Pte
Joseph James Lines
Informatie over geboorte
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Geboortedatum: 04/04/1890 |
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Geboorteplaats: Birmingham, Warwickshire, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk |
Algemene Informatie
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Beroep: Schildersknecht |
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: 205557 |
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Dienstneming plaats: Leeds, Yorkshire, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk |
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Eenheden: — The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), 10th Bn. (Laatst gekende eenheid) |
Informatie over overlijden
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Datum van overlijden: 31/07/1917 |
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Plaats van overlijden: Northeast of Hollebeke, België |
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Doodsoorzaak: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Leeftijd: 27 |
Gedenkplaats
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Paneel: 45P |
Onderscheidingen en medailles 2
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British War Medal Medaille |
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Victory Medal Medaille |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Geboorteplaats | ||
| #2 | Dienstneming plaats |
Mijn verhaal
On the opening day of the first stage of the third battle of Ypres, on the 31st of July, Private Joseph James Lines advanced with the The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) 10th Battalion. The Battalion was part of the 123rd Brigade which was part of the 41st Division. The 41st Division’s task was to protect the right flank of the main attack by capturing the village of Hollebeke and clearing the ground across the Ysers-Comines Canal just East of Battle Wood. The Division attacked astride the Canal at zero hour 3.50 a.m., with two Brigades. The 122nd Brigade attacked South of the Canal, while the 123rd Brigade advanced North of the Canal. The 123rd Brigade consisted of two companies of The Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment) 23rd Battalion, the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) 11th Battalion, the 10th Royal West Kents and the 20th Durham Light Infantry in support. The 10th was between the 20th Durham Light Infantry on its left and the 11th Queen’s on its right, with the two companies of the 23rd Middlesex further on the right between the Ypres-Comines railway and the Canal.
The 10th Battalion advanced at zero hour. They had already been in the front lines at Battle Wood for over six days and had suffered casualties due to heavy German shelling. Once the Brigade moved forward they were again targeted by a German barrage. Notwithstanding the heavy artillery fire the Battalions were able to capture the Red Line, the first objective. But once they advanced towards the second objective the attack became disorganized. The British barrage which had preceded the men and which had to cover them had got too far away. The lack of cover in conjunction with the muddy state of the ground made the going very difficult and many of the men were picked off by German machinegun and rifle fire. Despite the heavy German machinegun fire the 10th West Kents and the 11th Queens managed to reach and consolidate the Blue Line, their second objective by 8 a.m.
Once the line was firmly in British hands an attempt was made to take the third objective, the Green Line. But the final push proved to be a bridge too far. A line of pillboxes on the brow of a rise about 100 yards beyond the second objective was impregnable for the already battered, advancing Brigade. The machinegun fire held up the advance and because of the lack of cover nearly all the men became casualties.
The men of the 123rd Brigade who were able to pull back, withdrew to the second objective. Where they consolidated the line. Of the entire 10th Battalion only about 100 men could be collected to form up a defensive line, and it proved necessary to detain some of the ration-carrying parties in order to strengthen the positions at the first objective.
The Battalion had endured heavy German fire and the losses were numerous. Five officers were killed and three were wounded. Thirty three other ranks were killed, 56 men went missing and 141 men were wounded. We assume Private Joseph James Lines was one of the 33 men who were killed in action in the attack on the 31st of July From Battle Wood to the Northeast of Hollebeke.
The 10th Battalion advanced at zero hour. They had already been in the front lines at Battle Wood for over six days and had suffered casualties due to heavy German shelling. Once the Brigade moved forward they were again targeted by a German barrage. Notwithstanding the heavy artillery fire the Battalions were able to capture the Red Line, the first objective. But once they advanced towards the second objective the attack became disorganized. The British barrage which had preceded the men and which had to cover them had got too far away. The lack of cover in conjunction with the muddy state of the ground made the going very difficult and many of the men were picked off by German machinegun and rifle fire. Despite the heavy German machinegun fire the 10th West Kents and the 11th Queens managed to reach and consolidate the Blue Line, their second objective by 8 a.m.
Once the line was firmly in British hands an attempt was made to take the third objective, the Green Line. But the final push proved to be a bridge too far. A line of pillboxes on the brow of a rise about 100 yards beyond the second objective was impregnable for the already battered, advancing Brigade. The machinegun fire held up the advance and because of the lack of cover nearly all the men became casualties.
The men of the 123rd Brigade who were able to pull back, withdrew to the second objective. Where they consolidated the line. Of the entire 10th Battalion only about 100 men could be collected to form up a defensive line, and it proved necessary to detain some of the ration-carrying parties in order to strengthen the positions at the first objective.
The Battalion had endured heavy German fire and the losses were numerous. Five officers were killed and three were wounded. Thirty three other ranks were killed, 56 men went missing and 141 men were wounded. We assume Private Joseph James Lines was one of the 33 men who were killed in action in the attack on the 31st of July From Battle Wood to the Northeast of Hollebeke.
Bronnen 3
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10 Battalion Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2638/1). http://nationalarchives.gov.uk Verdere verwijzing |
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Atkinson T., The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment 1914-1919 (London, Simpkin Marshall Hamilton Kent & Co LTD, 1924), pg. 275-281. Gebruikte bronnen |
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McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995), p. 18-21. Gebruikte bronnen |