Graves - Page 5 of 5 - War Graves in the Old Reading Cemetery

Joseph Duce
Private G/9219 6^th Battalion
The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment)

Division 67
Extension

Joseph Duce was the son of Clara Duce, of 197, High Street, Watford, Hertfordshire, and the late David Duce. According to the 1911 census the family had a Fish Restaurant in Watford. Joseph died on 12^th May 1917, aged 37. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the Missing, Bay 2.

The Battle of Bullecourt is described in detail in “The Blood Tub” by Jonathan Walker. The Battle of Arras began on 9^th April 1917 along a twelve mile front. Starting with the success of the taking of Vimy ridge by the Canadians the battle became more and more bloody as the British and Australians tried to break through the Hindenburg line renewing the attack with more vigour on 3^rd May. Losses were heavy and “the only remedy seemed to be to put more and more brigades into the ‘Blood tub’”. (page 163)

Walker describes the attack of the 12^th May 1917 in his chapter “Fight for the Crucifix”. In the forefront was the 2^nd Queens. This battalion had been decimated during 1^st Ypres and was now made up mostly of men of “Kitchener’s Army”. It is therefore likely that Joseph Duce was serving in this Battalion at the time of the attack and his death. The attack was timed to begin at 3.40am on 12 May. The men were very tired because even when out of line they were required to bring supplies forward. They got off to a good start, with the 1^st South Staffordshires on their left and the Australians on the right, advancing quickly under the German barrage.

The Queen’s reached their objectives but battle got bogged down on along the line either side of them. True to form the battle became drawn out over the following days and although the German counter-attacks failed there were many casualties, killed, missing and wounded. Amongst them was Joseph Duce whose body was never identified.

Stanley Durman
Private L/10750 The 7^th Battalion
Queens (Royal West Surrey) Battalion.

Division 71 Extension

Stanley Durman died on 1^st July 1916. He was the son of Alfred and Maria Durman, of 58, Francis Street, Reading. He is commemorated on the family grave. Number 17859. Berkshire Family History Society classification 71G10.

The 1911 census indicates that he was a cutter-up in the sugar wafer department of Huntley and Palmers. However, his name was not recorded on the depatment’s memorial. His father worked as a porter for a timber merchant and his older brother as a house painter.

Stanley Durman’s older brother Alfred Stephen Durman, also served in the war. He was a stretcher-bearer of the Royal Berkshire Regiment who was wounded, date not known, and as a result had his left leg amputated.

Pictures of Private Durman killed 1^st July 1916 bear different captions. One stated that his Regiment was the 2^nd Royal Berkshire Regiment the other simply Royal Berkshire Regiment. The addresses on the pictures are identical. It was not uncommon to transfer men between battalions to make up for losses. The 7^th Queens and 6^th Royal Berkshire were in the same Division – the 18^th (Eastern) Division.

An interesting incident illustrates the closeness of the units. Both units were attacking towards the village of Montauban on the first day of the Somme battles. When Breslau Trench was captured a wounded German machine gunner was caught, he was found chained to his gun by his ankle. The initial capture was attributed to the 6^th Royal Berks., but was finally confirmed as a capture by the 7^th Queens. (Public Records Office CAB/189). On 1^st July, the 7^th Queens attacked at 7.30a.m. The first advance was held up by heavy fire in front of Breslau support trench, possibly by the same machine gunner. Later the 7^th Queens fought on through Back Trench and Train Ally to Montauban Ally. The War Diary records that after 12 hours fighting the final objective was reached and consolidated on a front of 200 yards.