31st July 1917 - Captain David Aubrey Sandbrook
 |
| Captain David Aubrey Sandbrook |
The Third Battle of Ypres or otherwise known as the The Battle
of Passchendaele commenced on the 31st July 1917.
The Battle was fought between the Allies, under the command
of Douglas Haig, Hubert Gough and Herbert Plumer against the German Empire,
under the command of Erich Ludendorff, Rupprecht of Bavaria and Friedrich Sixt
von for the control of the ridges south east of the Belgian city of Ypres,
Campaigns in Flanders were controversial during 1917, as the
British Prime Minister, David Lloyd George opposed to the offensive as did
General Ferdinand Foch. It was not until
25th July that Haig received approval for the operation.
Herbert Gough choice the location of where the Battle would
be fought, having been its climate.
The campaign was fought in a series of battles last from the
July – November 1917.
The Battle of Passchendaele is infamous remembered not for
the lost of casualties but also for mud.
During the first day, 31st July, the Battle of
Pilckem Ridge was fought. The battle
last until the 2nd August, commenced at 3.50 am. The British was to start at dawn, however low
cloud, meant that went the infantry started their advancement it was still
dark. The Germans were able to drive the
three British brigades back with 70% casualties.
It is during this first Battle, that Captain David Aubrey Sandbrook,
of the 14th (Service) Battalion (Swansea), Welsh Regiment was
killed.
David Aubrey Sandbrook, whom was 34 years has no known grave
and he is commemorated at Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.
David Aubrey was the son of Thomas and Harriette. His father was an Ironmonger. He was educated at Swansea Grammar
School.
By the time of the 1901 Census, Sandbrook occupation was
listed as Coal Shipping Clerk.
 |
| David Aubrey Sandbrook's home De-la-Beche Road, Sketty |
Prior to the First World War, Sandbrook, was married to
Harriette Sarah and residing at De-la-Beche Road, Sketty.
 |
| David Aubrey Sandbrook's Will £207 in 1917 is worth £10,000 today, 2020 |
At the outbreak of the First World War,
Sandbrook, who had been for a few years in Central Africa and Rhodesia. Reaching Cape Town with three friends, they could
not obtain their passage back to the United Kingdom, they worked it. Sandbrook, had a brother, John Arthur Sandbrook,
was a former journalist for the Cambrian at the time of the First World
War the editor of Englishman in Calcutta. During the First World War, Sandbrook served
with the Indian Expeditionary Force. Also,
a sister, Harriet Marion Sandbrook served as a nurse.
During the first day of the Battle Passchendaele, the 15th
Battalion, who made the advancements had made reached a house at Iron Cross,
with out any oppositions. Here they
captured a telephone exchange, 3 German officers and 67 other ranks. On their left, the 14th Battalion,
were being held up by two German machine guns at Iron Cross. They had been outflanked and taken, with a
further 20 Prussian Guards killed and 40 captured. The battalion then advanced to Green Line,
where they took a dressing station and 38 prisoners. It was at Iron Cross, that Captain Sandbrook
was killed.
It is the poignant letter that Sandbrook wrote to his mother,
published in South Wales Weekly Post.
It reads:
‘At dawn we go
over the parapet to fight got all that is worth fighting for. When I travelled from Southampton to London
in September 1914, in the prefect golden calm of a St. martin’s summer evening,
and looked out of the windows at the gracious southland of England, the quiet
villages and poppy-studded cornfields,, the green pastures dotted with cattle –
the perfect picture of England as I had always dreamed of her – I felt a sudden
a flush of anger at the idea that Germany had for one moment imaged that the owners
of so fair a heritage would lay it down at the bidding of military autonomy.
 |
| "I Die For England" David Aubrey Sandbrook moving letter South Wales Weekly Post 11th August 1917 |
 |
| South Wales Weekly Post 29th December 1917 |
During the attack, Sergeant F. W. White, of Killay was
DCM. Captain Leonard Powell Godfrey was
injured during the course of the day.
Posthumously, Captain Sandbrook was Mentioned in Dispatches, December
1917.
 |
| South Wales Weekly Post 8th September 1917 |
 |
| Family Announcements The Cambria Daily Leader 11th August 1917 |
Comments
Post a Comment