South Africa 1899-1902 & 1914/15 Trio WIA SOMME LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS

South Africa 1899-1902 & 1914/15 Trio.
South Africa Medal 1899-1902, Clasp: Cape Colony, South Africa 1902. 381 Pte. A.Cronshaw. 2nd Bn Lancashire Fusiliers.

1914/15 Star, British War Medal 1914-19, Victory Medal. 5994. Pte. A. Cronshaw. Lancashire Fusiliers.

Entitled to a SWB seriously WOUNDED IN ACTION, THE SOMME. Discharged due to WOUNDS. (Missing from Group).

SILVER WAR BADGE Number 59908 due to WOUNDS - “   No Longer Fit for Military “Service”.

Aaron Cronshaw enlisted on 22nd October 1900 in the Lancashire Fusiliers. 381. Pte. A . Cronshaw. A replacement for the large number of men the Regiment lost at SPION KOP and served in the South African War until the end of hostilities leaving the Regiment on 21st October 1906.

WORLD WAR ONE 
On the 7th September 1914 he enlisted straight away in his old Regiment, under a new number 5994. Pte. A. Cronshaw. 2nd Bn  Lancashire Fusiliers. Seeing ACTIVE SERVICE in FRANCE.

Aaron Cronshaw was wounded during the month of June, in the big build up for the attack on 1st July 1916 when the Battalion moved into the MAILY- MALLET area ready to attack on the 1st July 1916. They lost many men to German Shelling which hit trench lines. This was considered a quiet, but steady drain of Men.

2nd BATTALION LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS  AT YPRES 1915 

The 2nd Bn Lancashire Fusiliers were heavily engaged in the 2nd Battle of Ypres 22nd April - 25th May 1915 where they suffered massive casualties defending against massive German Gas Attacks. They lost 1,000 to 1,200 men KILLED / WOUNDED / and MISSING which was more than the standard fighting strength of the BATTALION.

On the St.JULIEN GAS ATTACK/ CHLORINE GAS over 431 men and 18 OFFICERS were GASSED and the Majority DIED. 

THE BATTLE OF FREZENBURG  8th May 1915. A massive GERMAN INFANTRY ATTACK completely overwhelmed their position 300 men were killed, only 1 Officer and 40 Men survived.

THE INTERNATIONAL TRENCH BOMB FIGHT 7th July 1915 

 During the BRUTAL Hand-Grenade Battle to hold SAP TRENCH the Battalion took another MASSIVE HIT with 100 men KILLED or DIED OF WOUNDS immediately afterwards.

THE SOMME 1st July 1916

The 1st Bn LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS gathered in Sunken Lane near BEAUMONT HAMEL. At 0730 they went over the top and advanced into DEVASTATING MACHINE GUN FIRE. Out of the 600 men of the LANCASHIRE Fusiliers they suffered CATASTROPHIC LOSSES with with over 500 men lost in less than an hour.

2nd Bn LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS 

While their sister unit was wiped out on the 1st Day of the Somme, the 2nd Battalion attacked at the same time slightly further North at REDAN RIGE and advanced into DEVASTATING MACHINE GUN FIRE and ARTILLERY BOMBARDMENT into uncut German WIRE and the advancing waves were ANNIHILATED. The attack failed to take its objectives and suffered MASSIVE CASUALTIES, holding the line under SHELLFIRE before being pulled back. The 2nd Bn Lancashire Fusiliers lost 450 Officers & Men in the first few minutes of the attack. Over half the Battalion’s Strength, due to the constant barrage subsequent Artillery fire at the Wars end no remains of the men were found. They are commemorated on the THIEPVAL Memorial to the missing .

TOTAL CASUALTIES IN WW1 

A total of 13,642 men serving in the Lancashire Fusiliers were KILLED IN ACTION with 38,000 to 41,000 WOUNDED IN ACTION. 
Over 50,000 CASUALTIES. A high price to pay for victory. Aaron Cronshaw survived WW1 and was issued a pension, due to the Wound received on the Somme.

UNMATCHED  VALOUR. Despite the tragic death toll, the Lancashire Fusiliers became the most DECORATED BRITISH INFANTRY REGIMENT of the War winning 18 VICTORIA CROSSES.