2Bn Highland Light Infantry

[raver]

A relative of mine was killed on 13 May 1915. He was, William Hamilton no. 9538, a Lance Corporal in the 2nd Bn, Highland Light Infantry.

Can anybody tell me where they were on the 13th May 1915?

Regards

Dave

[ForeignGong]

Hi Dave

Check this out, it was passed to me two days ago

Peter

http://www.lightinfantry.org.uk/regiments/hlli/high_ww2.htm

[sotonmate]

Dave

Your subject was killed in action alongside six other of his battalion,all are remembered on the LE TOURET Memorial as they have no known grave,so there are no substantial clues to be had from the War Graves site, CWGC. The area of conflict from where these LE TOURET casualties are drawn is quite a large one. The 2nd Division (his Bn was part of 5 Brigade of that Div) were involved in the Battle of Festubert from the 15th May,for which there was a prior four day artillery bombardment,with retaliation, so he would probably have been a casualty there.The precise answer for you will be in the Battalion War Diary,at Kew under WO95/1347 which covers the Battalion's activity from Aug 1914 through to 1919.

Sotonmate

[unitedsound]

Dave

The Battle of Aubers Ridge began on 9th May and developed into the Battle of Festubert which ran until 25th May.

I can see eight 2Bn fatalities on 13th May, six of which are listed on Le Touret Memorial and two of which are buried at Bethune Town Cemetery. Bethune Town Cemetery is 9 miles south west of Aubers Ridge and four miles west of Festubert.

The 2nd Bn war diary is available at this link. You'll find it at foot of page.

http://rhf.org.uk/rhf/index.php?option=com...0&Itemid=96

If you PM your e-mail I can send you Lt Col Oatts History of the HLI which explains in some detail the month of May 1915. It is also avaiable at above link however. Small sub required.

David

[Alastair58]

On 12/12/2009 at 13:32, raver said:

A relative of mine was killed on 13 May 1915. He was, William Hamilton no. 9538, a Lance Corporal in the 2nd Bn, Highland Light Infantry.

Can anybody tell me where they were on the 13th May 1915?

Regards

Dave

Hi Dave. William Hamilton (9538) was my grandfather.

I have some information here. What relation is he to him?

All the best.

Alastair Hamilton.

[Michelle Young]

Welcome to the forum. @raver hasn’t visited the forum for 10 years. My tag might alert them to your post, assuming they’re still using the same email address. 

[Alastair58]

Thanks Michelle. It would be interesting to find out more form Dave, he must be a relative.

Alastair.

[Tom Lang]

I'm attaching my transcription of the 2nd Bn HLI War Diary for 13 May 1915, which shows the location of the Battalion on that date.

I've also included the CWGC list of 'deaths' that day (WD says 7; CWGC says 8).

Kindest Regards,

Tom.

[Alastair58]

20 minutes ago, Tom Lang said:

I'm attaching my transcription of the 2nd Bn HLI War Diary for 13 May 1915, which shows the location of the Battalion on that date.

I've also included the CWGC list of 'deaths' that day (WD says 7; CWGC says 8).

Kindest Regards,

Tom.

That's great, thanks Tom.

I've learnt more about my grandfather in one day than in the 109 years since he died.

Thanks.

Alastair.