GEORGE HENRY WATERS 1890-1916

158540 Sapper George Henry Waters, 256^th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers was killed in action 14 September 1916 and is buried in Maroeuil British Cemetery, France.[1]   He was 26 years old and is commemorated on the Copley War Memorial and the memorial plaques in Copley Institute and St. John the Evangelist Church, Lynesack.

Family Details

George Henry Waters was born 1890 [2] in the Parish of Lynesack and Softley, the son of William and Mary Waters.  There were at least 6 children, all born within the Parish: [3]

• Luke William bc.1885
• John J. bc.1887
• George Henry born 1890
• Lizzie Jane bc.1895
• Fred bc.1899
• Gordon bc.1902

In 1891, the family lived at Copley where William was a self- employed shoemaker.[4]  By 1901, William was described as a “bootmaker.”  17 years old Luke and 14 years old John were employed as stone masons.[5]  By 1911, the family lived at the Post Office, Copley and William was recorded as a “Bootmaker Dealer.”  George Henry, now 21 years old was employed as a coal miner, putter and hewer.[6]  In 1913, George married Mary Elizabeth Fletcher [7] and they had 2 children:

• Elsie Fletcher born 20 November 1914
• Verna May born 3 May 1916

Mary E. Waters lived at 22 Montrose Terrace, Copley, Butterknowle.[8]

Service Details

The service record of Sapper George Henry Waters has not been traced.  He enlisted at Bishop Auckland into the Corps of Royal Engineers being allocated the regimental number 158540 and served with the 256^th Tunnelling Company.[9]  The date when Sapper G.H. Waters enlisted and entered France is unknown but he did not enter France until after 31 December 1915 since he was not awarded the 1914-1915 Star.[10]

The 256 TC RE was the last tunnelling company to be formed, in July 1916, with Captain W.T. Wilson in command.  It was placed on the Vimy Front, No.3 Section and took over from the 184^th Tunnelling Company.  The 256 TC RE moved to Nieuport, Belgium in June 1917.  It seems reasonable to assume that Sapper G.H. Waters served in the Vimy area, between July 1916 and his death, 14 September 1916.

The formation of the new RE tunnelling companies began during the winter of 1914-1915 and was treated as an urgent priority by the War Office.  Miners declared surplus to the war effort at home were encouraged to join up. Once at the front, after a very short period of military training the new companies were rushed to the areas where their expertise was most needed.  The distinction of the first company to blow a mine under the enemy trenches belongs to the 171 TC RE – 4 March 1915 at 7.40pm near Ypres.[11]  By July 1916, there were now a total of 32 tunnelling companies – 25 British, 3 Australian, 3 Canadian and 1 New Zealand operating along the British Front.  A census taken in June 1916 recorded that there were between 18,000 and 24,000 men continuously employed underground. [12]  When at full strength, a company could field 500-600 miners and was often reinforced by fatigue parties drawn from infantry battalions in reserve.  Company numbers could get into 4 figures.[13]

Mining in the Vimy Sector 1916-1917

February 1916: The French Tenth Army was relieved by the XVII Corps of the British Third Army commanded by Lieut-General Sir Julian Byng.

Underground warfare had been an active feature of the Vimy sector since March 1915 when Bavarian engineers exploded 20 mines.  The Germans seized the initiative and built an extensive network of tunnels and deep mines from which they attacked French positions by setting off explosive charges underneath their trenches.  By early 1916, German miners had gained a clear advantage over the French.  The newly formed British RE tunnelling companies were immediately deployed to combat German mining operations and their first task was to stop the German underground advance and then develop a defensive strategy to prevent the enemy gaining a tactical advantage. [14]

During 1916, in the Arras sector which included Vimy Ridge, 10 RE TCs dug thousands of yards of shafts, exploding well over 100 large mines underneath or close to German positions.  The tide was turning.  On the ridge, as in other sectors of the Western Front, the Germans were losing the initiative.[15]  In response to increased British mining aggression, German artillery and trench mortar fire intensified from early May 1916.

For example:

21 May 1916: Operation “Schleswig Holstein” commenced – an attack on the British lines along a 200 yard-front in an effort to eject them from positions along the ridge.  After shelling both forward trenches and divisional artillery positions from no less than 80 batteries, located on the reverse side of the ridge and out of sight, the Germans captured several British controlled tunnels and mine craters.

22 May: counter attacks by units of the 140^th and 141^st Brigades failed to remove the Germans from these positions.

October 1916: the Canadian Corps relieved the British IV Corps stationed along the western slopes of Vimy Ridge.[16]

1916 was the most active year of the underground war – the British exploded a total of 750 mines along the BEF front line, the Germans 696.[17]

At the Battle of Vimy, 9-14 April the Commanding Officers took a cautious approach to the use of mine warfare. In analysing the 19 distinctive crater groups fired by French, British, Canadian and Germans in the 4 miles of No-Man’s Land in the Vimy Sector it was decided that 4 should be avoided due to the presence of clay on account that they would be always full of water.  Initially, a plan was devised for 26 large mines to be worked to support the assault – 4 were abandoned due to technical difficulties, 2 were detonated before 9 April for defensive purposes, 5 were fired as planned, 8 were prepared but not used and 7 others appear not to have been undertaken.[18]

The preparation for the assault on Vimy Ridge was planned months in advance and the TCs created extensive underground networks and fortifications involving 12 subways up to 1,300 yards long excavated to a depth of 33 ft. and used to connect reserve lines to front lines permitting soldiers to advance unseen.  This work needed concealed narrow gauge railways, hospitals, command posts, water reservoirs, ammunition stores, mortar and machine gun posts, communication centres etc. [19] The German tunnellers were also at work and every effort was made to destroy each other’s creations.

It is within this context that Sapper G.H. Waters worked and laid down his life.  The Germans launched artillery bombardments, mortar fire and aerial torpedoes to disrupt tunnelling work – the usual violence of warfare and Sapper G.H. Waters was a victim.  The 256th Company RE was working in the Agnez-le-Duisans area and the War Diary for 14 September 1916 records:[20]

“9.50 am No.158450 Spr. Waters G. killed & No.27559 Pte. Astbury J. wounded by aerial torpedo.”   

The following letter, written by Lt. Stafford Hill, RE Adjutant 256 TC RE, was sent to Sapper G.H. Water’s wife:

“Dear Madam

I am very sorry to have to return you your letter addressed to your late husband together with the book by Ruskin on Political Economy.

It may be some small consolation to you to know that your husband did not suffer, he was struck by an aerial torpedo and killed instantly one other man being slightly wounded.

Your husband was a general favourite with his brother soldiers and appreciated by his officers.

Wishing that the knowledge that he died whilst serving his country, bravely doing his duty in the gigantic struggle against an unscrupulous enemy, may help to assuage the poignancy of your grief.

Believe me I remain

Yours faithfully

Stafford Hill Lt. RE

Adjt 256 (T) Coy RE”

The following brief statement appeared in the County Chronicle Thursday 28 September 1916:[21]

“George Henry Waters killed by aerial torpedo.  In a letter to his wife, officers gave great praise.  Well known in the district.  Parents had the post office in Copley.”

Back to the war and in April 1917, the Canadians captured Vimy Ridge but the Allies did not secure a break through, the Germans did not attempt to recapture the ridge even during the Spring Offensive and it remained under British control until the end of the war.  The loss of Vimy Ridge forced the German High Command to review their defensive strategy and they retreated to the Oppy-Mericourt line.   As part of this retreat, they operated a scorched earth policy.  With the failure of the French Nivelle Offensive, the British had to keep up the pressure in the Arras sector in order to minimize French losses. [22]

Medals and Awards

Sapper G.H. Waters was awarded the British War and Victory medals.[23]

Effects and Pension

George Waters’ widow Mary received his effects [24] and pension.[25]

Burial

Sapper G.H. Waters is buried at grave reference III.F.10 Maroeuil British Cemetery.[26]  His wife Mary organised the following epitaph:

“Asleep in Jesus”

The cemetery contains 563 Commonwealth burials including 25 officers and men of tunnelling companies of the Royal Engineers.

Commemoration

Sapper George Henry Waters is commemorated on the Copley War Memorial and the memorial plaque in St. John the Evangelist Church, Lynesack.

REFERENCES

[1] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[2] England & Wales 1837-1915 Birth Index Vo.10a p.561 Auckland 1890 Q1

[3] 1891, 1901 & 1911 census details

[4] 1891 census

[5] 1901 census

[6] 1911 census

[7] England & Wales 1837-1915Marriage Index Vol.10a p.504 Auckland 1913Q3

[8] Dependant’s Pension card index

[9] Soldiers Died in the Great War

[10] Medal Roll card index

[11] “Tunnellers” Capt. W. Grant Grieve & B. Newman 1936 p.43-44

[12] “Tunnellers” Capt. W. Grant Grieve & B. Newman 1936 p.110-111

[13] “The Underground War: Military Mining Operations in Support of the Attack on Vimy Ridge 9 April 1917” Michael Boire 1992 p.4 Note: this source states that there were TCs numbered 33.

[14] En.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vimy_Ridge

[15] Boise p.5

[16] En.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vimy_Ridge

[17] “The Corps Expeditionary Canadien 1914-1919” Col. G.W.L. Nicholson 1963 p.502 quoted in Boire’s article.

[18] Boire p.7 quoted from Robinson

[19] En.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vimy_Ridge Note: this source states that:”Of the explosive charges laid by the British, 3 mines were fired before the assault; another 3 mines and 2 specialized charges were fired at the start of the attack.” i.e. a total of 8 compared to Boise (Robinson) quotes 7.

[20] WO-95-488-10 War Diary 256th Company RE

[21] County Chronicle Thursday 28 September 1916

[22] En.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vimy_Ridge

[23] Medal Roll card index

[24] UK Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects 1901-1929 Record No.344670

[25] Dependant’s Pension card index

[26] CWGC

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