Laurence John Cullis, Age 20
Private, 200417, A coy, 4th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry.
K.S.L.I Regiment Cap Badge.
Laurence was the son of John and Eliza of 1 Brook House, Lightmoor.
He was a pre-war territorial having served for 5 years before he died of wounds on the l3th January 1918 of wounds received at Cambrai, These were likely to have been received on the Welsh Ridge where the 4th KSLI had been heavily involved. Laurence was a member of, A' Company
Laurence lies buried in the Bois Guillaume Cemetery in grave
C. 5.A.
Inscription added to head stone by: Mrs. E. Cullis, 1, Brook House, Lightmoor, Dawley, Salop.
Loved And Remembered By All.
Newspaper cutting of Private. Cullis.
Welch Ridge - 30/12/1917
Location: Welch Ridge (Welsh Ridge). Between 15th and 20th December 1917, 63rd (Royal Naval)
Division relieved 31st Division and 62nd Division in positions on Welch Ridge (Welsh Ridge),
between Villers-Plouich and Marcoing, south of Cambrai. All three brigades holding the line,
190th Infantry Brigade on the left, 7th Royal Fusiliers and 1/4th King's Shropshire Light Infantry
in the front line, 189th Infantry Brigade in the centre, Drake Battalion and Hood Battalion in the
front line and 188th Infantry Brigade on the right, Anson Battalion and Howe Battalion in the
front line.
At 06.30am on 30th December, the whole front was attacked by German infantry, wearing white camouflage suits in the snow and with flame thrower detachments, penetrating through in several places and forcing the whole front back. 1/28th London Regiment (Artist's Rifles) and Anson Battalion recovered some of the lost ground in counter-attacks, the positions were stabilised in the second line, Hawke Battalion held their position after fierce hand-to-hand fighting.
63rd (Royal Naval) Division suffered over 1400 casualties in holding Welch Ridge.
| Casualty Clearing Station Notes. | |
| First Name: | L J |
| Surname: | Cullis |
| Index Number of Admission: | 246 |
| Rank: | Private |
| Ailment: | Shrapnel wound, abdomen penetrating. W. | Date of Admission for Original Ailment: | 30/12/1917 |
| Date Transferred to Other Hospitals: | 30/12/1917 |
| Number of Days Under Treatment: | 500 Units Anti-Tetanus Serum given. |
| Notes written in the Observations Column: | Casualty Clearing Station, Ytres. |
| Notes written by FWR when Transcribing: | W noted in Disease column = Wound, can be put forward as an eligible candidate to be awarded a wound stripe. |
| Regiment: | King's Shropshire Light Infantry |
| Battalion: | 1/4th Battalion |
| Archive Reference: | Medical Records of Servicemen from 149th Field Ambulance |
Laurence's War Grave Bois-Guillaume Cemetery
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| Victory Medal | British War Medal | Territorial War Medal |