Creslow and the piggeries

[captain caveman]

I'm carrying out some research into the 15th hants, I see by the battalion war diaries for July 1916 they were at Ploegsteert Wood and Creslow on the 1st July. On the 4th they relieved 18th batt kings Royal Rifle Corp at 'Piggeries'. It might sound a silly question but I've tried searching 'Piggeries' cannot find anything can anyone help what the 'Piggeries' was around Creslow or where I could get a possible map or maybe a photo from the area.

[centurion]

I'm carrying out some research into the 15th hants, I see by the battalion war diaries for July 1916 they were at Ploegsteert Wood and Creslow on the 1st July. On the 4th they relieved 18th batt kings Royal Rifle Corp at 'Piggeries'. It might sound a silly question but I've tried searching 'Piggeries' cannot find anything can anyone help what the 'Piggeries' was around Creslow or where I could get a possible map or maybe a photo from the area.

Probably a corruption of a French name and nothing to do with pigs

[IanA]

Piggeries was north-west of Creslow, across the road leading to 'Hyde Park Corner'. It seems to have been a part of La Grande Munque farm and was, quite probably, the piggeries.

Ian

[IPT]

Frederick George Scott

CHAPTER VIII.

PLOEGSTEERT—A LULL IN OPERATIONS.

July to December, 1915.

The farms behind the wood made really very pleasant homes for awhile. They have all now been levelled to the ground, but at the time I speak of they were in good condition and had many large and commodious buildings. At Kort Dreuve there was a very good private chapel, which the proprietor gave me the use of for my Communion Services. It was quite nice to have a little Gothic chapel with fine altar, and the men who attended always enjoyed the services there. Round the farm was a large moat full of good sized gold-fish, which the men used to catch surreptitiously and fry for their meals. “The Piggeries” was a large building in which the King of the Belgians had kept a fine breed of pigs. It was very long and furnished inside with two rows of styes built solidly of concrete. These were full of straw, and in them the men slept.

I was visiting one of the battalions there one evening, when I heard that they had been ordered to go back to the trenches before Sunday. I told some of the men that I thought that, as they would be in the trenches on Sunday, it would be a good idea if we had a voluntary service that evening. They seemed pleased, so I collected quite a large congregation at one end of the Piggeries, and was leading up to the service by a little overture in the shape of a talk about the war outlook, when I became aware that there was a fight going on at the other end of the low building, and that some of the men on the outskirts of the congregation were beginning to get restive. I knew that a voluntary service could not stand up against the rivalry of a fight, so I thought I had better take the bull by the horns. I said, “Boys, I think there is a fight going on at the other end of the Piggeries, and perhaps it would be well to postpone the service and go and see the fight, and then return and carry on.” The men were much relieved and, amid great laughter, my congregation broke loose and ran to the other end of the building, followed by myself. The fight was soon settled by the intervention of a sergeant, and then I said, “Now, Boys, let us go back to the other end and have the service.” I thought the change of location might have a good effect upon their minds and souls. So back we went again to the other end of the building and there had a really enthusiastic and devout service. When it was over, I told the men that nothing helped so much to make a service bright and hearty as the inclusion of a fight, and that when I returned to Canada, if at any time my congregation was listless or sleepy, I would arrange a fight on the other side of the street to which we could adjourn and from which we should return with renewed spiritual fervour. I have met many men at different times who look back upon that service with pleasure.

PS - Try searching for Ploegsteert piggeries - you'll get a lot of results.

Possibly a map and photo at the bottom of this page;

http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:N2kx5...=clnk&gl=uk

[captain caveman]

many thanks, with your help i have found what i'm looking for.

Regards

Kyle