Name
Douglas Cecil Owen Tebb
30 March 1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/07/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
10553
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES BRITISH CEMETERY, OVILLERS-LA BOISSELLE
III. J. 13.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Wheathampstead Village Memorial
Pre War
Douglas Cecil Owen was born on 30 March 1896 in New Southgate, the eldest son to Alfred Owen Tebb, a railway clerk, and Alice Mary (nee Heywood). On the 1901 Census Douglas and his parents were living at 23 Brunswick Ave, East Barnet together with sister Gladys (born 1899).
There would be additions to the family: Alfred Owen in 1901, William Frederick in 1903 and John Vivian in 1906. Douglas’s mother died in 1908. His father Alfred Owen Tebb married his sister-in-law Gertrude Heywood in 1910. On the 1911 Census the family of Alfred, stepmother Gertrude, Douglas, Alfred Owen, William Fred and John Vivian were living in New Marford, Wheathampstead, a step sister to Douglas, Doris M, was born in Apr 1911.
Wartime Service
Douglas volunteered soon after war was declared as Private 10553 and was posted to 6th (Service) Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. No Service record was found for Douglas but at sometime he was promoted to Lance Corporal.
He went to France with his Battalion in 37 Division on 30 Jul 1915. On 7 Jul 1916 the 112 Brigade was attached to 34 Division and were in the front line on 8 July at Contalmaison on the Somme. Losses were 24 killed and 153 wounded until they were rotated to support trenches on 11 Jul 1916. While in support working parties were to be found with further losses of 3 killed and 29 wounded. On 13 Jul 1916 6th Beds were back in the front line.
On 15 July 1916 they were part of the attack on Pozieres (as part of the battle of Bazentin) but were held up by machine gun fire and had to dig in. Casualties were 3 Officers Killed, 32 O.Rs. Killed (25 missing), 9 Officers Wounded, 174 O.R. Wounded). Douglas’s death is recorded as 13 Jul 1916 but the Battalion War Diary has no record for that day and it may be that his death is recorded inaccurately.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £9 and arrears of £3 0s 11d was paid to his stepmother Gertrude.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
