James Reynolds Duffin

Killed in Action 31/05/1918 at Bazieux, Somme

The Royal Field Artillery 235th Brigade were part of the 47th (2nd London) Division. When the Germans launched their offensive in March 1918 the 47th Division was in the line in the Flesquieres salient, in V Corps, on the extreme right of Third Army. Over the next six days the Division conducted a fighting withdrawal till, on the 26th of March it crossed the Ancre where the enemy advance was brought to a halt. Ironically, the Division's line of retreat had taken it through High Wood which it had captured at great cost eighteen months earlier. In the final advance to victory the Division, now in Fourth Army, retraced its steps through the Somme battlefield till, in October it came under command Fifth Army in the operations in Artois. SEE PHOTOS x 10 FOR THE 235th BRIGADE WAR DIARY APRIL - MAY 1918 and PHOTOS x 39 FOR THE 47th (2nd LONDON) DIVISION BOOK MARCH - MAY 1918. The 47th (2nd London) Division book for March 1918 states : "The casualty list was a heavy one. The total losses of the Division had been : 16 Officers Killed, 75 Wounded and 70 Missing (Total = 161). 166 Other Ranks Killed, 985 Wounded and 1,079 Missing (Total = 2,230). A more strenuous six days had never been endured by the Division. Against the will of everybody, the Division had been forced to retire. Every position taken up had been hotly contested". James was 1 of 11 men of "D" Battery 235th Brigade who fell on the 31/05/1918.All 11 men are buried in Bavelincourt Communal Cemetery. 9 more were wounded in the month of May. A huge thank you to James' relative Jim Duffin for information and photos regarding James. See photos for James' Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, two other photos of James' grave, Bavelincourt Communal Cemetery, photo of James, Memorial Cross and Message, photo of Message, photo of Memorial Cross, James' Pension Records x 2 and the Royal Field Artillery Cap Badge. Finally, see photos for the 47th (2nd London) Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division James was with when he fell).