William Charles Redwood
Memorial: Dyrham - St Peter's Church
Regiment: Gloucestershire Regiment
Rank and number: Private 1154
Parents: Charles and Mary Ann Redwood
Home address: Talbot Cottages, Dyrham
Pre-war occupation: Army
Date of birth: 1893
Place of birth: Dyrham
Date of death: 30/10/1914
Buried/Commemorated at: Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial, West Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Age: 21
Further information:
William was the son of Charles and Mary Ann Redwood of Talbot Cottages, Dyrham.
William was a private in the 1st Battalion Gloucester Regiment.
William was killed in action on 29th October 1914, aged 21, in the first battle of Ypres. He has no known grave, but he is commemorated on the Ypres Memorial in Belgium.
The 1st Battalion was the regular battalion of the British Army. At the outbreak of war on 28th July 1914, it was stationed in Bourdon, France, part of 3rd Brigade, 1st Division. The Division moved to Flanders for the first battle of Ypres and was heavily involved in the battle of Langemarck at Gheluvelt and at Nonne Boschen during October/November.
On 29th October 1914, the German Army attacked the British Line on the Menin Road at Kruisecke Crossroads, between Ploegsteert Wood and Gheluvelt. The German aim was to break through the British front line and take Ypres. The Germans captured the crossroads on 29th October and started their main attack on 30th October, the day of William's death. On 31st October the Germans broke through the line and reached Gheluvelt. The British line fell back but did not break. They retreated to preserve the line on the outskirts of Ypres.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
Edward Walsh
Commonwealth War Graves Commission