Service Number
13th/0591
Rank
Private
Firstname
John Esau
Lastname
Akrill
Battalion
13th Battalion D Coy East Yorkshire Regiment
Notes

Attested 21 November 1914 at City Hall Hull – Medal Index Card entered Egypt 29 December 1915 with 13th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment – Entered Marseilles France 8 March 1916 – 13th Battalion Gun Shot Wound Left Eye and Back Wounds occurred 13th November 1916 – Died of wounds 13th Stationary Hospital Boulogne 19 November 1916 – Died of Wounds Casualty List dated 21 December 1916 Hull Daily Mail 23 December 1916 – Documents Available – Effects to widow and sole legasee Violet Maud – Photograph and Biog Hull Daily News 24 November 1916 died of wounds in a French hospital – Roll of Honour Walcott Street Hull Hull Daily News 18 September 1916 – Commemorated East Yorkshire Regiment War Memorial Beverley Minster East Yorkshire – In memorium Hull Daily Mail 19 November 1917 – War Diary –

13th November 1916

The 1st wave, under command of Capt Laverack, had no difficulty in taking the German 1st line. The 2nd and 3rd waves went through without difficulty, but by the time the 2nd wave had got to the German 2nd line, the Battalion on our right had got into difficulties, owing to the state of the ground and machine gun fire. The 3rd wave took the Germans 3rd line but what happened after this is not certain, but about 50 men and probably one Officer, are known to have been taken prisoner. The Battalion on our right (2nd Suffolk Regiment) were back in their own front line by 7am. This left the right flank of our Battalion completely exposed and the Germans made at least 3 counter attacks. On our right there (sic) counter attacks were only partially successful, as certain parties were able to hold the German 2nd line until 2.0pm. After this these parties retired, to the German 1st line. The last men left the German 1st line at 8.45pm. From 9.45am to 6pm the Germans barraged all our lines and in particular Caber Trench, where Battalion HQ were situated. Owing to this barrage it was impossible to get either supplies or reinforcements over, though several attempts were made. The Battalion took over 200 prisoners, but a number of these escaped. In addition to the German Artillery barrage, they employed machine guns and snipers in sweeping our trenches and “no mans” land

Age
35
Birthplace
Beverley
Enlisted
Hull
Residence
Hull
How Died
Died of Wounds
Memorial
VIII. D. 208.BOULOGNE EASTERN Cemetery France
Next of Kin
15 James Terrace Walcott Street Hull - Husband of Violet M. Hewson (formerly Akrill) of 69, Walcott Street, Hull - 6 Sorento Avenue Woodhouse Street Hull
Date Died
19-Nov-16