Joseph Duce

Army, Arras, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments

Joseph Duce
Private G/9219 6th 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 12th 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 9th 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 3rd 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 12th May 1917 in his chapter “Fight for the Crucifix”. In the forefront was the 2nd Queens.  This battalion had been decimated during 1st 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 1st 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.

 

Charles B Drew

Army, Canadian, Registered War Grave

Charles B. Drew
Lance Corporal 11471
4th Battalion Canadian Infantry
Central Ontario Regiment

 Division 38

CDrew photo CIMG2216

Charles Drew, was the son  of Thomas and Emily Drew, of 15, St. John’s Street, Reading. He died of wounds on November 9th 1918 aged 42. His is a registered war grave with a private headstone and kerbs, number 9901.  He shares his grave with his parents.  His name also appears on a special memorial in the War Plot, his grave having for sometime been lost. 

alternative mem 2

A letter from Lance Corporal Charles Drew was published in a local paper July 17th 1915 after he had been wounded.

 “He has been serving since the out break of war and has been twice wounded, the second time on the 26th June, when his leg was smashed by a shell and had to be amputated.  Writing form Meath hospital, Dublin he  says –

“I have not got pluck enough to look at my stump when they are dressing it.  The whole shell must have hit me, and caught it in the back of my leg above the knee cap and smashed it and set fire to my trousers.

We were drawing rations at he time, and I was in charge of them.  We were taking cover in the darkness of some ruined houses about 200 yards from the communication trench.  As soon as we got into the open shrapnel came over our heads.  I was helping a fellow carry some biscuits and was ducking down when the shell caught me.  A couple of fellows got me behind a wall and took me to a dressing station, where my leg was straightened out.

“Then I had a painful ride in a horse ambulance over a road full of holes to another dressing station, where I was laid in a marquee for the rest of the night.  Afterwards I was taken to a hospital at Merville, and then to Rouen.  Here the leg was taken off and salt water was injected to enrich the blood.”

 Charles Drew was remembered by his parents and brothers and sisters,  Walter, Bessie, Ethel, Mary, Horos and Willie in the ‘In Memoriam’ of the Standard November 8th 1919.

During research it was discovered that Charles Drew’s name had been omitted from the Canadian Book of Remembrance. An appeal was made and his name was added, a permanent record of his war service.

Willy Dowler

Army, Other Regiments, Registered War Grave

Willy Dowler
Gunner RMA/2559(S) H.Q. (Eastney Barracks)
Royal Marine Artillery

Division 33

CIMG2197

 

Willy Dowler was the husband of Elsie Dowler, of 112, Tanygroes Street, Port Talbot, Glamorganshire and the son of Mrs Dowler of 32, Sherman Road, Reading. His tragic and accidental death was reported in the Reading Standard 18th May 1918.

 “Death of Gunner Willy Dowler, son of Mrs Dowler of 32 Sherman Rd. at Royal Naval Hospital Haslar on May 9th.  He was residing with his wife at Southsea and admitted to hospital on May 7th with appendicitis.  The surgical operation was successful.  Complaining of pain he was given what was intended to be a sleeping draught, breathing became affected and eventually he died the following morning.

Cause of death was narcotic poisoning – an investigation revealed that he had been given nearly 1oz of opium which when mixed was to be taken in 25minim doses mixed with brandy!

The verdict was accidental death.  The coroner did not think any one was to blame criminally but an investigation into the carelessness to be left to the Inspector General. The deceased was 28 years old and buried with full military honours.  It is a pathetic coincidence that the deceased lost his  brother in law  in Salonika last May [1917], while his brother was killed in France in May this year [1918].”

 Willy Dowler is buried in a registered war grave number 12480 and this is marked with a CWGC war pattern headstone.