Identity
Person No.
3684
Service No.
914
Last Name
First Name
John Wilks
Initials
J W
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
23
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
MIA 785
Missing in action
Cause of Death
Missing in action. On the 18th October 1916, at 3.40 am, three companies of the 1st S.A.I. attacked Snag and Tail Trenches. The B Coy failed to realize that they had reached Snag Trench and continued beyond it. They had lost touch with their flanks and only some men succeeded to come back. Only a block was established at 50 metres of The Pimple. The D Company launched an attack at 5.45 pm and Snag Trench was occupied but the machine-gun fire from the Butte de Warlencourt took a heavy toll, leaving a small group in the trench
Military Service
Location
Country
Locality
Cemetery
Grave Reference
Coordinates
Memorial
Memorial
Location
On the Somme battlefield at Thiepval, overlooking the Ancre valley
Address
Coordinates
Panel
On the panel
1st Regiment South African Infantry, photograph 7
Notes
Son of Mrs. Lily Ann Cherry, of 4, Warren St., Grahamstown, Cape Province.
Research notes
Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 4 C: named on photograph "1st Regiment South African Infantry, photograph 7". Photograph: South African War Graves Project.
Citations
Unknown
External References
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Dedications
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