Pte
Elisha Andrews
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1885 |
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Place of birth: Teignmouth, Devonshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: 10 Boscawen Place, Teignmouth, Devon, England, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: Verenigd Koninkrijk |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 11813 |
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Enlistment place: Heavitree, Exeter, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Devonshire Regiment, 1st Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 04/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Cameron House Beselare, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 32 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: LIX Row: F Grave: 46 |
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 5
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) | ||
| #5 | Sterfteplaats |
My story
Elisha Andrews was born in 1885 in Teignmouth, Devon, England. He was the son of Elisha and Eliza Andrews. Elisha had 10 other siblings: John Frederick Andrews (born 1873), Florence Eliza Andrews (born 1874), Maude Annie Andrews (born 1876), Thomas William Andrews (born 1879), Eleanor Newton Andrews (born 1880), Sophie Newton Andrews (born 1882), Lilly Beatrice Andrews (born 1884), Ethel Amelia Andrews (born 1887), Eliza Andrews (born 1888) and Mary Ann Netting Andrews (born 1893). In 1911, Elisha married Beatrice Florence Andrews. They moved to 10 Boscawen Place, Teignmouth, Devon, England. Together they had three children: Beatrice May Andrews (born 1912), Reginald E Andrews (born 1913) and Phyllis Andrews (born 1915). In 1915, Elisha enlisted in the British Expeditionary Force in Heavitree, Exeter, England. During the war, Elisha enlisted in 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment (95th Brigade, 5th Division).
On Thursday 4 October 1917, at the Battle of Broodseinde, the 5th Division attacked with the 13th Brigade and the 95th Brigade. This brigade attacked with the 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment and the 1st Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Regiment; the 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment was in support and the 12th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment was in reserve. The German 19th Reserve Division was about to attack the 5th Division when the bombardment began. As a result, the Germans suffered many casualties.
At 6 am on 4 October, the 1st Devons advanced to attack the German positions. The final objective, the line between Juniper Wood and Poezelhoek, was reached by the battalion's left and right companies. But heavy rifle and machine-gun fire from their right at Polderhoek Château forced the battalion to fall back on the line from Jut Farm to Polderhoek. This line was very close to Cameron House (Beselare), the place where Elisha was killed in battle. The line consolidated during the afternoon and night. They were also able to connect with the 1st Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Regiment on their left and with the 2nd Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers on their right.
At 6 pm, Germans advanced for a counterattack in the Reutelbeek valley east of Château Wood. However, the forward battalions sent out an SOS signal that was repeated by other battalions and artillery. As a result, the Germans failed to reach the battalions' positions. However, an hour later, around 7pm, a gap was discovered between the 1st Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Regiment and the 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment. This gap was then filled by the 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment which came up from near Cameron House (Beselare). The Germans were able to launch a total of eight counterattacks and regained the ground they had lost on Polderhoek Spur. By nightfall, the front line moved along the west side of Cameron Covert and just west of Château Wood.
The Battle of Broodseinde caused 311 casualties: 194 soldiers were wounded, 1 soldier was wounded and missing, 52 soldiers were missing, 8 soldiers were wounded who were believed to be dead and 56 soldiers died, including 32-year-old Elisha Andrews. He is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery (plot LIX, row F, grave 46). Elisha was also awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1914-1915 Star after his death.
On Thursday 4 October 1917, at the Battle of Broodseinde, the 5th Division attacked with the 13th Brigade and the 95th Brigade. This brigade attacked with the 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment and the 1st Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Regiment; the 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment was in support and the 12th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment was in reserve. The German 19th Reserve Division was about to attack the 5th Division when the bombardment began. As a result, the Germans suffered many casualties.
At 6 am on 4 October, the 1st Devons advanced to attack the German positions. The final objective, the line between Juniper Wood and Poezelhoek, was reached by the battalion's left and right companies. But heavy rifle and machine-gun fire from their right at Polderhoek Château forced the battalion to fall back on the line from Jut Farm to Polderhoek. This line was very close to Cameron House (Beselare), the place where Elisha was killed in battle. The line consolidated during the afternoon and night. They were also able to connect with the 1st Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Regiment on their left and with the 2nd Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers on their right.
At 6 pm, Germans advanced for a counterattack in the Reutelbeek valley east of Château Wood. However, the forward battalions sent out an SOS signal that was repeated by other battalions and artillery. As a result, the Germans failed to reach the battalions' positions. However, an hour later, around 7pm, a gap was discovered between the 1st Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Regiment and the 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment. This gap was then filled by the 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment which came up from near Cameron House (Beselare). The Germans were able to launch a total of eight counterattacks and regained the ground they had lost on Polderhoek Spur. By nightfall, the front line moved along the west side of Cameron Covert and just west of Château Wood.
The Battle of Broodseinde caused 311 casualties: 194 soldiers were wounded, 1 soldier was wounded and missing, 52 soldiers were missing, 8 soldiers were wounded who were believed to be dead and 56 soldiers died, including 32-year-old Elisha Andrews. He is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery (plot LIX, row F, grave 46). Elisha was also awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1914-1915 Star after his death.
Sources 5
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1 Battalion Devonshire Regiment war diary (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/1579/3). http://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), WO372). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), p. 109. Sources used |
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Soldier's Effects records (National Army Museum, Chelsea (NAM) 1901-60; NAM Accesion Number: 1991-02-333). https://www.nam.ac.uk/ Sources used |
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War Office and Air Ministry: Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War(the National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 329). 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/461746 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=26eda8cc-91c4-40b7-a494-d3d23c62cc85 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/58484 |