St. Julien, Messines, Passchendaele... Those names will forever be associated with some of the deadliest battles of World War I. Battles during which countless of brave men sacrificed their youth to win "the war to end all wars". Our Clann's WWI Honour Roll pays tribute to fallen Clann members, Colemans of Irish origins, who died in combat before the Irish War of Independence.
This entry puts an emphasis on the Second Battle of Passchendaele that took place in October & November 1917, for control of the ridges south and east of the Belgian city of Ypres in West Flanders.
A Corporal with the 14th Btn. of the Gloucestershire Regiment, Christopher Coleman died on October 22nd 1917 while his unit was attacking northwards into Houthulst Forest. A carving on panel 72 of the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing is the ultimate reminder of his sacrifice in Flanders Fields.
James Coleman, aged 24 at the time of his death on October 23rd 1917, was a Private with the 24/27th Btn. of the Northumberland Fusiliers. Engaged between the Watervlietbeek and Broenbeek streams, his remains were never found and his name was recently added to the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing (addenda panel 164) in honour of his sacrifice.
Corporal James Albert Coleman of the 21st Bn. - Manchester Regiment would die a day later, on October 24th 1917. Aged 24 at the time of his death, he was the son of Annie Coleman of 17 Beechwood Rd., Ranelagh, Dublin, and the late Edward Coleman. James Albert was married to Ida Rosalind V. Coleman. His remains, too, were never found and he is now remembered through a carving on panel 120 of the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing.
Serjeant T. Coleman, MM passed away on November 6th 1917 when operations resumed after a seven-day tactical pause decided for divisional reliefs. Unfortunately, little is known about the reasons surrounding his award but we will not forget to honour his gallantry in this post. His grave (pictured below) can be found in Tyne Cot Cemetery, plot LVII.E.33.
Please note that the poppy on the cross pictured above represents the flowers growing on soldiers' graves in Flanders Fields. It is not a political statement of any sort.
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