243580 L/Cpl. John Henry Badetscher British Army 7th (Service) Btn. King Royal Rifle Corps from:Marylebone, Middlesex (d.30th Jul 1915) John Badetscher was born 11th Jul 1885 the son of John Badetscher a butler of Swiss nationality and Annie Giblin. He volunteered to join the Army on 14th Aug 1914. He was posted as Rfmn. upon transfer to B Coy, 7th KRRC on 31st Oct 1914 in Winchester. Following promotion to L/Cpl. on 29th Jan 1915 he embarked for France with his Btn on 19th May 1915 and after a period of training in trench warfare the Battalion was sent to the area of Ypres. At 3am on 30th Jul 1915 the Germans attacked the Allied positions along the Ypres front in force. B Coy was occupying trenches G2 and G3 near Hooge to the North of Sanctuary Wood. This attack was the first time flamethrowers were used against British troops and the effect was devastating. Very soon the 8th Btn, Rifle Brigade who were holding the trenches to the left and rear of B Coy broke and withdrew. This left B Coy in a position whereby they were coming under enemy fire from the front, left and rear. They defended their position throughout the day slowly being pushed along the trenches towards Sanctuary Wood. Sometime in the early afternoon elements of 8th Btn, KRRC arrived and helped the remnants of B Coy hold the position. It was during this period of fierce fighting that L/Cpl Badetscher was killed whilst laying mines to defend B Coys position. Available records show that his body was eventually recovered by a detachment from 1st Btn Royal Fusiliers and buried but unfortunately it would appear that the location was lost as he has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial.
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