Pte
Edward Samuel Last
Informations sur naissance
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Année de naissance: 1879 |
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Lieu de naissance: Earl Stonham, Suffolk, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni |
Informations générales
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Profession: ouvrier journalier |
Informations service militaire
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Pays: Angleterre, Royaume-Uni |
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Force armée: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rang: Private |
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Numéro de service: 27296 |
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Incorporation nom de lieu: Ipswich, Suffolk, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni |
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Unités: — Prince Albert’s (Somerset Light Infantry), 6th Bn. (Dernière unité connue) |
Informations sur décès
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Date de décès: 23/08/1917 |
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Lieu de décès: Inverness Copse, Belgique |
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Cause du décès: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Âge: 38 |
Mémorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panneau: 41 |
Distinctions et médailles 2
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British War Medal Médaille |
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Victory Medal Médaille |
Points d'intérêt 2
| #1 | Lieu de naissance | ||
| #2 | Lieu d'enrôlement |
Mon histoire
Private Edward Samuel Last served in the Somerset Light Infantry 6th Battalion, part of the 43rd Brigade of the 14th (Light) Division. The 6th SLI came into the line near Ypres on the 17th of August 1917. The Battalion participated in the Battle of Langemark on the 18th of August, the last day of the battle. The Battalion was relieved in the frontline in the night of the 18th and 19th August.
It moved back to the frontline on the night of 20th and 21st of August. The next day the 14th Division, with the 6th SLI, attacked astride the Menin Road in the direction of Inverness Copse. The 43rd Brigade had been given orders to capture a line from Herenthage Chateau to the Southern edge of Glencorse Wood; Fitzclarence Farm and the “L” shaped Farm along the road North of the former farm were to be included in the objective. The 42nd Brigade was to establish posts in Glencorse Wood to cover the left flank of the 43rd Brigade. The 43rd Brigade’s right flank had to be secured by establishing a defensive line running from Herenthage Chateau to the road South of Stirling Castle.
Zero hour for the attack on the 22nd of August 1917 was 7 a.m. The Battalion advanced at 7.5 a.m. when the barrage lifted. The 43rd Brigade advanced with the 6th SLI on the right and the 6th Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on the left. The 6th SLI reached the edge of Inverness Copse without suffering heavy casualties, except for Company 4, which had been held up by a German strongpoint at Veldhoek Chateau. Company 2 also suffered casualties, due to machinegun fire from a German strongpoint. The strongpoint eventually fell at 8.1 a.m. Meanwhile Companies 1 and 4 had pushed on. They were followed by the remainder of Companies 2 and 3. Small numbers of Company 4 reached the objective without officers, while Company 1 was engaged in heavy fighting round the ruins of Herenthage Chateau. At 8.30 a.m. Companies 1, 2 and 4 were reported to have been seriously depleted in numbers. All officers had become casualties and the Battalion received reinforcements from the 10th Durham Light Infantry. The situation was dire when the two platoons reinforcements arrived at the Eastern edge of Inverness Copse. The men of the 6th SLI in Inverness Copse were in danger of being surrounded. With no hope on extra reinforcements they chose to fall back to a line running from the Northern edge of the copse (J.14.c.8.5.) to Tank Trap (J.14.c.9.4.).
The 6th SLI had lost all contact with the 6th DCLI on their left. On top of the desperate situation the Germans were seen massing at a strongpoint on the Menin Road, about 150 yards from the Somersets. The Somersets manned a strongpoint only 50 yards away from the German troops and prepared themselves to defend the copse. At 1 p.m. the Germans were closing in from several directions and when a German Battalion was observed advancing over the ridge east of Inverness Copse an S.O.S. was sent. The British artillery opened fire and the German advance was checked. One hour later at 2 p.m. the Germans launched another counterattack from the Bassevillebeek- valley. The attackers were soon dispersed by machine gun- and artillery fire. By now the 6th Somersets were holding a line from the Western edge of Inverness Copse, back along Jasper Avenue to the bend in the road, directly south of Clapham Junction.
During the night the exhausted and battered 6th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry was relieved from this line. The Battalion was moved to the Western edge of the copse, where the remnants of the Battalion would stay in support. No hostile movement developed on the 23rd of August 1917, but the Germans kept shelling the whole area held by the British. On the night of the 23rd and 24th of August, the German shelling was exceptionally heavy. The depleted 6th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry suffered severe casualties, due to this unforgiving German shell fire. According to https://www.ipswichwarmemorial.co.uk/ Private Last was carrying forward ammunition when he was killed. He probably fell victim to the German shelling on Inverness Copse during the 23rd of August 1917. He was killed in action, while in support at the Western edge of Inverness Copse. His grave was never recovered and Edward Samuel Last is remembered at Tyne Cot Memorial.
It moved back to the frontline on the night of 20th and 21st of August. The next day the 14th Division, with the 6th SLI, attacked astride the Menin Road in the direction of Inverness Copse. The 43rd Brigade had been given orders to capture a line from Herenthage Chateau to the Southern edge of Glencorse Wood; Fitzclarence Farm and the “L” shaped Farm along the road North of the former farm were to be included in the objective. The 42nd Brigade was to establish posts in Glencorse Wood to cover the left flank of the 43rd Brigade. The 43rd Brigade’s right flank had to be secured by establishing a defensive line running from Herenthage Chateau to the road South of Stirling Castle.
Zero hour for the attack on the 22nd of August 1917 was 7 a.m. The Battalion advanced at 7.5 a.m. when the barrage lifted. The 43rd Brigade advanced with the 6th SLI on the right and the 6th Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on the left. The 6th SLI reached the edge of Inverness Copse without suffering heavy casualties, except for Company 4, which had been held up by a German strongpoint at Veldhoek Chateau. Company 2 also suffered casualties, due to machinegun fire from a German strongpoint. The strongpoint eventually fell at 8.1 a.m. Meanwhile Companies 1 and 4 had pushed on. They were followed by the remainder of Companies 2 and 3. Small numbers of Company 4 reached the objective without officers, while Company 1 was engaged in heavy fighting round the ruins of Herenthage Chateau. At 8.30 a.m. Companies 1, 2 and 4 were reported to have been seriously depleted in numbers. All officers had become casualties and the Battalion received reinforcements from the 10th Durham Light Infantry. The situation was dire when the two platoons reinforcements arrived at the Eastern edge of Inverness Copse. The men of the 6th SLI in Inverness Copse were in danger of being surrounded. With no hope on extra reinforcements they chose to fall back to a line running from the Northern edge of the copse (J.14.c.8.5.) to Tank Trap (J.14.c.9.4.).
The 6th SLI had lost all contact with the 6th DCLI on their left. On top of the desperate situation the Germans were seen massing at a strongpoint on the Menin Road, about 150 yards from the Somersets. The Somersets manned a strongpoint only 50 yards away from the German troops and prepared themselves to defend the copse. At 1 p.m. the Germans were closing in from several directions and when a German Battalion was observed advancing over the ridge east of Inverness Copse an S.O.S. was sent. The British artillery opened fire and the German advance was checked. One hour later at 2 p.m. the Germans launched another counterattack from the Bassevillebeek- valley. The attackers were soon dispersed by machine gun- and artillery fire. By now the 6th Somersets were holding a line from the Western edge of Inverness Copse, back along Jasper Avenue to the bend in the road, directly south of Clapham Junction.
During the night the exhausted and battered 6th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry was relieved from this line. The Battalion was moved to the Western edge of the copse, where the remnants of the Battalion would stay in support. No hostile movement developed on the 23rd of August 1917, but the Germans kept shelling the whole area held by the British. On the night of the 23rd and 24th of August, the German shelling was exceptionally heavy. The depleted 6th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry suffered severe casualties, due to this unforgiving German shell fire. According to https://www.ipswichwarmemorial.co.uk/ Private Last was carrying forward ammunition when he was killed. He probably fell victim to the German shelling on Inverness Copse during the 23rd of August 1917. He was killed in action, while in support at the Western edge of Inverness Copse. His grave was never recovered and Edward Samuel Last is remembered at Tyne Cot Memorial.
Sources 6
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.co.uk/ Sources utilisées |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/835378/last,-edward-samuel/ Sources utilisées |
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Ipswich War Memorial https://www.ipswichwarmemorial.co.uk/edward-samuel-last/ Sources utilisées |
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Long Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/14th-light-division/ Sources utilisées |
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War Diary http://www.nmarchive.com/ Sources utilisées |
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Wyrall, E., "The Somerset Light Infantry 1914-1919: The History fo the Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's) 1914-1919", Eastbourne, Antony Rowe Ltd, 1927, 207-210. Sources utilisées |