|
|
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you agree to accept cookies.
If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.
Site Home
Help & FAQs
Features
Submissions
Information
Advertisements
World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Sgt. Cyril James Greenwood
British Army 82nd Brigade, C Battery Royal Field Artillery
from:Fern Nook, East Morton, Bingley, Yorkshire
(d.21st Mar 1918)
My great uncle, Cyril Greenwood, was born on 8 Feb 1892 in East Morton, nr Bingley, Yorkshire. He was the son of Wilkinson and Martha Greenwood, and had 3 brothers and 2 sisters. I have not yet found out when how early in the war he joined the Army, but he was a Sergeant in the Royal Field Artillery, 82nd Brigade, C Battery. He died on 21st March 1918 and his name is commemorated on the Memorial at Pozieres, near Albert in France. He was 26 years old. The battle in which he was killed was in the area to the west of Fort Vendeuil.
Information from the journal of the Royal Artillery on this battle gives the following information: On 21 March 1918, A Battery, 82nd Brigade, RFA commanded by Captain W. Dennes, MC, was in action about 1000 yards west of Fort Vendeuil. About 12 noon German infantry appeared in large numbers in front of the wire of the Ly Fontaine - Vendeuil switch line that was some 300 yards in front of the guns. From this time onward the Battery engaged the enemy infantry at close range, inflicting very heavy casualties on them and driving them back for a time.
About 3:45 pm Captain Dennes sent a message by runner asking for assistance, saying that he was holding his own but the enemy had worked up close, were sniping gunners on the guns, and he was loosing a good many men. Shortly afterwards Dennes was hit by a sniper and believed to be killed. 2nd Lieut. R G M Jones took command and sent a runner back to the nearest infantry post with a message saying he was intending to remain where he was and hold out to the last, and asking for the support of rifle fire on his flanks. The runner, however, lost his way- the message was not delivered in time and about 5 pm the battery position was rushed by the enemy and the few survivors in it were captured
I have three letters in my possession, written to Cyril's sister. The first is undated: "I have received a letter from The Rev P B Clayton at Poperinge, and spoken to the OC C/82 about your brother. The OC C/82 has already written to you and by now I expect you have received his letter giving you all facts. From what I hear it is most probably your brother is a prisoner of War and if you apply direct to the War Office you may hear better news."
The second dated 19th October 1918 from the British Red Cross: "Dear Madam, It is with deepest regret I write to inform you of a sad report just obtained regarding the above from Cpl L.W.Peck, 22159. R.F.A. 82 Brigade, C. Battery, at present abroad. He tells us he was informed by Bombardier S.J. Elliott of the same Battery that he had seen the above badly wounded at Vendeuil. We wish we could hold out hopes of his having survived, but we fear the chances of this are getting sadly small as he has been missing so long."
The third dated 29th April 1919 from the RFA Record Office: "Madam, It is my painful duty to inform you that no further news having been received relative to 26612 Sergeant Cyril James Greenwood C/82 Bde Royal Field Artillery who has been missing since 21 March 1918, the Army Council have been regretfully constrained to conclude that he is dead, and that his death took place on the 21 March 1918. By His Majesty's command I am to forward the enclosed message of sympathy from Their Gracious Majesties the King and Queen. I am at the same time to express the regret of the Army Council at the soldier’s death in his country’s service."
Related Content:
Can you help us to add to our records?
The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them
Did your relative live through the Great War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial?
If so please let us know.
Do you know the location of a Great War "Roll of Honour?"We are very keen to track down these often forgotten documents and obtain photographs and transcriptions of the names recorded so that they will be available for all to remember.
Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice.
Celebrate your own Family History
Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Great War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc.
Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.
The free section of The Wartime Memories Project is run by volunteers.
This website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources and we currently have a huge backlog of submissions.
If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running.
Hosted by:
The Wartime Memories Project Website
is archived for preservation by the British Library
Copyright MCMXCIX - MMXXIV
- All Rights Reserved -We do not permit the use of any content from this website for the training of LLMs or for use in Generative AI, it also may not be scraped for the purpose of creating other websites.
