James Brookbanks, Age 23

Guardsman , 28101, 3^rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards.

James was the son of Mr Brookbanks of 6 Stone Row, Dawley.

I was unable to find out anything about James life except for the fact that he was killed in action in Flanders on November 27^th 1917 alongside another Dawley lad, James Yapp and is remembered on the Cambrai Memorial panel 2 as his body was never found.

Notes: James was the son of Mr. Joseph Brookbanks and Eliza Brookbanks, he was baptised at Malinslee on the 24^th Sep 1896, in 1901 they were living in Little Eyton Fold, but by 1911 they had moved to No 6 Stone Row, James occupation was a horse driver, after his death the army pension was paid to his mother at 3 Single Row, Hinkshay.

Battle Of Cambrai - Capture Of Bourlon Wood - 24/11/1917
Location: Fontaine-Notre-Dames. British victory. The Allied attack on Bourlon Wood was part of a larger battle to take Cambrai, an important railway junction and supply point for the Hindenburg Line.

If Cambrai and the higher ground of Bourlon Wood fell to the Allies, then German supply lines from the coast would be vulnerable to attack. British success on the first day of the battle for Cambrai were countered by heavy losses to the Tank Corps, mainly due to mechanical breakdown rather than enemy action.

However more critically the strategically important high ground of Bourlon Wood remained in German possession, before the majority of it was captured by 40^th Division on 23^rd November. German counter-attacks being held off during the following days, on 27^th November the British called a halt to their attack and began to consolidate their positions.

The Guards Division was in general reserve during the initial attack, moving forwards during the night of 23^rd and 24^th November to relieve 51^st Division outside Fontaine-Notre-Dames, 1^st Guards Brigade moving into the front line with 3^rd Guards Brigade in support around Flesquieres.

With 40^th Division on the left in Bourlon Wood coming under pressure from German counter-attacks, on 25^th November 3^rd Guards Brigade were dispatched to assist them.

2^nd Scots Guards and 4^th Grenadier Guards attacked during the day, the Germans were pushed back again through the wood and south-west of it.

62^nd Division relieved 40^th Division during the night of 25^th-26^th November, 2^nd Scots Guards and 4^th Grenadier Guards were relieved in their advanced positions on 26^th November, 3^rd Guards Brigade then returning to the Division.

2^nd Guards Brigade took over the Fontaine-Notre-Dames line from 1^st Guards Brigade in the early morning of 27^th November, at 06.20am the Brigade along with 62^nd Division staged a major attack on Bourlon Wood and Fontaine-Notre-Dames village. 2^nd Irish Guards on the left, 1^st Coldstream Guards in the centre and 3^rd Grenadier Guards on the right, 1^st Scots Guards forming a protective flank on the right.

Despite very heavy resistance, both 1^st Coldstream Guards and 3^rd Grenadier Guards were able to fight their way into Fontaine-Notre-Dames, reaching as far as the railway station, they were not in enough numbers to hold it and were forced to withdraw. 2^nd Irish Guards on the left having similar problems in Bourlon Wood, the attack was called off for the loss of 1081 casualties.

The Guards Division was relieved by 50^th Division during the night of 27^th-28^th November.

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Victory Medal	British War Medal