2nd Lt
Harold Thorne Speares
Informatie over geboorte
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Geboortedatum: 29/09/1896 |
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Geboorteplaats: Rathdrum, County Wicklow, Ierland, Verenigd Koninkrijk |
Informatie legerdienst
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Land: Ierland, Verenigd Koninkrijk |
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Strijdmacht: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rang: Second Lieutenant |
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Service nummer: / |
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Eenheden: — Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 10th Bn. (Derry) (Laatst gekende eenheid) |
Informatie over overlijden
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Datum van overlijden: 16/08/1917 |
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Plaats van overlijden: Capricorn Trench, België |
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Doodsoorzaak: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Leeftijd: 20 |
Gedenkplaats
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Tyne Cot Memorial Paneel: 70A |
Onderscheidingen en medailles 3
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1914-15 Star Medaille — 09/09/1920 |
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British War Medal Medaille |
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Victory Medal Medaille |
Points of interest 1
| #1 | Geboorteplaats |
Mijn verhaal
Harold Thorne Speares, son of John and Edith Speares was born in 1896 in Rathdrum, Ireland. Early 1915, Harold enlisted into the army, and although he initially was a Private, by his death in 1917, Harold was ranked at 2nd lieutenant. Harold joined the 10th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and was in the 109th Brigade of the 36th Division.
In August 1917, Harold’s Battalion was stationed on the frontline just North of Frezenberg. The 36th Division, which has already faced severe casualty rates due to artillery fire over the last few weeks was involved in the assault. Due to depleted numbers and the ground conditions being poor and boggy, the Division struggled to make ground. The preliminary barrage hadn’t been able to take care of the German blockhouses and the men ran right into the relentless German machine-gun fire, coming from Corn Hill and Pond Farm.
In a desperate attempt to silence the German strongpoints all able men were sent forward. Corn Hill was eventually captured, but the high amount of casualties made any further advance impossible and the men dug in. The 10th Inniskillings were in reserve during the attack. They were on the utter left of the Divisional front and occupied Spree Farm. When it became clear that the advance had been checked the Battalion was ordered to organize the defense of the old frontline at Capricorn Trench. Throughout the rest of the day the German artillery shelled the Irish positions and casualties kept stacking up. To make things worse, all first aid stations had been taken out by shell fire and the wounded couldn’t be treated. They had to be carried all the way to the hinterland.
21-year old Second lieutenant Harold Thorne Speares was killed in action on 16 August 1917, while his Battalion held Capricorn Trench. He was killed along with four soldiers. 59 men were wounded and or missing. Harold has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
In August 1917, Harold’s Battalion was stationed on the frontline just North of Frezenberg. The 36th Division, which has already faced severe casualty rates due to artillery fire over the last few weeks was involved in the assault. Due to depleted numbers and the ground conditions being poor and boggy, the Division struggled to make ground. The preliminary barrage hadn’t been able to take care of the German blockhouses and the men ran right into the relentless German machine-gun fire, coming from Corn Hill and Pond Farm.
In a desperate attempt to silence the German strongpoints all able men were sent forward. Corn Hill was eventually captured, but the high amount of casualties made any further advance impossible and the men dug in. The 10th Inniskillings were in reserve during the attack. They were on the utter left of the Divisional front and occupied Spree Farm. When it became clear that the advance had been checked the Battalion was ordered to organize the defense of the old frontline at Capricorn Trench. Throughout the rest of the day the German artillery shelled the Irish positions and casualties kept stacking up. To make things worse, all first aid stations had been taken out by shell fire and the wounded couldn’t be treated. They had to be carried all the way to the hinterland.
21-year old Second lieutenant Harold Thorne Speares was killed in action on 16 August 1917, while his Battalion held Capricorn Trench. He was killed along with four soldiers. 59 men were wounded and or missing. Harold has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Bronnen 6
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"Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Uniform, 2018, pg. 52-55. Gebruikte bronnen |
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"The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in The World War", Fox F., Uckfield, The Naval & Military Press LTD, 2009, pg. 99-102. Gebruikte bronnen |
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com Verdere verwijzing |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/3065801/speares,-harold-thorne/ Gebruikte bronnen |
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The Long, Long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/ Gebruikte bronnen |
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War Diary Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 10th Bn. (Derry) http://www.nmarchive.com/ Verdere verwijzing |