Lieutenant G. Leresche : 19th Bn. Manchester Regt.

[PhilipG]

On the 24th July 1916, this officer was taken prisoner, together with Captain W.M.Clarke, Lt. J.A.Caldwell and 2nd Lt. N.H. Craston, I presume in respect of an attack at Guillemont.

Interestingly, whilst Leresche was a POW until the end of hostilities, his brother officers were interned in neutral countries.   In the case of Captain Clarke, he was interned in Switzerland on the 19th December 1916, whilst Caldwell and Craston were interned in Holland, both on the 15th June 1918.   PhilipG.

[PhilipG]

In the cases of Captain Clarke and Lieutenant Caldwell, I wonder whether or not the Red Cross have entries in connection with their moves to neutral countries.    PhilipG.

[charlie]

Philip,
The four Officers were indeed captured at Guillemont. The entries for their internment in Holland and Switzerland are attached. The RC record that Lt Leresche was also interned in Holland on 15.06.1918.

Charlie

[PhilipG]

Charlie,

Once again many thanks.

(For personal reasons, my eye  was drawn to the HMT Onward entry.  The trawler was shelled and sunk off Aberdeen, but the whole crew picked up and made POW's, including the RNR skipper).   PhilipG.