Daniel Atkinson

Killed in Action on the 22/08/1917 near Pommern Redoubt, Ypres

ADDITIONAL FAMILY INFORMATION - 1891 England Census - Address - 66 Marsden St, Kirkham, Lancaster - William Atkinson aged 55, Mary J Atkinson aged 35, John Smith (stepson) aged 10, Elizabeth Atkinson aged 6, William Atkinson aged 4, Martin Atkinson aged 2, Joseph Atkinson aged 3 months, Daniel Atkinson aged 3 months (twins). The 44th Machine Gun Company were part of the 44th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. The 44th Company War Diary states - 19/08/1917, POPERINGHE : Company moved to billets in YPRES. Operation Order attached. 20/08/1917 : Relieved 46th Machine Gun Company at Pommern Redoubt. On the 21/08/1917 : 1st day - Artillery action on both sides. 2nd Lieutenant Erskine wounded. On the 22/08/1917 : 2nd day - Attack on enemy's position at 4.45a.m. Held up by machine gun fire from Beck House. Very little progress - heavy casualties. SEE PHOTOS x 7 FOR THE 44th COMPANY WAR DIARY FOR AUGUST 1917 and PHOTOS x 9 FOR THE 15th (SCOTTISH) DIVISION BOOK AUGUST 1917. The Division fought in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, 31st July - 2nd August 1917 and the Battle of Langemarck, 16th - 18th August 1917 before Daniel fell on the 22/08/1917. These Battles were part of the Battles of Ypres (3rd Ypres), 31st July - 10th November 1917 : The British finally got what they had wanted since 1914 : the opportunity to attack at Ypres and breakout of the confines of the salient of trenches around it. Often known as the 3rd Battle of Ypres or Passchendaele, the offensive began with encouraging gains, but terrible summer weather soon bogged it down. By August the offensive was clearly failing in its objectives and had descended into attritional fighting. New techniques by both sides led to agonisingly slow forward movement for the British, at enormous cost in casualties to both sides. Bad weather in October led to the battlefield becoming an impossible quagmire. The 44th Companies casualties from the 05/08/1917 to the 31/08/1917 were 3 other ranks killed (Daniel was one of these), 1 Officer wounded (2nd Lieutenant Erskine), 22 other ranks wounded, 4 other ranks missing. A total of 30 all ranks. Daniel was formerly with the Royal Irish Rifles (2585). Daniel is also remembered on the Imperial Tube Works Panel (Stewarts and Lloyds Roll of Honour x 2). See photos for Daniel's Medal Index Card, his name on the Ireland Casualties WW1, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, the Ireland Census 1911 x 2, the England Census 1891, his name on the Tyne Cot Memorial, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Tyne Cot Memorial Panel List, the Machine Gun Corps Cap Badge, Daniel's Pension Records x 7, the 15th (Scottish) Division War Records for the day Daniel fell x 4, his Service Records x 9 and an aerial view of Tyne Cot Cemetery and Memorial. Finally, see photos for the 15th (Scottish) Division Order of Battle x 13 (the Division he was with when he died) and Newspaper clippings x 4 (Northern Whig (Antrim) x 1, Larne Times x 1, Ballymena Weekly Telegraph x 1 and the Belfast Weekly Telegraph x 1).