Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery | II. M. 7. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.124 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 22C GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Son of Frederick and Evelyn Haeffner of 22 Netherhall Gardens Hampstead LondonService Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 151st Brigade, RFA |
| Action : The Battles of the Somme 1916 |
The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.
Detail :
De Ruvigny's: HAEFFNER, FREDERICK WILFRED, 2nd Lieut., R.F.A., only s. of F.A.C.J. Haeffner, of 22, Netherhall Gardens, Hampstead, London N.W., by his wife, Evelyn, dau. of the Rev. I. Cappel, D.D.; b. Hamspstead, 20 June, 1890; educ. Locker's Park, Hemel Hempstead;; Charterhouse, and New College Oxford; joined the Artist's Rifles in 1912; volunteered for foreign service after the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914., and obtained a commission in the R.F.A. 1 July 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from Jan. 1916, and was killed in action at the Battle of the Somme 9 July 1916. Buried in Maricourt Cemetery; unm.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Friends in Council No. 1383 E.C. | London |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
3rd June 1913 | 6th November 1913 | 1st January 1914 |
Inner Guard
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley