mjsl Posted 24 February , 2010 Share Posted 24 February , 2010 I am reseraching a Serjeant Arthur Harry Morton who was in the 9th Battalion of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) and was killed on the 9th August 1917. The battalion was part of the 64th Brigade in the 21st Division of the third army. I think that it would have been involved in the first battle of the Scape 9-14th April 1917 - First phase of the Arras offensive. Does anyone have any more information about the battalion and its activies around the 9th August 1917. I found on another site Harrogate Borough Council - Roll of Honour, which lists a Pte H. P. Chaplin also with the 9th Battalion KOYLI also killed on the 9th April and it also had the following information but without saying where it came from:- "Harry Chaplin was killed in an attack on the formidable Hindenburg Line, just to the east of a village called St. Martin sur Cojeul, during the Battle of Arras. The Hindenburg Line was a specially constructed defensive line, to which the Germans retreated after the battle of the Somme. The Line was characterised by extremely strong concrete fortifications with several wide belts of barbed wire in front. The German trenches in front of the 9th KOYLI were protected by two huge belts of barbed wire. The attack began at 3.54pm and the 9th KOYLIs advanced over 1,000 yards of open ground, before reaching the first belt of German wire. They managed to get through this, but could not penetrate the second belt and so ended up caught between the two. The attack which cost Harry Chaplin his life, was unsuccessful and the 9th KOYLIs never even reached the German front line trench." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armourersergeant Posted 24 February , 2010 Share Posted 24 February , 2010 Hello, You are correct 9th KOYLI were part of 64th brigade, which was part of 21st divisions. they were involved in fighting on this day. A good book to get hold of for this battalion is 'From Pontefract to Picardy: The 9th King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in the First World War' by Derek Clayton. I have a copy and this is an excellent book, if you can get a copy. If not I would be willing to fill in a few gaps as I have also the war dairy, however you catch me just getting ready for a trip down to Olympia from tomorrow and I will not be back until Sunday. If no one else comes along to help I will get to this next week and get some information to you. Regards Arm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjsl Posted 25 February , 2010 Author Share Posted 25 February , 2010 Thanks that would be great if you could provide an abstract from the war diary. I am researching 32 names on a First World War Memorial plaque in our local church and as you can imagine they served across all three services and in a wide range of units, so I am most grateful for any help. Hope you enjoy the Olympics Regards, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old virginia Posted 29 June , 2010 Share Posted 29 June , 2010 Hello, You are correct 9th KOYLI were part of 64th brigade, which was part of 21st divisions. they were involved in fighting on this day. A good book to get hold of for this battalion is 'From Pontefract to Picardy: The 9th King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in the First World War' by Derek Clayton. I have a copy and this is an excellent book, if you can get a copy. If not I would be willing to fill in a few gaps as I have also the war dairy, however you catch me just getting ready for a trip down to Olympia from tomorrow and I will not be back until Sunday. If no one else comes along to help I will get to this next week and get some information to you. Regards Arm Sorry to "drop in" on your thread, I am new to this forum and not sure where to post. Please do you have any information about this regiment (9th Alexandra, Kings Own Yorkshire Regiment), war diary or extract on or around 7th - 11th June 1917? Thank you very much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinBattle Posted 29 June , 2010 Share Posted 29 June , 2010 old virginia: welcome, but I think you would do better to start a new Thread for this. The Regiment you are looking for is NOT the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry but Alexandra, Princess of Wales Own Yorkshire Regiment, more easily known as "The Green Howards". Details can be found in the Long Long Trail link at the top of the header bar. Choose Infantry Regiments and scroll down to "Yorkshire"... that's the one you want!! You will probably need to provide a little more detail. Name and Battalion will go a long way to helping us help you. There were 237 casualties in the Yorkshire Regiment in your 5 days, so a Battalion or location will help narrow it down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connaughtranger Posted 29 June , 2010 Share Posted 29 June , 2010 Hi The Battalion took part in the opening attack of the Battle of Messines leaving their trenches at 6.50am. They came under heavy flanking fire as well as machine-gun fire from the front and were forced to dig in on the southern edge of Battle Wood. Casualties on that day were 4 Officers killed and 7 wounded; 67 Other Ranks killed, 178 wounded and 9 missing. Rest of June spent in Dickebusch area Regards Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old virginia Posted 29 June , 2010 Share Posted 29 June , 2010 old virginia: welcome, but I think you would do better to start a new Thread for this. The Regiment you are looking for is NOT the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry but Alexandra, Princess of Wales Own Yorkshire Regiment, more easily known as "The Green Howards". Details can be found in the Long Long Trail link at the top of the header bar. Choose Infantry Regiments and scroll down to "Yorkshire"... that's the one you want!! You will probably need to provide a little more detail. Name and Battalion will go a long way to helping us help you. There were 237 casualties in the Yorkshire Regiment in your 5 days, so a Battalion or location will help narrow it down. Thank you so much for your reply, yes, you are right, it is the Alexandra, Princess of Wales Own Yorkshire Regiment I am looking for, 9th Battalion. Sorry I posted wrongly - I will get better, I promise!! I will follow your very kind advice, thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old virginia Posted 29 June , 2010 Share Posted 29 June , 2010 Hi The Battalion took part in the opening attack of the Battle of Messines leaving their trenches at 6.50am. They came under heavy flanking fire as well as machine-gun fire from the front and were forced to dig in on the southern edge of Battle Wood. Casualties on that day wee 4 Officers killed and 7 wounded; 67 Other Ranks killed, 178 wounded and 9 missing. Rest of June spent in Dickebusch area Regards Martin Hello Martin, thank you so much for your reply. I am new to this forum, and not sure how to go on just yet, but you certainly have given me some information about the Battalion for me to look into. It is the Alexandra, Princess of Wales Own Yorkshire Regiment 9th Battalion that I am hoping to find out about. I know very little about the First World War, but did visit the Battlefields in 2005, it was a wonderful, moving and very humbling experience. Many thanks for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinBattle Posted 29 June , 2010 Share Posted 29 June , 2010 9th Battalion Green Howards (A, PoWOYR!!) sustained 75 killed on 7th June; 6 on 8th; 1 each on 9th and 10th and 2 on 11th. As that seems to be the end date of your interest, of the 2 dead, only one has a known grave... Name: BLAGDON, JOSEPH Initials: J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Yorkshire Regiment Unit Text: 9th Bn. Age: 25 Date of Death: 11/06/1917 Service No: 14425 Additional information: Brother of Mr. W. Blagdon, of 79, Framwellgate, Durham. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: XV. G. 9A. Cemetery: LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY The cemetery information indicates that During the First World War, the village of Lijssenthoek was situated on the main communication line between the Allied military bases in the rear and the Ypres battlefields. Close to the Front, but out of the extreme range of most German field artillery, it became a natural place to establish casualty clearing stations. It is logical to assume that Private Blagdon likely died of wounds, sustained in the fierce fighting on 7th June. If this is your man, I can't make a Virginia connection.... !!! Other more knowledgeable Pals will be able to detail what the 9th Yorkshires were doing then. Hope that helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old virginia Posted 30 June , 2010 Share Posted 30 June , 2010 Thank you KevinW4 for taking the time to look this up for me. Unfortunately this is not my man. I have conflicting information as to the date my John died. I will PM you the details I have, if that is ok? This forum is a fantastic place to visit, everyone is so very helpful, especially to newbies!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Noble Posted 30 June , 2010 Share Posted 30 June , 2010 Hi. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, April/May 1917 in the Steenvorde Sector in Corps Reserve. 6th June, in readiness for attack at Messines. 69th Brigade, plus attachments of 68th Brigade, would make an assault on Hill 60, 70th Brigade, left flank, would attack Mount Sorrel. Hope that is of some help. Best wishes. Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinBattle Posted 30 June , 2010 Share Posted 30 June , 2010 Thank you very much, Chris. That narrows it down. Does anyone have the 9th Green Howards War Diary or Maps showing the advances made in the Battle for Messines Ridge? There seems to be a number of casualties only commemorated on the Ypres Memorial, whereas many dying of wounds have recorded graves. As the ground won appears to have been held, I'm somewhat surprised that these "battlefield" casualties haven't recorded graves. It's as if a large number were buried and then the location subsequently lost, together with ID's etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connaughtranger Posted 4 July , 2010 Share Posted 4 July , 2010 Hi I have the 2nd Army Artillery Barrage map for the opening day of Messines with lift times and the 3 objectives the red, blue and black lines. It shows the area of the 9/Green Howards' advance through Battle Wood with the railway on their left and their consolidation on the Black Line to the south of the wood. Could do you a scan of the segment Regards Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinBattle Posted 4 July , 2010 Share Posted 4 July , 2010 Thanks Martin I'm hoping old virginia (or the Mods) will separate into individual threads. If you can post the scan here in the meantime (or if too large, PM to me) Much appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 3 November , 2019 Share Posted 3 November , 2019 My great uncle Serjeant Thomas Vincent Verrill was in the 9th Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He was killed on September 9, 1918. Age 21. Unknown grave. My grandfather and greatfather went to France after the war to try and find body. Found nothing. Can anyone tell me what the 9th was doing on September 9, 1918 and their location in France? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1959 Posted 3 November , 2019 Share Posted 3 November , 2019 (edited) See war diary. North East of Heudicourt near to the Genin Well Copse. Look at map Post 4 in the following thread. Refers to several months before but is the correct area. Edited 3 November , 2019 by Mark1959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now