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Henry Appleton
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 20/06/1888 |
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Place of birth: Sowerby, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Whitworth, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Farmer |
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Religion: Baptist |
Army information
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Country: Verenigd Koninkrijk |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Serjeant |
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Service number: 241001 |
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Enlistment place: Rochdale, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Lancashire Fusiliers, ""A"""" Coy. 1st/6th Bn."" (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 06/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Pommern Castle & Redoubt, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 29 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: V Row: G Grave: 4 |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Henry Appleton was born on June 20, 18888 in Sowerby, Yorkshire, England. He was the son of James Appleton and Martha Jane Appleton. However, she died in 1915. In addition, he also had 11 brothers and sisters: William Appleton (born around 1880), Elizabeth Ann Appleton (born around 1881), James Appleton (born around 1883), Jane Appleton (born around 1885), Mary Appleton (born) Eva around 1886) Appleton (born around 1890), John Appleton (born around 1890), George Appleton (born around 1892), Elsie Appleton (born around 1894), Alfred Appleton (born around 1898). He lived in Whitworth, Lancashire, England and worked as a farmer. Henry signed up for the British Expeditionary Force in Rochdale, Lancashire, England. During the war he served in the 1/6th Battalion “A Company” Lancashire Fusiliers Regiment (125th Brigade, 42nd (East Lancashire) Division).
On Thursday, September 6, 1917, the 42nd Division attacked with the 125th Brigade: the 1/5th and the 1/6th Battalions attacked while the 1/7th and 1/8th Battalions offered support. The Brigade attacked the German positions between Iberian Farm, Beck House and Borry Farms. The 1/6th Battalion attacked Beck House and Iberian Farm with the B, C and D Compagnies; The A Company served as support. The attack started at 7.30 am. The companies of the 1/6th Battalion succeeded in taking Beck House, but the 2 companies that Iberian Farm attacked came under heavy machine gun fire from the southern slopes of Hill 35. The attack of the 125th Brigade failed by a German counterattan with heavy machinery. The Germans took over Beck House and killed or caught all the battalions of the brigade, including B and the Halve A-Compagnie of the 1/6th Battalion, with the exception of 2 battalions of the Lancashire Fusiliers. Very heavy losses fell under the remaining of the 1/6th Battalion. This exposed the remaining companies to fire from Hill 35 and forced them to withdraw to their original starting positions. The flank of the 1/5th Battalion was exposed and after a German counterattack at 7.30 pm they were forced to fall back. The right flank, however, managed to hold 150 Yards for their original position and consolidated.
On this Thursday, September 6, 1917, Henry Appleton was one of the many soldiers who died. He died at the age of 29. His body was found near Pomern Castle & Redoubt in Zonnebeke. So he probably died not far from Iberian Farm. Henry is reburied on Tyne Cot Cemetery (plot V, row G, grave 4).
On Thursday, September 6, 1917, the 42nd Division attacked with the 125th Brigade: the 1/5th and the 1/6th Battalions attacked while the 1/7th and 1/8th Battalions offered support. The Brigade attacked the German positions between Iberian Farm, Beck House and Borry Farms. The 1/6th Battalion attacked Beck House and Iberian Farm with the B, C and D Compagnies; The A Company served as support. The attack started at 7.30 am. The companies of the 1/6th Battalion succeeded in taking Beck House, but the 2 companies that Iberian Farm attacked came under heavy machine gun fire from the southern slopes of Hill 35. The attack of the 125th Brigade failed by a German counterattan with heavy machinery. The Germans took over Beck House and killed or caught all the battalions of the brigade, including B and the Halve A-Compagnie of the 1/6th Battalion, with the exception of 2 battalions of the Lancashire Fusiliers. Very heavy losses fell under the remaining of the 1/6th Battalion. This exposed the remaining companies to fire from Hill 35 and forced them to withdraw to their original starting positions. The flank of the 1/5th Battalion was exposed and after a German counterattack at 7.30 pm they were forced to fall back. The right flank, however, managed to hold 150 Yards for their original position and consolidated.
On this Thursday, September 6, 1917, Henry Appleton was one of the many soldiers who died. He died at the age of 29. His body was found near Pomern Castle & Redoubt in Zonnebeke. So he probably died not far from Iberian Farm. Henry is reburied on Tyne Cot Cemetery (plot V, row G, grave 4).
Sources 4
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1/6 Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers Regiment war diary (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2654/3). http://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG13). 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. 72-73. 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 |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461753 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=378d32ef-1d41-45d3-a7cb-f5dc9338bd4e |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/650175 |