Geboortedatum: 02/06/1895

Geboorteplaats: Hampstead, Middlesex, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Beroep: Veehoeder

Land: Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Strijdmacht: British Expeditionary Force

Rang: Rifleman

Service nummer: 5529

Dienstneming datum: 1914

Dienstneming plaats: Sussex, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Eenheden:  —  The Rifle Brigade, 1st Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Datum van overlijden: 13/10/1917

Plaats van overlijden: Landing Farm, North of Poelcapelle, België

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

Leeftijd: 22

1914-15 Star Medaille

British War Medal Medaille — 31/01/1920

Victory Medal Medaille — 31/01/1920

Rifleman George Honeybun served with the Rifle Brigade 1st Battalion of the 11th Brigade which was part of the 4th Division. On the 12th of October 1917, the 4th Division participated in the First Battle of Passchendaele, a stage of the Third Battle of Ypres.
On October 12, 1917 the 4th Division attacked at 5.25 a.m., zero hour, with a composite Brigade. It consisted of the 1st Royal Warwickshire Regiment and the Household Battalion; the 1st King’s Own (R Lancs) were in support and the 1st Rifle Brigade was in reserve. At zero hour, the attack was punctually launched and the supporting Companies of the 1st Rifle Brigade were well over the road before the German barrage fell. However, the advance of the 1st Rifle Brigade came under fire from Poelcappelle on their right hand side and in particular from Helles House. During the attack the 18th Division on their right was unable to capture the Brewery and as a result the 4th Division was exposed to very heavy machine gun fire coming from the right flank. “I” Company of the 1st Rifle Brigade formed a defensive flank together with the King’s Own southwest of Requette Farm. Part of the 1st Battalion served as support for “I” while the rest dug in on their objective line Landing farm-Compromis Farm.
During the evening the Germans launched several unproductive counterattacks. At dusk the frontline was as follows: south- west of Requette Farm – east of Besace Farm – Memling Farm. At night the 1st Rifle Brigade moved forward as support battalion to the line Landing Farm-Besace Farm-Bower House. Throughout the operation the weather was most trying but the Brigade succeeded in accomplishing their task and reached their objectives in spite of the dreadful conditions.
On Saturday 13 October the 4th Division was relieved by the 34th Division. The 1st Rifle Brigade suffered a total of 158 casualties. Rifleman George Honeybun was killed in action on the 13th of October 1917 near Landing Farm just north of Poelkappelle. His remains were never recovered but he is commemorated at Tyne Cot Memorial.

11 Infantry Brigade: 1 Battalion Rifle Brigade. (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/1496/5). Verdere verwijzing

McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995), pg. 117-118. Gebruikte bronnen

Seymour W., The history of the Rifle Brigade in the War of 1914-1918, (London, The Rifle Brigade Club, 1936), pg. 161-162. Gebruikte bronnen

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/837128

Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=6a91b62e-e40e-4e55-b736-3e793699aa38

Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/1953361