Pte
Sydney Fred Delve
Informatie over geboorte
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Geboortejaar: 1889 |
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Geboorteplaats: Shirwell, Devon, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk |
Algemene Informatie
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Beroep: Smid |
Informatie legerdienst
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Land: Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk |
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Strijdmacht: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rang: Private |
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Service nummer: 203223 |
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Dienstneming plaats: Exeter, Devon, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk |
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Eenheden: — Devonshire Regiment, 1st Bn. (Laatst gekende eenheid) |
Informatie over overlijden
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Datum van overlijden: 04/10/1917 |
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Plaats van overlijden: Northampton Farm, Geluveld, België |
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Doodsoorzaak: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Leeftijd: 28 |
Begraafplaats
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Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood Plot: III Rij: D Graf: 18 |
Onderscheidingen en medailles 2
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British War Medal Medaille |
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Victory Medal Medaille |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Geboorteplaats | ||
| #2 | Dienstneming plaats | ||
| #3 | Plaats van overlijden (bij benadering) |
Mijn verhaal
Private Sydney Fred Delve of 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment in 95th Brigade, 5th Division fought in the Battle of Broodseinde on 4 October 1917, a stage in the Third Battle of Ypres which is also known as The Battle of Passchendaele.
According to the 1911 Census, Delve, from Loxhore, Devonshire, had worked as a Black Smith prior to enlisting. He had also gotten married to Elizabeth Latham in early 1915.
Fifth Division had come into the line on night of 1st and 2nd October , however 1st Battalion Devonshires remained in reserve until 3 October, advancing that night to an assembly position just east of Veldhoek. The move up to the line for 1st Devonshires was difficult, ‘the tracks were slippery, the Germans were shelling vigorously and there were many casualties’.
At 6a.m. on 4 October 1917 the assaulting troops ‘went over in splendid order and with great determination’. The 5th Division attacked with 2 Brigades, 13th and 95th. The 95th Brigade attacked with 1st Devons and 1st Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. The 1st East Surreys were in support and the 12th Gloucesters in reserve. The objective for 95th Brigade was Cameron Covert whilst 13th Brigade were aiming to take Polderhoek Château. The Devons were to keep touch with the 13th Brigade. The offensive began strongly despite the horrendous terrain and German shelling. Unexpectedly ‘No Mans Land’ was ‘full of Germans’ who had been assembling for an attack where three of their divisions would have been used against Allied 5th Division alone. The Germans in ‘No mans Land’ resisted the Allied advance stubbornly and hard fighting occurred. Deep bogs and wide morasses meant battalions had to swerve in order to continue the advance, this impacted on communication and also caused some gaps to appear in their line. The 1st Devons managed to capture Cameron Covert but one bog at the southern end of it proved impassable for 95th Brigade and they were forced to dig in. 13th Brigade continued their advance toward Polderhoek Château with some individuals allegedly making it to the final objective line. However, as the Château sat on a crest from which German machine-guns could sweep the surrounding area, including the only possible passage over the Reutelbeek stream, very few made it back. The remaining bulk of 13th Brigade managed to dig in just west of the Polderhoek Woods where they held on all day under considerable artillery fire and repeated counter-attacks.
Even though on the divisional front the final objective had not been captured the attack on 4 October was a success. A considerable advance had been made and on the whole front both Gravenstafel ridge and Broodseinde had passed into Allied hands.
Casualties for 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment were: 4 Officers and 52 Other Ranks Killed; 5 Officers and 189 Other Ranks Wounded; 1 Officer Wounded and Missing; 2 Officers and 50 Other Ranks Missing. Sydney Delve, 28, was one of those 52 Other Ranks who were Killed in Action on 4 October 1917. He was originally buried very close to the 1st Devon’s position on the Jump –off Line, south of the Reutelbeek and just east of Northampton Farm, making it likely that he was killed within the early stages of the battle. According to the CWGC’s Burial Return Sheet Private Delve’s remains were identified via his paybook, Bible and watch which he had on his person at time of death. He is now buried and officially commemorated at Buttes New British Cemetery ; Plot III, Row D, Grave 18.
According to the 1911 Census, Delve, from Loxhore, Devonshire, had worked as a Black Smith prior to enlisting. He had also gotten married to Elizabeth Latham in early 1915.
Fifth Division had come into the line on night of 1st and 2nd October , however 1st Battalion Devonshires remained in reserve until 3 October, advancing that night to an assembly position just east of Veldhoek. The move up to the line for 1st Devonshires was difficult, ‘the tracks were slippery, the Germans were shelling vigorously and there were many casualties’.
At 6a.m. on 4 October 1917 the assaulting troops ‘went over in splendid order and with great determination’. The 5th Division attacked with 2 Brigades, 13th and 95th. The 95th Brigade attacked with 1st Devons and 1st Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. The 1st East Surreys were in support and the 12th Gloucesters in reserve. The objective for 95th Brigade was Cameron Covert whilst 13th Brigade were aiming to take Polderhoek Château. The Devons were to keep touch with the 13th Brigade. The offensive began strongly despite the horrendous terrain and German shelling. Unexpectedly ‘No Mans Land’ was ‘full of Germans’ who had been assembling for an attack where three of their divisions would have been used against Allied 5th Division alone. The Germans in ‘No mans Land’ resisted the Allied advance stubbornly and hard fighting occurred. Deep bogs and wide morasses meant battalions had to swerve in order to continue the advance, this impacted on communication and also caused some gaps to appear in their line. The 1st Devons managed to capture Cameron Covert but one bog at the southern end of it proved impassable for 95th Brigade and they were forced to dig in. 13th Brigade continued their advance toward Polderhoek Château with some individuals allegedly making it to the final objective line. However, as the Château sat on a crest from which German machine-guns could sweep the surrounding area, including the only possible passage over the Reutelbeek stream, very few made it back. The remaining bulk of 13th Brigade managed to dig in just west of the Polderhoek Woods where they held on all day under considerable artillery fire and repeated counter-attacks.
Even though on the divisional front the final objective had not been captured the attack on 4 October was a success. A considerable advance had been made and on the whole front both Gravenstafel ridge and Broodseinde had passed into Allied hands.
Casualties for 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment were: 4 Officers and 52 Other Ranks Killed; 5 Officers and 189 Other Ranks Wounded; 1 Officer Wounded and Missing; 2 Officers and 50 Other Ranks Missing. Sydney Delve, 28, was one of those 52 Other Ranks who were Killed in Action on 4 October 1917. He was originally buried very close to the 1st Devon’s position on the Jump –off Line, south of the Reutelbeek and just east of Northampton Farm, making it likely that he was killed within the early stages of the battle. According to the CWGC’s Burial Return Sheet Private Delve’s remains were identified via his paybook, Bible and watch which he had on his person at time of death. He is now buried and officially commemorated at Buttes New British Cemetery ; Plot III, Row D, Grave 18.
Bronnen 4
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1 Battalion Devonshire Regiment, (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/1579/3). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14303 Gebruikte bronnen |
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Atkinson C.T., The Devonshire Regiment : 1914-1918, (Exeter, Eland Brothers, 1926), pg. 276-281. Gebruikte bronnen |
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Hussey A.H., The Fifth Division in the Great War, (London, Nisbet & Co., 1921), pg. 176-179. Gebruikte bronnen |
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McCarthy C., Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Uniform, 2018), pg. 108-109. Gebruikte bronnen |
Meer informatie 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/480187 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=9f557b98-f1ad-4eff-b332-21ca89606580 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/1165937 |