Killed during his battalion's relief

[Messina1915]

One of my chaps, a private with the 2nd/10th Londons, was killed on 15 September 1918. The battalion war diary for that day reads:

Bn relieved by 7th Londons and marched to VILLE WOOD. Casualties:- other ranks, 3 killed, 2 wounded.

Is it a fair guess that the casualties were caused by an artillery blast during the battalion's relief or subsequent march?

Cheers,

Carole.

[cliff brown]

Shellfire or sniper.

Casualties may have happened before relief took place or during the relief.

[Greyhound]

There is a similar case on our war memorial. According to his obit in the local paper, a shell fell into his tent.

... He was in the recent great attacks, but unfortunately was killed while resting behind the lines. A letter which Mrs Thorn has received from his officer states that "He was a good fellow, always did his best for his officers, and was well liked by his comrades. He suffered no pain whatever, being instantly killed in his sleep. A shell fell into his tent door and the shock killed him instantaneously. He was not mutilated and received a proper burial."

I hope it was true. He seems to be still in his original burial place, and the war diary doesn't contradict the account.

We received the answer from the LEFT COMPANY of the LINCOLNS at 7am., that only an Officers patrol was going out, and a further message was received at 11am from the Commanding Officer of the LINCOLNS sending a copy of his message to his Brigade that he could not attack.

The 144 BRIGADE relieved the 145 BRIGADE, the 4th GLOUCESTERS relieving us. The relief was completed by 11.30pm.

No troops could move over the ridges by day.

We moved back to billets in HAMEL, the last platoon being in by 1.25am. (8th)

Hot meals were ready on arrival, - hot water for washing the feet, and dry socks.

All were very pleased to be back in billets after the hard work of the last few days.

Weather:- a wet day, fine evening.

Remarks

Casualties:

2/LT R J PRING wounded.

1 OR killed and 4 OR wounded.

[centurion]

Both sides also used indirect machine gun fire on areas where troops might be expected to be moving and when such movements might be expected. A relief might well draw such fire.

[sotonmate]

Carole

I have read several accounts in War Diaries of Battalion change-over,at night,and they all attracted artillery welcomes (and auf wiedersehns),an opportunity not to be missed to have twice the target population for a short period.

Sotonmate

[woolly]

Could be aerial bombing?

Woolly