10th Durham Light Infantry May/June 1915

[rugbyremembers]

I am looking for information on the whereabouts and actions involving the 10th DLI in 1915. Any and all information welcome, especially giving context for death of Lt GE Fairbairn in June (dow 20/6/15), and the involvement of one John Brenchley Rosher, a fellow Cambridge rower and rugy player, who went on to be Bn CO(not sure what rank he would be in mid-15)

Many thanks

Stephen

[sotonmate]

S

The 10 DLI didn't arrive in France (with 43 Bde of 14 Division) until late May 1915,and weren't in any set battles unitl the Hooge (July) and Bellewaarde (Sept),so it would seem that he was a casualty from day-to-day trench attrition. He is buried at Bailleul which had a large Casualty Clearing set-up and would have been well-placed for casualties from the Armentieres and Ploegsteert sectors. You can check this from the Battalion War Diary at Kew under WO95/1907.

Sotonmate

[CROONAERT]

War diary for 20th June states - '...All companies returned from trenches early this morning...D Coy reports 2/Lt. Fairburn dangerously wounded, 3712 Pte G Lumsden killed and 8684 Pte E Wood & 9398 J Walker wounded - all by rifle grenade.'

Wijtschaete sector. D Coy (and C Coy) had gone into the frontline on the night of 17th/18th June (relieving A & B Coys)

Dave

[CROONAERT]

John Brenchley Rosher, a fellow Cambridge rower and rugy player, who went on to be Bn CO(not sure what rank he would be in mid-15)

2/Lt. ( Lt on 1st Sept 1915, T.Capt on 29th Feb 1916 (14/DLI))

Dave

[rugbyremembers]

Many thanks to Dave and Sotonmate