5th (City of London) Bn (London Rifle Brigade)

[jnickwilliams]

I am researching the career of Ernest Ophir Clark (born 1896) who joined the 5th (City of London) Battalion, London Rifle Brigade. He was a private, number 1638, and his medal roll states he first served in W. France from 2.9.15, and died 5.12.16. Does anyone know when he might have enlisted and where the London Rifles were at the start of December? Also, does anyone know if the War Diary for this unit exists for this period?

Nick

[MBrockway]

Does anyone know when he might have enlisted and where the London Rifles were at the start of December? Also, does anyone know if the War Diary for this unit exists for this period?

Nick

Nick,

Soldiers Died in the Great War usually gives enlistment locations. Have you checked SDGW?

You should be able to find the LRB War Diary using the National Archive online Catalogue.

IIRC there's also a good battalion history - try doing some searches on London Rifle Brigade here on the Forum. I think it got a mention not long back.

Cheers,

Mark

[Phil Evans]

Hello Nick,

Looking at his CWGC entry he was in 1st/5th Battalion. The war diaries for 1/5 Battalion, London Regiment are held at the National Archives at Kew.

The Catalogue Reference is WO 95/2961 for the diary covering the period from February 1916 to July 1917.

Unfortunately it is not available through Documents Online yet.

Phil

[Phil Evans]

A Short History of the London Rifle Brigade is available on Internet Archive, free of charge.

Phil

[NigelS]

The Short History of the LRB which was published during the war only covers - just - to the Gommecourt diversionary attack on 1st July 1916.

In The History of the LRB 1859-1919 the 1st Battalion's itinerary is given as:

September:

3rd, Corbie; 4th, Happy Valley; 6th, Chimpanzee valley; 7th, Falfemont Farm Line; 8th, Leuze Wood attack; 11th, Citadel Hutments; 12th, Billon Farm; 13th, German Trenches; 15th, Angle Wood; 16th, Loop Trench; 18th, Angle Wood; 24th, Trench in front of Combles; 26th, Combles; 27th, Meaulte; 29th, Talus Bois; 30th, Guillemont

October:

2nd, In front Les Bouefs; 4th, Between Trones and Bernafay Woods; 8th, Attack on Les Bouefs; 9th, Trones Wood; 10th Mansel Copse; 12th, Picquigny; 21st, Huppy; 23rd, Pont Remy; 24th, Paradis; 27th, Croix Barbee; 28th, Richebourg L'Avoue

November:

3rd, Croix Barbee; 9th, Richebourg; 15th, Lestrem; 21st, Richebourg; 27th, Lestrem

December:

9th, Neuve Chapelle Sector; 15th, Rieze Bailleul; 21st, Neuve Chapelle Sector; 27th, Rieze Bailleul

and also gives this for the early part of December:

on 1st December, 1916, the battalion was at Lestrem, out of the line, and continued company training until the 8th.

Casualties for December are given as 7 Other Ranks wounded*

It looks possible that, as the MIC gives 'died', that Clark may have died of illness; his CWGC record gives that he is buried at Merville which is no great distance from Lestrem or Bout de Ville

Going back to the previous month 'The History' gives:

During November spells of work in the trenches of a more or less light character occupied the greater part of the time, and the intervals were used for resting, cleaning up and training. On the 3rd the battalion came out of the trenches after being relieved by the 2nd Londons, and went back to croix Barbee, where the 2nd Chyebessa dinner was held on 5th in the sergeants' mess with Lieut.-Col. Husey in the chair. On the 9th the battalion relieved the 2nd Londons, and during its second tour in the trenches made matters more lively for the enemy by means of trench mortar bombardments, until the 2nd Londons came in again on the 15th, when the LRB marched to Bout de Ville, as it was in divisional reserve. After six days' company and battalion training, the battalion on 21st took the place of the 2nd Londons for the second time, and developed its trench mortar work so much that a particularly severe effort on 23rd led to retaliation with heavy Howitzer fire, after which matters were quiet on both sides until 27th, when the 1st Norfolks and 16th Warwicks came in relief, and the LRB marched to Lestrem.

The casualties during the month were: Killed 5 Other Ranks and wounded 11.

*

(*these figures are from The History and may be inaccurate)

The Battalion's war diaries, as previously stated, are likely to give more detail on the battalion's activities, but, unless you are very lucky, unlikely to reveal any more on the circumstances of Clark's death

NigelS

[jnickwilliams]

Many thanks to Mark, Phil and Nigel: most helpful and I will follow your advice.

Cheers,

Nick

[chrrip]

Nick

Clark enlisted on 17.2.15 into LRB's 3rd Battalion. His BWM Roll says he died from disease; that's about all I can add I'm afraid

regards Chris

[jnickwilliams]

Nick

Clark enlisted on 17.2.15 into LRB's 3rd Battalion. His BWM Roll says he died from disease; that's about all I can add I'm afraid

regards Chris

Thanks Chris: again, very helpful,

regards,

Nick