KRRC 1918

[Maddie]

Hi

My Grt Uncle Stanley William Beament, was KIA on the 21st March 1918 & is remembered on the Pozieres Memorial.

He was in D coy 9th Bn KRRC.

Is it possible for any one to help me find out more about how & where he was killed.

Any info would be much appreciated.

Maddie

[atom12]

Hi 
Have you seen his SDGW entry:

[atom12]

Maddie

Did you notice that CWGC mentions that he was twice previously wounded:

http://www.rootschat.com/links/02ok/

also this page gives some info:

http://www.rootschat.com/links/02ol/

[tinav40]

Not sure if this is right as I'm no expert. I was searching for details of a relation myself and found this.
www.1914-1918.net/bat22A.htm
Hope this helps but apologies if I made a mistake.

[atom12]

 Another link for Pozieres British Cemetery and the Pozieres Memorial:

http://www.rootschat.com/links/02om/

 

[Maddie]

Thank you both Atom & Tina for your replies.

Atom, I hadn't seen the SDGW, thank you very much for that. I did know he had been wounded twice but only have details of one wounding.

His brother Jack Beament was also in the KRCC & was interviewed by Lyn Macdonald for her book Somme. Mentioned in the book is the fact that Jack was wounded at High Wood in 1916 & when he arrived at the hospital he was astounded to find his younger brother Stanley also there, he had been wounded whilst consolidating the line between High Wood & Delville Wood.

I don't know anything about the second time.

I shall study the links you have given me & hopefully be able to  piece it together.

Again, many thanks.

Maddie

[harribobs]

the 9th batt KRRC were a war service battalion, raised by volunteers to fight for the period of the war only', they were part of the 14th (light) division

on the 21st march 1918, the germans launched their spring offensive ( Kaiserschlacht) smashing through the allied lines, through the old battlefields of the somme

the 14th div were holding a line of aprox 2 1/2 miles, south of st quentin, facing an enemy four times their strength. the 9th battalion was in the front line and were overwhelmed in a matter of hours. the battalion lost 122 men killed and many many more wounded and captured

[Maddie]

Hi harribobs

Many thanks for that info & having just reread the other posts it has actually raised a question.

On the CWGC Stanley's date of death is 21st March but on the SDGW the date is 27th March & that he died of wounds.

Is it possible that he could have been one of the many wounded on that awful day & made it to hospital.

As he is remembered on the Pozieres Memorial I assumed he had no known grave.

Sorry for the questions, your help is gratefully received.

Maddie

[harribobs]

i'm afraid i have no certain answer for that but...

if he had been wounded ( badly) there was little chance of him being evacuated towards the british rear areas due to the severity and speed of the german attack. If he was wounded and later died and if he died 6 days after the initial attack, i would have though there would have been more chance of his grave being known

for example, a little further north on the same day, a manchester battalion was only able to report that 8 men were wounded (  presumably those that returned thru the lines) but 593 men were missing

as it is, either his grave was lost ( as the battleground were fought over again or simply not marked) or his body/grave were never identified