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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: jesshazel on Friday 23 February 18 18:11 GMT (UK)

Title: Help finding out more: Royal Berkshire Regiment, 2nd Bn. May/June 1918
Post by: jesshazel on Friday 23 February 18 18:11 GMT (UK)
Hi all. I am trying to find out more information about my great grandfather, who died in WW1. I've got the below details:

Name: George Charles Stephens
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service No: 201834
Regiment/Service: Royal Berkshire Regiment 2nd Bn.
Death: 14 June 1918 • Rouen, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France
Grave Reference: Q. I. E. 16. Cemetery ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN

He died from facial wounds, and according to my Granny's memory, he didn't die straight away but was being treated for one or two weeks - long enough that his wife was able to go over and visit him before he died.

Searching online it's my understanding that his battalion were part of the 25th Infantry Brigade. If this is correct, then I would assume that he fought in the Third Battle of the Aisne (27 May–6 June 1918) as the dates would work out in line with when he died and how long he's thought to have been in hospital.

Is anyone able to confirm this, or to point me in the right direction to find out more? We've got access to Ancestry.com and happy to pay for access to records if there's anything more out there to uncover.

I'm planning to visit his grave on the 100th anniversary of his death this June, and was hoping to find out a bit more about him and his time in the forces, particularly the movements of his battalion and  where he fought and died, as I'd like to make that part of my visit.

Thank you for reading, and for any help or guidance you might be able to offer  :)
Title: Re: Help finding out more: Royal Berkshire Regiment, 2nd Bn. May/June 1918
Post by: Jebber on Friday 23 February 18 18:41 GMT (UK)
Have a look here.

http://www.thewardrobe.org.uk/research/history-of-regiments/the-berkshire-regiment-1881-1885-the-royal-berkshire-regiment-1885-1959
Title: Re: Help finding out more: Royal Berkshire Regiment, 2nd Bn. May/June 1918
Post by: jim1 on Friday 23 February 18 21:23 GMT (UK)
According to their diary they were in the Guyencourt region of France.
On the 27th. May 1918 there was a mass attack by the Germans. This was Operation Bluecher aka battle of the Aisne. They fought until the 31st. before being relieved having lost 23 Officers & 600 other ranks.
Need to dig a bit deeper.
Back later.
Title: Re: Help finding out more: Royal Berkshire Regiment, 2nd Bn. May/June 1918
Post by: MaxD on Friday 23 February 18 22:18 GMT (UK)
A snippet to support the "being treated for 1/2 weeks".

He died in No 1 Australian General Hospital which was at Rouen to where he would have been brought up the casualty evacuation chain for treatment.  Piece here for interest: http://throughtheselines.com.au/research/1-AGH/  The hospital was located on the racecourse at Rouen.

MaxD
Title: Re: Help finding out more: Royal Berkshire Regiment, 2nd Bn. May/June 1918
Post by: jim1 on Friday 23 February 18 22:35 GMT (UK)
The Operation from 27/5/1918-31/5/1918.
Their line would be somewhere along a line in J3 - J4 on this map:
Just below Juvincourt.
http://maps.nls.uk/view/101465395
Title: Re: Help finding out more: Royal Berkshire Regiment, 2nd Bn. May/June 1918
Post by: jesshazel on Saturday 24 February 18 12:02 GMT (UK)
Thank you so much for your replies, it's amazing to see on a map where he would have been placed, and to know exactly where he would have been taken for treatment. Thank you!! I will have a proper look through with my Dad who's been tracing info about him up until now.

I've just been reading through 400+ pages of WW1 diaries on Ancestry for their regiment, just hoping to see his name or a reference to him somewhere but no such luck. It's a bit addictive, trying to find a bit of extra insight!