Geboortejaar: 1892

Geboorteplaats: Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Beroep: Visser

Land: Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Strijdmacht: British Expeditionary Force

Rang: Private

Service nummer: 260277

Dienstneming plaats: Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Eenheden:  —  Worcestershire Regiment, 2/8th Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Datum van overlijden: 27/08/1917

Plaats van overlijden: Aisne Farm, België

Doodsoorzaak: Killed in action (K.I.A.)

Leeftijd: 25

British War Medal Medaille

Victory Medal Medaille

Private George Sheaf served with the Worcester Regiment 2nd/8th Battalion which was part of the 182nd Brigade of the 61st (2nd South Midland) Division. The 61st Division took part in the Battle of Langemarck from 16 till 18 August 1917. In late August and early September the Division was involved in the efforts to push the line forward at positions around Schuler Farm and Aisne Farm near the hamlet Kerselaar.
On August 27, 1917, the 183rd Brigade of the 61st Division attacked the Schuler Farm-Gallipoli line with the 2/4th Gloucesters and the 2/8th Warwicks. There was heavy rain and intense darkness on the night of the 26/27th of August 1917. The Germans kept on a heavy and continuous bombardment on the British forward lines. Headquarters of the 2nd/8th Worcestershire Regiment were at Maison du Hibou. In the morning the downpour of rain continued resulting in even worse ground conditions.
The platoons had been lying all morning in shell-holes, which the pouring rain had converted into slimy ponds. They had been unable to move from those shell-holes, as the Germans had a good view on the terrain. Each movement was answered by heavy machine-gunfire. Combined with the weather and ground conditions, this resulted in very dispiriting circumstances. Nevertheless, at 1.55 p.m., the 2/8th Worcestershire were ordered to attack the German stronghold at Aisne Farm.
The men struggled out of the shell-holes and ploughed their way forward. Many of them slipped and fell. The rifles became clogged with mud and could hardly be fired. Still the troops went forward with the bayonet as their only weapon. Due to the state of the ground the Battalion could not keep up with the covering barrage. As a result the men were enfiladed by machine-gunfire. Before Aisne Farm could be reached the attack was brought to a standstill.
Continuing attempts to advance towards Aisne Farm were silenced by machine-guns at the German stronghold. It became clear the attack had failed. Orders came to dig in. Further to the right ’D’ Company tried to flank the Germans by advancing towards Gallipoli Farm; but they failed, suffering heavy casualties. Throughout the attack only some ground had been gained at the cost of huge losses.
The 2/8th Battalion of Private George Sheaf suffered a total of 146 casualties; 8 Officers and 138 other ranks were killed or wounded during the attack on Aisne Farm. Private George Sheaf was killed in action near Aisne Farm. His remains were never recovered or were never identified. He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995), pg. 61. Gebruikte bronnen

Stacke H. FM., The Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War, (Uckfield, Naval and Military press LTD, 1928), pg. 283-284. Gebruikte bronnen

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/829260

Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=a34fd906-47df-4287-a01f-6ff90df960b6

Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/3991909