Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | St. Venant-Robecq Road British Cemetery, Robecq | I. F. 22. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.127 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 38B GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Son of Frederick and Margaret Kelsall, of 104, Higher Parr St., St. Helens, Lancs.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 7th Btn Tank Corps |
| Action : The First Battles of the Somme 1918 and associated actions |
21 March - 4 July 1918. The Battles of the Somme in 1918 were mostly concerned with stemming the German advance which started in March 1918 and which made considerable gains in the Somme/Arras sector. Utilising surplus troops which had become available following the surrender of Russia after the October Revolution, the Germans gambled on a massive campaign that could win the war in the west before the USA could bring its resources to bear. Initial gains were in places spectacular but eventually dogged resistance coupled with supply problems and sheer exhaustion closed down the battle. Other attacks were launched along the front to probe the Allied defences but the same pattern of initial gains followed by stalemate prevailed. British casualties were almost 345,000.
Detail :
201452 Private KELSALL Herbert Tank Corps 7th Battalion
Formerly 32455, Machine Gun Corps.
The son of Frederick and Margaret Kelsall of 104 Higher Parr Street, St. Helens, Lancashire he was born at St. Helens and enlisted at Hoylake, Cheshire. He was killed in action on the 14th April, 1918 aged 30 and is buried in St. Venant-Robecq Road British Cemetery, Robecq, France, Grave Reference I.F.22.
His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on the 2nd May, 1918 - "ST HELENS FAMILY'S LOSS. - The family of Mr. F. Kelsall, of 104 Higher Parr-street, St. Helens, have lost two brothers killed and one seriously wounded. Five of Mr. Kelsall's six sons were with the forces. John, who was in the Canadian Artillery, was killed on March 4; Herbert Kelsall is now reported to have been killed on April 13, and the day before his brother Arthur was dangerously wounded in both legs."
They are remembered on the Holy Trinity War Memorial, Parr St. Helens and the St. Helens Roll of Honour website.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Hilbre No. 2375 E.C. | Cheshire |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
27th February 1913 | 27th March 1913 | 22nd May 1913 |
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