along the Langemarck-Zonnebeke Road, but they were all killed, wounded or captured. In the evening, the Germans launched a few counterattacks, but these were repulsed. On the night of 17-18 August 1917, the 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion was relieved and sent to the rear. The war diary records that the battalion lost 44 officers and men, 49 officers and men missing, and 196 officers and men wounded.
Stephen Henshaw, aged 29, died of wounds on 23 August 1917. He had been wounded in the attack of 16 August 1917 and was not discovered until the 48th Division attacked again six days later, on 22 August 1917. It is believed that Private Henshaw was among the men who continued towards Springfield Farm. He was taken to Casualty Clearing Station No 61 at Dozinghem north of Poperinge. Here he succumbed to his wounds and was buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Plot III, Row H, Grave 7.
Today, a white limestone cenotaph dedicated to Private Henshaw can be found along the Langemarck-Zonnebeke Road, just 500 metres south-east of The Brooding Soldier. It marks the field where Stephen Henshaw lay for six days.
The 48th Division took part in the Battle of Langemarck on 16 August 1917. The 145th Brigade attacked from the western bank of the Steenbeek stream with the 1/4th Bn. Ox and Bucks Light Infantry on the left, the 1/1st Bn. Ox and Bucks Light Infantry in the centre and the 1/5th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment on the right. The 1/4th Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment was in reserve. The aim of the attack was to take the ruins of Saint Julien and reach the Langemarck-Zonnebeke Road which was 800 metres to the north-east.
The attack began at 4.45 am. The attacking troops encountered heavy resistance due to machine-gun fire from German blockades, causing heavy losses. They were able to advance some 200 to 300 metres east of the Steenbeek stream, but eventually ran into difficulties. The men began to consolidate their positions, but the battalion continued to suffer casualties from machine gun and sniper fire throughout the day. One group continued and reached Springfield Farm along the Langemarck-Zonnebeke Road, but they were all killed, wounded or captured. In the evening, the Germans launched a few counterattacks, but these were repulsed. On the night of 17-18 August 1917, the 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion was relieved and sent to the rear. The war diary records that the battalion lost 44 officers and men, 49 officers and men missing, and 196 officers and men wounded.
Stephen Henshaw, aged 29, died of wounds on 23 August 1917. He had been wounded in the attack of 16 August 1917 and was not discovered until the 48th Division attacked again six days later, on 22 August 1917. It is believed that Private Henshaw was among the men who continued towards Springfield Farm. He was taken to Casualty Clearing Station No 61 at Dozinghem north of Poperinge. Here he succumbed to his wounds and was buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Plot III, Row H, Grave 7.
Today, a white limestone cenotaph dedicated to Private Henshaw can be found along the Langemarck-Zonnebeke Road, just 500 metres south-east of The Brooding Soldier. It marks the field where Stephen Henshaw lay for six days.
Sources 5
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1 Bucks Battalion Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO/95/2763-2). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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145 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/2761/4). 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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Gedenksteen Private Stephen Henshaw, Gedenkplaten (Gemeente Langemark-Poelkapelle). https://www.langemark-poelkapelle.be/gedenkplaten Further reference |
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Gedenksteen Stephen Henshaw, Gedenktekens (Wereldoorlog I in de Westhoek). http://www.wo1.be/nl/db-items/gedenksteen-stephen-henshaw Further reference |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/620961 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=fccf0aa1-2f09-4130-aa87-66f4652247c8 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5282530 |