WW1 Casualty: Private 8143 John Warbrick - Private 8143 John Warbrick
Picture courtesy of John Warbrick's family
| Unit/Regiment |
1st Bn., East Lancashire Regiment |
| Date of Death |
01/07/1916 |
Age at Death |
32 |
Burial/Memorial
& Reference |
Thiepval Memorial
Pier and Face 6 C |
| CWGC Family Details (if shown) |
Son of Thomas Warbrick; husband of Annie Warbrick, of 1 Victoria Place, Prescot, Lancs |
| Census Details |
1901 census -
Living at 3, Oxford Street, Wigan, were Martha Warbrick, a 64 year old widow, her daughter Sarah, a 31 year old Dressmaker. Also living there are Marth'a grandchildren John (16), a Colliery Labourer, and Margaret, aged 9.
The 1911 Census showed John and Annie Warbrick living at 8, Leyland Street, Hindley. This also showed that Annie was a native of Prescot.
|
| Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations |
Birth registered Q2/1884, Wigan, 8c, 41
Marriage to Annie Range Registered, Q1/1911, Wigan, 8c, 92 |
| SDGW - Where Born |
Wigan, Lancs |
| Enlisted |
Preston, Lancs |
| Resided |
Prescot, Lancs |
| How Died |
Killed In Action |
Theatre of War |
France & Flanders |
| Research Ref. No. |
P292 |
Service DetailsJohn Warbrick was a pre-war regular and arrived in France on 22nd August 1914, just over two weeks after the outbreak of war. Details of his ealry service have not yet been determined but his battalion was moved to Mailly-Maillet in June 1916 in advance of the forthcoming battle of the Somme. On the 1st July, their objective was to capture the German front line and support trenches opposite the north end of Beaumont Hamel.
On 30th June, a reconnaisance into No Mans Land reported that much of the German wire had been left uncut by the artillery barrage but there was insufficient time to arrange for further bombardments.
On the same night, Headquarters and "A" and "D" companies marched to the trenches and took up their assembly positions. On the right of the battalion were the 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers and on the left, 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade.
At 7.26 a.m. on the morning of 1st July, the leading platoons of the assault companies moved out to a line in No Mans Land to be in line with the Lancashire Fusiliers, who were attacking Beaumont Hamel. At 7.32 a.m., the remaining companies and Headquarters followed, establishing themselves in shell-holes. Immediately the artillery barrage ceased and the troops moved out in the attack, German machine-gun fire came pouring from their lines, from Beaumont Hamel and Ridge Redoubt. Simultaneously, the Germans launched an artillery barrage. Despite this, the battalion advanced steadily until they had practically all become casualties. A few of the leading troops managed to enter the German trench system but the remainder found the wire uncut and no way through could be found. Many men were killed on the wire while attempting to find a way through, and most of the sruvivors, wounded or not, sought shelter in the shell holes nearby. Here they remained until dusk, when first of all those wounded were sent back, followed by a rear guard of the unwounded.
About 7.00 p.m. the remaining members of the battalion were relieved by the 1st Royal Warwickshires and returned to billets at Mailly-Maillet.
It will have been at some point in this action that John Warbrick was killed. His medal index card notes that he was "Presumed Dead", which means that there were no reports of him being seen wounded or dead. His body was never identified after the battle, and like most of his fallen comrades, he has no known grave and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
John Warbrick's Medal Index Card with the notation 'Presumed Dead'. He was entitled to the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal
A map of the Somme area on 1st July 1916 showing the location of the East Lancashire Regiment
John Warbrick's inscription At Thiepval
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