Family :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

Following a winter in the trenches the BEF was prepared to take the offensive against the Germans. The location was Neuve Chapelle, a small village in the front line below Aubers Ridge near Lille. Aubers Ridge was a low but significant hill and the intention at Neuve Chappell was to punch through the German front line, occupy the ridge and exploit with cavalry. It was a battle fought by two Corps of the BEF, the Indian Corps and IV Corps both largely consisting of regular battalions. It was to be preceded by the most violent artillery barrage of the war to date. Unfortunately in what was to be the start of the 'learning curve' for the BEF the artillery barrage, whilst violent, failed in some parts ? a failure that was to be costly and which delayed the assault and allowed the Germans to recover. Whilst the men were exceptionally brave they became bogged down as German machine guns and artillery stopped the momentum of the assault and by the end of the first day (10th March 1915) they were digging in. The following day the assault was repeated with fresh battalions but with no success. By the 12th March the Germans had recovered their poise, had brought in reserves and were ready to counter attack.

Neuve Chapelle (10-12 March 1915) was the first planned offensive battle by the BEF in France and achieved limited tactical success but not the expected breakthrough. It highlighted the problem of delay in execution that allowed the defending Germans to regroup, often consequent on small incidents and errors. Having stabilised the situation following the German sweep into France and the counter attack that eventually established static trench warfare on the western front, there was significant pressure on Britain to take a share of the burden from the French (who had without question had born the brunt of the fighting). Although the battle was effectively over by 12th March, the official battle nomenclature included actions in other sectors up to 22 April 1915 including the significant actions at St Eloi and at Hill 60 (Ypres).

Detail :

WADDY, JOHN RAYMOND, BA. M.R.CS. L.K.C.P., Lieutenant, R.A.M.C., 2nd son of Lt Col. Waddy, late Commanding 2nd Somerset L.I John WADDY was born in Weston-super-Mare Somerset on 15th February 1886 and was educated at Clifton College, Pembroke College Cambridge, and King's College Hospital where he qualified as a surgeon (M.R.C.S., and L.K.C.P. (London) 1912). He was in practice at Taunton when he volunteered on the outbreak of war, and was given a commission as temporary Lieutenant in the R.A.M.C. on 11th August 1914 and served with the Expeditionary Force in France. He was killed in action by a stray bullet in the Bois de Ploegsteert on 17th March 1915 and buried in Somerset Cemetery, Ploegsteert Wood. He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John French's Despatch of 14th January 1915 and was awarded the Military Cross, 18 February 1915. An officer of the Somersets wrote: We were all brother officers and men alike, absolutely devoted to him ; he was brave as a lion, and always ready to help anybody who needed him; no name will go down in the history of the regiment with more honour than his, for everybody loved him and realised his sterling qualities. And the Chairman of the King's College Hospital : Both at King's College, London, and at King's College Hospital, your son was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him. As you know, he finished a brilliant career at the hospital by obtaining the senior scholarship of this year, and was forthwith appointed House Surgeon to Professor Sir Watson Cheyne; the latter appointment he fulfilled to the complete satisfaction of his seniors, and during his residence in hospital he considerably enhanced that high reputation he had already gained. A Brother Medical Officer writes: Lieutenant Waddy's loss was much felt by all who had seen service with him. He had a reputation for unfaltering bravery and devotion to duty; recently his services had been recognized by the bestowal of the Military Cross. Most of us here will recall the fierce and fruitless attack on the German trenches on December 19th which cost us so dear*. Lieutenant Waddy was seen walking about in the open among our fallen, turning his electric torch on to them to see if he could bring them help. Every time the light shone the bullets whistled about him, but he worked on unheeding, to fall three months later to a stray bullet on one of the quietest days we have known for some time. He lies at rest next to the officers of the Somersets who fell that day; his funeral was attended by General Wilson, the officers of the Somersets, some officers of the R.A.M.C., and the men who were not in the trenches. He was the M.O. to the 1st Battalion of the Somersets and the son of a former colonel of the same regiment. Lieutenant John WADDY was replaced as Medical Officer by Captain John Henry Dyke ACKLAND – see his listing. * See Captain Charles Carus MAUD.

Masonic :

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