Category Archives: Passchendaele

Sidney Henry George

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Passchendaele, Ypres

Sidney Henry George
Private 28566
11th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment

 Division 29

George SH and brother photo

Sidney Henry George was the son of William John and Annie George, of 16, Richmond Road, Reading; and husband of Louisa George, of 19, Richmond Road, Reading, Berkshire.  He was killed in action on 24th September 1917.  He is commemorated upon the kerb stones of his parents grave in Reading Cemetery.  Grave number 17590.   The Berkshire Family History Society classification is 29G25. 

Sidney George has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial, Panel 23 to 28 and 163A.

 The battle, of what was subsequently known as the Menin Road Ridge, began on September 20th.  The British threw themselves at the German strong point known as “Tower Hamlets”.  The Australians fought for Glencorse Wood and and Nonne Bosschen,  the South Africans took the Breman Redoubt.  There was fierce fighting all along the front, particularly in front of Langemarck.  During the following days the Australians fought for Polygon Wood which was the key to the ridge and Passchendaele.  It was during this fighting that Sidney George lost his life.  Greater detail of the battle can be found in ‘Passchendaele’ by Martin Matrix Evans.

 Sidney was wounded in the neck by shrapnel on April 28th 1917 but recovered sufficiently to be sent back to the front.  His brother W.J.George was invalided out of the army with trench feet.  (Reading Standard 12th May 1917)

Harold Haynes Fenner and Percy Geddes Fenner

Army, Commemorated name/s, Navy, Other Regiments, Passchendaele, Reading University College

Division 67
Extension

Harold Haynes Fenner
K/3236 Stoker 1st Class HM S/M Royal Navy

350px-HMS_E20[1]

Harold Haynes Fenner, was the husband of Alice Fenner of 21, Donnington Gardens.  He is commemorated on the Reading University College memorial. According to the 1911 census Harold Haynes Fenner was a member of the Royal Navy prior to the war. He died on 5th November 1915   Harold was aboard the submarine E20 and lost his life as a direct result of enemy action when the submarine was torpedoed by the German UB-14. *  Harold was one of 21 who lost their lives. the UB-14 saved nine men including the captain of the vessel. Because Harolds body was not recovered he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 8. Harold and Alice had one child according to the 1911 census.

*An account of the action is posted on Wikipedia

Percy Geddes Fenner
Private 74233
1st/28th London Regiment Artists Rifles

Fenner PG name

 Percy Geddes Fenner, was the brother of Harold Fenner and son of Mr Thomas Crombie Fenner and Mrs Fanny Fenner of 11, Liverpool Road, Reading.    After a period of home service he was posted to France in February 1917.  He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 153.  Percy was initially reported missing and then killed in action on the 30th October 1917.  The second Battle of Passchendaele had begun on the 26th October 1917.  On the 30th October the British attacked, in bad weather, on a front from Poelcapelle to Passchendaele; they managed to enter Passchendaele but were later driven out.  During these battles it could take up to six men to carry a one wounded soldier on a stretcher.  The German counter attacks and bombardments had churned the land into waist deep mud.  Many of the wounded were never found having drowned in the mud.  The Canadians eventually captured Passchendaele on the 6th November and thus ended the Third Battle of Ypres.

 Percy Fenner had been in the army ten months.  Before the war her was employed at Messer’s Petty and Sons, printers.  He had worked there for fifteen years having started as a boy in the office and rising to chief estimating clerk.  In the Standard of March 9th 1918, Mr Petty writes, ‘he was a most respected employee and in him we have lost a most valued and trustworthy servant’.  He was educated at St. Stephen’s School.  Mr Hopcraft the Headmaster wrote,’ He was one of the most steadfast and dearest friends’.  Percy had been a member of the St. Stephen’s church choir for many years.  According to the paper Mr and Mrs Fenner had now lost their third son to the war.  Their surviving son Edgar was serving in France. The 1911 census indicated that Edgar was a Clerk Seedsman. Edgar survived the war, he died in 1973 aged 83.

 The Fenner Brothers are commemorated on their parent’s grave.  Berkshire Family History Society classification 67C7

Thomas Henry Cooper and Harold Walter Cooper

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Passchendaele, Somme

Thomas Henry Cooper
Private 55509 Devonshire Regiment
Labour Corps.

 Division 29

 CIMG2104  CIMG2099

Thomas Henry Cooper was the son of Thomas Henry and Jane Cooper, of 26, Milman Road, Reading.   He died on 23rd September 1917.  With his brother he is commemorated upon his parents grave in Reading Cemetery. Sadly the commemoration to Harold is now very unclear.

 Thomas Henry Cooper is buried at Rocquigny – Equancourt Road, British Cemetery, Manancourt, Somme.  Location Plot I. Row B. 23.  The area was occupied in April, 1917, as the Germans withdrew to the Hindenburg Line.  The cemetery was begun in 1917, and used mainly by the 21st and 48th Casualty Clearing Stations, posted at Ytres.  The location of the grave would indicate that Thomas Cooper was one of the earliest casualties to be buried there.  The cemetery was lost at the beginning of the German Spring offensive in March 1918 but regained in September 1918.

 Harold Walter Cooper
Private 28160
1st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry

Cooper HW photo  CIMG2100

Harold Walter Cooper was the younger brother of Thomas Henry Cooper.  He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, location Panel 41 -42 and 163A.  He died on 4th October 1917, aged 19.

 On this day the British surprised the Germans who had also planned an attack.  An advance was made along an eight mile front.  The Germans lost many man to the British artillery and many prisoners were taken.  However, in spite of the allied gains many men were lost, some in the mud that became increasingly deeper as the rains came down.  Harold Cooper was probably killed and his body lost during this action.  The rain continued to fall for days and days.  Haig was reluctant to withdraw and loose the precious gains, he urged his men to push ever onwards, Passchendaele was in sight.

The brothers are commemorated on the grave of their parents in the Reading cemetery.