Ben Caunt

Ben Caunt enlisted on or about the 31 August 1914. A year later on 25 August 1915 he arrived in France and was posted to the 1st battalion. On 5 July 1916 when the battalion was fighting near La Boisselle Somme Ben was awarded the Military Medal 'for gallantry and devotion to duty' during the attack. Once again Ben would show his gallantry on 4 March 1917 when he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal ' For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During an attack on a ridge immediately south of St Pierre Vaast Wood on 4/3/17, he rushed a traverse which was held by the enemy, and, single handed succeeded in capturing seven prisoners. He set a fine example to all ranks' The war diary for that day -'... No 13791 Pte Caunt, hearing bombing going on in our trench near him at once went to the spot, where he found a small party held up by a strong enemy post and having already lost 1 officer and 7 men in attempting to capture the position. Pte Caunt realizing that the situation was becoming serious pushed his way through his comrades and rushed along the intermediate portion of the trench although bombs were still falling in it. Appearing suddenly around the traverse, he took seven Germans completely by surprise and upon ordering them to surrender they immediately did so.' The battalion had 100 casualties that day. Ben was killed in action on the first day of the Battles of 3rd Ypres, The Battle of Pilckem, when the battalion attacked Hooge and the Westhoek Ridge. They came under heavy machine gun fire from Hanebeek and Glencorse Wood. They had taken on concrete bunkers, machine gun and artillery fire but had taken the first line of German defences. John Morse

Ben has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial Panel 39 & 41