6th battalion gordon highlanders

[steven856]

Iam looking to find out where this battalion was on the 16/5/17 and what battles it would have been invloved in

regards steven

[Ivor Lee]

Steven

They were at Arras. On the 15th May they were ordered to relieve companies of the 5th Seaforths and 8th Argyll's who were holding the forward positions near the River Scarpe near Roeux.

They reached the forward positions at about 2.15 am on the 16th May and immeadiately came under a severe barrage and came under a German counter attack.

The 6th Gordons were ordered to undertake a counter attack to retake the ground taken by the Germans.

The history of the 6th Grodon's describes it "This operation, the immediate counter-attack, is the most difficult in war, and requires the greatest initiaitve and boldness on the part of the Commander, and the highest resolution and resource on the part of the men."

Following the action the Corps commander wired his appreciation "Heartiest congratulations to you all on the fine work on 15th and 16th, and especially to General Burn and 152nd Brigade, whose tenacity and pluck saved an awkward situation."

Regards

Ivor

[Colin W Taylor]

Steven

Sadly I don't have a copy of the Battalion War Diary but I've copy of the Gordon's Regimental History. It gives a paragraph on what happened - namely the 6th Gordons while about to relieve the front line trenches get counterattacked , suffer a gas bombardment but manage to recapture/retain their trenches when the dust has settled.

In fact you may as well read for yourself

There may be more info in the War Diaries at the Public Records Office

I hope this helps

Colin

Iam looking to find out where this battalion was on the 16/5/17 and what battles it would have been invloved in

regards steven

[Colin W Taylor]

Dash it, pipped!

Ah well; I've started so I'll finish!

CWT

Iam looking to find out where this battalion was on the 16/5/17 and what battles it would have been invloved in

regards steven

[steven856]

Dash it, pipped!

Ah well; I've started so I'll finish!

CWT

Hi many thanks for the information very much appriciated

regards steven.

[cazack]

My grandfather was in C Company, 6th Battalion and arrived in France on the 10.03.1915 and was wounded 31.07.1917 and it seems like he was treated at St Julian Aid station

He was also involved in fighting at Arras in 1915 as well fighting at Arras in1917

if anyone else has information on C company,6th battalion war service would be appreciated

regards

Caz

[cazack]

I have looked further into the research I have in regards to my grandfather and it seems he was wounded in the Battle of Passchendaele and was in the same company as Private George McIntosh who was awarded a VC for the same action.

would like to see if anyone else has further information in regards to c company and the fighting on the 31.07.1917

regards

Caz

[seaforths]

The war diaries if not already available for download will probably be available soon from The National Archives. The Long Long Trail link on this website (top left corner) should be able to show you the battles they were involved in.

As an aside, George Imlach Mcintosh is commemorated in the cemetery the row behind my mother's grave and can be seen here:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8015894

He served during WW2 in the RAF and reached the rank of Warrant Officer.