Black Watch Posted 9 July , 2008 Share Posted 9 July , 2008 From the Ox & Bucks museum (Thanks) "There was heavy shelling on the night of the 8th into the early hours of the 9th whilst the Battalion was being relieved in the line and returning to Dambre Camp." Does anyone know where this was please, and/or where they were returning from. All I know is it must have been close to Ypres. Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin.green14 Posted 10 July , 2008 Share Posted 10 July , 2008 Hi Neil, Are you sure you mean th 1st battalion, the 1/4th Oxford & bucks moved to Dambre Camp on the 8th / 9th August. Extract from War Diary of 1/4th availabel on:- http://www.weymouthsands.co.uk/diary/oxford&bucks.htm Regards colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin.green14 Posted 10 July , 2008 Share Posted 10 July , 2008 Hi Again, The 1st I believe were in Mesopotamia Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Watch Posted 13 August , 2008 Author Share Posted 13 August , 2008 Apologies for not replying Colin. I "lost" this thread. It was the 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion of the Ox & Bucks.. As if it wasnt complicated enough Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Berridge Posted 14 August , 2008 Share Posted 14 August , 2008 Hi Neil, Below is an extract from Capt Wright's "First Buckinghamshire Battalion 1914-1919" which hopefully will be of use:- On August 7 the Battalion relieved the 5th Gloucester Regiment in the front line, on the western outskirts of St. Julien A and B Companies held this outpost line, while C Company was in support round Canopus Trench, and D Company in reserve in California Drive and Falkenhayn Redoubt. Battalion Headquarters was at Vanheule Farm, which now consisted only of a flooded blockhouse. D Company Headquarters, with one platoon and the Regimental Aid Post, occupied Cheddar Villa, which was a superior blockhouse to Vanheule, except that the Germans, when they built it, had made a particularly large entrance which, now that it was in our hands, was completely exposed to enemy shells. The accommodation being very limited, the platoon were, on the first night, packed closely inside the opening trying to get a little sleep. The very first shell which landed near the blockhouse arrived straight through the opening and burst in the midst of the slumbering platoon. The effect was appalling—many were killed, and of those who were not killed, several lost limbs, many their legs. Happily the Medical Officer (Captain L. E. Hughes) was unhurt, and, as usual on such occasions, excelled himself in the relief he gave and the amount of work he accomplished in the next few hours. We were relieved on the following night by the 1/5th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, and moved back to Dambre Camp. The march from the line was exceedingly unpleasant, for the Battalion was literally chased out by shells of the 5.9 variety. Regards Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Watch Posted 14 August , 2008 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2008 Great stuff, thanks for that Steve Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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