In memoriam

 

Lance Corporal Hugh Flanagan

Private William Joseph Petty

Lance Corporal Fred Scanlon

Private James Sleator

Private Christopher McWilliams

Private Henry Orr

Private Samuel Price

Private William James Turkington


 

 

Lance Corporal Hugh Flanagan, killed in action 22 November 1917 during the attempt to capture the village of Moeuvres, Battle of Cambrai, age 21. Service Nos 41229 (RIF), 1508 (NIH) Born Ballymena, County Antrim, enlisted Antrim. Son of R.H. and Martha Flanagan of 129 Dunluce Avenue Belfast. No known grave, commemorated on Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France, Panel 10.

Private William Joseph Petty, killed in action 22 November 1917 during the attempt to capture the village of Moeuvres, Battle of Cambrai, age 26. Service Nos 41406 (RIF), 1944 (NIH). Born Belfast, enlisted Antrim. Son of Francis Petty of 32 Agincourt Avenue Belfast, and the late Marion Petty. No known grave, commemorated on Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France, Panel 10.

Lance Corporal Fred Scanlon, killed in action 23 November 1917 during the attempt to capture the village of Moeuvres, Battle of Cambrai, age 28. Service Nos 41482 (RIF), 1460 (NIH). Born Bagnalstown, County Carlow, enlisted Antrim in 1915. Son of James and Sophia Scanlon of Bohermore, Bagenalstown, County Carlow. No known grave, commemorated on
Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France, Panel 10.

Private James Sleator, killed in action 23 November 1917 during the attempt to capture the village of Moeuvres, Battle of Cambrai, age 22. Service Nos 41418 (RIF), 1870 (NIH). Residence Keady, County Armagh, born Enniskillen, enlisted Antrim. Son of James and Elizabeth Sleator of 6 Cappy Street, Ravenhill Road, Belfast. No known grave, commemorated on Cambrai Memorial,
Louverval, Panel 10.

Private Christopher McWilliams, killed in action 23 November 1917, during the attempt to capture the village of Moeuvres, Battle of Cambrai, age 19. Service Nos 41085 (RIF), UD/268 (Inniskilling Dragoons). Enlisted Enniskillen. No known grave, commemorated on Cambrai Memorial,
Louverval, Panel 10. (See biographical details in obituary below, sourced from De Ruvignys Roll of Honour, Vol.4.)

Private Henry Orr, killed in action 23 November 1917, during the attempt to capture the village of Moeuvres, Battle of Cambrai, age 22. Service Nos 41091 (RIF), UD/62 (Inniskilling Dragoons). Born Brookeborough, County Fermanagh, enlisted Enniskillen, residence Brookeborough. Son of John and Rebecca Orr, of Munmurry, Brookeborough, County Fermanagh. No known grave, commemorated on Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, Panel 10.

Private Samuel Price, killed in action 23 November 1917, during the attempt to capture the village of Moeuvres, Battle of Cambrai. Service Nos 41167 (RIF), UD/118 (Inniskilling Dragoons). Born Ballymacarrett, County Down, enlisted Belfast. No known grave, commemorated on Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, Panel 10.

Private William James Turkington, killed in action 23 November 1917, during the attempt to capture the village of Moeuvres, Battle of Cambrai, age 26. Service Nos 41173 (RIF), UD/207 (Inniskilling Dragoons). Born Killygarvin, County Tyrone, enlisted Belfast. Son of William James and Hannah Turkington of 19 University Avenue, Belfast. No known grave, commemorated on Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, Panel 10.

The Battalion diary for the two days on which these men were killed reads as follows:

[22 November] Moeuvres. The Battalion moved up at 6.30am to a position north of Bapaume and Cambrai Road arriving at 8.30am. Here the Battalion waited for an order to attack Inchi when Moeuvres was taken by the 12th Royal Irish Rifles. At 11.45am the 12th Royal Irish Rifles captured village of Moeuvres. It was unable to clear trenches east of village. At 5.30pm Battalion moved up to support 12th Royal Irish Rifles in the village of Moeuvres. At 5.45pm 12th Royal Irish Rifles reported driven out of village. At 8.30pm Battalion less D Company counter attacked village of Moeuvres but was driven back to trenches immediately south of the village, where it took up a defensive position for the night.

[23 November] Moeuvres. Battalion attacked Moeuvres at 10.30am. At 11am Battalion reported in village. At 11.45am enemy counter attacked from trenches west of village. 12.15pm counter attack driven off. At 4.30pm village evacuated by Battalion on account of supports not coming up. 5pm C and D Companies took up position on Sunken Road south of village and A and B companies went back to trenches north of Bapaume and Cambrai Road. Casualties for 22nd and 23rd: Officers killed one; Officers wounded six; Other Ranks 82 casualties.