Operations of 2/15th London Regt Jan/Feb 1918

[brimacombe]

Amongst my 'Holsworthy Boys' is Cyril James Fry DOCKETT who died of wounds on 21st February 1918 and is buried at Jerusalem War Cemetery.

I have already taken a couple of extracts from "record of war service" which records the deaths of London Council employees but it doesn't really say much about the operations of the 2/15th.

Could anyone give me some information regarding the bn's operations leading up to Docketts death?

Thanks guys...

[Tim Godden]

I am sure that another pal will beat me to it, but should they not, I can check the regimental history for you. There is also a 2/15th history held by the IWM which is available for copying at a cost of around £13.

My Great-great Uncle was killed on 27th December 1917, so it is not too dissimilar a period we are both looking at.

Kind regards,

Tim

[Tim Godden]

Also, for a photo of his grave:

TGWPP Link

Cheers,

Tim

[mikefry]

Amongst my 'Holsworthy Boys' is Cyril James Fry DOCKETT who died of wounds on 21st February 1918 and is buried at Jerusalem War Cemetery.

I have already taken a couple of extracts from "record of war service" which records the deaths of London Council employees but it doesn't really say much about the operations of the 2/15th.

Could anyone give me some information regarding the bn's operations leading up to Docketts death?

Thanks guys...

According to information available to me (The History of the Prince of Wales' Own Civil Service Rifles), the 2nd Battalion were engaged at Jebel Ektief Wadi on or about the 20th February 1918. You don't say which company he was in, but "C" Company suffered considerable casualties assaulting a number of ridges.

The aforesaid book does list your man as a casualty, but makes no other reference since he was an OR

Regards

[brimacombe]

Thanks Tim, thanks Mike.... Really speedy answers!

Does the Regimental History mention anything else about the operations at Jebel Ektief Wadi?

Unfortunately neither CWGC or SDGW mention which company here was in...

Thanks again guys

Thanks Tim, thanks Mike.... Really speedy answers!

Does the Regimental History mention anything else about the operations at Jebel Ektief Wadi?

Unfortunately neither CWGC or SDGW mention which company here was in...

Thanks again guys

[River97]

Here is a bit from a manuscript I have written. A memorial history of the 60th London Division.

A period just before he died.

Cheers Andy.

February 18 1918:

Resting most of the daybefore another 'stunt'.

Londoner's of the 60^th Division had been selected to make the assault on Jericho. They were to be assisted by two Brigades of the ANZAC Mounted Division. During the night of February 18 the Division began moving to their jump off points.

Four soldiers of the division had their citations for the Distinguished Conduct Medal published in the London Gazette on this day. Sergeant William Wilkie, 181^st Company, Machine Gun Corps. 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has shown great zeal and ability during the past fifteen months, and has always set a fine example of coolness and disregard of danger under heavy fire.'

966329 Driver Henry C. Perry, 'A' Battery, 303^rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He remained at his post after orders had been given to evacuate the gun-pits owing to intense bombardment, and kept up telephonic communication with his battery commander. His coolness and determination saved much delay.'

Sergeant Percival E. Thomson, 2^nd/16^th Battalion. 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He showed great courage and determination in holding an advanced trench under continuous shellfire and handled its garrison most ably when attacked by the enemy.'

L/34897 Sergeant Frederick L. Tilley, a native of Jamaica and posted to the 303^rdBrigade, Royal Field Artillery. 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when the battery was being shelled by a 5.9 howitzer and the detachment was being withdrawn. He returned with utter disregard of danger, while the bombardment was at its height, and removed the sights of his gun at great personal risk.'

February 19 1918:

Reveille 3:30am. Bombardment of enemy lines started at dawn. Right Section (ours advanced abouta mile, where I Don't think a vehicle had ever been before.

For the move the Division was split into three groups. On the right were the 179^th Infantry Brigade, an Artillery group, 521^st Engineer Company and the Wellington Mounted Rifles.

The 180^th Infantry Brigade, an Artillery Group and a Royal Engineer detachment made up the centre group. Engineers were to be utilised to repair culverts.

On the left the group consisted of the 181^st Infantry Brigade, an Artillery group, 519^th Engineer Company and two companies of Pioneer's.

By the end of the day the Division had advanced three miles with the armoured cars trying to perform a reconnaissance of Jericho, but were halted by a broken bridge a little further down the road. 21 members of the London Regiment fell in combat this day.

Rifleman Harry Chaplin was born in Witham and enlisted in Colchester where he was sent to the Royal Army Medical Corps. The 22-year-old was one of the 3,000 volunteers reallocated to the London Regiment before deploying to France in 1916. Harry, now with the London Irish, was killed in action on February 19, 1918, and buried in the Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel. His brother, Cyril, a Corporal with the 9^thBattalion, East Surrey Regiment, died of wounds on August 20, 1917, in the UK after being evacuated from France.

February 20 1918:

Watched our Infantry go over hilltop and enemy retreating. Our other two sections pulled around and through Jerusalem and Bethany onto the Jericho road during the night of 18^thand 19^th, and we packed up and went around the same track on the 20^th,about 18 miles.

The advance continued this day withthe 179^th Brigade given the task of capturing Jebel Ekteif. The only approach was up a spur line and over the hill, which was allocated to the 2^nd/15^th Battalion.

At 7:00am an artillery storm opened on the hill lasting for an hour when the 2^nd/15^th moved for the attack. A second barrage hit at 9:15am and then the Civil Service Rifles went over the top. Despite heavy fire they captured the front trenches and were assisted by the Queen's Westminster's, who had destroyed the machine gunsfiring from the flank.

After a final push over the last ridge the Turks were driven off the hill by midday. Six soldiers of the 2^nd/15^thdied as a result of hostile fire while taking the hill. A Further three,Charles Carter, Leonard Frost and Bertram Streeton, from the 2^nd/16^th,who took out the machine guns, also died.

[brimacombe]

Thanks Andy!

[Paul Reed]

Following a query from Tim on Twitter, I posted up some images of the 2/15th Londons on Flickr:

2 15 Londons (1) by Battlefield Historian, on Flickr

[timashdown@aol.com]

The "History of the 60th Division mentions the 2/15th London Regiment by Colonel P.H.Dalbaic as part of the 179th Infantry Brigade during Feb 1918 and its action on Ektief and other places.

Tim