Cpl
Alfred James Reginald Stonehewer

Informations sur naissance

Date de naissance:
04/04/1890
Lieu de naissance:
Salford, Lancashire, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni

Informations générales

Profession:
Concepteur de papiers peints

Informations service militaire

Pays:
Angleterre, Royaume-Uni
Force armée:
British Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Corporal
Numéro de service:
12463
Incorporation nom de lieu:
Manchester, Lancashire, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni
Unités:
 —  Manchester Regiment, 11th Bn.  (Dernière unité connue)

Informations sur décès

Date de décès:
16/08/1917
Lieu de décès:
The Cockroft, Belgique
Cause du décès:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Âge:
27

Mémorial

Tyne Cot Memorial
Panneau: 120

Distinctions et médailles 3

1914-15 Star
Médaille — 12/03/1920
British War Medal
Médaille — 16/03/1920
Victory Medal
Médaille — 16/03/1920

Points d'intérêt 2

#1 Lieu de naissance
#2 Lieu d'enrôlement

Mon histoire

Corporal Alfred James Reginald Stonehewer served in the Manchester Regiment 11th Battalion, part of the 34th Brigade, of the 11th (Northern) Division.

On the 16th of August 1917 the Division participated in the Battle of Langemarck, a stage of the Third Battle of Ypres. It attacked to the south of Langemarck with one brigade. The 8th Northumberland Fusiliers and the 5th Dorset Regiment were the initial assault troops for the Brigade. Once they had taken their objective the attack was to be taken over by the 11th Manchester Regiment and the 9th Lancashire Fusiliers, with the 7th South Staffs and the 9th Sherwood Foresters - of the 33rd Brigade - in support.

At zero hour the men left their positions west of the Steenbeek stream in wake of a creeping barrage. While the 11th Manchesters were crossing the Steenbeek stream they were caught by a German artillery barrage, which wounded or killed half of the Battalion’s officers. Notwithstanding the heavy casualties the Battalion took up positions near Maison Bulgare, where they awaited the moment of attack.

At 6.40 a.m. the 11th Manchesters finally pushed forward. The 8th Northumberland Fusiliers through whom they were to move through had not reached their objective and were held up by blockhouses and isolated German positions. While trying to advance the 11th Manchesters came under very heavy machine gun fire coming from Maison du Hibou and Triangle Farm. These German strongpoints - in the 48th Divisional area on their right - had not been cleared, as the attack of 48th Division had been stopped dead in its tracks. Although the Manchesters managed to reach the Cockcroft they suffered heavy casualties. The persisting enfilade fire from Maison du Hibou made any further advance neigh to impossible. With their right flank up in the air the Battalion was forced to retreat eventually forming a defensive flank near the Cemetery.

Although the ruins of Langemarck had been captured and while the 11th Northern Division had made some headway on its left flank, the attack had come at a great cost. The 11th Manchesters suffered a total of 251 casualties. Fifty-one men were killed in action, 174 men were wounded and twenty-one men were missing. Almost half of the Battalion had been incapacitated during the attack.

Corporal Alfred James Reginald Stonehewer was killed in action on the 16th of August 1917. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Fichiers 1

Sources 5

"Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Uniform, 2018, pg. 54-57.
Sources utilisées
Ancestry
http://home.ancestry.co.uk/
Autre référence
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/826506/stonehewer,-alfred-james-reginald/
Sources utilisées
The Long, Long Trail
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/
Sources utilisées
War Diary Manchester Regiment 11th Bn.
http://www.nmarchive.com/
Autre référence