Betty, I'll search more info on William. There is a Charles Bunn on our war memorial (extract from pur book below). Note that he was born in Newcastle and lived in Fiddlers Lane. He must be related? Perhaps the photo was Charles. I've attached his photo.
Regards
Pete
Charles James William Bunn
Private Charles Bunn (Service no. 2257) served with the 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment, 8th (Jullundur) Brigade, 3rd Division. He was born in Newcastle-on-Tyne. He resided with his wife, Minnie, and two children at 72 Hurst Fold, Irlam and was employed by British Westinghouse in Trafford Park. He was a well-known local tenor. He enlisted in 1914 at Manchester, giving his address as 17 Fiddlers Lane, Irlam. His battalion left Marseilles on the 10th December 1915 and arrived at Basra on the 8th January 1916. On Wednesday the 8th March 1916 Charles took part in an attack on the Dujailah Redoubt on the Turkish right flank, which was part of an unsuccessful attempt to relieve the besieged British garrison at Kut-al-Amara. This was a formidable part of the Turkish defences located between the Tigris and the Shatt-el-Hai in Mesopotamia. The following is a summary of the action taken from the despatches of Lieutenant-General Sir Percy Lake: The first attack on the redoubt was strongly opposed by the enemy from trenches cleverly concealed in the brushwood. The southern attack was reinforced, and by 1pm had pushed to within 500 yards of the Redoubt. Concealed trenches again stopped further progress. The Turks made several counter-attacks with reinforcements which had by now arrived from Magasis. A further assault on the Redoubt took place at 5.15pm. Attacks were launched from the south and east under cover of a heavy bombardment. The 9th and 28th Infantry Brigades got within 200 yards of the southern face, where they were held up by heavy fire. Meanwhile the 8th Infantry Brigade, supported by the 37th, had assaulted from the East. The two leading battalions of the Brigade; the Manchesters and 59th Rifles, and some of the 37th Infantry Brigade, succeeded in gaining a foothold in the Redoubt. They were heavily counter-attacked by large enemy reinforcements, and were subjected to extremely rapid and accurate shrapnel fire from concealed guns in the vicinity of Sinn Aftar. As a result our troops were forced to fall back to their starting positions. A renewal of the assault on the night of the 8th/9th March could not be made with any prospect of success therefore a withdrawal took place to Wadi. The troops had been under arms for over 30 hours, including a long night march. They were exhausted and water supplies were running low. The Battalion sustained a total of 13 Officer and 447 other rank casualties. Charles was killed during this action on 8th March 1916, aged 24. He is commemorated on the Basra memorial. He was entitled to the 1915 star trio. After his death his wife later remarried becoming Mrs. Minnie Barber residing at 14 Heath Road, Owley Wood, Weaverham, Cheshire.
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Topic: William Olley (Read 9988 times)