colinjheaney Posted 26 April , 2004 Share Posted 26 April , 2004 Hello I have a copy of a page from a war diary around the time my Grandfather was wounded and captured (April 1918) PTE John Heaney 19798 ,16th Royal Scots The handwriting is very hard to read,but i can make out some place names,these include Oblinghem,Pont Tournat,Canal de la Lawe,Pont Levis Avelette. Unable to to find any of these on maps that i have seen. I would be grateful if anyone could help me narrow the search to a particular area. Thanks in advance Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkristof Posted 26 April , 2004 Share Posted 26 April , 2004 I think these are misspelled Belgian villages. do you have dates? can i see a scan of it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annette Burgoyne Posted 27 April , 2004 Share Posted 27 April , 2004 Hi Colin The 16th Royal Scots were in trenches in Armentieres sector, like bkristof mentions they are misspelled. I have a few maps of this area and will post one of them for you when I have time. If I have not done this by next week, just email me to remind me to do it. Annette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenwoodman Posted 27 April , 2004 Share Posted 27 April , 2004 Hi Colin 16 R Scots were in 34th Division, and they were sent out to form a flank for 40th Division (who were on their left) when the Germans broke right through the Portuguese Division who had held the line just to the south of them. 16th (with two companies of 15th were at Erquinghem, and bailed out of there on night of 9th/10th April due to the heaviness of the bombardment on the village. They were subsequently ordered to take up positions in Bac St Maur, but the Germans beat them to it. They formed a line at Fort Rompu, seen on the map below, facing W & SW. Part of the battalion was north of the Lys. They were forced back towards Erquinghem over the next couple of days. Good accounts in the 34th Div Hist, Royal Scots Hist (both I believe available from Naval & Military as reprints), and for the month of April 4 pages of war diary and 6 pages of typewritten report at the NA-PRO. Can you let us have the exact date and I can perhaps e-mail that part of the report to you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco Posted 27 April , 2004 Share Posted 27 April , 2004 The Lawe is a river. See http://www.xs4all.nl/Battlefields/farrell.htm the plate entitled "7TH A. & S. H. DEFENDING THE LAWE AT LOCON" Regards, Marco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkristof Posted 27 April , 2004 Share Posted 27 April , 2004 The handwriting is very hard to read,but i can make out some place names,these include Oblinghem,Pont Tournat,Canal de la Lawe,Pont Levis Avelette. Oblinghem = eblinghem Pont Tournat = pont tournai Canal de la Lawe = canal de la lys (or lawe) Pont Levis Avelette = pont levés (elevated) d' avelette All is situated in the Béthune - Armentiéres area. i hope i helped, cheers, kristof Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacky Platteeuw Posted 27 April , 2004 Share Posted 27 April , 2004 According to 'Dictionary of the French towns, villages' 1950 edition: Oblinghem: Pas de Calais, district and canton Bethune 215 inhabitants. Jacky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annette Burgoyne Posted 27 April , 2004 Share Posted 27 April , 2004 Greenwoodman beat me to it, saves me haveing to dig my scanner out of a pile of papers. Annette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurent Posted 27 April , 2004 Share Posted 27 April , 2004 Hello I have a copy of a page from a war diary around the time my Grandfather was wounded and captured (April 1918) PTE John Heaney 19798 ,16th Royal Scots The handwriting is very hard to read,but i can make out some place names,these include Oblinghem,Pont Tournat,Canal de la Lawe,Pont Levis Avelette. Unable to to find any of these on maps that i have seen. I would be grateful if anyone could help me narrow the search to a particular area. Thanks in advance Colin All these names places are near the road Bethune Locon Hinghes...see the map. pont tournai is just north of Hinghes, Lawe canal is just north of Bethune, pont levis Avelette is written on the map near river colored in blue... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinjheaney Posted 28 April , 2004 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2004 Hello Many thanks to bkristof,Annette,Greenwoodman,Marco,Laurent,and Jacky for your replies.You have made me a happy man. I have contacted offline, those who have offered me assistance. Thanks again Colin H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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