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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

8th Entrenching Batallion


gazfromnuneaton

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My grandfather, a coalminer from the Midlands, enlisted and was put into the 8th Entrenching Batallion in November 1915, joining the 175 TC in December 1915. Does anyone know anything about the 8th EB? What work it did Nov/Dec 1915? And where?

Cheers

Garry

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Garry

Entrenching bns were first formed in France in summer 1915. Their purpose was to hold reinforcements close to the front lines until their respective units were out of the trenches and could receive them. The men in them worked under dorection of the Royal Engineers, usually repairing roads and improving defences. I have no specific information on 8 EB, alas, since few entrenching bn war diaries survive.

Did your grandfather originally enlist as an infantryman? If so, the decision was probably made at 8 EB to send him to a tunnelling company, where his experience could be put to better use than in an infantry bn. If he was an RE from the start I am surprised that he was sent to an EB.

Charles M

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Garry

Entrenching bns were first formed in France in summer 1915. Their purpose was to hold reinforcements close to the front lines until their respective units were out of the trenches and could receive them. The men in them worked under dorection of the Royal Engineers, usually repairing roads and improving defences. I have no specific information on 8 EB, alas, since few entrenching bn war diaries survive.

Did your grandfather originally enlist as an infantryman? If so, the decision was probably made at 8 EB to send him to a tunnelling company, where his experience could be put to better use than in an infantry bn. If he was an RE from the start I am surprised that he was sent to an EB.

Charles M

Actually he was a coalminer who enlisted for the duration of the war in October 1915. I am surprised he wasn't put in a TC straightaway, but it explains why he was in the entrenching brigade.

Anyone else out there who knows specifically about the 8th?

Cheers,

Garry

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My grandfather, a coalminer from the Midlands, enlisted and was put into the 8th Entrenching Batallion in November 1915, joining the 175 TC in December 1915. Does anyone know anything about the 8th EB? What work it did Nov/Dec 1915? And where?

Cheers

Garry

Just bumping this up. Any info on where they were and what they were doing Nov/Dec 1915.

Cheers

Garry

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