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Remembered Today:

21 & 24 Divisions at Loos


Old Tom

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Hello,

Having just been reading the Official History account of Loos 1915. I am reminded that tomorrow morning, 94 years ago, saw the launch of that offensive by the 1st Army (25 Sep 0630). It also seems apt to remember 21 and 24 Divisions, which were I think the first New Army Divisions to be engaged, and which were part of the BEF reserve for the offensive. These two divisions were marching up to their designated assemby areas from near St Omer, a distance of about 25 miles as the crow flies, and were due to arrive at Noeux les Mines and Beuvry, some 3 to 4 miles from the front, by dawn 25th. A division on the march took up some 15 miles of road.

Old Tom

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Chris wrote:

9th (Scottish) and 15th (Scottish) Divisions of the New Army were in the initial attack. Details at http://www.1914-1918.net/bat13.htm

This New York Times article from November 9, 1915, contains a letter which says it was written by a Black Watch 9th Service battalion Captain:

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/...9679D946496D6CF

Does anyone have any additional Black Watch 9th Service battalion diary / memoir recollections or perhaps the Black Watch 9th Service battalion diary entry describing their action during September 25th, 1915?

I have tried finding memoir entries about the Black Watch 9th Service battalion during the Battle of Loos online, but I haven't been able to find very much.

I did find some Diary entries from the 6th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders.

The diary entry says the 6th Camerons were brought up around 8:00AM to the front line.

http://special.lib.gla.ac.uk/exhibns/month/sep2005.html

Al

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Remembering all those who died, were wounded and those who survived the Battle of Loos on this day in 1915 - especially the 1/18th County of London Battlion, the London Irish Rifles, 141 Brigade, 47th (2nd London) Division.

Patrick MacGill's last line from his book The Great Push after he was wounded at Loos:

"I joined the endless line of pain that stretched from Loos to Victoria Station".

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Hello,

Thanks for correction re 9 and 15 Divs. They, of course, are covered in the 'Official History'; I'm afraid the trials and tribulations of 21 and 24 Divs came to mind when I realised that the date was a significant anniversary.

Old Tom

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Chris wrote:

This New York Times article from November 9, 1915, contains a letter which says it was written by a Black Watch 9th Service battalion Captain:

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/...9679D946496D6CF

Does anyone have any additional Black Watch 9th Service battalion diary / memoir recollections or perhaps the Black Watch 9th Service battalion diary entry describing their action during September 25th, 1915?

I have tried finding memoir entries about the Black Watch 9th Service battalion during the Battle of Loos online, but I haven't been able to find very much.

I did find some Diary entries from the 6th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders.

The diary entry says the 6th Camerons were brought up around 8:00AM to the front line.

http://special.lib.gla.ac.uk/exhibns/month/sep2005.html

Al

Al,

9th Black Watch in the 15th Division 44th Inf Brigade......there was a 15th Div history publsihed in 1926 by Stewart and Buchan...this may be of some use.....however, not sure how easy to get in the US...I note mentions of the 9th BW on pages 130 to 135 of Most Unfavourable Ground......hope this may help in some small way.....

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Hi Al. As Nial says, 9th Black Watch were in 44 Bgde of 15th Division who were the assault division in the southern attack. The relevant volume of the Official History covers most of the action. The headlines were, 15th Div attacked Loos village and Hill 70.( One small point mentioned in OH is that the Divn. had Lewis guns in place of Vickers. 12 per battalion). 44 bgde was one of two leading bgdes in the assault on Loos. 9th BW lost 8 Officers and 150 ORs in NML.

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