Gunner William Reginald Coutanche
32nd Battery, 33rd
Brigade Royal Field Artillery
18/07/1916
1914-15 Star
(photograph courtesy of Colin Harris)
Youngest son of the late Francis Coutanche of The Park,
St Helier, Jersey. Brother of Corporal Albert
George Coutanche
Killed in action, aged 31 years.
NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post
of Thursday 31 August 1916
Roll of Honour. News has reached the family
of the death in France on 18 July last of Gunner William
Coutanche. Gunner Coutanche was the youngest son of
the late Mr Francis Coutanche. He joined the Royal Field
Artillery in 1902 served for a short time in England
and for a number of years in India. He was transferred
to the Army Reserves in 1911 and finally settled at
St Austell. On the outbreak of hostilities he was recalled
to the Colours and proceeded to France with the 32nd
Battery 33rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery in the 8th
Division. He became time expired early this year but
re-engaged for the period of the war. The following
letter received from his Section Officer in France shows
that he had made himself a valued asset to the Battery.
The letter reads "14 August 1916.
Dear Madam, Your letter of 9 August was received yesterday
and it is with much regret that I have to tell you of
the death of Gunner Coutanche, who was killed in action
at about 3.30pm on the afternoon of 18 July. The Battery
was in action and the gun which your son was actually
firing himself was hit by a big shell, his death was
instantaneous and he cannot have suffered at all. He
was buried at an English cemetery by the Artillery Chaplain
near where we were in action. I cannot tell you the
name of the place in this letter but I shall be able
to do so at a later date. He is greatly missed by me
as his Section Commander and also by all in the Battery
with whom he was very popular, always to be relied upon,
brave and with a thorough knowledge of his work, his
place will be hard to fill. He died a very gallant death
such as he would have desired. With deepest sympathy,
Yours sincerely, A N M GILBERT, 2nd Lieutenant."
View
a copy of the orginal letter
Prior to his enlistment the deceased was
for some time coachman to the late General Pipon of
La Motte House. We offer our sincere sympathies to the
family in their bereavement.
