204620 Pte. William Kimber British Army 10th Btn. Royal Welsh Fusliers from:3 Gasworks Row, Bedwas Rd., Caerphilly, South Wales (d.26th Sept 1917) My mum never knew her father, William Kimble, as she was 2 years old when he was killed in action but she had some photos, which she looked at every day but never talked much about him, so when she died I decided to find out about this man (my grandad) who gave his life for us.
I cannot find out how and were he died. Mam said he got blown up but how could I find out were it was as we are going to Sanctury wood in a few weeks were he is buried. Mum says he was never found but I have found a grave number but would like to see were he was fighting and lost his life but need to find out were the 10th battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers were fighting that day. Can anyone help?
Update: William's service records are available online at Ancestry.co.uk He is listed as "wounded & missing" on the 26th Sept 1917. The cemetery in which he now lies was created after the war and many men who were buried in smaller cemeteries or recovered from the battlefield after the war were laid to rest there, it is very likely he was amongst their number.
On the day William was killed, his battalion were taking part in the Battle of Polygon Wood, the 10th RWF advanced over ground near Zonnebeke to the right of the railway and crossed the Steenbeek along with the 2nd Suffolks. After they had crossed the railway line they came under heavy machine gun fire from the railway station and were unable to capture it, though parties from the RWF did manage to enter the centre of Zonnebeke. The the 10th RWF held 150 yards of the road running north-west from the church.
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