William and Samuel Byers

 William and Samuel Byers

Julia Barton was born in Ipswich in 1858 and married three times, firstly to John Byers a Cabinet Maker. The couple settled in London and had seven children; William Edward b. 9.7.83 and Samuel Frederick b. 17.3.86 were two of the three boys. John Senior died in December 1887 and between 1891 and 1901 Julia changed her name by marriage too Harman but was widowed by the time of the 1901 census. In 1904 she married Henry Deal.

Military files for William and Francis Byers were destroyed by fire but from surviving records its possible to determine that both brothers registered for military service under the Derby Scheme in December 1915 and chose the deferred service option. William enlisted at Bethnal Green, London and was called up in or about March 1916 and posted to the Northumberland Fusiliers (NF), 1/5 Battalion and given the number 5/5845. 1/5 Battalion was a Territorial formation embodied at the beginning of the war and had been serving in France since April 1915. Following succesful completion of basic training with a Reserve Battalion, William was sent to France with a draft of replacements, it is not possible to accurately state when. On 31st March 1917 the renumbering of the Territorial Force took place, William's number was changed to 241391.

On 27th May 1918 at 1 a.m. the Germans launched the third phase of their Spring Offensive, Operation Blücher-Yorck, this was a thrust towards Paris designed to divert Allied troops from Flanders to defend the capital and make their planned operations in that area easier. 4,000 artillery pieces commenced a bombardment on Allied lines followed by release of poison gas and an assault by 17 Stormtrooper led Divisions. The Storptroopers were fast moving infiltration troops who were followed by mopping up infantry, they were armed with Mauser rifles, stick grenades and the forerunner of the modern submachine gun the MP 18. The attack caught the defenders by surprise and created a 25 mile gap in the line smashing eight Allied Divisions and eventually came to within 35 miles of Paris. Before halting due to heavy casualties, exhausted troops, lack of supplies and reserves, the Germans had capted 50,000 prisoners and 800 guns.

On this first day, 27th May 1918, 1/5 Battalion NF were Corps reserve in Consevreax, the artillery bombardment targeting this town with high explosive and gas shells, the casualties incurred were high. At 2.20 a.m. orders were recieved to advance to Beaurepaire, on the road they were caught by more shell fire and sufferedmord casualties. The Battalion were held in open ground and two Companies were ordered forward, they met intense machine gun and artillery fire and could not progress. The Battalion started a fighting withdrawal which kept them in action until 31st May.

Battalion's positions on 27th May, (war diary)

The casualties on the 27th May 1918 were; three officers and ten other ranks killed - three officers and 99 other ranks wounded - 11 officers and 374 other ranks missing in which William was counted. Many of the missing were wounded dead or POWs, some stragglers probably rejoined their units in the days to follow but by July 1918 1/5 Battalion was reduced to cadre strength and spent the rest of the war confined to duties in the lines of communication.

Eventually the missing status was changed to presumed dead and with no known grave his name was placed on the Soissons Memorial with 3916 other UK soldiers who lost their lives in the Battles of the Aisne and Marne of 1918. William left £23.2s.5d along with a War Gratuity of £12 to his mother and brother John. He was awarded the British War and Victory Medals which with a Memorial Plaque and Scroll were forwarded to his mother.

Soissons Memorial (CWWGC)

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Samuel's details vary in records, he was baptised Samuel Frederick but other records show him as Samuel Frederick Francis or Francis Frederick Samuel Byers. He went to Pritchards Road School following which he was employed as a Porter in Covent Garden. He registered for military service in December 1915 at Stratford, London and deferred his service for call which came in or about June 1916. Initially Samuel was posted to 8th (Reserve) Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment number 24299 where he completed basic training following which he was posted to 3rd Battalion Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) and given the number G28191. 3rd Battalion was on Garrison duty in Cawnpore Indian when war broke out, it returned to the UK in December 1914 and landed in France on 19th January 1915. In October 1915 it left France for Egypt and from there went to Greece where it spent the rest of the war engaged in the Salonica Campaign. It is not possible to determine when Samuel joined 3rd Battalion in the field but if his basic training lasted three months with leave and travel time he would have been there about November 1916.

The records for the Battalion's engagements in Salonika are not at this time available but the XV1 Corps HQ had been based at Kirechkoi on the main Salonika-Hortakoi road. Three General hospitals were also based here and in June July and August 1918 more hospitals moved to this location, drawn to the high and healthy location no doubt in anticipation of the forthcoming Spanish Flu Pandemic. In September the disease ravaged the area for three months and the cemetery, Kirechkoi-Hortakoi Military, which served the hospitals became three quarters full.

Samuel became infected with sufficient severity to be hospitalised but on 2nd October 1918 succumbed and died. His mother now had to deal with the loss of a second son, the wound from May still being raw no doubt. Samuel left £7.19.11. with a war gratuity of £11 to his mother and brother john. He was awarded the British War and Victory Medals.

Kirechkoi-Hortakoi Military Cemetery (CWWGC)

Samuel's Grave

    

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