Misleading Records
TRAGEDY STRIKES THE
188th BRIGADE TRENCH MORTAR BATTERY 3rd AUGUST 1916
It was during my transcription of the 1st Royal Marine Battalion (1RM) War Diaries, that I first came across an entry which read:-
Front
Line Trenches ANGRES II Sector 3rd August 1916
Ordinary Front Line routine.
Notification of death of 962/S Pte. A.J. Wilson, wounded yesterday (2/8/16).
An explosion occurred in a Dugout in which was stowed about 100 rounds of
Stokes Gun Ammo.
The Dugout was completely wrecked & 1 Cpl. & 4 Ptes. of the 188 TM
Bty. were killed.
No knowledge as to how explosion occurred.
I made a mental note to identify these five unlucky Marines at a later date.
My first course of action was check the records held by the Commission for the RMLI
deaths occurring in France 3/8/16. Unfortunately, I could find only one Marine
of the 188th TMB killed 3/8/16: PLY/249/S Pte. William Powell RMLI, who is
commemorated on the Arras Memorial (MR20).
However, there were three Privates of the 2nd Royal Marine Bn. (2RM) listed
as killed 3/8/16 & one from the 1st Royal Marine Bn. (1RM). I could discount
the latter as he was the man the War Diary referred to as wounded the previous
day: CH/926/S Pte. Albert John Willson RMLI (note War Diary's incorrect number
& spelling) who is buried in Barlin Communal Cemetery Extension.
The three Marine Privates supposedly of 2RM KIA 3/8/16 were:-
PLY/13644 Pte. James Sterling RMLI (Tranchee De Mecknes Cemetery, Aix-Noulette:
FR559)
PO/18289 Pte. John Edward Simpson RMLI (Tranchee De Mecknes Cemetery, Aix-Noulette:
FR559)
PO/18601 Pte. James Henry Nash RMLI (Arras Memorial: MR20)
After consulting the War Diaries for 2RM, it seemed most likely that these
three Marines were the missing Ptes. of the 188th TMB. It appears that 2RM
were in billets at Fosse 10 & Bully-Grenay on the 3rd of August, occupied
with "Baths & medical inspection" with no casualties recorded.
This still left the Corporal who was also mentioned as killed. Further investigations showed only one RMLI Cpl. killed around this time: PLY/14099(RFR/B/956) Cpl. Walter Gray RMLI, who is recorded as 2RM 4/8/16 (Arras Memorial).
For the two
Plymouth Marines, Cpl. Gray & Pte. Sterling, the evidence resides in their
service papers at the Fleet Air Arm Museum. In January this year I obtained
a copy of Pte. Sterling's AFB.103 (Casualty Form Active Service), which showed
that he transferred from 2RM to 188th TMB 17/6/16. His AFB.103 also showed
that he was originally reported killed 4/8/16 & this had been altered
to 3/8/16.
Unfortunately, Cpl. Gray's AFB.103 has not survived, but his other service
papers showed that he had also originally been reported killed 4/8/16 &
this had been altered to 3/8/16.
For the two
Portsmouth Marines, Ptes. Simpson & Nash, all service papers are held
at the PRO, Kew.
On inspection of their RMLI service registers (ADM/159 series), both had pencilled
entries reporting their deaths from the "Daily Orders of the 188th TMB"
& also, significantly, they were both originally reported KIA 4/8/16.
Having definitely
identified the three missing Marine Privates, I was left with only circumstantial
evidence for Cpl. Walter Gray. Even so, this evidence is substantially reinforced
by the three other Marines, now definitely identified as 188th TMB.
The significant similarities between Cpl. Gray & the other four Marines
are:-
his date of death originally being reported as 4/8/16 & also being altered
to 3/8/16; all four are recorded by the Commission as 2RM when this unit was at
rest; the 1RM War Diary stating that one Cpl. was killed along with four Privates;
& the details of their burial/commemoration.
Two were buried at Aix-Noulette & three are listed on the Arras Memorial.
The fact that only two bodies were recovered from the aftermath of the dugout
explosion is perhaps not surprising. Most significantly though: of the 51
RMLI casualties in France from June to September 1916, Gray, Nash, & Powell
are the only Marines whose bodies were not recovered for burial.
Listed below, for the first time in history, are the correct details for the five Marines of the 188th TMB killed 3/8/16:-
PLY/14099(RFR/B/956)
Cpl. Walter Gray RMLI
188th Bde. TMB Killed by accidental explosion of a Stokes Ammo Dugout 3/8/16.
MR 20
Joined the Plymouth Bn. in September 1914 & served at the Defence of Antwerp
in October 1914, Gallipoli 1915 & France 12/5/16-3/8/16.
Commission details incorrectly record: 2nd RM Bn. 4/8/16.
PLY/249/S
Pte. William Powell RMLI
188th Bde. TMB Killed by accidental explosion of a Stokes Ammo Dugout 3/8/16.
MR 20.
Served with the Plymouth Bn. at Gallipoli 25/4/15-31/7/15 & 2RM 14/9/15-9/1/16,
2RM in France 12/5/16-17/6/16 ; 188th TMB 17/6/16-3/8/16.
Commission details correct.
PLY/13644
Pte. James Sterling RMLI
188th Bde. TMB Killed by accidental explosion of a Stokes Ammo Dugout 3/8/16.
FR 559.
Served with the Plymouth Bn. & 2RM at Gallipoli & in France18/7/15-17/6/16
; 188th TMB 17/6/16-3/8/16. Commission details incorrectly record: 2nd RM Bn., although
the Internet database now shows no unit at all.
PO/18289
Pte. John Edward Simpson RMLI
188th Bde. TMB Killed by accidental explosion of a Stokes Ammo Dugout 3/8/16.
FR 559.
Joined 2RM at Gallipoli 2/9/15.
Commission details incorrectly record: 2nd RM Bn., although the Internet database
now shows no unit at all.
PO/18601
Pte. Jas. Henry Nash RMLI
188th Bde. TMB Killed by accidental explosion of a Stokes Ammo Dugout 3/8/16.
MR 20.
Joined 2RM at Mudros in early Feb. 1916.
Commission details incorrectly record: 2nd RM Bn.
PLYMOUTH BATTALION RMLI CASUALTIES AT 'Y' BEACH, GALLIPOLI 25-26th APRIL 1915
The landing
at "Y" Beach, Gallipoli, 25/4/15, was a Battle Honour of great distinction
for the Marines of the Plymouth Battalion. After making an unopposed landing
& climb of the 200 foot high cliff face in support of the 1st Battalion
of the King's Own Scottish Borderers (1/KOSB) & one company of the 2nd
Battalion of the South Wales Borderers (2/SWB), they waited for troops from
the southern beaches to advance & link up. They waited in vain.
Late in the afternoon
of the 25th they began to receive shrapnel-shell & sniper fire from the
Turks. At about 5.30pm the Turks began a series of attacks that increased
in intensity & continued throughout the night of the 25th-26th. The last
Turkish assault was repulsed at 6.45am on the 26th. After suffering heavy
casualties with no reinforcements and with no sign of British troops advancing
from the south, it was decided to abandon the position and 'Y' Beach was evacuated
by 11am on the 26th.
The landing at 'Y' Beach was a lost opportunity, ending with a failure to exploit an unopposed landing and an embarrassing withdrawal just as the Turks had had enough and done likewise (which allowed the surviving troops a virtually unmolested re-embarkation).
Battle Honours are not much good to those who died, but for their descendants & historians it is a subject of pride, honour & remembrance for the brave men who died at 'Y' Beach, 25th & 26th of April 1915.
Unfortunately, the records of the Commission are hopelessly inaccurate regarding the correct dates of death for the Plymouth Bn. Their records would have us believe that only 7 Plymouth Marines died at 'Y' Beach 25-26/4/15. It is obvious that this figure must be wrong, especially when one considers that 92 men of the 1/KOSB were killed 25-26/4/15 (figures given by the "Soldiers Died in the Great War" CD-ROM). From evidence found in original RMLI service documents, the Royal Marines Journal "The Globe & Laurel" and in contemporary diaries and newspapers, we can show that 55 Marines of the Plymouth Bn. were killed at 'Y' Beach. Of these 55, the Commission record 44 as having died on the 3rd of May 1915 and four as the 13th of May 1915. Further to this, the two dates which have substituted for the true date (the 3rd & 13th of May 1915), are days on which it is recorded that the Plymouth Battalion were not in action, but were at work well behind the lines: cutting steps in the cliff face or digging trenches at the top (3/5/15); or in rest camp behind the lines (13/5/15). The Plymouth Battalion was in action only at 'Y' Beach 25-26/4/15 and at the 2nd Battle of Krithia 6th -11th May. Apart from the odd casualty, one should not find Plymouth Marines reported as killed on these dates, let alone 44.
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However it must be said that the Commission is not guilty of making the errors, only of perpetuating them. |
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So who WAS responsible for this mis-recording? |
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The answer is: the DHQ or Battalion Adjutant aboard the HMT "Franconia" in early May 1915. |
Such was
the chaos after 'Y' Beach, (the Battalion had lost nearly a third of their
number dead or wounded) that it was not until the 4th of May that they were
able to attend to the Plymouth Battalion's records.
An inspection of the Army Form B.103s for the Marines in question shows one
common denominator: the Adjutant did not bother with an exact date, due to
lack of time, information, witnesses & the great volume of work; so he
used the catch-all phrase "about the 3rd of May 1915" and
dated all such reports the 4th of May. With this small expedient, the Adjutant
drew a veil over the true date of death for 48 of the Marines killed at 'Y'
Beach.
In the Roll listed below, we give the names of these 55 Marines, accompanied in italics by the entry given on their RMLI service documents & the date of death recorded by the Commission in brackets. Following this Roll is the evidence showing that nine Marines actually died at 'Y' Beach 25-26/4/15.
Plymouth Battalion Royal Marines Killed at 'Y' Beach 25-26/4/15.
| PLY/13674 Bugler George BERRY | KIA about 3/5/15. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/114/S Pte. Samuel BROWN | Missing about 3/5/15, assumed dead (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/298/S L/Cpl. Arthur BROWNE | Wounded about 3/5/15, Wounded & Missing 29/8/15, assumed dead. (CWGC=3/5/15) See below |
| PLY/8276 L/Sgt. Wm. Richard BULL | KIA about 3/5/15. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/15001(RFR/1093) L/Sgt. John BURGESS | KIA about 3/5/15. (CWGC=13/5/15) |
| PLY/192/S Pte. Wm.CLARKE | Missing about 3/5/15, later reported KIA. (CWGC=13/5/15) See below |
| PLY/308/S Pte. Samuel DALE | Missing about 3/5/15, assumed dead. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/443/S L/Cpl. Geoffrey Wm. DAWE | KIA about 3/5/15. (CWGC=13/5/15) |
| PLY/196/S Pte. Wm.DEWS | KIA about 3/5/15. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/110/S Pte. John Wm. DURANT | Missing about 3/5/15, assumed dead. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/8584 Pte. George Henry EXELL | Missing about 3/5/15, later reported KIA 25/4/15. (CWGC=25/4/15) |
| PLY/361/S Pte. Martin FINN | Missing about 3/5/15, KIA 26/4/15 'Y' Beach (CWGC=26/4/15) See below |
| PLY/225/S Pte. Harold FISHER | KIA about 3/5/15. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/218/S Pte. George FOY | Missing about 3/5/15, assumed dead. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/175/S Pte. George GALE | KIA about 3/5/15. (CWGC=3/5/15) See below |
| PLY/163/S Pte. Thos. Wm. GARRETT | KIA about 3/5/15. (No.3 Coy, 12th Platoon, 14 Section) (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/14651 L/Cpl. Edwin GUNNINGHAM | DOW about 26/4/15. Brought on board dead HS "Guildford Castle" 26/4/15. (CWGC=26/4/15) |
| PLY/11731 L/Cpl. Wm.HATFIELD | KIA about 3/5/15. (CWGC= Pte. & 3/5/15) |
| PLY/53/S Pte. Bertie HIGGINBOTTOM | KIA about 3/5/15. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/613/S Pte. Samuel HITCHEN | KIA about 3/5/15. (No.4 Coy.) (CWGC=13/5/15) See below |
| PLY/168/S Pte. James HUNT | KIA about 3/5/15. (CWGC=3/5/15) See below |
| PLY/6303(RFR/1077) Pte. Thomas JORDAN | KIA about 3/5/15. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/16256 Pte. John Wm. KING | Missing about 3/5/15, later reported KIA about 3/5/15. (CWGC=3/5/15) See below |
| PLY/36/S Pte. Arthur Barker LAURENCE | Missing about 3/5/15, assumed dead. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/471/S Pte. Samuel LONG | Missing about 3/5/15, assumed dead. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/7415 Pte. John McGUIRK | KIA about 3/5/15. (CWGC=3/5/15) See below |
| PLY/486/S Pte. John McNALLY | Missing about 3/5/15, assumed dead. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/167/S Pte. Alec MACKAY | KIA about 3/5/15. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/16802 Pte. John Joseph MAHER | KIA about 3/5/15. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/394/S Pte. Albert MARSH | Missing about 3/5/15, later reported KIA 3/5/15 (CWGC=3/5/15) See below |
| Lieutenant John Frederick MAY MinD | KIA 26/4/15. (CWGC=25/4/15) See below |
| PLY/16717 Pte. Thomas Alex. MILLS | Missing about 3/5/15, assumed dead. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/378/S Pte. Charles Robt. MORRIS | KIA about 3/5/15. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/377/S Pte. John MORTON | KIA about 3/5/15. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/101/ S Pte. Thos. MURPHY | KIA about 25/4/15 (No.3 Coy.) (CWGC=25/4/15) |
| PLY/11802 Sgt. Geo. Victor OLLIER MinD | DOW about 28/4/15. Brought dead on board - HS "Guildford Castle" 28/4/15. (CWGC=28/4/15) |
| PLY/16366 Pte. Francis Wm. OWENS | Missing about 3/5/15, assumed dead. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/234/S Pte. Charles PATTERSON | KIA about 3/5/15 (CWGC=3/5/15) True name Charles Petzel |
| PLY/108/S Pte. Percy PICKERING | Missing about 3/5/15, Reported wnd 1/6/15, Wnd & Missing 29/8/15, assumed dead. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/113/S Pte. Fred'k PRIEST | Missing about 3/5/15, Reported wnd 1/6/15, Wnd & Missing 29/8/15, assumed dead. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/389/S Pte. Leonard Mark REAKES | Missing about 3/5/15, assumed dead. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/463/S Pte. Ernest ROBINSON | Missing about 3/5/15, assumed dead. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/6525(RFR/1081) Sgt. Walter SANDELL | KIA about 3/5/15. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/595/S Pte. Vivian Bert SCARLETT | Reported wnd about 3/5/15, Wnd & Missing 29/8/15, assumed dead. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/160/S Pte. John SHAW | Missing about 3/5/15, assumed dead. (No.3 Coy.) (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/9254 Sgt. John Jas. Henry SNELL | KIA about 3/5/15. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/127/S Pte. John STOKES | Missing about 3/5/15, assumed dead. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/16379 Pte. Alfred Harry TAYLOR | Missing about 3/5/15, assumed dead. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/138/S Pte. Wm. TAYLOR | Missing about 3/5/15, later reported KIA about 3/5/15. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/16450 Pte. Frank THURLOW | Missing about 3/5/15, assumed dead. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/16831 Pte. James TURNER | KIA about 3/5/15 (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/400/S Pte. Wm. VOCE | Missing about 3/5/15, assumed dead. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/5647(RFR/879)A/Sgt.Mjr.Geo.WHEELER | Missing, about 3/5/15, assumed dead. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
| PLY/459/S Pte. Wm. WILSON | Brought on board dead - HS "Guildford Castle" 26/4/15 (CWGC=26/4/15) |
| PLY/21/S Pte. Arthur WOOD | KIA about 3/5/15. (CWGC=3/5/15) |
THE EVIDENCE
From the above we can see that despite the efforts of the Next-of-kin, L/Cpl. Browne's date of death was never corrected with the Commission. Not only does this prove that Arthur Browne was KIA at 'Y' Beach 25/4/15, but also that PLY/394/S Pte. Albert Marsh, also recorded as KIA 3/5/15, was killed on the following day, 26/4/15. (Pte. Chas. Dewhurst was KIA at Gavrelle with 2RM, 28/4/17).
Pte. Wm. Clarke & Pte. John Wm. King are presented here together, for reasons which will become obvious to the reader:-
These details prove beyond doubt that both Pte. King & Pte. Clarke died at 'Y' Beach 26/4/15. Both are now buried in Pink Farm Cemetery, Helles.
This case shows that although Pte. Finn was originally recorded as 3/5/15, his date of death was subsequently & successfully amended to 26/4/15.
The following newspaper extracts were found by Mrs. Margaret Clifford, of Batley, Yorks, the niece of Pte. Thomas Dent.
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Happy
in the Firing Line.
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HECKMONDWIKE
YOUNG MAN TELLS OF CASUALTIES.
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| An interesting letter has been received from another Heckmondwike soldier, Private C. Hallam, now at the front, by Mr. Wm. Hardwick, of Jeremy Lane, Heckmondwike. Private Hallam writes acknowledging receipt of parcel, the contents of which he shared with the other two lads from Heckmondwike, who were with him, & a young man from Lancashire who was also reminded of the happy Whitsundtides he had spent with his church at home. Private Hallam states that on Whit-Tuesday it was his lot to go into the firing line, where he was standing over the knees in water for 48 hours. He, however, was quite happy & contented with is lot as he knew that it was for the cause of right & justice. Later he had another turn in the firing line & returned after spending eight days there without a wash & very little sleep, & under a boiling sun. He was quite well & in the best of health. He had been there nearly eight weeks & during that time had never has his clothes off. "You will no doubt have heard about poor George Gale," continues Hallam. "I was with him at the time, poor lad, & he died bravely; also about Hardiman, who was wounded a fortnight after Gale was killed, shot through the left arm twice. I was very near him at the time, but could not see him as it was dark, about 10pm. He was quite cheerful & told us to go forward & never mind him. We were advancing against the enemy at the time & were under a heavy fire." Hallam, after expressing a desire for some socks, shirts & pocket handkerchiefs, states that there are two Heckmondwikers there besides himself - George Waite & Tom Dent. He concludes with the best wishes to Mr. Hardwick & family & thanks to all at school for their kindness. |
The letter above, written by Pte. Hallam in the trenches at Gallipoli in May-June 1915, mentions that Pte. Hardiman was wounded two weeks after George Gale was killed. Reference to Pte. Hardiman's service papers reveal the date of his wounding as the 6th of May 1915 (bullet wound in the left arm); 12 days after 'Y' Beach.
More conclusive evidence was found in the 1915, 1916 & 1917 "In Memoriam" columns of the Heckmondwike Newspapers by Mrs. Clifford:-
| Gale. - In Loving Memory of George Gale, who gave his life for his country, April 25th. |
| A light is from our household gone, |
| A voice we loved is still, |
| A place is vacant on our hearth, |
| Which never can be filled. |
| From Mother, Father, Brother, Sister & Rosie. |
| Gale. - In Loving Memory of our dear pal, George Gale, who died for his country, April 25th, 1915. |
| He sleeps like a warrior taking his rest, |
| Beneath some foreign skies; |
| Far away from those who loved him best, |
| In a hero's grave he lies. |
| Nobly he did his duty. |
| From his Mess mates, George Waite, Chris. Hallam, Tom Dent & Jos. Hardiman. |
| Gale. - In Loving Memory of George Gale, who was killed in action at the Dardanelles, on April 25th, 1915. |
| The shock was great, the grief sincere, |
| To part with one I loved so dear; |
| The loss is great, I'll not forget, |
| But hope in heaven to meet again. |
| - From Rosey. |
| Gale. - In Loving Memory of our dear comrade, Private George Gale, who was killed in the landing at Gallipoli, on April 25th, 1915. |
| From C. Hallam & G. Waite, somewhere in France. |
| Gale. - In Loving Memory of our dear son & brother, Private George Gale, of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, who was killed in action April 25th, 1915. |
| A day of remembrance sad to recall. |
| We may not know, we cannot tell, |
| What pains he had to bear; |
| But we believe it was for us, |
| He died & suffered there. |
| From Father, Mother, Sister & Brothers. |
| Gale. - In memory of my husband's late pal, Private George Gale, who was killed in action in the landing at the Dardanelles, April 25th, 1915. |
| From (Mrs.) Chris. Hallam, Heckmondwike |
It is patently obvious from the above, that the family of George Gale believed he was killed at 'Y' Beach 25/4/15; & also that his four pals, the witnesses to his death, also knew the true date.
| PLY 174/S Pte. Christopher HALLAM | Transferred to the Royal Flying Corps 3/3/17 & was killed in action 21/8/17. |
| PLY 176/S Pte. Josiah HARDIMAN | Returned to duty from hospital 4/7/15. He survived the war. |
| PLY 184/S Pte. Thomas Firby DENT | Reported "Wounded & Missing" at Beaumont Hamel 13/11/16 & assumed dead. |
| PLY 185/S Pte. George WAITE | Wounded & taken prisoner at Gavrelle, Arras, 28/4/17. He survived the war. |
The following letter appeared in the "Barnsley Chronicle" June 19th 1915, Front Page.
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THE
WAR VICTIMS
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BARNSLEY
AND ROYSTON MEN WHO HAVE FALLEN.
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| Pte. Samuel Hitchen, whose home was at Foster's Gardens, Midland Rd, Royston, enlisted in the Royal Marines on the 6th Nov. last, & was in the Plymouth Bn. About three months ago he was sent to the Dardanelles where he has been killed. His commander wrote to the deceased soldier's parents as follows: "It is with the deepest regret that I write to you concerning the death of your son, Pte. Samuel Hitchen, who was under my command. You will be consoled in the knowledge that your son displayed the greatest bravery in all the fighting in which our Bn. was engaged. Whilst our firing line was being severely attacked by the enemy, an urgent call came from our front line for further ammunition. Volunteers were called for from our men to take the ammunition forward & a few brave men - your son amongst them - answered the call & carried up ammunition in face of a hail of bullets. It was whilst engaged in this work that your son was struck by a bullet & killed instantaneously. I can scarcely find words to express my regret at the loss of such a splendid man, & wish to offer you my deepest sympathy in your terrible loss. I can only trust you may find consolation in the knowledge that your son died most heroically in the service of his country. - Yours truly, T. L. Edwards." |
This letter does not mention the date of Sam's death, but describes the circumstances quite well. However the following letter, written by his pal, Pte. Benfell, to the "Barnsley Chronicle" 10/6/16, corroborates & tells more:-
"Pte. R. Duckworth, of Cudworth, and Pte. S. Hitching, of Royston were both in my section. Both of them met their fate while close to my side. …we went to Port Said, Egypt, and awaited the great landing on the 25th of April when we again were engaged in one of the most trying positions of the Peninsular. We numbered about 1,100, and after a struggle up the high cliff at Y Beach we began a hard fight with the Turks. All that night I had my work cut out carrying ammunition and it was then when Pte. Hitchin fell."
| PLY/610/S Pte. Charles Harold BENFELL | Evacuated sick from Gallipoli 17/9/15. He survived the war. |
| PLY/614/S Pte. Albert Robinson DUCKWORTH MID | Killed by a stray shell in rest camp 13/5/15. |
| CH/19403 Pte. John (Jack) CLEGG | Reported "Wounded & Missing" at Beaumont Hamel 13/11/16 & assumed dead. |
Bronze Memorial Plaques issued to the Next-of-kin of Ptes. Hitchen & Clegg
More evidence for the case of 'Y' Beach Marine casualties occurs from a study of the two cemetery registers where 15 of the Plymouth Battalion Marines are buried. Both cemeteries are within a short distance of 'Y' Beach. The remaining 40 Marines have no known graves & are commemorated on the Helles Memorial to the missing (39), with one on the Plymouth Naval Memorial (buried at sea).
| PINK FARM CEMETERY. | ||
| PLY/192/S L/Cpl. Wm. Clarke | PLY/16256 John Wm. King | |
| PLY/138/S Pte. Wm. Taylor | PLY/394/S Pte. Albert Marsh | |
| TWELVE TREE COPSE CEMETERY. | ||
| PLY/13674 Bugler George Berry | PLY/8276 L/Sgt. Wm. Richard Bull | PLY/15001 L/Sgt. John Burgess |
| PLY/443/S L/Cpl. Geoffrey Wm. Dawe | PLY/196/S Pte. Wm. Dews | PLY/53/S Pte. Bertie Higginbottom |
| PLY/377/S Pte. John Morton | PLY/101/S Pte. Thos. Murphy | PLY/9254 Sgt. John James Henry Snell |
| PLY/6525 Sgt. Walter Sandell | PLY/234/S Pte. Chas. Patterson (true name Charles Petzel) | |
We hope the reader will see that there is a good case to argue that all 55 of the Marines here mentioned were killed at 'Y' Beach & that the dates of death shown in error should be amended accordingly.
This case is not unique. We have many other examples of exactly the same circumstances occurring in other Battalions during the Great War.