John Cassidy

Died on the 16/06/1915 at the 1st Battle of Bellewaarde (listed as missing presumed dead)

The Battalion arrived at Le Havre on the 14/08/1914 and were part of the 9th Brigade, 3rd Division when John was reported as "missing" at the Battle of Bellewaarde, which took place on the 16th June 1915, it is also known as the First Battle of Bellewaarde, or the Battle of Hooge. A battlefield approximately ½ mile square, where over 1000 men died within a 12 hour period and many others wounded, some would die later of infection or complications. The Battle on the 16/06/1915 from 2.50 a.m from the Battalion War Diary : "A bombardment commenced and Royal Scots Fusiliers trenches were slightly damaged by the fire. At 4.15 a.m. : Bombardment ceased and the Royal Scots Fusiliers advanced. On the left "B" Company, under Captain Whigham, rushed their objective under shell and rifle fire and captured and consolidated 1st line of trenches. 2nd Lieut. Webster and C.S.M. Gardiner were killed here. On the right "A" Company, under Captain Utterson - Kelso reached their objective with practically no loss. At 4.30 a.m. : The Royal Scots Fusiliers with Liverpool Scottish and Lincolns had pushed on - At 4.45 a.m. : had seized Y15 Communication trench to E. At 5.00 a.m. : Royal Scots Fusiliers under Captain Whigham, and Liverpool Scottish had seized trench S.W. of pond at Bellewaarde Farm and had consolidated same and were prepared to advance to fire at objective. The Farm was however so heavily shelled by our own artillery that further advance was impossible. At 5.15 a.m. : The Commanding Officer returned to telephone established at Y15 and informed Officer Commanding 9th Brigade of situation. Our artillery fire still caused heavy losses to our men and impeded advance. Captain Whigham pushed on and seized German trench flow. Captain Whigham with 30 Royal Scots Fusiliers and 20 Liverpool Scottish held this until 6.30 a.m. when being unsupported he had to return along same line to original trench S.W. of Farm and remained there until 3 p.m. At 12.00 Noon : Re-enforcements were sent to Captain Whigham under C.S.M. Taylor. Captain Whigham then retired to and held the line Y13 - Y14 until the Brigade was relieved. The whole Regiment maintained with other units the lines they had captured until relieved about 11 p.m. The German infantry offered the most feeble resistance at the commencement. Continuous shell fire went on all day from both sides. At 5.00 p.m. : Second bombardment took place and here most of the Royal Scots Fusiliers losses were incurred. At 11.00 p.m. : Battalion relieved by Gordons and Royal Scots and retired to original billets". The casualties at this battle according to the War Diary were - 1 Officer Killed, 2 Seriously Wounded, 10 Wounded. 36 Other Ranks Killed, 24 Seriously Wounded, 199 Wounded, 202 Missing. SEE PHOTOS x 15 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY MAY - JUNE 1915. I personally laid a Poppy Cross at John's grave at Tyne Cot Cemetery in 2010. It was laid on the 95th Anniversary of John being listed as missing and was 3 days after my 40th Birthday (see main grave photo and 2 added photos). John was reburied in Tyne Cot Cemetery (see Reburial Form photo). John is also remembered on the St. Augustine's Roll of Honour (see photos). John was reburied in Tyne Cot Cemetery (see photos). See photos for John's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his listing in the De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report, the Tyne Cot Cemetery, the Royal Scots Fusiliers Cap Badge, John's Pension Records x 2, an aerial view of Tyne Cot Cemetery and Memorial and the 3rd Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division John was with when he died).