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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
A/Bmbdr. Stanley Barham
British Army 147th Heavy Battery Royal Garrison Artillery
from:Walkden, Lancashire
(d.4th Oct 1917)
I spoke to my Grandad's youngest brother, Chris, back in 1978 and he and his wife Edith told me that after the war, the man who was with Stanley when he was hit came to visit them. He told them of the circumstances. These two were either going to or from the Post Office when a shell landed between them. The friend was unhurt (probably had a very bad concussion at the least) but Stanley was hit in the arm and legs. We do not know whereabouts or when this took place but it appears to be a couple of days before he died on 4th of October 1917. The situation of the hospital would mean he was taken to Hooge railhead from wherever he fell. Lijssenthoek was the name of the nearby village and one of the largest hospitals was located here after the French vacated it in 1915. It was also known as Remy Siding (Remy for the farmer on whose land it was situated and right next to a railway siding essential for wounded transportation from the front. This hospital consisted of different Casualty Clearing Stations. British 10th CCS and 17th CCS and Canadian 2nd and 3rd CCS. The cemetery represents the 3% who didn't make it. That is those that were brought in alive but didn't leave. Ever.
What I do not understand is that the story told to Chris and Edith said that Stanley had his arm and leg amputated but no mention in doctors report also not shrapnel but gunshot wounds? (see note below) What I am thinking is that due to the exceptional number of casualties brought in on 4th October then the minimal necessary information would have been entered. I found the answer to the Gunshot wounds query in 2018 when we were in Cairns, Queensland, Oz. I had picked up a booklet from Cairns Library entitled Chinese Anzacs. It had various men involved in the fighting and one of them had a death certificate with Died of gunshot wounds. An eyewitness account verifies the story as him having been struck by shrapnel. So this is the term they used then.
Stanley Barham was an Acting Bombardier with the 147th Heavy Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery. In his previous civilian life he was a weaver at Burgess Ledwards cotton mill in Walkden, Lancashire. He is buried next to an Aussie Sapper, 7133 W H Abbott. In the next row behind are 3 men of the Otago Regiment of NZ all of them died either 3rd or 4th October. There is a graph of admissions on the wall of the visitor centre and the 2nd and 4th of October are almost off the graph! This was during the 3rd Battle of Ypres.
His grave is right at the entrance to the beautifully maintained cemetery, 4th row from the front just to the right of the entrance. The visitor centre is asking for photographs etc. so I will get onto that as they have a big wall with photos of those buried there. There is also a listening wall where letters, stories and incidents about those buried there, worked there or spent time there as a patient. There were over 300,000 men who went through that hospital and 10,784 are buried there. It is very poignant to see where he lies in such a peaceful environment that is cared for so well.
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