Roll of Other Ranks serving with 179th Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers 1915-18

Please contact me if you have information about these men!

Back to Mining at La Boisselle  © Simon Jones 2007

 

surname

fornames

rank RE

rank parent

RE number

original number 1

prior original number

original unit 1

prior original unit

date joins 179

Section

date dies

attached 179?

notes

Buried

Born

Resident

Enlisted

Occupation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LF 16

 

 

 

03/02/1916

 

179 Coy WD 3/2/16: 1 OR 16th Lancashire Fusiliers (attached for duty with Carrying Party). Can't ID from SDGW.

Albert Communal Cemetery Extension [?]

 

 

 

 

Ablett

Thomas L

Sgt

Pte

139197

18450

 

Cheshire

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 22/8/1915 16 OR Cheshires arrive. LG 20/12/18 MiD; LG 17/4/19 DCM. Thomas L Ablett marries Annie E E Bray Q4 1914 Swansea, Glam.

 

 

Highfield

 

 

Adams

George C

Spr

Pte

86193

S/9990

 

E Kent

 

 

 

 

 

WD 179 Coy 31/12/15 11am wounded whilst entering trenches for relief of men on shift, shown as 86913. MIC Index shown as S/9990 E Kent & 174th Coy RE 86193.

 

 

 

 

 

Adlington

William N/H

 

L/Cpl

 

19073

 

Notts & Derby 11

 

 

 

 

 

WD: W H A- wounded by shrapnel 12/7/16. Medal Card 'William N' to RFC 65281.

 

 

 

 

 

Ainsworth

Edward

LCpl

 

79850

16681

 

KOSB

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 25/7/1917: 10 OR RE Wounded by gas. MIC: RE 3rd Provisional Coy.

 

 

 

 

 

Aitken

Jonathan

Pte

Pte

137580

1532

 

A&SH [prob 6]

 

 

 

 

 

Believed in 179 Coy, extrapolation from RE number.

 

 

 

 

 

Allen

J

Spr

 

147841

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 25/7/1917: 10 OR RE Wounded by gas. Can't id on MIC.

 

 

 

 

 

Allison

John

Spr

Pte

137555

2177

 

Black Watch

 

 

 

11/10/1917

 

179 Coy WD 11/10/1917: Killed in Action. CWGC: KiA. Age 26. son of Mrs James Allison of 107 West High St., Methil, Fife.

Minty Farm Cemetery. I.E.23.

 

 

 

 

Allsopp

William Henry

 

Pte

0

13890

 

Lincolns 2

 

 

 

07/07/1917

y

179 Coy WD 8/7/1917: 1 OR RE [Hounslow] & 2 OR 2/Lincs [Hulme & Allsopp] KiA. Buried at Brandhoek Military Cemetery G.12.b.7.8. Sheet 28 N.W. CWGC: attd 179th Coy RE. Age 23. Son of William and Sarah Ann Allsopp, of 153, Station Rd., Shirebrook. Notts. 1901 Census shows son of a hewer. Birth registered Wakefield Q3 1893.

Brandhoek Military Cemetery I.L.56

Charlestown, Yorks

Shirebrook, Notts

Mansfield

 

Anderson

Robert

 

Cpl

 

8187

 

RIR 1

 

 

 

 

y

WD 10/5/16: wounded in left arm by rifle grenade during relief. Medal Card states 2 RIR.

 

 

 

 

 

Archibald

Thomas

Spr

 

147743

S/3249

 

A&SH

 

 

 

14/11/1917

 

179 Coy WD 14/11/1917: Killed. CWGC: Age 25. Son of Thomas and Sibella Archibald of 17 Rothesay Place, Musselburgh, Midlothian. SDGW: KiA. Grave stone does not have a cross.

Minty Farm Cemetery. I.E.6.

Inveresk, Co. Edinburgh

 

Musselburgh, Co. Edinburgh

 

Arundel

Abel

Spr

Pte

79253

15759

 

West Riding

Y&L

 

A

 

 

179 Coy WD 18/8/1915 17 OR 10/WR arrive. 53 Bde WD report on suspicious characters by Young 1/10/15 in Quemart St during night. 179 Coy WD 3/8/1917: wounded.

 

 

East Ardsley (1901)

 

miner

Ashbee

Harry

LCpl

 

94559

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 17/10/1917: wounded in action.

 

 

 

 

 

Atherton

Henry

 

Pte

 

022928

09909

KOYLI 2

DLI

 

 

28/08/1915

 

Killed buried by German mine. SDGW: 2/KOYLI formerly DLI.

Thiepval Memorial

Sunnybrow Crook, Durham

 

Bishop Auckland

 

Aubrey

Edwin

Spr

 

102938

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

confesses to desertion from Tidworth 4/8/15

 

 

 

 

 

Auty

Thomas

Spr

 

112700

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD: wounded by shrapnel 5/7/16.

 

 

 

 

 

Baker

John

Spr

Pte

139144

8920

 

Bedfords 1

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 22/8/1915 15 OR Bedfords arrive. Believed in 179 Coy, extrapolation from RE number.

 

 

 

 

 

Baldwin

James Alexander

Sgt

 

13161

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD: arrives to be Section Sergeant 27/8/15. LG 3/6/19 MSM

 

 

Gravesend

 

 

Ballantyne

Robert

LCpl

Pte

137548

2011

 

Black Watch

 

 

B

 

 

179 Coy WD 9/9/16: wounded by shrapnel whilst relieving. 179 Coy WD 13/3/16 4.30pm during relief of shifts a trench mortar bomb burst amongst B Section party near S4 shaft head killing [Hynes & Farrington & wounding Young (DoW) Firth & Ballantyne].

 

 

 

 

 

Barclay

George

 

Pte

0

2921

 

Black Watch 1/7

 

 

 

 

y

gassed 29/9/15, att 179 Coy, D Coy 7BW (7BW WD). MIC index also Pte BW 290868.

 

 

 

 

 

Barclay

Alexander

Sgt

 

137559

2741

 

Black Watch 1/7

 

 

 

25/04/1918

 

CWGC: MSM. Age 28. Son of David & Elizabeth Barclay of 9 Boreland, Dysart, Fife. SDGW: KiA.

Foncquevillers Military Cemetery. II.B.4.

 

Dysart, Fifeshire

in the field

 

Bartlett

John G

Sgt

 

6294

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD: arrives to be Section Sergeant 27/8/15

 

 

 

 

 

Bean

Albert

 

Pte

0

15780

 

Y&L 8

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 12/9/16: wounded by shrapnel during relief.

 

 

 

 

 

Beasley

Joseph

 

Pte

 

011323

 

Leicesters 7

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 11/10/15 Arrivals 110 Inf Bde, 37 Div, att as Bde Miners

 

 

 

 

 

Beasley

Joseph

 

Pte

0

11323

 

Leicesters 7

 

 

 

29/10/1915

y

[Report Hance to 53 Bde:] I regret to have to report that whilst the night shift were going into work last night a trench mortar shell or an aerial torpedo fell in the trench 100 yards from the junction of Gowrie St. and Perth Avenue, on the firing line side, killing 4 men and wounding 7 who have been detained in hospital. This is a heavy proportion of casualties for one shift.

Albert Communal Cemetery Extension I.A.13.

Longford, Warwicks

 

Nuneaton, Warwicks

 

Beezer

S

Spr

 

139001

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WD: to hospital suffering from shell shock 13/7/16. Can't match medal card 139001 RE is Knight.

 

 

 

 

 

Bell

James

Sgt

Pte

137556

2422

 

Black Watch

 

 

 

 

 

LG 7/7/19 MiD with number 1375560. Details from MIC for 137556.

 

 

 

 

 

Bennett

Richard Samson

Spr Cpl

Pte

137585

022695

9902

KOYLI 2

DLI 3

08/10/1915

 

 

 

To France 5/5/15; Mustered as Tunnellers mate 9/10/15; wounded in neck 1917/18; posted 185 Coy 28/6/18. WD: 137587 [sic] Cpl Bennett R wounded during bombardment of billets 13/7/16.

 

 

Ferry Hill

 

miner

Beveridge

James

Spr

Pte

137567

3101

 

Black Watch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beveridge

Robert

Spr

Pte

137664

2498

 

A&SH [prob 8]

 

31/08/1915

 

 

 

Believed in 179 Coy, extrapolation from RE number.

 

 

 

 

 

Biggs

Edwin

Spr

 

132865

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LG 22/7/19 MM.

 

 

Ruabon

 

 

Bleakley

Joseph

 

Pte

0

16420

 

LNL 7

 

 

 

 

y

179 Coy WD: 116420 [sic] … wounded by shrapnel 10/7/16.

 

 

 

 

 

Bogle

Thomas

Spr

Asgt

137665

3192

 

A&SH [prob 8]

 

31/08/1915

 

 

 

Believed in 179 Coy, extrapolation from RE number. MIC: Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers

 

 

 

 

 

Bolt

Brinley

 

Pte

0

12635

 

Devons 1

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 7/8/1917: wounded in action.

 

 

 

 

 

Bowen

 

LCpl

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Witness at enquiry to incident of 26/9/15. Tried by FGCM 2/10/15, prob ref 26/9/15.

 

 

 

 

 

Bowen

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Watch 1/7

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 4/9/15, commended by Pretyman for rescue work, stretcher bearer.

 

 

 

 

 

Bowen

Albert

Spr

Pte

79289

20662

 

KOYLI

 

 

 

 

 

Believed in 179 Coy, extrapolation from RE number.

 

 

 

 

 

Boyd

John

Spr

Pte

193272

5627

 

Gordon

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 6/10/1917: [5 OR] wounded artillery.

 

 

 

 

 

Braddick

Charles H

 

Pte

0

25/778

 

NF 25

 

 

 

 

y

179 Coy WD 16/10/1916: 5pm Court of Enquiry held re illegal absence of 25/778 Pte Braddick 25/NF. Decision - illegally absent & struck off strength accordingly.

 

 

 

 

 

Braddock

W E R

 

Cpl

0

4744

 

R Warwick 10

 

 

 

15/10/1916

y

179 Coy WD 16/10/1916 Killed by shrapnel near Thiepval. CWGC: 15/11/1916 attd. 179th Coy. Age 21 Son of Jessie Riley (formerly Braddock), of 5, Albert Terrace, Rawlins Lane, Ladywood, Birmingham, and the late Francis John Braddock. Born at Birmingham.

Albert Communal Cemetery Extension I.K.39.

 

 

 

 

Brand

Alexander

Pte

Pte

137554

2463

 

Black Watch

 

 

 

 

 

Believed in 179 Coy, extrapolation from RE number.

 

 

 

 

 

Breslin

John

Spr

 

79054

16735

 

KOSB 3

 

 

 

09/05/1917

 

179 Coy WD 18/8/1915 20 OR 2/KOSB arrive. SDGW: DoW. Poss D Sect as German shell hits D Sect pay parade on 28/3/17.

Etaples Military Cemetery. XIX.R.11.

Omagh, Co. Tyrone

 

Glasgow

 

Briggs

John Wilmott

Spr

 

102215

0

 

 

 

 

 

07/08/1917

 

179 Coy WD 6/8/1917: wounded. CWGC: Age 36. Husband of Olive Briggs of 6 Hulme St., Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent. SDGW: Wilmot. DoW.

Brandhoek New Military Cemetery. VI.A.4.

Newcastle, Staffs.

Newcastle, Staffs.

London

 

Brindley

E

Spr

Pte

151637

9767

 

Manchester 2

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 14/9/15 gassed & wounded by mine E3, initial shown as C.

 

 

 

 

 

Brittle

Henry H

 

Pte

 

15883

 

Warwicks 10/ Worcs

 

 

 

04/06/1916

y

WD 4/6/16 killed. Medal Card Henry H B-, 15883 Worcs Regt.

 

 

 

 

 

Brown

Robert

Pte

Pte

137626

1819

 

Scottish Rifles

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 17/8/1915 17 OR 6/SR arrive; 26/8/1915 31 OR 1/6 SR arrive. Believed in 179 Coy, extrapolation from RE number.

 

 

 

 

 

Brown

Henry

 

Pte

 

19155

 

R Scots 16

 

 

 

 

y

WD 12/5/16: wounded by TM.

 

 

 

 

 

Brown

Robert

Spr

 

102858

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 21/8/16: wounded by shrapnel during relief.

 

 

 

 

 

Bryce

David

Spr

 

79576

8698

 

Seaforth

 

 

 

04/07/1916

 

179 Coy WD 17/8/1915 15 OR 2/Seaforth arrive. SDGW: Died. CWGC: age 33. Son of David & Margaret Bryce. Born at Cronberry, Auchinleck. WD: 79576 Spr Bryce D accidentally killed by falling down S5 shaft.

Albert Communal Cemetery Extension I.A.33.

Cumnock, Ayrshire

 

Cumnock, Ayrshire

 

Bull

Harold

 

Pte

0

M2/034358

 

ASC

 

 

 

29/01/1917

y

179 Coy WD 29/1/17: Casualties previous day: 1 OR ASC (MT) died (Pte H Bull). SDGW: died 29/1/17. CWGC: Harold Wilson Bull; att 179th Field Coy, RE, age 21. Son of H. J. and Helen B. Bull, of 86, Wellington St., Peterborough.

ALBERT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION I. R. 34.

 

Peterborough

Peterborough

 

Bullen

Henry John

Sgt

 

6274

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

179 coy WD: arrives to be Section Sergeant 27/8/15. LG 3/6/19 MSM.

 

 

Old Brompton

 

 

Burgess

Leslie

Spr

 

175548

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 6/6/1917: 1 OR RE wounded.

 

 

 

 

 

Burnham

Thomas H

Spr

Pte

139458

745

 

E Surrey 7

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 8/8/1917: [Young, Burnham & Standby] to APM 18th Corps for transfer to HM Prison.

 

 

 

 

 

Burrage

William

Spr

Pte

79085

2688

 

Sussex

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 16/8/1915 18 OR 8/R Sussex picked up en route for Albert. Believed in 179 Coy, extrapolation from RE number.

 

 

 

 

 

Carter

T

Spr

 

86226

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WD 10/4/16 Wounded by Enemy camouflet damaging No 2L & part of No3R Inch Street workings & killing Creswick & 2 OR. Can't match MIC.

 

 

 

 

 

Carter

James

 

Pte

0

7611

 

Lincolns 2

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 26/7/16: injured by chalk falling from roof of a shelter caused by the vibration caused by guns firing. Court of Enquiry held exonerated all concerned from blame.

 

 

 

 

 

Casey

W

 

Pte

 

7557

 

RIR 1

 

 

 

 

y

WD 20/4/16: w by rifle bullet. MIC Poss Wm Casey 577, later 47567 Worcs R.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapman

Albert

Spr

 

146040

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LG 22/7/19 MM.

 

 

Chalford

 

 

Chapman

Silas George

Spr

 

102909

0

 

 

 

 

D

28/03/1917

 

179 Coy WD 28/3/17 7.10pm 2 enemy shells burst in D Section's billet just after the men assembled for a pay parade causing the following casualties: [killed 2Lt Bates & 6 ORs, 38 OR wounded]. SDGW: KiA. CWGC: KiA. Age 34. Son of Sam Chapman of Billericay, Essex; husband of Phoebe Clara Chapman of 59 Addison Way, Golders Green, London. Assumed D Sect as German shell hits D Sect pay parade on 28/3/17.

Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery, Arras. II.L.17.

Great Baddow, Essex

Hampstead, Middx.

London

 

Chappell

George

Spr

 

244234

5729

 

Royal Naval Division Engineers

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 23/7/1917: wounded.

 

 

 

 

 

Charles

James

Spr

 

102190

0

 

 

 

 

D

04/04/1917

 

SDGW: DoW. CWGC: DoW. Age 48. Son of the late James and Sophia Charles of New Town, Wednesbury; husband of Eliza Ann Charles of 5 King's Hill Fields, Old Park Rd., Wednesbury, Staffs. Assumed D Sect as German shell hits D Sect pay parade on 28/3/17.

Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun. I.G.5.

Birmingham

Wednesbury, Staffs.

London

 

Clare

Philip H

Spr

 

102830

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

179 coy WD 10/9/15 wounded by TM outside officers dugout, wounded to hosp

 

 

 

 

 

Clelland

Arthur

 

Pte

0

25270

 

R Scots 16

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 16/10/1916 Killed by shrapnel near Thiepval. CWGC: 15/10/16 Age 23. "A" Coy. 16th Bn. Royal Scots attd. 179th Coy. Husband of Elizabeth F. Clelland, of Shawsburn, Larkhall, Lanarkshire.

Albert Communal Cemetery Extension I.I.28.

 

 

 

 

Clements

J

 

Pte

 

7682

 

DCLI

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 14/9/15 gassed & wounded by mine E3. No medal card for 7682 DCLI.

 

 

 

 

 

Clough

William

Sgt

 

102748

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 14/10/1916: Shrapnel burst over a relief party on its way to work wounding [Clough, Mee & Smethurst] and also causing [Hill] to suffer from shell shock. 179 Coy WD 6/8/1917: Accidentally injured by fire at Lancs. Farm [9 OR].

 

 

 

 

 

Clowes

Albert Owen

Spr

 

103854

0

 

 

 

 

D

29/03/1917

 

SDGW: DoW. Assumed D Sect as German shell hits D Sect pay parade on 28/3/17.

Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, Saulty. V.F.9.

Nottingham

 

Nottingham

 

Coatsworth

Robert

Spr

Pte

79287

22930

 

KOYLI

 

 

 

 

 

Believed in 179 Coy, extrapolation from RE number.

 

 

 

 

 

Conn

John

LCpl

 

79084

G/7337

 

Sussex Pioneers 8

 

 

 

18/12/1915

 

179 Coy WD 16/8/1915 18 OR 8/R Sussex picked up en route for Albert. 179 Coy WD Mine S4, gives number 79054. CWGC: Age 31. Husband of Rose Ann Conn of 83 Altyre St., Tollcross, Glasgow. Death reported Glasgow Evening Times 7/1/16 no page on roll. Also The Scotsman 8/1/16 have copy: 'Sapper John Conn RE who was killed as the result of an explosion, was a miner before enlisting in June last. He was a native of Stevenston, and leaves a widow and three children, who reside at 101 Watson Parade, Tollcross.'

Thiepval Memorial. Pier and Face 8 A and 8 D.

Stevenston, Ayrshire

Tollcross

Glasgow

miner

Cook

William

 

Pte

 

13815

 

Gloucester 8

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 6/8/1917: Accidentally injured by fire at Lancs. Farm [9 OR].

 

 

 

 

 

Cook(e)

Thomas

Spr

 

102749

0

 

 

 

 

A

06/04/1917

 

179 Coy WD 6/4/1917: Sprs Wilkinson & Cook A Section killed by enemy shell bursting in No 2 Place Vauban Arras. SDGW: KiA. CWGC: Cooke. Bullock memoir p31: 4 oldest men left behind in billets at their own request when evacuate Arras during attack for safety. Cook & Wilkinson both knocked out by a shell which comes through into cellar. 'Both officers and men were very cut up, as Cook was one of the finest old Miners we had and used to put to shame many a young man by his bravery and willingness to work.'

Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery, Arras. III.O.29.

Willington, Co. Durham

Willington, Co. Durham

London

 

Cooper

W

Spr

 

46896

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 25/12/16: wounded to hospital [can't id on MIC]

 

 

 

 

 

Copeland

Robert

Pte

Pte

13755

2580

 

Black Watch

 

 

 

 

 

Believed in 179 Coy, extrapolation from RE number. Number 13755 on MIC index prob incomplete

 

 

 

 

 

Copeland

John

 

Pte

0

18161

 

KORL 7

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 21/1/1918: wounded at Boulogne during a hostile air raid.

 

 

 

 

 

Copson

Arthur J W

Cpl

Cpl

139149

18737

 

Bedfords

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 22/8/1915 15 OR Bedfords arrive. Believed in 179 Coy, extrapolation from RE number.

 

 

 

 

 

Corkhill

William H

Spr

Pte

137570

10280

 

Cheshire

 

 

 

 

 

Believed in 179 Coy, extrapolation from RE number.

 

 

 

 

 

Cox

Norris

Spr

 

151660

13558

 

Norfolk 8

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 16/8/16: wounded by shrapnel; (gives initial M). MIC states Norris.

 

 

 

 

 

Cox

J

Spr

 

86334

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 25/7/1917: 10 OR RE Wounded by gas.

 

 

 

 

 

Crago

Samuel

A/2 Cpl A/LCpl

 

151653

7408

 

Devons 1

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 16/9/16: awarded MM for bravery in recovering bodies from the open in front of trenches before Thiepval to [Crago, Thompson & Gascoyne]. LG 16/11/1916: MM 151653 Spr. A/L/C S Crago RE.

 

 

 

 

 

Craig

David

Pte

Pte

79081

G/7255

 

Sussex

 

 

 

 

 

179 Coy WD 16/8/1915 18 OR 8/R Sussex picked up en route for Albert.

 

 

 

 

 

Crimes

George

Spr

 

46919

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WD: wounded by enemy shrapnel 4/7/16.