Année de naissance: 1885

Lieu de naissance: Ruislip, Middlesex, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni

Profession: Ouvrier

Pays: Angleterre, Royaume-Uni

Force armée: British Expeditionary Force

Rang: Serjeant

Numéro de service: G/3274

Incorporation date: 03/09/1914

Incorporation nom de lieu: Uxbridge, Middlesex, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni

Unités:  —  The Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment), 12th Bn.  (Dernière unité connue)

Date de décès: 17/10/1917

Lieu de décès: Poelkapelle Church, Belgique

Cause du décès: Killed in action (K.I.A.)

Âge: 32

1914-15 Star Médaille

British War Medal Médaille — 13/02/1920

Victory Medal Médaille — 13/02/1920

Serjeant Henry John Thrift served in the Middlesex Regiment 12th Battalion, part of the 54th Brigade, of the 18th (Eastern) Division. The 18th Division participated in the First Battle of Passchendaele (12 October), part of the Third Battle of Ypres.

On the 12th of October 1917 the Division attacked from the Eastern outskirts of the village of Poelkapelle with the 55th and 53rd Brigade. The objective was to capture the entire village of Poelkapelle and the German strongholds at Meunier- and Cameron House. However as soon as the men of the 18th (Eastern) Division passed through Poelkapelle they were enfiladed by machinegun fire from Meunier House and the Brewery. Consequently the attack was checked and a new front line was formed only 100 yards in front of the jumping off line.

On the 16th of October 1917 the 54th Infantry Brigade relieved the 53rd Brigade in the Front Line, with the 11th Royal Fusiliers on the right and the 12th Middlesex on the left. On the 17th the line was withdrawn back to Poelkapelle, running through Poelkapelle Church. This to allow the artillery to shell the Eastern outskirts of the village. During the day the line was frequently shelled by the German artillery. Especially “B” Company on the left was subjected to very heavy shelling, which continued throughout the following day.

Serjeant Henry John Thrift was killed in action on the 17th of October 1917, while the 12th Middlesex Regiment was holding the line near Poelkapelle Church. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial Wall.

"The Die-Hards in the Great War", Wyrall E., London, Harrison & Sons, 1926, pg. 142-143. Sources utilisées

"The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995, pg. 116-117. Sources utilisées

Ancestry http://home.ancestry.co.uk/ Autre référence

CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/827738/thrift,-henry-john/#&gid=null&pid=1 Sources utilisées

The Long, Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources utilisées

War Diary HQ 54th Brigade http://www.nmarchive.com/ Autre référence

War Diary Middlesex Regiment 12th Bn. http://www.nmarchive.com/ Autre référence