James Tyrell

James Tyrell was born in the second quarter of 1895 in Bocking.

In 1911 James was 15 and his occupation was listed as Page.

James served as Private soldier 12215 with the 9th Battalion the Essex Regiment.

The 9th Battalion, the Essex Regiment was formed at Warley Barracks, Brentwood in 1914 as part of Kitchener’s new army, and contained quite a few volunteers from Felstead. The Battalion was attached to the 35th Brigade of the 12th (Eastern) Division. In March 1915 the battalion moved to Shornecliffe, and then to the Blenheim Barracks at Aldershot, before embarking for France on 30th May 1915. The Battalion arrived in Boulogne on 31st May 1915.

In September the British Army were involved in what was called “the big push” at the Battle of Loos. Loos (pronounced ‘Loss’ in French) is in the Pas De Calais, of Northern France. The Battle began on 23rd September, with the 12th (Eastern) Division being held in reserve.

In early October the 12th Division went into the line, and were involved in repelling heavy German Infantry attacks. The British continued to make gains but were engaged by German counter attacks on the 11th and 12th October. James Tyrell was killed on 12th October 1915 aged 20.

Having no known grave James Tyrell is remembered on the Loos Memorial. (photograph of memorial courtesy www.britishwargraves.co.uk)
 

Percy W. Tyrell

Percy William Tyrell was born in the final quarter of 1899 in Bocking.

Percy served as a Private soldier with the 1st Battalion the The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment.

The 1st Battalion the The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment were ordered into the line on 20th September 1918 and the battalion war diary records that on the 20th a warning order was received that the Brigade would attack on 21st at 5.40 am. 'A' and 'B' companies would lead the attack, and 'C' and 'D' companies would be in reserve. By 7.05 am a report was received that the attack had been held up by intense machine gun fire, and that 'B' company had suffered heavy casualties from machine gun fire at Limerick post. With nightfall the wounded were retrieved from no man's land and the battalion ordered to fall back to their start positions. 2 officers and 39 other ranks were killed and even more injured.

Percy died age 18 on 21st September 1918. He is buried at the Meath Cemetery, Villers-Guislain, Nord France.

Villers-Guislain was occupied by Commonwealth forces from April 1917 until the German counter attacks (in the Battle of Cambrai) at the end of November 1917. It was lost on 30 November and retained by the Germans on 1 December in spite of the fierce attacks of the Guards Division and tanks. The village was finally abandoned by the Germans on 30 September 1918, after heavy fighting. Meath Cemetery was made by the 33rd Division Burial Officer in October 1918.

James and Percy Tyrell were sons of William and Alice Tyrell of Ladysmith Cottages, Causeway End, Felsted.

The 1911 census records the family as:
William Tyrell - age 38 - Maltster - born Bocking.
Alice Tyrell (née Porter)- age 39 - born Stebbing.
James Tyrell - age 15 - Page - born Bocking.
Olive Tyrell - age 13 - Help - born Bocking.
Percy Tyrell - age 11 - at school - born Bocking.
Elsie Tyrell - age 9 - at school - born Bocking.
Wilfred Tyrell - age 7 - at school - born Felstead.
Hazel Tyrell - age 3 - born Felstead.
Doris Tyrell - age 1 - born Felstead. 

Another two children were born to William and Alice:
Ida M. Tyrell, born 1913
Hubert Joseph Tyrell, born 1916 (Hubert served in World War 2 and is listed on the Also Served Pages)