stripeyman Posted 29 November , 2009 Share Posted 29 November , 2009 AWM photograph EO 4831 shows The Big Caterpillar near Ville sur Ancre, it was named because of the shape of sunken lanes on the map. Could anyone give me its location and possibly a trench map ? Thanks Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 29 November , 2009 Share Posted 29 November , 2009 Is this the same as Caterpillar Valley? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crunchy Posted 29 November , 2009 Share Posted 29 November , 2009 Bob, The northern end of the Big Caterpiller is about 300 yards immediately SSE of Ville-Sur-Ancre. It is the sunken part of the road that runs south from Ville-Sur-Ancre and to the west of Morlancourt. Sorry I don't have access to a trench map. Cheers Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay dubaya Posted 29 November , 2009 Share Posted 29 November , 2009 Bob, this extract is taken from the 21st Bn. AIF History 'We relieved the 22nd Battalion in front of Treux on the night of 14-15th April and had five days in which to study the position. The plan of attack was for the 22nd Battalion to outflank Ville-sur-Ancre on the right by capturing the "Caterpillar", a strongly held sunken road leading from the village on the river bank, up to Corbie road. The23rd and 24th were to push bridges across the Ancre and out flank the village in the swamps to the north. Our part was to fill the gap opposite the village and when the rest of the brigade was well established, to mop up the village and dig a line beyond it.' Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crunchy Posted 29 November , 2009 Share Posted 29 November , 2009 Jon, Thanks for the map Bob, Looking at Jon's map, the Big Caterpillar is the sunken road in squares K1b and K1d running south from the sunken cross roads. It still exists today. It looks like the photo was taken from the cross roads. Today trees and bushes line the top of the embankments. Regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripeyman Posted 30 November , 2009 Author Share Posted 30 November , 2009 Thank you one and all....... I will have a look at this next year, with a view to taking a comparison photograph Thanks again Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murdey Posted 16 February , 2018 Share Posted 16 February , 2018 I found this thread as I have investigated an AIF soldier who died in The Big Caterpillar on 19th May 1918.... James Douglas Dean Harvey Huxley died in shelling in the Big Caterpillar near Ville-sur-Ancre and is buried in Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension. He is buried alongside two of his fellow soldiers from the 21st Battalion AIF, who were killed by the same shell - Herbert Hickey and James Dooley (who served as John Simpson). We are planning to visit Dernancourt on 19th May, and leave a Remembrance Cross on James Huxley's grave. However we would like to do the same for Dooley and Simpson, but we want to see if there are any descendants out there. We could place a personal tribute from them on their ancestors grave. Has anyone got any ideas where I might search or post to see if there are any relatives out there - particularly in Australia? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRA Posted 25 April Share Posted 25 April Murdey In reply to your investigation. Its many years since your post, today is ANZAC DAY 2024 and I've come across your post. The above mentioned private James D D H Huxley is my great grandfather. I appreciate the remembrance cross you mention in your post and hope to visit he's grave myself one day. Just wondering your conection to him. Cheers Dean, Vic Au Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 25 April Share Posted 25 April Murdey last visited the GWF on October 8 last year, so may not see your post. I've sent him a private message that he may or may not get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRA Posted 25 April Share Posted 25 April Thank you cheers Dean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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