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Brothers died in 1917

Our listing of known sets of brothers who died on the same date in 1917.

17 January 1917
John, 21, and Robert Christy, 25, died while serving with 1st Battalion, the King's (Liverpool Regiment). Sons of Robert Christy, of 199 Everey Street, Manchester, both had formerly been in the Manchester Regiment. The brothers are buried in adjacent graves in Pozieres Cemetery.

6 February 1917
Geoffrey, 25, and Harry Nutter, 27, both of the Royal Horse Artillery, attached to P Anti-Aircraft Battery. Sons of James and Mary Alice Nutter, of Clay Cottage, Brierfield, Lancashire. The brothers are buried in adjacent graves in Eclusier Communal Cemetery, Eclusier-Vaux.

17 February 1917
Charles, 27, and Paul Destrube, 26, died while serving with the 22nd Battalion, the Royal Fusiliers. Sons of Ernest Destrube and Elisabeth Farmery, the brothers were French Canadians. They are buried in the same grave in Serre Road Cemetery No. 1.
 

26 March 1917
Theodore, 27, and Wilfred Wicking, 28, died while serving with the 1/4th Battalion, the Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in the First Battle of Gaza, they have no known graves and are commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial to the Missing.
Submitted by: Christopher Fance.

31 March 1917
John, 21 and George Craigie, 29, served in 7th Battalion (Central Ontario Regiment), Canadian Expeditionary Force. Sons of the late Arthur Craigie and of Mary Craigie, of Store Street, Stanley, Perthshire, Scotland, neither has a known grave and both are commemorated on the Vimy Memorial to the Canadian Missing.

1 April 1917
Joseph, 24, and Thomas Wilson, 26, died while serving with the 1/6th Battalion, the Royal Highlanders (Black Watch). Sons of William and Jane Wilson, of Shivey, Sandholes, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, they are buried in adjacent graves in Maroeuil British Cemetery.

5 April 1917
Ben, 27 and Fred Whitaker, 25, served in D battery, 312 Brigade Royal Field Artillery. Sons of John Henry and Mary Elizabeth Whitaker of Otley, West Yorkshire, they are buried in adjacent graves in Ervillers Military Cemetery, France.

9 April 1917
Olivier, 27, and Wilfred Chenier, 28, both of the Royal Canadian Regiment, Canadian Expeditionary Force, who died during the attack on Vimy Ridge. Sons of Janvier Chenier, of Buckingham, Quebec, they are buried in adjacent graves in Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez.

Also 9 April 1917: different units
James, 27, and Thomas Henderson, 22, both serving with the Canadian Infantry in the attack at Vimy Ridge but in different units, James with the 10th Battalion (Alberta Regiment) and Thomas with 3rd Battalion (Central Ontario Regiment). Sons of Thomas and Jane Henderson of Newark Farm, Crocketford, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, they had enlisted together in Calgary on 16 November 1915. The brothers are buried in different places: James lies in Quatre-Vents Cemetery, Estree-Cauchy, while Thomas is in Bois-Carre British Cemetery, Thelus. They are commemorated together on the Haugh of Urr Parish War Memorial near Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbrightshire.
Submitted by Ken Morrison

Also 9 April 1917
Arthur, 28, and Bill West, 26, both of the 14th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment), Canadian Expeditionary Force, who died during the attack on Vimy Ridge. Sons of Abraham and Emiline West of Norfolk, Ontario, they are buried in adjacent graves in Nine Elms Cemetery, Thelus. A third brother, Louis West, 21, was also killed at Vimy Ridge on 7 September 7 1917. He is buried in Lapugnoy Military Cemetery.

11 April 1917
(Walter) Ernest, 20, and (William) George White, 33, both of the 10th Company, 4th Battalion Canadian Machine Gun Corps, Canadian Expeditionary Force, who died during the attack on Vimy Ridge. They were born in Buckinghamshire in England and were sons of Samuel George and Emily White of 20 Lawn Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex. William George, who had four years prior military service with 2nd Volunteer Bn., Middlesex Regiment, took his oath in Calgary on 31 December 1914 while Walter Ernest, a telegraphist with two years of prior service with the 103rd Regiment, swore his oath in Calgary the next day. Ernest is buried in Canadian Cemetery No. 2, Neuville St. Vaast and George lies in Givenchy Road Canadian Cemetery, Neuville St. Vaast. Brothers Bert (Hubert Samuel) and Harry (John Henry) enlisted at the same time. Bert, serving with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry was given a compassionate discharge as a result of his brothers deaths. Harry served with the 4th Field Coy Canadian Engineers until 1919.

14 April 1917
Hector, 20, and William Bennett, 22, both of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment who died during the attack on Monchy le Preux. Sons of Luke A. and Josephine Bennett, of Regent St., North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, neither has a known grave and they are commemorated on the Memorial to the Newfoundland Missing at Beaumont-Hamel. William Bennett had won the Distinguished Conduct Medal at Geudecourt on the Somme in October 1916.

24 April 1917
Frederick and Harry Burnell, both aged 23, died whilst serving with 7th (service) Battalion, the Wiltshire Regiment in Salonika. Sons of Omer and Florence M. Burnell, of 43, Broad Street, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire. Frederick has no known grave and is commemorated on the Doiran Memorial to the Missing; Harry, who served in D Company, is buried in Doiran Military cemetery.

3 May 1917
James and John Benson, of 2nd Battalion, the Seaforth Highlanders. Sons of John and Catherine Benson, of 2, Middle St. Lane, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire. Both soldiers are buried at Roeux British Cemetery, although James has a special memorial (known to be buried in this cemetery, but exact location unknown).

Also 3 May 1917
Ewart, 23, and Leonard Dyson, 26, died whilst serving with the 2/4th Battalion, the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment). Residents at 1010 Huddersfiled Road, Elland, Yorkshire. Neither have a known grave, and both are commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the Missing.

Also 3 May 1917: different units, different places
Albert Gould, 23, died whilst serving with the 11th (Service) Battalion, the East Yorkshire Regiment (2nd Hull). His brother Joseph Gould, 33, died whilst serving with the 8th (Service) Battalion, the King's Royal Rifle Corps. Sons of Josiah and Louisa E. Gould, of Ivy Chimneys, Epping, Essex. Albert lived with his parents at Ivy Chimneys and Joseph lived with wife Bertha nearby. Albert is buried in Orchard Dump Cemetery at Arleux-en-Gohelle, and Joseph is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the Missing. Both are listed on the war memorial in Epping and also the nearby village of Theydon Bois.

Also 3 May 1917
George, 24 and John Wellings, 32, died whilst serving with the 7th (Service) Battalion, the King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Sons of Thomas and Emma Wellings, of 3, Poynton Green, Shawbury, Shrewsbury. Neither have a known grave, and both are commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the Missing.

2 June 1917: twins(?) died together
Percy and Walter Hodkinson, 24, died whilst serving as horse transport drivers with the Army Service Corps. Sons of William and Mary J. Hodkinson, of 15, Albert Terrace, Highfield, Mossley, Manchester. Both are commemorated on the Chatby (Alexandria) Memorial to the Missing.

8 June 1917
Thomas and William Hamblyn died whilst serving with the 1st Battalion, the Wellington Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Sons of Mrs M.A. Hamblyn of Tariki, Taranaki, New Plymouth, New Zealand. The brothers are buried in the Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery.

Also 8 June 1917
Albert, 21, and Ernest Raison, 22, died whilst serving with the 37th Battalion, the Australian Imperial Force. Sons of the late Samuel and Mary Ann Raison. Natives of Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia. The brothers have no known graves and are commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Ypres.

13 June 1917
Allan and Ernest Holz died whilst serving with the 3rd Battalion, the Wellington Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Sons of the late Julius and Bertha Holz, of Wellington, New Zealand. The brothers are buried in adjacent graves in Motor Car Corner Cemetery, Ploegsteert.

27 June 1917
Angus, 23, and Kenneth McLeod, 18, died whilst serving with the 14th Battalion, the Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment). Sons of Alexander and Barbara McLeod of Springhill, P.Q., Canada. The brothers are buried in Beehive Cemetery, Willerval.
Submitted by Michelle Young

31 July 1917: different units
Alfred and John Duffy died in the opening of the Third Ypres offensive, Alfred with 1/5th Gordon Highlanders and John with 6/7th Royal Scots Fusiliers. John was husband of Grace Duffy of 9 Cavendish Place, South Side, Glasgow. Neither of the Duffy brothers had a known grave and both are commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Ypres.
Submitted by: Richard Sidney
 
Also 31 July 1917
Samuel, 22, and William Spilsbury, 19, died while serving with the 1/6th Battalion, the Cheshire Regiment. The sons of William and Mary Spilsbury of 17 Bamford Street, Stockport, they worked together at Robinson's Hatworks, Romiley, Cheshire; they were mobilised together in August 1914 and served together. Both were originally reported missing. By January 1918, Samuel's body had been found and he is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery. William is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing. Samuel is one of only a handful of the 1/6th Cheshire's 118 dead casualties of this date to have a known grave.

23 August 1917
Walter and William Castro, 35, died while serving with the 9th Battalion, the King's Royal Rifle Corps. Sons of Henry and Laura Sophie Castro, of Homerton, London, the brothers have no known grave, and are commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing, Ypres. They were killed by the same shell burst, according to a letter received from James W. Rose, Chaplain to the battalion.
 
16 September 1917: different units, same place of burial
Charles and James Robinson died whilst serving with 594 MT Company ASC and XXXV Brigade RFA respectively. Sons of Mrs Robinson of Medway Row in Bow, London, the brothers are buried in Westouter Churchyard. CGC reports that they are both in Plot II, grave A5 but they have separate headstones. A third brother, William, died on 24 August 1916 while serving with the 7th DCLI.
Submitted by: Joris Ryckeboer

20 September 1917
Gilbert, 20, and Thomas Holt, 22, died whilst serving with the 5th Battalion, the Australian Imperial Force. Sons of Thomas Grosvenor Holt and Elizabeth E. Holt (nee Mitchell). Natives of Stratford, Victoria, Australia. The brothers have no known graves and are commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Ypres.

Also 20 September 1917: two died on one day, a third the next
George, 25, and Theo Seabrook, 24, died whilst serving with the 17th Battalion, the Australian Imperial Force. Sons of William George and Fanny Isabel Seabrook of Great North Road, Fivedock, New South Wales. The brothers have no known graves and are commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Ypres. Their brother Second Lieutenant William Seabrook, 21, was wounded in the same incident and died next day. He is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.

24 September 1917
Albert, 27, and Henri Denis, 22, died whilst serving with the 22nd Battalion, the Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment). Sons of Maud Adele Denis and Adolphe Denis, of 570, Marie Anne, Montreal. Both signallers, the brothers are buried in adjacent graves in Thelus Military Cemetery.

4 October 1917
Eric, 21, and Joseph Burgess, 25, died whilst serving with the 14th Brigade, the Australian Field Artillery. Sons of Ernest Henry and Elizabeth Hulls Burgess, of 124, McKillop St., Geelong, Victoria, Australia. The brothers lie in adjacent graves at The Huts Cemetery, Dickebusch.
 
Also 4 October 1917
Gavin Gordon Bulkeley, 25, and James Tinnock Bulkeley Gavin, 23, of 26th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, both killed in action at Broodseinde, within a few hours of each other.  They were the sons of John and Rose Gavin of Longreach, Queensland and are buried near to each other at Ypres Reservoir War Cemetery, Ypres.
Submitted by Steve Gavin

Also 4 October 1917
Frank, 26, and John Rigby, 29, died whilst serving as Lieutenants with the 21st Battalion, the Australian Imperial Force. Sons of Thomas and Martha Rigby, of "Hybla," Pallamallawa, New South Wales. Natives of Telangatuk East and Coleraine, Victoria, Australia, respectively. John had been awarded the Military Medal while serving in the ranks. The brothers have no known graves and are commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Ypres.

Also 4 October 1917
Michael, 28, and Patrick Starr, 22, died whilst serving with the 6th Battalion, the Australian Imperial Force. Son of Mary Starr, of "Comely Bank," Healsville, Victoria, and the late Michael Starr. Natives of Bendigo and Footscray, Victoria, Australia, respectively. The brothers have no known grave, and are commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Ypres.
 
9 October 1917
Albert and Joseph Godson died while serving with the 11th (Service) Battalion, the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. They have no known graves and are commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing.
 
Also 9 October 1917
Ernest, 30, and John Gunn, 29, died while serving with the 1st/3rd (West Riding) Field Ambulance RAMC. Sons of John and Sarah Ann Gunn of 38 Rosehill, Rawcliffe Bridge, near Goole in Yorkshire, Ernest and John Gunn worked together at the Turner Paper Mill in Rawcliffe Bridge before the war. They enlisted together under the Derby Scheme on 10 December 1915 and were mobilised on 15 March 1916. The brothers have no known graves and are commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing.

A letter from their commanding officer Lieut. Colonel Mackinnon to the brothers parents reads:
Dear Mr Gunn, I am writing to tell you some very sad news. it is not easy to convey such news and give proper expression to our feelings. Your two lads were killed in action on 9th ist. During active operations they were working as bearers to casualties. While engaged in bringing a stretcher case down to the dressing station they were killed by a shell. My information is that death was instantaneous and there was no suffering. they were a splendid pair of brothers. Devoted to each other and earnest and conscientious to their work, they died as they had lived, doing their duty together. this is terrible news to you, for I feel that their home life must have been happy. There is some consilation in the knowledge of the good lives they had lived, and their sacrifice was indeed in a righteous course for the protection of their home and those they loved. I would wish to express my deepest sympathy with you in the sad loss that has come to you, and pray that you may be given in your hour of trial.
Submitted by Mr R. Barker

Also 9 October 1917: Father and son
Lieutenant Colonel Harry Moorhouse, DSO TD., Chevalier de Legion D'Honneur, 4th Battalion, the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and his son Captain Ronald Wilkinson Moorhouse, MC of the same unit. The pair have no known graves and are commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing, Zonnebeke.

2 November 1917

Edward, 24, and Thomas Bowman, 20, died while serving with the 1/10th Battalion of the London Regiment (Hackney) during the Third Battle of Gaza. Sons of William George and Emily Bowman of 120 Mansfield street, Haggerston, London, the brothers have no known graves and are commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing at Jerusalem.
Submitted by member Hackney Ghurka from the Great War Forum
 

18 November 1917: different units
Lieutenant Fred Ryan, Special List attached 3rd Bn Nigeria Regiment WAFF, and his brother Major Martin Ryan, 40, of the 25th Royal Fusiliers, killed in action at Nyangao, East Africa.   Sons of H. V. and A. Ryan of Ootacamund, Nilgiri Hills, Madras, India, both are buried in Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery. An “In Memoriam” notice published in The Times on 17 October 1919 stated that they “were killed in action on the same day, at the same place, and near the same spot”.

6 November 1917
Eliseus and Robert Evans, 28, died whilst serving with the 1/6th Regiment, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Robert was husband of H. Evans, of 3, Water Street, Llanberis, Caernarvonshire. The brothers are buried in nearby graves in Beersheba War Cemetery, in Israel. A third brother, Evan Evans, also died in the war.

28 November 1917
Charles, 26, and William Machin, 28, died whilst serving with the 1/1st Regiment, the Lincolnshire Yeomanry. Sons of Alfred Clifton and Emma Machin of Quadring, Spalding, Lincolnshire. The brothers are buried in nearby graves in Ramleh War Cemetery, in Israel.
 
30 December 1917
Corporal Charles and Sergeant James Freeman, 26, died whilst serving with the 1/4th Bn, the King's Shropshire Light Infantry in the action for Welsh Ridge near Cambrai. Sons of Susan Freeman of Old Park, Dawley, Shropshire. James had won the MM in late 1917. Charles has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing; James lies in Fifteen Ravine British Cemetery at Villers-Plouich. Their brother in law William Hawkins, 1st King's Shropshire Light Infantry, also perished, dying of wounds on 27 June 1915.
Submitted by Dave Shaw