288 Seige Battery - 79 Brigade RGA (July / August 1917

[auditman]

I am looking for the descriptive location of this battery during the early stages Third Ypres to place a relative of a friend who died on 4/8/17. He is Gunner Alfred Catt and is remembered on the Menin Gate.

At the time the Battery did not have its own War Diary.

From the Brigade Diary (WO95/477) I have a reference for 4/7/17, when the Battery came under command of 79 Brigade, at Sheet 28 H26, 97

On the night of 30/7 the battery moved to just west of the Yser Canal coming into action at 2:30am.

The Brigade Diary refers to moves being attempted to support the attackers' early gains but inevitably this was hampered by the wet weather. I can find no direct reference to movement of the 288SB during this period.

From the Diary the Brigade appears to be supporting 18 Corps around Kitchener Wood to the R Steenbeek during this period.

Can anyone please put the battery locations into a place name? I think the second position is possibly in the area between Essex Farm and Bard Cottage but a precise location would be very welcome. Also if anyone can let me have movement locations up to the date of Gunner Catt's death, I would be grateful.

Many thanks

Jim

[SFayers]

Hi Jim,

Can't help with much I'm afraid, apart from the map reference. Square H26 is on the Poperinghe sheet. The reference 'H26, 97' looks like it should have a letter after the 26 and before the 97 (either a, b, c or d in reference to the quadrant within square H26). Either way, the locality is to the NW of Dickebusch (which is to the west / WSW of Ypres); maybe the wagon lines were here?

All the best

Steve

[auditman]

Hi Jim,

Can't help with much I'm afraid, apart from the map reference. Square H26 is on the Poperinghe sheet. The reference 'H26, 97' looks like it should have a letter after the 26 and before the 97 (either a, b, c or d in reference to the quadrant within square H26). Either way, the locality is to the NW of Dickebusch (which is to the west / WSW of Ypres); maybe the wagon lines were here?

All the best

Steve

Hi Steve.

Bit further away from Ypres than I thought

Thanks very much

Jim