RYMILL, Thomas Edgar
Sergeant 9310, 2nd Loyal North Lancashire
Died of wounds 29th September 1918.
Son of Mrs E. Rymill of 11, Little Orford Street, Draycott Ave., Chelsea.
Thomas Edgar Rymill’s birth was registered in the March quarter of 1891 at Chelsea. He was the oldest child born to Robert Edgar Rymill, sometimes known as Edgar, and Elizabeth, possibly nee Herbert. He had one brother and one sister and his father was employed as a carman. This information was obtained from his younger brother’s baptismal record. Nothing is known regarding Thomas’s early life as neither he nor his family can be found on any census return.
Poor Law records show that Thomas was admitted to Beechholme on the 9th of October 1903, his mother being in the workhouse infirmary at this time. Thomas’s father is in the Chelsea Workhouse in Britten Street on the1911 census and it is possible that he was in there for a few years.
By 1911 Thomas is a soldier serving with the 2nd Loyal North Lancashire regiment stationed at Ghopuri Barracks, Poona, India. He is aged 21 and his rank is given as private.
The 2nd Loyal North Lancashire battalion landed at Tanga in what was German East Africa on the 3rd of November 1914. The battle of Tanga sometimes known as the battle of the Bees, was the unsuccessful attack by the British Indian Expeditionary Force together with the Invasion Force to capture German East Africa, present day Tanzania. It took place on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. It was the first major event of the war in Africa and saw the British defeated by a significantly smaller force of German Askaris and colonial volunteers.
For the next two years the 2nd Loyal North Lancashires fought a small scale bush war on the frontier between Kenya and German East Africa. As the only regular British battalion in theatre they were the backbone of the defence, and in addition to its normal infantry role the battalion manned an improvised artillery battery and found mounted infantry and machine gun companies. They fought in many minor actions including skirmishes around Lake Victoria and took part in the operations which led to the capture in March 1916 of the Kilimanjaro area. However, tropical diseases took a heavy toll on the battalion and in December 1916 it was transferred to the healthier climate of Egypt.
In January 1917 they landed at Suez and from here proceeded to Sidi Bashr and were then placed into the lines of communication at Gaza.
On the 27th of May 1918 they landed in France and transferred to the 101st brigade in 34th division.
Marshall Foch’s counter stroke on the Aisne was launched on the 18th of July 1918 and the 2nd Loyal North Lancashires newly arrived from the middle east were committed to battle on the 22nd of July with the 34th division under command of the French 10th army. Over the next few days they advanced against fierce opposition south of Soissons suffering 433 casualties.
By late July the force of the final German offensive was spent and the Allied armies were regaining the initiative. By that time some 18 battalions of the East, South and Loyal North Lancashires would take part in the final allied advance on the western front.
On the 8th of August 1918 an allied offensive achieved complete surprise and made considerable gains. By mid September the Germans were back on the Hindenberg Line.On the 28th of September, three Lancashire battalions took part in the recapture of the Messines Ridge and Ploegsteert. Early on the 29th of September the 2nd Loyal North Lancashire regiment took the village of Wytschaete from the rear.
An extract from the war diary describing the events of the 28th/29th September 1918.
28th Sept 1918. Kemmel
05.30. “ No.2 and 3 patrols having crept forward close under the barrage, commences to advance.”
5.40 am. “ No 2 patrol entered WARSAW CRATER while C Company swept round EASTERN LIP from north and south charging 2 machine guns and bombing the enemy before they could emerge from their dug outs. No 2 patrol captured 7 enemy. 2 platoons of C Company then advanced 100 yards due east of WARSAW CRATER and occupied and consolidated BLUE LINE north of SUICIDE ROAD.
The enemy were completely overcome by this rapid movement and had no time to offer any serious resistance. 42 enemy captured. 8 killed.”
07.45. “ Enemy barrage on our jumping off trench caused a few casualties. Casualties were also caused to B Company as they advanced over the low ground east of PETIT BOIS”
13.00 “ Information received that British troops were in Wytschaete village. Several attempts were made to go forward which met with severe opposition again from 77 mm guns in WYTSHCAETE WOOD.”
16.00. “ The whole of B Company had gone through in small parties into the wood and had driven enemy snipers from the northern position.”
19.15 “ HOSPICE was captured by B Company and consolidated, the remaining Coys pressed through in artillery formation. The dark night enabled them to get within 10 yards of the enemy. One hostile machine gun captured with the loss of one man wounded.”
22.05. “ Enemy had evacuated Wytschaete and B Coy occupied same.”
29/9. 06.00 “ B Coy now withdrawn from Wytschaete and sent to occupy BUG FARM”
11.00. “ By this time the enemy had withdrawn in a south east direction.”
On the night of the 29th/30th Sept the 2nd btn withdrew to ALBERTA DUGOUTS west of WYTESCHAETE to reorganise.”
Casualties for the previous 48 hours :- Killed -Other Ranks 11
Wounded - Other Ranks 42
Missing - Other Ranks 11
GRAVE REF :-Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, XXIV.G.21A.
On his gravestone is the inscription " Rest in Peace. In Loving Memory from his mother and relatives."
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