Pte
Jack (Percy) Williams (McManus)
Informatie over geboorte
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Geboortejaar: 1891 |
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Geboorteplaats: Orange, New South Wales, Australië |
Algemene Informatie
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Beroep: Arbeider |
Informatie legerdienst
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Land: Australië |
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Strijdmacht: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rang: Private |
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Service nummer: 3252 |
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Dienstneming datum: 06/06/1916 |
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Dienstneming plaats: Broadmeadow, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australië |
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Eenheden: — Australian Infantry, 53rd Bn. (Laatst gekende eenheid) |
Informatie over overlijden
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Datum van overlijden: 26/09/1917 |
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Plaats van overlijden: North of Polygon Wood, België |
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Doodsoorzaak: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Leeftijd: 26 |
Begraafplaats
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Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood Plot: XXX Rij: C Graf: 2 |
Onderscheidingen en medailles 2
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British War Medal Medaille |
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Victory Medal Medaille |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Geboorteplaats | ||
| #2 | Dienstneming plaats |
Mijn verhaal
Private Jack Williams was really named Percy McManus. He enlisted in June 1916 under the false name of Jack Williams. Why he did so remains a unknown. He served in the Australian Infantry 53rd Battalion, part of the 14th Australian Brigade, of the 5th Australian Division. The Australian Infantry 53rd Battalion participated in the Battle of Polygon Wood on the 26th of September 1917. The 14th Australian Brigade attacked with the 53rd Battalion; the 56th and 55th Battalions were in support.
At 5.50 a.m., zero hour, the men of the 53rd advanced through Polygon Wood behind a creeping barrage. Their objective was the Butte in Polygon Wood. The advance went well and the Battalion rushed and captured a German strongpoint on the way. After slight fighting they managed to establish themselves on the Butte. Bombing parties were sent down the dugouts to clear the Butte. The objective was reached and cleared at 6.25 a.m. and the companies consolidated their positions under cover of a barrage. The attack was then taken up by the 56th and 55th Battalion. In order to consolidate their position the 53rd Battalion sent out several patrols in and around the Butte to deal with individual snipers and German positions.
The Battalion had consolidated in depth but owing to heavy shell fire on all back areas and heavy casualties the parties had to be brought forward to the Red Line.
Private Percy McManus a.k.a. Jack Williams fell during the Battle of Polygon Wood on the 26th of September 1917. He was initially buried in a field North of Polygon Wood. According to several witness reports in his Red Cross Wounded and Missing File, Private Jack Williams was hit by a shell during the attack on Polygon Wood. He was buried in the field, close to where he fell. His remains were exhumed after the war and he was interred in Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood.
At 5.50 a.m., zero hour, the men of the 53rd advanced through Polygon Wood behind a creeping barrage. Their objective was the Butte in Polygon Wood. The advance went well and the Battalion rushed and captured a German strongpoint on the way. After slight fighting they managed to establish themselves on the Butte. Bombing parties were sent down the dugouts to clear the Butte. The objective was reached and cleared at 6.25 a.m. and the companies consolidated their positions under cover of a barrage. The attack was then taken up by the 56th and 55th Battalion. In order to consolidate their position the 53rd Battalion sent out several patrols in and around the Butte to deal with individual snipers and German positions.
The Battalion had consolidated in depth but owing to heavy shell fire on all back areas and heavy casualties the parties had to be brought forward to the Red Line.
Private Percy McManus a.k.a. Jack Williams fell during the Battle of Polygon Wood on the 26th of September 1917. He was initially buried in a field North of Polygon Wood. According to several witness reports in his Red Cross Wounded and Missing File, Private Jack Williams was hit by a shell during the attack on Polygon Wood. He was buried in the field, close to where he fell. His remains were exhumed after the war and he was interred in Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood.
Bronnen 4
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53rd Australian Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/70/14). https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583 Gebruikte bronnen |
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Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/ Gebruikte bronnen |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, WILLIAMS J / MCMANUS P). http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/BasicSearch.aspx Gebruikte bronnen |
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McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995), pg. 85-88. Gebruikte bronnen |
Meer informatie 4
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=54c2c3bd-fd01-4ef2-a039-ab1d213420a4 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7278748 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=325247 |
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/480502 |