A staggering, 4,971 British soldiers died on this day - 15th September - in 1916. That's the equivalent of nearly five British infantry battalions destroyed in one day. Looking at it another way, it would take me over thirteen and a half years to commemorate - on a daily basis - the British war dead of 15th September 1916.
15th September 1916 marks, of course, the third phase of the Battle of the Somme; the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. This battle lasted until 22nd September 1916 and was the first time that tanks were used in battle. Today then, also marks the 93rd anniversary of the first tank battle and I have chosen to commemorate here today, a soldier who died whilst serving with the Heavy Section Machine Gun Corps; later to be re-designated Heavy Branch (November 1916) and later still, The Tank Corps (29th July 1917).
206167 Pte Edgar Robert Barnsby had previously served with the Machine Gun Corps (army number 32489) before transferring to the Heavy Section MGC. This transfer took place in England. His original MGC number indicates that he joined the corps between the 12th and the 26th of April 1916.
Like Rifleman Alfred Charles Wilkins whom I commemorated two days ago, Edgar Barnsby was also a native of Chelmsford in Essex but enlisted (and was presumably living) in Birmingham. He was killed in action.
Edgar appears on the 1901 census living with his parents and siblings at No. 7 Lockshill Terrace, Rochford Road in Old Moulsham, Chelmsford. The household comprised William James Barnsby (head, aged 39; a Brighton-born electrical instrument maker), his wife Emma Elizabeth Barnsby (aged 37, born in Cherlmsford), and their children. In age order they are: William John Barnsby (aged 16, also an electrical worker), Kate Elizabeth Barnsby (aged 13 but working as a draper's assistant), Laura Theresa Barnsby (aged 12), Edgar (aged 10), Alice Dorothy Barnsby (aged five) and Florence Emily Barnsby (aged one).
Edgar does not appear on the 1891 census but there is another child noted - James A Barnsby - aged less than one month. When this census was taken, the family was living at No 2. Rainsford Terrace, Primrose Hill, Chelmsford which, purely coincidentally, is located around fifty yards from the site of my first house in the town. In 1891 William Barnsby was working as a watch maker and jeweller.
Interestingly, William John Barnsby was born in Birmingham and so there is a family connection with the city, although I have not explored that further. Presumably though, the family was living there in 1884, settling in Chelmsford later on.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that Edgar was serving with D Company in the Machine Gun Corps (Heavy Branch) although technically this is incorrect because, as mentioned above, the Heavy Branch would not come into being until November 1916. It seems likely that Edgar was posted as missing in action on 15th September. Soldiers Died in The Great War gives his regiment (incorrectly again) as Tank Corps and he has no known grave but is commemorated on the memorial at Thiepval.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
Sources:
Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, 1891 and 1901 census returns)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Long, Long Trail for information relating to the Tank Corps
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4 comments:
Edgar was a crewman in tank D5 "Dolphin"; this tank was destroyed when it is deployed to assist the infantry attacking Flers on 15 September. Edgar appears to have been married in the previous month to a lady called Phasey - I haven't got her name yet but the mariage was in Kings Norton Birmingham
That's great, thanks for the additional information. If you come across any other snippets, please do post here again.
After he had been injured, his skipper 2Lt Arthur Blowers got Edgar out of the tank and placed for safety in a shell hole. Blowers had suffered head injuries and had no medical pack in the tank to care for Edgar; he therefore asked the surrounding infantry to care to Edgar who died where he was placed.
On 30 Sep, after the area east of Flers had been secured, a party led up by the Adjutant of D Company located the body Edgar and his crewmate Leslie Gutsell and buried them on the battlefield. Their graves was subsequently lost in later fighting.
Edith Phasey was born in Edgbaston in 1891; in 1911 she was a nurse. The couple were married at Edgbaston Parish Church on 5 Aug 1916l her parents were living at Fern Bank. Stephen Pope - author of The First Tank Crews (Helion & Co) 2016
Twelve years on, thank you again, Stephen.
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