C A M E O O F T H E M O N T H
Each month I will put on the website the story of a soldier who died during the First World War.
They are selected at random.
Each month I will put on the website the story of a soldier who died during the First World War.
They are selected at random.
Thiepval Memorial
Second Lieutenant Wilfrid Ewart Deakin
1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment
Died on Sunday 4th March 1917, aged 18
Commemorated on Pier and Face 5 A.
Died on Sunday 4th March 1917, aged 18
Commemorated on Pier and Face 5 A.
Wilfrid Deakin
Wilfred was born at home, eldest son of William Henry and Mary Anne Deakin, of 7 Cecil Street, Walsall, Staffordshire. He had younger siblings, Doris Edith, and John Reginald. Wilfred was educated at Queen Mary’s Grammar School from 1910 to 1914.
Wilfrid volunteered and enlisted in the 17th Battalion Royal Fusiliers with service number PS/6586. After training he went out to France with the Battalion on Sunday 14th November 1915. Wilfrid had not served long before he was sent for a commission that he received on Wednesday 24th November 1916. Wilfrid was posted to the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment and joined them in the field.
The Battalion was in ‘No 16 Camp’ on the Bray to Maricourt road when they received a draft of 25 men on Friday 5th January 1917 under 2nd Lieutenant Wilfrid Deakin.
The Battalion marched to Méricourt l’Abbé on Thursday 11th to entrain for Airaines then marched to billets in Vergies. After cleaning up the camp, training began on Saturday 13th. Following a series of moves the Battalion relieved the 14th A&S in the ‘Bouchavesnes North Sector’ during the evening of Friday 26th for a tour of duty that lasted until 9.00pm on Wednesday 3rd February when relieved by the 2nd East Lancs. Following the relief they went into Reserve in ‘Asquiths Flats’ until Saturday 10th when the 1st Household Battalion arrived and the Battalion embussed at ‘Crucifix Corner’ then marched to ‘Camp 124’ on the south side of Sailly Le Sec. Training for an attack on ‘Fritz Trench’ took place between Sunday 11th and Wednesday 21st.
The Battalion marched out of camp on Thursday 22nd to Bray to continue training. The Battalion took over the trenches from 2nd Devons during the evening of Friday 2nd March. The situation at the front was quiet throughout the next day. The narrative of Sunday 4th were recorded at the time:
Battalion in conjunction with 2nd Northants & 2/Royal Berks attacked the German position E of Bouchavesnes. Attack was delivered at 5.30am under a creeping barrage.
Attack was quite successful after heavy bombing fights in places. A great many Germans were killed, 2 machine guns were captured after their crews had been killed, together with about 100 prisoners taken by the Battalion. Pallas Trench (German front line) & Fritz Trench (support line) were captured. From Fritz Trench excellent observation was obtained over country near Moislains & excellent observation for our artillery was obtained.
Enemy shelling was very heavy & a barrage was kept up on captured lines & lines of communication all day. The observation obtainable from Fritz Trench enabled the Batt to beat off counter-attacks by means of Lewis guns & rifle fire. Small German parties hurrying up from the direction of Moislains were dispersed by Lewis gun fire. Very few casualties were sustained during the attack. The enemy’s heavy shelling was responsible for the larger proportion.
The Battalion suffered severe losses of over 200 casualties, of the Officers killed were:
Captain Roland Powell Birtles who is buried in Fins New British Cemetery, Sorel-le-Grand, VII.B.28 with 2nd Lieutenants Ronald Maynard Ross and William Ward in the same row, 22 and 25 respectively and 9 of their men;
18 year-old 2nd Lieutenant Wilfrid Ewart Deakin with 2nd Lieutenants Frederick Mallinson Marrs and Alan Percy Rosling are commemorated on the Memorial and 49 of their men.
Wilfrid volunteered and enlisted in the 17th Battalion Royal Fusiliers with service number PS/6586. After training he went out to France with the Battalion on Sunday 14th November 1915. Wilfrid had not served long before he was sent for a commission that he received on Wednesday 24th November 1916. Wilfrid was posted to the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment and joined them in the field.
The Battalion was in ‘No 16 Camp’ on the Bray to Maricourt road when they received a draft of 25 men on Friday 5th January 1917 under 2nd Lieutenant Wilfrid Deakin.
The Battalion marched to Méricourt l’Abbé on Thursday 11th to entrain for Airaines then marched to billets in Vergies. After cleaning up the camp, training began on Saturday 13th. Following a series of moves the Battalion relieved the 14th A&S in the ‘Bouchavesnes North Sector’ during the evening of Friday 26th for a tour of duty that lasted until 9.00pm on Wednesday 3rd February when relieved by the 2nd East Lancs. Following the relief they went into Reserve in ‘Asquiths Flats’ until Saturday 10th when the 1st Household Battalion arrived and the Battalion embussed at ‘Crucifix Corner’ then marched to ‘Camp 124’ on the south side of Sailly Le Sec. Training for an attack on ‘Fritz Trench’ took place between Sunday 11th and Wednesday 21st.
The Battalion marched out of camp on Thursday 22nd to Bray to continue training. The Battalion took over the trenches from 2nd Devons during the evening of Friday 2nd March. The situation at the front was quiet throughout the next day. The narrative of Sunday 4th were recorded at the time:
Battalion in conjunction with 2nd Northants & 2/Royal Berks attacked the German position E of Bouchavesnes. Attack was delivered at 5.30am under a creeping barrage.
Attack was quite successful after heavy bombing fights in places. A great many Germans were killed, 2 machine guns were captured after their crews had been killed, together with about 100 prisoners taken by the Battalion. Pallas Trench (German front line) & Fritz Trench (support line) were captured. From Fritz Trench excellent observation was obtained over country near Moislains & excellent observation for our artillery was obtained.
Enemy shelling was very heavy & a barrage was kept up on captured lines & lines of communication all day. The observation obtainable from Fritz Trench enabled the Batt to beat off counter-attacks by means of Lewis guns & rifle fire. Small German parties hurrying up from the direction of Moislains were dispersed by Lewis gun fire. Very few casualties were sustained during the attack. The enemy’s heavy shelling was responsible for the larger proportion.
The Battalion suffered severe losses of over 200 casualties, of the Officers killed were:
Captain Roland Powell Birtles who is buried in Fins New British Cemetery, Sorel-le-Grand, VII.B.28 with 2nd Lieutenants Ronald Maynard Ross and William Ward in the same row, 22 and 25 respectively and 9 of their men;
18 year-old 2nd Lieutenant Wilfrid Ewart Deakin with 2nd Lieutenants Frederick Mallinson Marrs and Alan Percy Rosling are commemorated on the Memorial and 49 of their men.