VLAMERTINGHE MILITARY CEMETERY
Driver Alexander Lamb
21st Battery, 2nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, executed for desertion, 02/10/1915 Driver Lamb had gone to France in October 1914 with a draft for 21 Battery, 2nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery but on the 19th October 1914 he absented himself from the train at Boulogne that otherwise would have taken him to the front. He was arrested on the 19th June 1915 in Calais where he had been living with a woman and had civilian clothing in his possession. The Court Martial sentenced him to death and following confirmation of the sentence on the 19th September 1915 he was executed at Vlamertinghe on the 2nd October 1915. |
Private Albert Rickman,
1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, executed for desertion 15/09/1916 Private Rickman had served with his Battalion in Gallipoli from April 1915 until January 1916, the Battalion eventually landing in France on the 19th March 1916. On the 1st July 1916 the Fusiliers advanced at 0800 in the second wave attacking near Beaumont-Hamel. Heavy German machine-gun fire cut them down before they could pass through the British barbed wire. Casualties were 11 officers and 300 other ranks. On the 2nd July the survivors held the British front line near Auchonvillers, gathering up the dead and wounded and repairing the trenches. 27 years old Private Rickman deserted and was not arrested until the 20th July on the lines of communication in the rear. By the time of the Court Martial the 29th Division had left the Somme and moved up to the Ypres Salient and on the 7th September 1916 the death sentence was confirmed and on the 15th September 1916 Private Rickman, aged 27, was shot at 0600 for desertion. Information courtesy of www.ww1wargraves.co.uk
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