Pte
Henry Francis Thundercliffe
Informatie over geboorte
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Geboortedatum: 15/09/1893 |
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Geboorteplaats: Hull, Kingston upon Hull, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk |
Algemene Informatie
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Beroep: Arbeider |
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: 203120 |
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Dienstneming datum: 16/11/1914 |
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Dienstneming plaats: Hull, Kingston upon Hull, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk |
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Eenheden: — West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own), 1/5th Bn. (Laatst gekende eenheid) |
Informatie over overlijden
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Datum van overlijden: 09/10/1917 |
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Plaats van overlijden: Peter Pan, Passendale, België |
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Doodsoorzaak: Missing in action |
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Leeftijd: 24 |
Gedenkplaats
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Tyne Cot Memorial Paneel: 47 A |
Onderscheidingen en medailles 2
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British War Medal Medaille — 24/09/1920 |
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Victory Medal Medaille — 24/09/1920 |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Geboorteplaats | ||
| #2 | Dienstneming plaats | ||
| #3 | Plaats van overlijden (bij benadering) |
Mijn verhaal
Henry Francis Thundercliffe was a labourer from Hull, UK. He joined the British Expeditionary Force on the 16th of November 1914. Initially, he was assigned to the 4th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment. Later, on the 18th of June 1916, he was transferred to the 1/5th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, 146th Brigade, 49th Division. At the beginning of October 1917, the Division participated in the Battle of Poelcappelle, a stage of the Third Battle of Ypres.
They attacked on the 9th of October 1917. The Division’s attack was carried out by the 148th Brigade on the right and the 146th Brigade on the left. The latter deployed the 1/5th, 1/7th and 1/8th West Yorkshire Regiment Battalions during the attack, the 1/6th was kept in reserve. At 5.20 a.m, zero hour, the 1/5th Battalion advanced from positions north-east of Calgary Grange (28.D.9.a) towards the first objective (Wolf Farm – Peter Pan), east of the village of Passchendaele,.
As soon as the 1/5th West Yorks had crossed the Stroombeek they came under machine gun and rifle fire from German pillboxes and selected positions in shell holes. Most casualties in the battalion were caused by machine gun fire from Bellevue and Yetta Houses (28.D.3.d). Notwithstanding the heavy German resistance the first objective, at Peter Pan, was taken at 6.40 a.m. by “A” and “C” Companies of the 1/5th. “B” and “D” Company then advanced to the second objective, though carrying with them several men from the two first wave companies. However after the second wave had passed Peter Pan the attack was checked by persistent machine gun fire coming from pillboxes at the Bellevue stronghold. Several attempts were made to rush these pillboxes without success. Though the battalion managed to reach the edges of Wolf Copse it proved unable to capture the German stronghold at Bellevue. Subsequently the 1/5th West Yorks dug in along the edges of Wolf Copse.
The battalion held these positions till it was relieved during the night of the 10th of October 1917 by the 4th Battalion New Zealand Rifles. Though the German positions at Peter Pan had been captured the advance had been stopped in front of Bellevue. The West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 1/5th Battalion suffered a total of 300 casualties during the attack on Bellevue, severely crippling the strength of the battalion. It went into Battle with 20 officers and 642 other ranks. Two days later only half of the men returned from the frontline. Four officers were killed along with 48 other ranks, eight officers and 182 men got wounded, two officers and twelve men were wounded and missing, while 44 other ranks were missing.
Private Thundercliffe went missing during the attack on the 9th of October. A British Red Cross enquiry mentions that 24 hours later, he was found in a shell hole. He was still alive so some soldiers tried to take him to a Dressing Station. Unfortunately, at about 800 yards from the First Aid Post, they had to leave him behind due to heavy firing and deep mud. It is stated that at the time he was wounded but quite cheery. Private Thundercliffe was never seen again and his body was never found. Today, he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, panel 47A.
They attacked on the 9th of October 1917. The Division’s attack was carried out by the 148th Brigade on the right and the 146th Brigade on the left. The latter deployed the 1/5th, 1/7th and 1/8th West Yorkshire Regiment Battalions during the attack, the 1/6th was kept in reserve. At 5.20 a.m, zero hour, the 1/5th Battalion advanced from positions north-east of Calgary Grange (28.D.9.a) towards the first objective (Wolf Farm – Peter Pan), east of the village of Passchendaele,.
As soon as the 1/5th West Yorks had crossed the Stroombeek they came under machine gun and rifle fire from German pillboxes and selected positions in shell holes. Most casualties in the battalion were caused by machine gun fire from Bellevue and Yetta Houses (28.D.3.d). Notwithstanding the heavy German resistance the first objective, at Peter Pan, was taken at 6.40 a.m. by “A” and “C” Companies of the 1/5th. “B” and “D” Company then advanced to the second objective, though carrying with them several men from the two first wave companies. However after the second wave had passed Peter Pan the attack was checked by persistent machine gun fire coming from pillboxes at the Bellevue stronghold. Several attempts were made to rush these pillboxes without success. Though the battalion managed to reach the edges of Wolf Copse it proved unable to capture the German stronghold at Bellevue. Subsequently the 1/5th West Yorks dug in along the edges of Wolf Copse.
The battalion held these positions till it was relieved during the night of the 10th of October 1917 by the 4th Battalion New Zealand Rifles. Though the German positions at Peter Pan had been captured the advance had been stopped in front of Bellevue. The West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 1/5th Battalion suffered a total of 300 casualties during the attack on Bellevue, severely crippling the strength of the battalion. It went into Battle with 20 officers and 642 other ranks. Two days later only half of the men returned from the frontline. Four officers were killed along with 48 other ranks, eight officers and 182 men got wounded, two officers and twelve men were wounded and missing, while 44 other ranks were missing.
Private Thundercliffe went missing during the attack on the 9th of October. A British Red Cross enquiry mentions that 24 hours later, he was found in a shell hole. He was still alive so some soldiers tried to take him to a Dressing Station. Unfortunately, at about 800 yards from the First Aid Post, they had to leave him behind due to heavy firing and deep mud. It is stated that at the time he was wounded but quite cheery. Private Thundercliffe was never seen again and his body was never found. Today, he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, panel 47A.
Bronnen 7
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com Gebruikte bronnen |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/827742/thundercliffe,-henry-francis/#&gid=null&pid=1 Gebruikte bronnen |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: the day by day account. Londen: Uniform, 2018. 123-4. Gebruikte bronnen |
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Naval and Military Archive http://www.nmarchive.com/ Gebruikte bronnen |
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Sabine, C.S.W. The Fifth West Yorks, their part in the Great War 1914-1918 : illustrated historical sketch of the 1/5th and 2/5th battalions, the West Yorkshire Regiment (the Prince of Wales's Own). Harrogate: R. Ackrill, 1933. 36-7. Gebruikte bronnen |
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Shorthand Social https://social.shorthand.com/DCMS/ugql1l7HsP/henry-francis-thundercliffe Gebruikte bronnen |
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The Long Long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Gebruikte bronnen |