Wilfred Whittall - Welsh Guards

[mwhittall]

Hi,

Wilfred, (3894 Welsh Guards) died on 28 March 1918, I assume due to the German Spring offensive. Can anyone shed any light on the whereabouts of the Welsh Guards on that day?

Many Thanks,

Mark Whittall.

[aconnolly]

Mark

On 28 March 1918 the Guards Division was at the battle of Arras. The Welsh Guards were in the 3rd Brigade of the Guards and going by a map in the official history of the campaign, the 3rd Brigade were around Boisleux / St Marc that day

I am sure there are Guards experts on the forum who can be a lot more specific!

Regards

Andrew

[GraemeClarke]

Mark,

According to SDGW your relative Died of Wounds in the 1st Battalion so he could have been wounded at any time in that period.

He is buried at Doullens which is (according to Google maps) is 39 km from Boisleux. I say this because,

if he died the day of his wounding when they were at Boisleux, he would probably be buried nearer there. To me (and I will stand corrected), this

indicates a wounding some time previously.

Graeme

[Steven Broomfield]

Mark, the History of the Welsh Guards (C H Dudley Ward)says that the battalion had been involved in actions on the 25th, east of Boiry Becquerelles; retiring by company without huge problems.

On the 27th the battalion was holding a 2,000 yeard frontage, with their right on Boyelles (relieving 1st Grenadiers). On the 28th, at 7 a.m., a heavy bombardment started, increasing in violence up to 11.30. Enemy were seen massing on the right flank, but an artillery shoot called-in by the WG CO seems to have stopped an attack.

On the left, however, an attack on the Prince of Wales's Company developed after the divison on their left was driven in. No mention of casualties other than that 2/Lt E J Davies was killed whilst repelling the attack.

As the battalion had been out of the line up to the 25th, my guess would be that your chap was wounded on either the 25th, or possibly the 27th. The 26th was said to be quiet (the battalion being out of the Line).

Hope that helps.

[aconnolly]

Very interesting point raised by Graeme. Once the German offensive started, the Casualty Clearing Stations for the Arras front were predominantly around Doullens so it is conceivable that he may have died of wounds whilst at/approaching a CCS. When those wounds were received is of course up for debate, but possibly in the German artillery attack cited by Steven. Certainly the area where the Guards Division was in action was linked by a relatively straight road to Doullens.

Regards

Andrew

[mwhittall]

Thanks to Graeme, Mark & Andrew Steven for your information. Very Very useful

[Nick Farr]

My records show that Private 3894 Whittall, Wilfred DOW on 28 March 1918. The WG suffered 14 casualties on this day. 10 KIA, 4 from wounds received, 3 in France and 1 in England.

Private Whittall is one of 5 WG buried in Doullens Cemetery. All DOW between March and May 1918.

[mwhittall]

Thanks Nick