Private George Walter Bodicoat, 21108

  • Batt - 6
  • Unit - Leicestershire Regiment
  • Section -
  • Date of Birth - 1883
  • Died - 03/05/1917
  • Age - 34

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Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the nephew of John Standley an agricultural labourer, born 1852 in Cosby, Leics., and his wife Ann, born 1850 in Whetstone, Leics. George Walter was born in 1883 in Whetstone, Leics., in April 1891 he was a scholar and was living in the family home of his uncle and aunt in Cosby, Leics. In March 1901 George was employed as a shoemaker and was residing with his uncle, John Standley and aunt Ann in the family home at Myrtle Villa, Butt Leys, Cosby, Leics. In April 1911 George was employed as a boot maker and was residing in the family home at Cosby, Leics., together with his wife of two years, Edith Elizabeth, born 1884 in Croft, Leics., and their son Horace Edwin, born 1910 in Cosby, Leics. The War Diary for today records. Attack at FONTAINES-LES-CROISILLES. Narrative attached.
Action at FONTAINE-LES-CROISILLES. The 6th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGT was ordered to act in support to the two assaulting Battalions, 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. It was decided to support each Battalion with two Companies, A and C on the right and B and D on the left, the boundary between them as in the case of the leading Battalion being ROTTON ROW. The chief duty assigned to B Company on the left was to take over from the 9th Battalion, consolidate and hold the defensive flank covering north and west of FONTAINE WOOD. Battalion HQ were established at N.36.c.3.4. those of the 8th Battalion being in the same place. Operations on right of ROTTON ROW. A wounded man of 8th Battalion having reported that his Battalion had reached the 1st objective A Company advanced at 5.20am and keeping in touch with the HINDENBURG LINE reached a deep trench at T.6.b.1.2. in which were two platoons of the 8th Battalion. This Company with the two platoons of the 8th Battalion advanced soon afterwards via the HINDENBURG LINE to a trench running from T.6.d.5.8. to U.1.b.1.7. On arrival in this latter trench connection was established with C Company on the left and DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY on right. C Company then worked across the open on the left of A and occupied the same trench with a platoon in advance at U.1.a.2.6. which was held up in shell holes by heavy machine gun fire. An attempt to bomb down BUSH TRENCH failed. The trench up to U.1.b.4.5. was consolidated and at dusk the advanced platoon fell back into it. A and C Companies held this position until relieved. Operations on the left of ROTTON ROW. The Officer Commanding B Company being killed and Officer Commanding D Company wounded it is difficult to obtain a reliable narrative of events more especially as on this flank there was considerable confusion owing to the withdrawal across the front of troops of the 18th Division. Companies were ordered to advance at 5.10am. B Company advanced to a position at about O.31.d.9.1. when they were held up by machine gun fire from flanks and from a trench about 200 yards in front of RIVER ROAD. They established posts at O.31.b.8.2., U.1.b.5.7. (in ROTTON ROW) U.1.b.5.5. with light gun. U.1.b.7.8. (in WOOD TRENCH) and V.1.a.9.2. These posts with the exception of the one in WOOD TRENCH were held until the Company was relieved.

Leicestershire Project Findings
  • Conflict - World War I
  • Birth Place - Whetstone
Research from Michael Doyle's Their Name Liveth For Evermore
  • Unit - Leicestershire Regiment
  • Cause of death - KILLED IN ACTION
  • Burial Commemoration - Arras Mem., Pas De Calais, France
  • Born - Whetstone, Leics
  • Enlisted - Leicester
  • Place of Residence - Cosby, Leicestershire, England
  • Memorial - ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGEL'S CHURCH, COSBY, LEICS
  • Memorial - WHETSTONE MEM., LEICS

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