16th Middlesex Regiment

[jenniferwaller]

my great granddad by marriage

ps/2001 PTE William Jupp 16th Middlesex Regiment

Died 23rd May 1917

Can anyone tell me what the regiment was doing at this time?

jen

[Steven Broomfield]

Not much, according to the divisional history (they were in 86 Bde, 29 Div). On the 20th, the Bde had relieved the 87th bde in the Line around Infantry Hill (Arras), but the history says nothing more, except that the Brigade Major (Captain "Pat" Armstrong, 10th Hussars) was killed by a sniper in No Man's Land while searching for a wounded officer from the Border regiment.

Someone who knows more may come along, but it looks so far as if it was 'wastage'.

[jenniferwaller]

Not much, according to the divisional history (they were in 86 Bde, 29 Div). On the 20th, the Bde had relieved the 87th bde in the Line around Infantry Hill (Arras), but the history says nothing more, except that the Brigade Major (Captain "Pat" Armstrong, 10th Hussars) was killed by a sniper in No Man's Land while searching for a wounded officer from the Border regiment.

Someone who knows more may come along, but it looks so far as if it was 'wastage'.

Thanks Steven

It's something that leads me a step closer to what happened

jen x

[connaughtranger]

my great granddad by marriage

ps/2001 PTE William Jupp 16th Middlesex Regiment

Died 23rd May 1917

Can anyone tell me what the regiment was doing at this time?

jen

There does seem to be very little effort at the time to keep the 16th diary up-to-date. Lucky they didn't have OFSTED!!! Wyrall, in the Regimental history, offers a glimmer of hope. On May 2nd the Battalion was in Arras. Wyrall then points out that there is no entry in the diary until "it's recorded that the Battalion is ordered to dig strong points at N 6 c (west of Monchy-le Preux)". He doesn't mention a date but there follows a casualty list giving 2 Officers killed and 1 wounded; 1 OR killed, 25 wounded and 1 missing. They were relieved and then spent another tour in the line taking over the right of 86th Brigade on the night of 28/29th May. Wyrall would have had access to all the diaries so it must be assumed that the list of casualties is undated in the diary.

Another soldier was killed the same day as Jupp but only 1 Officer. It's very likely then that he and his comrade were merely 'wastage' and, though they may well have taken part in the digging of the strong points, they probably survived it to be killed later by shot or shell

[jenniferwaller]

There does seem to be very little effort at the time to keep the 16th diary up-to-date. Lucky they didn't have OFSTED!!! Wyrall, in the Regimental history, offers a glimmer of hope. On May 2nd the Battalion was in Arras. Wyrall then points out that there is no entry in the diary until "it's recorded that the Battalion is ordered to dig strong points at N 6 c (west of Monchy-le Preux)". He doesn't mention a date but there follows a casualty list giving 2 Officers killed and 1 wounded; 1 OR killed, 25 wounded and 1 missing. They were relieved and then spent another tour in the line taking over the right of 86th Brigade on the night of 28/29th May. Wyrall would have had access to all the diaries so it must be assumed that the list of casualties is undated in the diary.

Another soldier was killed the same day as Jupp but only 1 Officer. It's very likely then that he and his comrade were merely 'wastage' and, though they may well have taken part in the digging of the strong points, they probably survived it to be killed later by shot or shell

Cheers

Thanks for that

jen