Pte
George Theodore Angel

Informatie over geboorte

Geboortedatum:
18/03/1898
Geboorteplaats:
Islington, Middlesex, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Algemene Informatie

Beroep:
Bode - Koerier

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Strijdmacht:
British Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Private
Service nummer:
26585
Dienstneming datum:
02/03/1915
Dienstneming plaats:
Holborn, Middlesex, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Eenheden:
 —  Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 9th Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
20/09/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
Hessian Wood, Belgiƫ
Doodsoorzaak:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Leeftijd:
19

Gedenkplaats

Tyne Cot Memorial
Paneel: 64

Onderscheidingen en medailles 2

British War Medal
Medaille — 18/12/1920
Victory Medal
Medaille — 18/12/1920

Points of interest 2

#1 Geboorteplaats
#2 Dienstneming plaats

Mijn verhaal

Private George Theodore Angel of the 9th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 58th Brigade, 19th Division fought in the Third Battle of Ypres, also known as the Battle of Passchendaele. On the 20th of September 1917 the 19th Division took part in the Battle of Menin Road Ridge, a stage of the Third Battle of Ypres.

Private Angel enlisted in Holborn, London on the 2nd of March 1915 falsely stating his age as 19. He was in fact 16, turning 17 in two weeks. George was originally posted to the 18th (Reserve) Battalion (2nd London Welch) and spent just under a year with them before being transferred to the 15th (Service) Battalion (1st London Welsh) Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He embarked with this Battalion from Folkstone on 21 January 1916, which was first stationed at Etaples and then joined the 15th battalion 'in the field' on 14 Feb 1916. According to his Casualty Form Private Angel was treated for 'ICT Rt. Foot' (Inflamed connective tissue on right foot) between 14 and 20 May 1916. On 19 August 1916 Angel became attached to the 177th Tunnelling Company, stationed at Railway Wood, Hooge and spent 5 months with them before returning to the 15th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Then in February 1917 George was sent to a transportation depot in Boulogne and attached to the 31st Light Railway Operating Company (LROC) and it is noted that he was a skilled 'shunter'. He was officially transferred to the 31st LROC in the summer and given an a Royal Engineers service number, 247910. On 8 September Private Angel was transferred back to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, joining the 9th Battalion, 58th Brigade of the 19th (Western) Division.

On 20 September 1917, with zero hour set to 5:40 a.m. The 19th Division attacked with two brigades. The 58th brigade, Private Angel's brigade, attacked with the 6th Wiltshires, 9th Welsh Regiment and 9th Cheshires with the 9th Royal Welsh Fusiliers in support. Considerable fire was encountered from the south-west of Hessian Wood, Jarrocks Farm, Pioneer House, Hollebeke Chateau and the railway embankment. The Welsh were held up at the line in Hessian Wood and the 9th Battalion established headquarters at Imperfect Copse, holding these positions well into the night.

The Battalion War Diary records casualties for 20-21 September 1917 as; 21 Killed, 73 Wounded and 12 Missing. Private Angel's service record shows he was originally among one of the missing 12 and his family were notified on 26 October. After a number of weeks it was concluded that George must have been Killed in Action near Hessian Wood on 20 September as a result of the battle of the Menin Road Ridge. Private Angel is commemorated on Panel 64 of the Tyne Cot Memorial to The Missing, meaning his body was either never found or could not be positively identified prior to official burial. He is accurately recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as being 19 at time of death.

Bronnen 5

"Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Uniform, 2018, pg. 76-77.
Gebruikte bronnen
Ancestry
http://home.ancestry.co.uk/
Verdere verwijzing
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/846179/angel,-george-theodore/
Gebruikte bronnen
The Long, Long Trail
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/
Gebruikte bronnen
War Diary Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 9th Bn.
http://www.nmarchive.com/
Verdere verwijzing