Captain, John Henry Edmund TRAFFORD-RAWSON MiD
Aged 21
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John Henry Edmund Trafford-Rawson was born in Salisbury on 26th June 1895 (3rd qtr 1895 Salisbury 5a:162} son of Henry and Julia TRAFFORD-RAWSON
(née WELSTEAD). Baptised in Stratford sub Castle, Salisbury on 18th July 1895.
1901 census...Aged 5, he was at Coldham Hall, Stanningfield with his father Henry RAWSON [49] own means, born Toronto, Canada; his mother Julia [29] born Kimbolton; sister Elizabeth [7] born Salisbury; uncle Richard WELSTEAD [34] born Kimbolton; 8 servants. 1911 census...Aged 15, he was a scholar at Souldern, Banbury, boarding with Reverend Eric RUDD and his family. His parents and uncle Richard Welstead were at Coldham Hall, Stanningfield. His father died in 1912 No mention of Lawshall, but Coldham Hall (16th C) is closer to Lawshall than Stanningfield, indeed part of the estate is in Lawshall parish. |
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The battalion war diary has:- Near Ginchy 18/9/16 The Bn attacked the QUADRILATERAL in conjunction with other Bns of the 6th Division at 5:50 am, as follows: At zero hour plus 6 minutes D Coy under the command of Capt G N Stockdale MC commenced bombing attack along the GERMAN TRENCH, known as the QUADRILATERAL. B and C Coys under Capt B Cord and Capt JHE Trafford-Rawson frontally attacked across the open, were met by very heavy machine gun and rifle fire, and had to withdraw to starting point. Two platoons of A Coy at plus 10 minutes advanced across GERMAN TRENCH to a quarry, 250 yards in front of the QUADRILATERAL and dug in, commencing at 6:15 am By 610 am D Coy had captured strong point and bombing up trench met the 14th D.L.I.. At this moment B and C Coys, having re-organised, advanced over the GERMAN TRENCH and over the crest where they formed up with the 14th D.L.I. on the right and A Coy on the left and commenced to dig in, commencing at 6:15 am By 6:45am the situation was as follows: A Coy strongly established with 1 Lewis Gun and two platoons at strong point, 250 yards in front of strong point in the QUADRILATERAL (about T.15 central) Patrols had been sent out and touch obtained with the 20th Division. Left flank covered by two machine guns. D Coy consolidated and making 4 strong points Heavy hostile shelling took place during the remainder of the day Captured:- 1 trench mortar, 1 machine gun and 100 wounded and unwounded prisoners. Casualties Killed Capt B.Corp, 2nd Lts M.Burke, CS Gell and 10 other ranks Wounded 2nd Lts GD Elin, HW Brown, WK Marshall, AA Neville and 93 other ranks Missing Capt JHE Trafford-Rawson, 2nd Lt RLS Green and 38 other ranks The battalion was relieved by the 5th Division at 2am 18/19th. Relief completed by 4 am. On relief the Bn proceeded to bivouac at A.9.a
and also in Stanningfield click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
