On 14th October 2004
it will be exactly 90 years that
Corporal of Horse William Thomas Leggett
(1st Life Guards)
was killed in action
in Geluwe, West-Flanders, Belgium.
He was the first Australian
who died in the defence of Ypres.
On the occasion of this anniversary
flowers will be laid
at the Leggett Memorial near the church of Geluwe
by Dirk and Mieke Decuypere-Denys
and at his grave in the Harlebeke New British Cemetery in Harelbeke
by Johan and Hilde Durnez-Vanhaverbeke
Full Version: 14th october 1914
Petrick
Thanks for that.
I will be there in spirit.
Please tell us his story!
The AWM has a "private collection" on him but its not on-line.
Pat
Thanks for that.
I will be there in spirit.
Please tell us his story!
The AWM has a "private collection" on him but its not on-line.
Pat
Is this the first Australian to die in the Great War - or just in the Ypres area ?
Ian
I think the first Australian to lose his life in the War was one of the group of Capt Dr B C A Pockley, Australian Army Medical Corps, and Able Seamen J E Walker [serving as J Courtney], G V Williams and H W Street, Royal Australian Navy, who were killed during the landing at Rabaul, New Britain, on 11 September 1914.
Regards
Gareth
I think the first Australian to lose his life in the War was one of the group of Capt Dr B C A Pockley, Australian Army Medical Corps, and Able Seamen J E Walker [serving as J Courtney], G V Williams and H W Street, Royal Australian Navy, who were killed during the landing at Rabaul, New Britain, on 11 September 1914.
Regards
Gareth
G'day
Am awaiting Petrick's response, but searching the AWM site under Leggett leads to an item suggesting that his was the 1st Australian death of the War.
Pat
Am awaiting Petrick's response, but searching the AWM site under Leggett leads to an item suggesting that his was the 1st Australian death of the War.
Pat
QUOTE (petrick @ Wed, 13 Oct 2004 02:22:25 +0000)
On 14th October 2004
it will be exactly 90 years that
Corporal of Horse William Thomas Leggett
(1st Life Guards)
was killed in action
in Geluwe, West-Flanders, Belgium.
He was the first Australian
who died in the defence of Ypres.
On the occasion of this anniversary
flowers will be laid
at the Leggett Memorial near the church of Geluwe
by Dirk and Mieke Decuypere-Denys
and at his grave in the Harlebeke New British Cemetery in Harelbeke
by Johan and Hilde Durnez-Vanhaverbeke
it will be exactly 90 years that
Corporal of Horse William Thomas Leggett
(1st Life Guards)
was killed in action
in Geluwe, West-Flanders, Belgium.
He was the first Australian
who died in the defence of Ypres.
On the occasion of this anniversary
flowers will be laid
at the Leggett Memorial near the church of Geluwe
by Dirk and Mieke Decuypere-Denys
and at his grave in the Harlebeke New British Cemetery in Harelbeke
by Johan and Hilde Durnez-Vanhaverbeke
Very interesting thanks mate. Do you know what part of Oz he came from? and his age?
Robbie
G'day mates'
I could tell it all but, Hey why twice when there is a link to the complete story. Even the regimental diary and eye witness reports.
http://www.westhoek.be/williamleggett/
hope youll get all the info there you want.
coo-ee
patrick
I could tell it all but, Hey why twice when there is a link to the complete story. Even the regimental diary and eye witness reports.
http://www.westhoek.be/williamleggett/
hope youll get all the info there you want.
coo-ee
patrick
And the winner is
SIDDERNEY.
Petrick
Its Double Dutch to me mate.
Guess he was an electrician from Sydney
But any chance of getting the story in Australian?
onyer cobber
ooRoo
Pat
SIDDERNEY.
Petrick
Its Double Dutch to me mate.
Guess he was an electrician from Sydney
But any chance of getting the story in Australian?
onyer cobber
ooRoo
Pat
sorry pat,seems iff you klik on your left side on the linked page there is something like ENGLISH.... yeah i know its pommie but maybe youll find a donkey wallaper to translated in proper aussie
coo-ee
patrick
Petrick
That doesnt work mate.
Its ok though. I can get there by going to the site directly now that I know the url
You might be able to save others the trouble by doing the klikking your end & posting the new link.
ooRoo
That doesnt work mate.
Its ok though. I can get there by going to the site directly now that I know the url
You might be able to save others the trouble by doing the klikking your end & posting the new link.
ooRoo
okay pat
for the guys the english link doesn't work.
HORSE GUARD WILLIAM LEGGETT FALLS IN A SKIRMISH WITH ULANS AT GHELUWE (BELGIUM)
14 OCTOBER 1914
An analysis by Dirk Decuypere
Situation on the broader Western Front in the days around the skirmish at Gheluwe
In the first half of October 1914 (after the Battle of the Aisne and the fall of Antwerp) the allied troops withdrew towards the Yser-Lys position. This resulted in a series of outflanking movements between the French and German armies, progressing towards the sea.
The Belgian army was positioned behind the Yser (roughly from Nieuport to just north of Ypres), and the British Expeditionary Force was secretly withdrawn from the Aisne position to cover the Flanders area (Ypres, Armentières, La Bassée, etc.). The Franco-British cavalry covered the allied infantry taking up positions in its attempt to build up a barrier to the German thrusts towards the Channel ports.
The skirmish of 14 October 1914 at Gheluwe is to be situated just before the First Battle of Ypres, which broke open 5 days later in the same area where William Leggett had been killed and would last till 22 November 1914. After this First Battle of Ypres the front would settle into trench warfare operations (1).
Situation and Events of 13 and the night of 13/14 October 1914 in South-West Flanders
On 13 October 1914 the 7th (British) Cavalry Brigade (with 1st Life Guards, 2nd Life Guards and Royal Horse Guards) has to patrol the area west of the road Roulers-Menin. Menin is reportedly held by the enemy and the Brigade was prepared to drive them out.
In the course of the later afternoon they pass through Gheluwe but then hesitate to proceed towards Menin. An advance guard risks itself as far as 'Menenkapel', a chapel on the Menin Road on the border between Gheluwe and Menin, but then halts.
Around this moment the 1st Life Guards receive a Divisional Order to march to Winkel St. Eloi via Dadizeele, which - together with the rest of the 7th Cavalry Brigade - they will only reach towards the evening. Around 8 pm the 1st Life Guards receive an urgent order to escort a battery of the Royal Horse Artillery to Iseghem, which is done by A and D Squadrons. They arrive in Iseghem at 9 pm. and settle into billets.
C Squadron (the Squadron of William Leggett), which has not left Winkel St. Eloi, hears that on 14 October it will be detached all day to protect Divisional Headquarters first at Roulers and subsequently east of Iseghem.
But then Operation Orders No. 7 arrive at midnight, of which the first two orders are:
1. It is reported that a hostile force is south of Ypres. The 4th Corps will advance to Ypres in order to attack enemy's right flank in co-operation with our 2nd and 3rd Corps. The 3rd Cavalry Division will march on Dadizeele, 6th Cavalry Brigade leading.
2. 7th Cavalry Brigade will pass starting point Winkel St. Eloi village at 5 am.
Order of march: - 2nd Life Guards, Blues, 1st Life Guards.
Thirty-five minutes later 1st Life Guards Headquarters at Iseghem receive a new order: the 7th (British) Infantry Division will leave Roulers at 6 am today (14 October). The 1st Life Guards will detail one Squadron as a left flank guard to the 7th Division, during its march. On completion of its mission, this Squadron will report to the officer commanding 7th Cavalry Brigade at Ypres. The remainder of the 1st Life Guards will march as per instructions already issued by 7th Cavalry Brigade. (2). Three hours later 1st Life Guards Headquarters, together with A and D Squadrons leave Iseghem to join the 7th Cavalry Brigade at Winkel St. Eloi.
C Squadron's deep penetration towards Menin
With the exception of its C Squadron the 1st Life Guards joins the 3rd Cavalry Division in its march to the Ypres area and reaches Ypres around 10 am, where it stays till midday.At noon it moves on in accordance with a new order that has been received by the 7th Cavalry Brigade in Ypres shortly before.
In that order the German cavalry is reported on all roads southwest and southeast of Ypres. The 6th Cavalry Brigade will advance towards the line La Clyte-Kemmel-Wytschaete, while the 7th Cavalry Brigade and Royal Horse Artillery will advance towards Groote Vierstraat (between Voormezeele and Kemmel), where they will billet in the farms.
As already mentioned above C Squadron of the 1st Life Guards was detailed some hours earlier to cover the left flank to the 7th Division during its march from Roulers towards Ypres. It is commanded by Captain Grosvenor and counts 150 cavalrymen. In order to give optimal protection Grosvenor will have to penetrate as thoroughly as possible towards Menin, since the Germans might launch an attack from here.
A remarkably peaceful town
Yet, Menin is a very quiet town that morning of 14 October. Undoubtedly, this is also the feeling of Rittmeister von Gaertringen, who just before noon halted at the bridge over the River Lys in Rijselstraat. Half a dozen cavalrymen of the Ulan Regiment No. 20 accompany him. They are the advance guard of both their regiment and a part of the 26th (German) Infantery Division, which will be billeted in Menin and other towns and villages alongside the Franco-Belgian border in the course of the day.
The 26th (German) Division belongs to the 6th (German) Army, which is to operate between the Franco-Belgian border and Lille and wants to be covered in its movement by sending some troops to the area south and north of the Menin-Ypres road (the Menin Road).
The town of Menin gives a remarkably peaceful impression. That was also Rittmeister von Gaertringen's first experience when arriving here. He only met with curious civilians and even wondered whether after all the world was at war. Well, so be, he thinks and finds himself a rush chair, lights a cigar and enjoys the quiet moments. No, not really, because he very well realizes that northwards, towards Ypres, the enemy may already be coming on. And even in a peaceful town like this he cannot ban that obsessive thought from his mind that Belgian civilians are continuously informing the British by telephone about any German movement
All of a sudden a whistling tram is coming along from France with about 20 ulans of Gaertringen's regiment under command of Oberleutnant von Sick. Von Gaertringen is visibly relieved: any reinforcement is welcome here!
Von Sick has less defensive thoughts, however. He intends to move further, as far as the northern exit of the town. Some minutes later the tram - escorted by trumpeter Grünewald -disappears behind the bend.
One hour later Grünewald is galloping back towards Gaertringen at the River Lys bridge bringing the message that von Sick decided to patrol as far as the village of Gheluwe. At te very same moment the remainder of the 20th Ulan Regiment crosses the Franco-Belgian border and arrives in Menin.
Then Grünewald urges back to Gheluwe, but not without accepting von Gaertringen's proposal to do so in the company of another ulan. Von Gaertringen does not feel at ease.
As soon as the two have left, the ulans who stay in Menin, start to throw up barricades on the River Lys bridge.
1st Life Guards coming on
Several hours before this moment - in the early morning - Remi Ghesquiere, the sacristan of Gheluwe, saw British cavalrymen patrolling the centre of the village: at 9 am a group of five and about one hour later another group of 20 cavalrymen. And then again at noon when some troopers asked for the way to Dadizeele. It is not unlikely that they belonged to the 1st Life Guards, since the infantry division they had to cover from the south had already left Roulers for Ypres at 6 am.
Around 1.30 am - so only one and a half hour after the last British patrol - the sacristan notices the tram rolling into the village from the direction of Menin... suspiciously slowly.
"At that moment my father (Louis Lernout) was standing in the doorway of his café (then and now Menenstraat 1)", Albert Lernout remembered when we interviewed him about this nearly 75 years later. He is not the only villager who witnesses how the tram slowly approaches with the German ulans inside pointing their rifles at the houses alongside the Menin Road. Some minutes later the patrol gets off in the tram station, which is immediately occupied.
The Germans clearly want to defend Gheluwe from allied attacks since they post several sentries: at the post office, at café Den Hert and at the last houses of the northern exit towards Ypres opposite the entrance of the Groenesprietstraat. Meanwhile the empty tram wagons are pushed back towards Menin with an officer and some soldiers on board who will be returning with a platoon of infantry reinforcement.
It is close to 3 pm when Captain Grosvenor, commanding officer of C Squadron, 1st Life Guards, enters the village by way of the Dadizelestraat and is informed by civilians about the German presence. Grosvenor (wrongly) estimates their numbers at thirty or so. He investigates about the enemy positions and divides his squadron in two. First phase of the attack: to steal up on the sentries as close as possible and eliminate them.
A first group approaches the centre of the village through the Beselarestraat: the advance guard on foot, rifles at the ready, followed by the remainder hanging low behind the necks of the horses. A second group - about twenty - leaves all the horses behind, and cautiously follows the tramtrack alongside the Nieuwstraat towards the convent. This track will bring them straight to the tram station: the main target of the attack. Henri Brutin - then 11 years old - was living in the Nieuwstraat (now Kloosterstraat) at the time and still remembered this action when interviewed. The British are silently sneaking through the ditch opposite his house towards the bend where the tramlines cross the road. There the Life Guards jump out and swiftly cross the street, then move on across the Reutelbeke (a brook) and towards the Ieperstraat. The station is just across...
The confrontation
In the centre of the village the first British shots ring out: one of the two sentries at café Den Hert falls to the ground. Sacristan Ghesquiere hears windows smash to pieces and cautiously watches outside. At Albert Vandamme's (now the townhall) he notices a British soldier standing still while ten other British are warily running alongside the Vrouwstraat bend so as to get into the Menenstraat. A vehement ten minutes' exchange of fire in the latter street follows shortly after. A thoughtful Life Guard who happens to meet up with scared villagers praying in the church at that moment, guides them through the sacristy door to the presbytery.
Also at the station there is intensive gunfire. The Germans are totally surprised and retreat via the farm of Theophiel Ghesquiere (now Zuidstraat 43) and the houses at Vierhoeken (now Voorhoek). This is the best escape route towards the Menenstraat and Menin. Corporal William Leggett is among the pursuing British cavalrymen who reach the northerly hedge of the farm Ghesquiere when he is hit by a bullet. He spills from his horse and falls into the hedge, while his horse dashes away over the open fields.
The frontdoor of café Au Damier in the Ieperstraat is left ajar: just allowing the 13-year old Madeleine Desmet to notice a horse with two British cavalrymen on its back galopping away from the village centre. They may have been the first two of the larger group who is seen by Remi Debeuf, who from the first floor window of his house (Ieperstraat 94) sees them coming on from the direction of the convent and heading for the Ieperstraat by way of the tramway track. Remi rushes down the stairs and urges his children to keep silent because further shooting seems at hand.
As soon as the two sentries at the entrance to Louis Ghesquieres farm in the Ieperstraat catch sight of the Life Guards on horse back rushing towards them, they promptly run off into the Groenesprietstraat. Yet, the British quickly catch up with them as they take a short cut right through the houses and the fields. One ulan gets shot dead, while the other one can raise his arms in time. Valère Debeuf - then 9 years old - goes seeing the dead German: the blood is trickling from his mouth and his trousers. He was shot in the back.
After the fighting
The moment the firing stops, the villagers risk themselves outside. Sacristan Ghesquiere notices two of farmer René Demyttenaere's wagons in the Menenstraat: the ground around it is covered by blood and the horses are unharnessed. Wine merchant Adolf Waignein's outer wall shows bullet holes though some minutes ago the British rifles were clearly directed to the fields leading towards Menin and taken to by the escaping Germans.
It is from this area that the villagers see several Life Guards on horseback coming down to the centre, but also - though in larger numbers - from the Beselarestraat. They are all gathering in the village square. Shortly afterwards the whole squadron leaves Gheluwe through the Ieperstraat. Less than seven hours later they will reach their quarters at Groote Vierstraat (Voormezeele-Kemmel).
Right they were to get out of the village as soon as possible, because less than ten minutes after their departure the tram rolls on from the direction of Menin, risking itself as far as the entrance of the Leiestraat. There some twenty Germans divide themselves in two rows and march to the centre, nervously and loudly talking to each other. An aeroplane flying high over the Menenstraat adds up to the tense atmosphere and is chased off by a volley from the Germans remaining at the Leiestraat.
Not so long afterwards a small procession of Germans halts at café Het Gouden Hoofd. They are on their way to the old people's home and carry a wooden bin. The sentry standing guard at the café stops the procession and opens the bin out of curiosity. Four other Germans join the company. In the bin lies an unconscious ulan; he got a bullet through the head. He is still alive; so he badly needs a priest to administer the last sacraments.
The ulan is brought to the old people's home. Some minutes later curate Tanghe is on the spot and is desperately looking for any evidence on the German proving that the dying man is a Roman Catholic. When the search turns out negative the curate refuses to absolve him. The man dies some hours later...
Balance of the skirmish
Five dead, several wounded and one prisoner of war. This is the balance of the fairly short skirmish at Gheluwe. Four ulans and one Life Guard lost their lives. The 21-year old ulan Wilhelm Heinrich Burkhardt was taken prisoner of war and transferred to a prison camp in Le Havre (France). One civilian got wounded: the farm hand of Theophiel Ghesquiere.
At 6 am the next day, on 15 October 1914, mayor Henri Pype, assisted by doctor Leon Morlion and rural policeman Remi Depoortere, will write down the names of the fallen cavalrymen in the register of deaths (3). They are:
Ferdinand SCHMID, Unteroffizier, 4th Squadron, Ulan Regiment Nr. 20, Identification plate Nr. 149. Born in Bietigheim (Besigheim) on 15 June 1887. Died in Gheluwe at 4 pm on 14 October 1914. 25 years old. (Death certificate Nr. 70)
William LEGGETT, Corporal of Horse, C Squadron, 1st Life Guards, Nr. 2880. Born in Lithgow (New South Wales), Australia, on 26 January 1891. Died at the farm of Theophiel Ghesquiere at 4 pm on 14 October 1914. 23 years old. (Death certificate Nr. 71)
Wilhelm KÖNIG, Unteroffizier, 4th Squadron, Ulan Regiment Nr. 20, Identification plate Nr. 138. Born in Lützenhardt (Horb) on 3 March 1890. Died in Gheluwe at 4 pm on 14 October 1914. 24 years old. (Death certificate Nr. 72). Contrary to the death certificate von Gaertringen's Bilder aus der Geschichte des Ul.-Reg. Kön. Wilhelm II (2. Würrt.) Nr. 20 , page 208, mentions that Wilhelm König was wounded at Gheluwe on 14 October and died only the day after in the Feldlazarett of Gheluwe (which actually was the old people's home). Also the register of the Soldatenfriedhof Menin, where he is actually buried mentions 15 October as date of death.
Gottlieb KICHERER, Ulan, 4th Squadron, Ulan Regiment Nr. 20. Born at Zaisersweiher, Maulbronn on 20 June 1892. Died in Gheluwe at 4 pm on 14 October 1914. 22 years old. (Death certificate Nr. 73)
August GRÜNEWALD, Sergeant (Trumpeter), 4th Squadron, Ulan Regiment Nr. 20. Identification plate Nr. 164. Born in Pröttlin, Westpriegnitz on 26 March 1888. 26 years old. Died in Gheluwe at 7 pm on 14 October 1914. (Death Certificate Nr. 74)
German anger
We flash back to 14 October 1914. Their friends' death and the humiliating retreat rankles the Germans arriving by tram in Gheluwe ten minutes after the Life Guards'departure. With no Briton around to take revenge on they start looking for the outfits some of them had to leave behind head over heels: coats, boots, field glasses, rifles... As many a German finds out several belongings have disappeared, they start to threaten: Gheluwe will be set fire to if all that is missing is not promptly returned...
Around this time the tram pulls into the tram station. Alidor Talpe, a butcher living in front of it, and his neighbour Victor Desmet (living across the street), are sitting upon thorns now, since they are cutting up one of the horses that was killed in the skirmish. If the Germans drop in here they will take the blame for everything.
Victor scales the garden wall and gets across the Ieperstraat into his house. Alidor follows him using the same escape route but prefers to hide on the loft of blacksmith Constant Pattyn. And enter Alidor's place they do, the Germans, but - believe it or not - never getting further than the shop itself, which at the same time is used as a café. Some pints of strong Belgian beer make you forget about the war for a while. Men will be men...
Less bright is the situation brewer Albert Vuylsteke is entangled in at Vierhoeken (now Voorhoek). Together with one of the local rural policemen he accompanies a group of Germans who have not yet found back the belongings they have undoubtedly left behind- there: next to that hedge - when retreating during the British assault. The people living at Vierhoeken raise their shoulders with an air of innocence: they have neither seen nor found anything. The Germans and their guides move on. When returning on the same spot they discover what they are looking for: coats, boots and field glasses, on top of the hedge - out of the blue...
The Germans calm down and promptly head for Menin now.
At half past five all Germans have left Gheluwe, but in Menin the Rijselstraat is crowded with troops of the 26th Infantry Division, longing for some rest after the exhausting fighting in the Lille area. The German flag is hoisted and mayor Pardoen is taken hostage at the townhall, together with 20 other dignitaries of the town. All arms have to be surrendered and a curfew is imposed: after 8 pm all civilians have to keep inside. Any window facing the street must be blinded for the night.
Après la mort...
The day after, on 15 October 1914, German advanced troops - ulans and infantry - occupy Gheluwe again. Some even risk themselves as far as Koelenberg, Terhand and even the southern outskirts of Gheluvelt and Becelaere, the next villages respectively on and nearby the road toYpres. In Beselare some men of a German ulan patrol commanded by Graf Westerholt (Ulan Regiment Nr. 20) get wounded when fired at by a British armoured car (4).
Also in Gheluwe the same curfew is imposed as in Menin yesterday: after 8 pm no civilian may be seen on the streets. Meanwhile all arms have to be given in and brewer Albert Vuylsteke is taken hostage: he will be held responsible for any act of aggression from the civilians. An officer of the Ulan Regiment Nr. 20 starts an investigation about the circumstances in which the four men of his regiment got killed in the skirmish yesterday. Miel Huys, the village clerk, tries to conciliate the officer and invites him to come along to the old people's home, where some wounded Germans are still being taken care of. The officer eventually yields and guaranties that no reprisals will be taken. He even turns out to be a broadminded man, since he orders to bury the five cavalrymen - one British and four German - in one and the same tomb. "Après la mort il n'y a plus d'ennemis", he says in accurate French. Above their resting place one and the same cross is erected, on which their names are painted. The rural policeman is around and is afterwards rewarded with two deutsche Mark (5).
Around 8 pm all Germans retreat into 'the fortress of Menin'. Gheluwe feels a bit better now, but only for a while, because the First Battle of Ypres is at hand...
Menin and Harlebeke
On 15 October 1914 William Leggett and the four ulans were buried on or next to the civilian cemetery of Gheluwe, which was situated in the Kerkhofstraat. In the course of the war the Germans made a military extension of the civilian cemetery which was called Ehrenfriedhof Nr. 60 Gheluwe-Mühle. After the war other military tombs were added. In this way, at the brink of World War II, 1578 dead were buried here, for the larger part Germans but not all. There were also 27 British.
In 1924 the British tombs of Ehrenfriedhof No. 60 were transferred to Harlebeke New British Cemetery, amongst others William Leggett. He is still buried there in plot VII, row C, tomb No. 9. In August 1955 not less than 1.387 identified Germans were transferred from the same cemetery No. 60 to Soldatenfriedhof Menin and 100 unknown men to Soldatenfriedhof Langemark. So also Wilhelm König, Gottlieb Kicherer, Ferdinand Schmid and August Grünewald are actually not buried in Gheluwe anymore.
Sources
Interviews with eye-witnesses Henri Brutin,Valère Debeuf, Madeleine Desmet, Albert Lernout, Jan Verbeke.
Books
ATKINSON C.T., The Seventh Division 1914-1918, John Murray, London, 1927.
HILLS, R.J.T., The Life Guards,Leo Cooper Ltd., London, 1971.
PALMER A., BANKS A., A Military Atlas of the First World War, Book Club Ed., 1975.
VON GAERTRINGEN H., Bilder aus der Geschichte des Ul.-Reg. Kön. Wilhelm II (2. Württ.) Nr. 20, Stuttgart, 1934.
WYNDHAM E., War Diary of the 1st Life Guards. First Year, 1914-1915, London.
Archives & other historical resources
Family archives Geoffrey Leggett (Australia)
Gemeentearchief Geluwe/Wervik: Registers burgerlijke stand Geluwe
Hauptstaatsarchiv Militärarchiv Stuttgart: Files Ulanenregiment Nr. 20
Harlebeke New British Cemetery Register
Household Cavalry Museum Windsor (Berks), Uk (with thanks to Major (Retd) A W Kersting, Curator.
The Goulburn and District Historial Society, Goulburn (Australia), with thanks to Gordon Thompson
Other cooperative first hand help
Johan Durnez
Goulburn City Council
Newcastle Region Library (Newcastle, Australia)
WAR TIME (=FRENCH) & ACTUAL SPELLING OF TOPONYMS MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Becelaere - Beselare
Courtrai - Kortrijk
Dadizeele - Dadizele
Gheluvelt - Geluveld
Gheluwe - Geluwe
Harlebeke - Harelbeke
Iseghem - Izegem
Menin - Menen
Nieuport - Nieuwpoort
River Lys - Leie
Roulers - Roeselare
Ypres - Ieper
Winkel St. Eloi - Sint-Eloois-Winkel
Notes
(1) Cfr. Banks Arthur, A Military Atlas of the First World War, pp. 64-65.
(2) According to the War Diary of the 1st Life Guards the Operation Orders No. 7 is received by Brigadier-General Kavanagh, commanding 7th Cavalry Brigade, billeted at Winkel St. Eloi. The new order (received at 12.35 am on 14 October) is received at Iseghem by the officer commanding 1st Life Guards..
(3) The death certificates hold several errors, orthographical and others. In the text we have corrected these as much as possible.
(4) Between 14 and 18 October 1918 the Ulan Regiment Nr. 20 counted several losses in various villages or towns: Courtrai, Menin, Gheluwe, Gheluvelt, Becelaere, Zandvoorde, Dadizeele, Westrozebeke...
(5) One question from the author remains: why was William Leggett left behind after the skirmish? Did his comrades not risk to return to the farm Ghesquiere where he fell because they thought that there were still Germans there?
for the guys the english link doesn't work.
HORSE GUARD WILLIAM LEGGETT FALLS IN A SKIRMISH WITH ULANS AT GHELUWE (BELGIUM)
14 OCTOBER 1914
An analysis by Dirk Decuypere
Situation on the broader Western Front in the days around the skirmish at Gheluwe
In the first half of October 1914 (after the Battle of the Aisne and the fall of Antwerp) the allied troops withdrew towards the Yser-Lys position. This resulted in a series of outflanking movements between the French and German armies, progressing towards the sea.
The Belgian army was positioned behind the Yser (roughly from Nieuport to just north of Ypres), and the British Expeditionary Force was secretly withdrawn from the Aisne position to cover the Flanders area (Ypres, Armentières, La Bassée, etc.). The Franco-British cavalry covered the allied infantry taking up positions in its attempt to build up a barrier to the German thrusts towards the Channel ports.
The skirmish of 14 October 1914 at Gheluwe is to be situated just before the First Battle of Ypres, which broke open 5 days later in the same area where William Leggett had been killed and would last till 22 November 1914. After this First Battle of Ypres the front would settle into trench warfare operations (1).
Situation and Events of 13 and the night of 13/14 October 1914 in South-West Flanders
On 13 October 1914 the 7th (British) Cavalry Brigade (with 1st Life Guards, 2nd Life Guards and Royal Horse Guards) has to patrol the area west of the road Roulers-Menin. Menin is reportedly held by the enemy and the Brigade was prepared to drive them out.
In the course of the later afternoon they pass through Gheluwe but then hesitate to proceed towards Menin. An advance guard risks itself as far as 'Menenkapel', a chapel on the Menin Road on the border between Gheluwe and Menin, but then halts.
Around this moment the 1st Life Guards receive a Divisional Order to march to Winkel St. Eloi via Dadizeele, which - together with the rest of the 7th Cavalry Brigade - they will only reach towards the evening. Around 8 pm the 1st Life Guards receive an urgent order to escort a battery of the Royal Horse Artillery to Iseghem, which is done by A and D Squadrons. They arrive in Iseghem at 9 pm. and settle into billets.
C Squadron (the Squadron of William Leggett), which has not left Winkel St. Eloi, hears that on 14 October it will be detached all day to protect Divisional Headquarters first at Roulers and subsequently east of Iseghem.
But then Operation Orders No. 7 arrive at midnight, of which the first two orders are:
1. It is reported that a hostile force is south of Ypres. The 4th Corps will advance to Ypres in order to attack enemy's right flank in co-operation with our 2nd and 3rd Corps. The 3rd Cavalry Division will march on Dadizeele, 6th Cavalry Brigade leading.
2. 7th Cavalry Brigade will pass starting point Winkel St. Eloi village at 5 am.
Order of march: - 2nd Life Guards, Blues, 1st Life Guards.
Thirty-five minutes later 1st Life Guards Headquarters at Iseghem receive a new order: the 7th (British) Infantry Division will leave Roulers at 6 am today (14 October). The 1st Life Guards will detail one Squadron as a left flank guard to the 7th Division, during its march. On completion of its mission, this Squadron will report to the officer commanding 7th Cavalry Brigade at Ypres. The remainder of the 1st Life Guards will march as per instructions already issued by 7th Cavalry Brigade. (2). Three hours later 1st Life Guards Headquarters, together with A and D Squadrons leave Iseghem to join the 7th Cavalry Brigade at Winkel St. Eloi.
C Squadron's deep penetration towards Menin
With the exception of its C Squadron the 1st Life Guards joins the 3rd Cavalry Division in its march to the Ypres area and reaches Ypres around 10 am, where it stays till midday.At noon it moves on in accordance with a new order that has been received by the 7th Cavalry Brigade in Ypres shortly before.
In that order the German cavalry is reported on all roads southwest and southeast of Ypres. The 6th Cavalry Brigade will advance towards the line La Clyte-Kemmel-Wytschaete, while the 7th Cavalry Brigade and Royal Horse Artillery will advance towards Groote Vierstraat (between Voormezeele and Kemmel), where they will billet in the farms.
As already mentioned above C Squadron of the 1st Life Guards was detailed some hours earlier to cover the left flank to the 7th Division during its march from Roulers towards Ypres. It is commanded by Captain Grosvenor and counts 150 cavalrymen. In order to give optimal protection Grosvenor will have to penetrate as thoroughly as possible towards Menin, since the Germans might launch an attack from here.
A remarkably peaceful town
Yet, Menin is a very quiet town that morning of 14 October. Undoubtedly, this is also the feeling of Rittmeister von Gaertringen, who just before noon halted at the bridge over the River Lys in Rijselstraat. Half a dozen cavalrymen of the Ulan Regiment No. 20 accompany him. They are the advance guard of both their regiment and a part of the 26th (German) Infantery Division, which will be billeted in Menin and other towns and villages alongside the Franco-Belgian border in the course of the day.
The 26th (German) Division belongs to the 6th (German) Army, which is to operate between the Franco-Belgian border and Lille and wants to be covered in its movement by sending some troops to the area south and north of the Menin-Ypres road (the Menin Road).
The town of Menin gives a remarkably peaceful impression. That was also Rittmeister von Gaertringen's first experience when arriving here. He only met with curious civilians and even wondered whether after all the world was at war. Well, so be, he thinks and finds himself a rush chair, lights a cigar and enjoys the quiet moments. No, not really, because he very well realizes that northwards, towards Ypres, the enemy may already be coming on. And even in a peaceful town like this he cannot ban that obsessive thought from his mind that Belgian civilians are continuously informing the British by telephone about any German movement
All of a sudden a whistling tram is coming along from France with about 20 ulans of Gaertringen's regiment under command of Oberleutnant von Sick. Von Gaertringen is visibly relieved: any reinforcement is welcome here!
Von Sick has less defensive thoughts, however. He intends to move further, as far as the northern exit of the town. Some minutes later the tram - escorted by trumpeter Grünewald -disappears behind the bend.
One hour later Grünewald is galloping back towards Gaertringen at the River Lys bridge bringing the message that von Sick decided to patrol as far as the village of Gheluwe. At te very same moment the remainder of the 20th Ulan Regiment crosses the Franco-Belgian border and arrives in Menin.
Then Grünewald urges back to Gheluwe, but not without accepting von Gaertringen's proposal to do so in the company of another ulan. Von Gaertringen does not feel at ease.
As soon as the two have left, the ulans who stay in Menin, start to throw up barricades on the River Lys bridge.
1st Life Guards coming on
Several hours before this moment - in the early morning - Remi Ghesquiere, the sacristan of Gheluwe, saw British cavalrymen patrolling the centre of the village: at 9 am a group of five and about one hour later another group of 20 cavalrymen. And then again at noon when some troopers asked for the way to Dadizeele. It is not unlikely that they belonged to the 1st Life Guards, since the infantry division they had to cover from the south had already left Roulers for Ypres at 6 am.
Around 1.30 am - so only one and a half hour after the last British patrol - the sacristan notices the tram rolling into the village from the direction of Menin... suspiciously slowly.
"At that moment my father (Louis Lernout) was standing in the doorway of his café (then and now Menenstraat 1)", Albert Lernout remembered when we interviewed him about this nearly 75 years later. He is not the only villager who witnesses how the tram slowly approaches with the German ulans inside pointing their rifles at the houses alongside the Menin Road. Some minutes later the patrol gets off in the tram station, which is immediately occupied.
The Germans clearly want to defend Gheluwe from allied attacks since they post several sentries: at the post office, at café Den Hert and at the last houses of the northern exit towards Ypres opposite the entrance of the Groenesprietstraat. Meanwhile the empty tram wagons are pushed back towards Menin with an officer and some soldiers on board who will be returning with a platoon of infantry reinforcement.
It is close to 3 pm when Captain Grosvenor, commanding officer of C Squadron, 1st Life Guards, enters the village by way of the Dadizelestraat and is informed by civilians about the German presence. Grosvenor (wrongly) estimates their numbers at thirty or so. He investigates about the enemy positions and divides his squadron in two. First phase of the attack: to steal up on the sentries as close as possible and eliminate them.
A first group approaches the centre of the village through the Beselarestraat: the advance guard on foot, rifles at the ready, followed by the remainder hanging low behind the necks of the horses. A second group - about twenty - leaves all the horses behind, and cautiously follows the tramtrack alongside the Nieuwstraat towards the convent. This track will bring them straight to the tram station: the main target of the attack. Henri Brutin - then 11 years old - was living in the Nieuwstraat (now Kloosterstraat) at the time and still remembered this action when interviewed. The British are silently sneaking through the ditch opposite his house towards the bend where the tramlines cross the road. There the Life Guards jump out and swiftly cross the street, then move on across the Reutelbeke (a brook) and towards the Ieperstraat. The station is just across...
The confrontation
In the centre of the village the first British shots ring out: one of the two sentries at café Den Hert falls to the ground. Sacristan Ghesquiere hears windows smash to pieces and cautiously watches outside. At Albert Vandamme's (now the townhall) he notices a British soldier standing still while ten other British are warily running alongside the Vrouwstraat bend so as to get into the Menenstraat. A vehement ten minutes' exchange of fire in the latter street follows shortly after. A thoughtful Life Guard who happens to meet up with scared villagers praying in the church at that moment, guides them through the sacristy door to the presbytery.
Also at the station there is intensive gunfire. The Germans are totally surprised and retreat via the farm of Theophiel Ghesquiere (now Zuidstraat 43) and the houses at Vierhoeken (now Voorhoek). This is the best escape route towards the Menenstraat and Menin. Corporal William Leggett is among the pursuing British cavalrymen who reach the northerly hedge of the farm Ghesquiere when he is hit by a bullet. He spills from his horse and falls into the hedge, while his horse dashes away over the open fields.
The frontdoor of café Au Damier in the Ieperstraat is left ajar: just allowing the 13-year old Madeleine Desmet to notice a horse with two British cavalrymen on its back galopping away from the village centre. They may have been the first two of the larger group who is seen by Remi Debeuf, who from the first floor window of his house (Ieperstraat 94) sees them coming on from the direction of the convent and heading for the Ieperstraat by way of the tramway track. Remi rushes down the stairs and urges his children to keep silent because further shooting seems at hand.
As soon as the two sentries at the entrance to Louis Ghesquieres farm in the Ieperstraat catch sight of the Life Guards on horse back rushing towards them, they promptly run off into the Groenesprietstraat. Yet, the British quickly catch up with them as they take a short cut right through the houses and the fields. One ulan gets shot dead, while the other one can raise his arms in time. Valère Debeuf - then 9 years old - goes seeing the dead German: the blood is trickling from his mouth and his trousers. He was shot in the back.
After the fighting
The moment the firing stops, the villagers risk themselves outside. Sacristan Ghesquiere notices two of farmer René Demyttenaere's wagons in the Menenstraat: the ground around it is covered by blood and the horses are unharnessed. Wine merchant Adolf Waignein's outer wall shows bullet holes though some minutes ago the British rifles were clearly directed to the fields leading towards Menin and taken to by the escaping Germans.
It is from this area that the villagers see several Life Guards on horseback coming down to the centre, but also - though in larger numbers - from the Beselarestraat. They are all gathering in the village square. Shortly afterwards the whole squadron leaves Gheluwe through the Ieperstraat. Less than seven hours later they will reach their quarters at Groote Vierstraat (Voormezeele-Kemmel).
Right they were to get out of the village as soon as possible, because less than ten minutes after their departure the tram rolls on from the direction of Menin, risking itself as far as the entrance of the Leiestraat. There some twenty Germans divide themselves in two rows and march to the centre, nervously and loudly talking to each other. An aeroplane flying high over the Menenstraat adds up to the tense atmosphere and is chased off by a volley from the Germans remaining at the Leiestraat.
Not so long afterwards a small procession of Germans halts at café Het Gouden Hoofd. They are on their way to the old people's home and carry a wooden bin. The sentry standing guard at the café stops the procession and opens the bin out of curiosity. Four other Germans join the company. In the bin lies an unconscious ulan; he got a bullet through the head. He is still alive; so he badly needs a priest to administer the last sacraments.
The ulan is brought to the old people's home. Some minutes later curate Tanghe is on the spot and is desperately looking for any evidence on the German proving that the dying man is a Roman Catholic. When the search turns out negative the curate refuses to absolve him. The man dies some hours later...
Balance of the skirmish
Five dead, several wounded and one prisoner of war. This is the balance of the fairly short skirmish at Gheluwe. Four ulans and one Life Guard lost their lives. The 21-year old ulan Wilhelm Heinrich Burkhardt was taken prisoner of war and transferred to a prison camp in Le Havre (France). One civilian got wounded: the farm hand of Theophiel Ghesquiere.
At 6 am the next day, on 15 October 1914, mayor Henri Pype, assisted by doctor Leon Morlion and rural policeman Remi Depoortere, will write down the names of the fallen cavalrymen in the register of deaths (3). They are:
Ferdinand SCHMID, Unteroffizier, 4th Squadron, Ulan Regiment Nr. 20, Identification plate Nr. 149. Born in Bietigheim (Besigheim) on 15 June 1887. Died in Gheluwe at 4 pm on 14 October 1914. 25 years old. (Death certificate Nr. 70)
William LEGGETT, Corporal of Horse, C Squadron, 1st Life Guards, Nr. 2880. Born in Lithgow (New South Wales), Australia, on 26 January 1891. Died at the farm of Theophiel Ghesquiere at 4 pm on 14 October 1914. 23 years old. (Death certificate Nr. 71)
Wilhelm KÖNIG, Unteroffizier, 4th Squadron, Ulan Regiment Nr. 20, Identification plate Nr. 138. Born in Lützenhardt (Horb) on 3 March 1890. Died in Gheluwe at 4 pm on 14 October 1914. 24 years old. (Death certificate Nr. 72). Contrary to the death certificate von Gaertringen's Bilder aus der Geschichte des Ul.-Reg. Kön. Wilhelm II (2. Würrt.) Nr. 20 , page 208, mentions that Wilhelm König was wounded at Gheluwe on 14 October and died only the day after in the Feldlazarett of Gheluwe (which actually was the old people's home). Also the register of the Soldatenfriedhof Menin, where he is actually buried mentions 15 October as date of death.
Gottlieb KICHERER, Ulan, 4th Squadron, Ulan Regiment Nr. 20. Born at Zaisersweiher, Maulbronn on 20 June 1892. Died in Gheluwe at 4 pm on 14 October 1914. 22 years old. (Death certificate Nr. 73)
August GRÜNEWALD, Sergeant (Trumpeter), 4th Squadron, Ulan Regiment Nr. 20. Identification plate Nr. 164. Born in Pröttlin, Westpriegnitz on 26 March 1888. 26 years old. Died in Gheluwe at 7 pm on 14 October 1914. (Death Certificate Nr. 74)
German anger
We flash back to 14 October 1914. Their friends' death and the humiliating retreat rankles the Germans arriving by tram in Gheluwe ten minutes after the Life Guards'departure. With no Briton around to take revenge on they start looking for the outfits some of them had to leave behind head over heels: coats, boots, field glasses, rifles... As many a German finds out several belongings have disappeared, they start to threaten: Gheluwe will be set fire to if all that is missing is not promptly returned...
Around this time the tram pulls into the tram station. Alidor Talpe, a butcher living in front of it, and his neighbour Victor Desmet (living across the street), are sitting upon thorns now, since they are cutting up one of the horses that was killed in the skirmish. If the Germans drop in here they will take the blame for everything.
Victor scales the garden wall and gets across the Ieperstraat into his house. Alidor follows him using the same escape route but prefers to hide on the loft of blacksmith Constant Pattyn. And enter Alidor's place they do, the Germans, but - believe it or not - never getting further than the shop itself, which at the same time is used as a café. Some pints of strong Belgian beer make you forget about the war for a while. Men will be men...
Less bright is the situation brewer Albert Vuylsteke is entangled in at Vierhoeken (now Voorhoek). Together with one of the local rural policemen he accompanies a group of Germans who have not yet found back the belongings they have undoubtedly left behind- there: next to that hedge - when retreating during the British assault. The people living at Vierhoeken raise their shoulders with an air of innocence: they have neither seen nor found anything. The Germans and their guides move on. When returning on the same spot they discover what they are looking for: coats, boots and field glasses, on top of the hedge - out of the blue...
The Germans calm down and promptly head for Menin now.
At half past five all Germans have left Gheluwe, but in Menin the Rijselstraat is crowded with troops of the 26th Infantry Division, longing for some rest after the exhausting fighting in the Lille area. The German flag is hoisted and mayor Pardoen is taken hostage at the townhall, together with 20 other dignitaries of the town. All arms have to be surrendered and a curfew is imposed: after 8 pm all civilians have to keep inside. Any window facing the street must be blinded for the night.
Après la mort...
The day after, on 15 October 1914, German advanced troops - ulans and infantry - occupy Gheluwe again. Some even risk themselves as far as Koelenberg, Terhand and even the southern outskirts of Gheluvelt and Becelaere, the next villages respectively on and nearby the road toYpres. In Beselare some men of a German ulan patrol commanded by Graf Westerholt (Ulan Regiment Nr. 20) get wounded when fired at by a British armoured car (4).
Also in Gheluwe the same curfew is imposed as in Menin yesterday: after 8 pm no civilian may be seen on the streets. Meanwhile all arms have to be given in and brewer Albert Vuylsteke is taken hostage: he will be held responsible for any act of aggression from the civilians. An officer of the Ulan Regiment Nr. 20 starts an investigation about the circumstances in which the four men of his regiment got killed in the skirmish yesterday. Miel Huys, the village clerk, tries to conciliate the officer and invites him to come along to the old people's home, where some wounded Germans are still being taken care of. The officer eventually yields and guaranties that no reprisals will be taken. He even turns out to be a broadminded man, since he orders to bury the five cavalrymen - one British and four German - in one and the same tomb. "Après la mort il n'y a plus d'ennemis", he says in accurate French. Above their resting place one and the same cross is erected, on which their names are painted. The rural policeman is around and is afterwards rewarded with two deutsche Mark (5).
Around 8 pm all Germans retreat into 'the fortress of Menin'. Gheluwe feels a bit better now, but only for a while, because the First Battle of Ypres is at hand...
Menin and Harlebeke
On 15 October 1914 William Leggett and the four ulans were buried on or next to the civilian cemetery of Gheluwe, which was situated in the Kerkhofstraat. In the course of the war the Germans made a military extension of the civilian cemetery which was called Ehrenfriedhof Nr. 60 Gheluwe-Mühle. After the war other military tombs were added. In this way, at the brink of World War II, 1578 dead were buried here, for the larger part Germans but not all. There were also 27 British.
In 1924 the British tombs of Ehrenfriedhof No. 60 were transferred to Harlebeke New British Cemetery, amongst others William Leggett. He is still buried there in plot VII, row C, tomb No. 9. In August 1955 not less than 1.387 identified Germans were transferred from the same cemetery No. 60 to Soldatenfriedhof Menin and 100 unknown men to Soldatenfriedhof Langemark. So also Wilhelm König, Gottlieb Kicherer, Ferdinand Schmid and August Grünewald are actually not buried in Gheluwe anymore.
Sources
Interviews with eye-witnesses Henri Brutin,Valère Debeuf, Madeleine Desmet, Albert Lernout, Jan Verbeke.
Books
ATKINSON C.T., The Seventh Division 1914-1918, John Murray, London, 1927.
HILLS, R.J.T., The Life Guards,Leo Cooper Ltd., London, 1971.
PALMER A., BANKS A., A Military Atlas of the First World War, Book Club Ed., 1975.
VON GAERTRINGEN H., Bilder aus der Geschichte des Ul.-Reg. Kön. Wilhelm II (2. Württ.) Nr. 20, Stuttgart, 1934.
WYNDHAM E., War Diary of the 1st Life Guards. First Year, 1914-1915, London.
Archives & other historical resources
Family archives Geoffrey Leggett (Australia)
Gemeentearchief Geluwe/Wervik: Registers burgerlijke stand Geluwe
Hauptstaatsarchiv Militärarchiv Stuttgart: Files Ulanenregiment Nr. 20
Harlebeke New British Cemetery Register
Household Cavalry Museum Windsor (Berks), Uk (with thanks to Major (Retd) A W Kersting, Curator.
The Goulburn and District Historial Society, Goulburn (Australia), with thanks to Gordon Thompson
Other cooperative first hand help
Johan Durnez
Goulburn City Council
Newcastle Region Library (Newcastle, Australia)
WAR TIME (=FRENCH) & ACTUAL SPELLING OF TOPONYMS MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Becelaere - Beselare
Courtrai - Kortrijk
Dadizeele - Dadizele
Gheluvelt - Geluveld
Gheluwe - Geluwe
Harlebeke - Harelbeke
Iseghem - Izegem
Menin - Menen
Nieuport - Nieuwpoort
River Lys - Leie
Roulers - Roeselare
Ypres - Ieper
Winkel St. Eloi - Sint-Eloois-Winkel
Notes
(1) Cfr. Banks Arthur, A Military Atlas of the First World War, pp. 64-65.
(2) According to the War Diary of the 1st Life Guards the Operation Orders No. 7 is received by Brigadier-General Kavanagh, commanding 7th Cavalry Brigade, billeted at Winkel St. Eloi. The new order (received at 12.35 am on 14 October) is received at Iseghem by the officer commanding 1st Life Guards..
(3) The death certificates hold several errors, orthographical and others. In the text we have corrected these as much as possible.
(4) Between 14 and 18 October 1918 the Ulan Regiment Nr. 20 counted several losses in various villages or towns: Courtrai, Menin, Gheluwe, Gheluvelt, Becelaere, Zandvoorde, Dadizeele, Westrozebeke...
(5) One question from the author remains: why was William Leggett left behind after the skirmish? Did his comrades not risk to return to the farm Ghesquiere where he fell because they thought that there were still Germans there?
OH!
Starting to wish I didn't know!
THanks Patrick
Starting to wish I didn't know!
THanks Patrick
your a hard to please bonzer mate....lol
coo-ee
patrick
coo-ee
patrick
I drive every weekend in Geluwe and there is a monument for William Leggett.
Some picture's from 14/10/2004.
http://www.wo1.be/ned/evenementen/erbij/20...k1410/body1.htm
Kind Regards Vince
Some picture's from 14/10/2004.
http://www.wo1.be/ned/evenementen/erbij/20...k1410/body1.htm
Kind Regards Vince
QUOTE (Dolphin @ Oct 13 2004, 12:55 PM) 
Ian
I think the first Australian to lose his life in the War was one of the group of Capt Dr B C A Pockley, Australian Army Medical Corps, and Able Seamen J E Walker [serving as J Courtney], G V Williams and H W Street, Royal Australian Navy, who were killed during the landing at Rabaul, New Britain, on 11 September 1914.
Regards
Gareth
I think the first Australian to lose his life in the War was one of the group of Capt Dr B C A Pockley, Australian Army Medical Corps, and Able Seamen J E Walker [serving as J Courtney], G V Williams and H W Street, Royal Australian Navy, who were killed during the landing at Rabaul, New Britain, on 11 September 1914.
Regards
Gareth
According to my research , Gareth is correct when he says that the first Australians killed in the Great War were
members of the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force during the attack to capture the German radio
station at Bitapaka , from memory about 25 miles from Rabaul in East New Britain , New Guinea on 11th. Sept. 1914.
Again , according to my research , Cpl. Leggett was the first Australian killed on the Western Front.
Regards
Peter
QUOTE (bluedog @ Aug 31 2008, 09:26 AM)
Again , according to my research , Cpl. Leggett was the first Australian killed on the Western Front
As he served in a British regiment, could we just clarify whether the claim is that Cpl Leggett was the first man born in Australia to be killed on the Western Front?
Peter
I just came across your thread
The first Australian Officer and most likely the first Australian killed in the First World War was Lieutenant W M Chishlom of the 1st East Lancashire regiment d.o.w 27.8.14 buried Ligny-en-Cambresis Communal Cemetery. Family residing in Sydney.
Besides Corporal of Horse W Leggett other early Australian fatalities were
Captain R E Gordon 1st Northamptonshire Regiment k.i.a on the Aisne 15.9.14 Le Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial. Family from Toorak Melbourne
Captain F W A Steele 4th Royal Fusiliers K.i.a 26.10.14 Le Touret Memorial. Born in Kew Melbourne
From early 1915
Lieutenant W A Burges 1st Royal Irish Rifles k.i.a 10.3.15 buried in Browns Road Military Cemetery. Born in Irwin W.A
To date I haven,t located any other Australian Officers killed on the Western Front in 1914. Considering our historical connections with Britain and the embryonic nature of our military at the turn of the century it is possible that a number of enlisted men may have been in the B.E.F and some of these could have been killed during this period.
There is a remote possibility that one of these may predate the death of Lieutenant Chishlom. regards mick
I just came across your thread
The first Australian Officer and most likely the first Australian killed in the First World War was Lieutenant W M Chishlom of the 1st East Lancashire regiment d.o.w 27.8.14 buried Ligny-en-Cambresis Communal Cemetery. Family residing in Sydney.
Besides Corporal of Horse W Leggett other early Australian fatalities were
Captain R E Gordon 1st Northamptonshire Regiment k.i.a on the Aisne 15.9.14 Le Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial. Family from Toorak Melbourne
Captain F W A Steele 4th Royal Fusiliers K.i.a 26.10.14 Le Touret Memorial. Born in Kew Melbourne
From early 1915
Lieutenant W A Burges 1st Royal Irish Rifles k.i.a 10.3.15 buried in Browns Road Military Cemetery. Born in Irwin W.A
To date I haven,t located any other Australian Officers killed on the Western Front in 1914. Considering our historical connections with Britain and the embryonic nature of our military at the turn of the century it is possible that a number of enlisted men may have been in the B.E.F and some of these could have been killed during this period.
There is a remote possibility that one of these may predate the death of Lieutenant Chishlom. regards mick
I recently came across a addition to the list of Australians killed on the Western Front in 1914.
Captain W.S Rich 1st Bn Cheshire Regiment d.o.w 9.11.1914 buried at Douai Communal Cemetery.
Family from Mount Victoria New South Wales.
Mick
Captain W.S Rich 1st Bn Cheshire Regiment d.o.w 9.11.1914 buried at Douai Communal Cemetery.
Family from Mount Victoria New South Wales.
Mick
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