Guest JIM EDWARDS Posted 12 July , 2004 Share Posted 12 July , 2004 Can anyone identify the position occupied by 7th S.L.I , Feb 1916. "South of a position called Lancashire Farm in a rough line to GROUSE BUTT". Visit to IWM revealed the former but blowed if I could find Grouse Butt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annette Burgoyne Posted 12 July , 2004 Share Posted 12 July , 2004 Hi Jim The area of trenches near Boesinghe that you refer to were very water logged and continuous trenches could not always be built at the time the 7/Som.L.I. were there (February- April 1916), butts were built in some areas, these were called grouse butts. These butts were number, and for example Butt 17 was near Skipton and Nile trenches. Annette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWills Posted 12 July , 2004 Share Posted 12 July , 2004 The 7th SLI (B & D Coys.) occupied a series of shell holes at the time in a line south of Lancashire farm which ran from D. 22 to the Grouse Butt, No. 17. C Coy was in support posts along the Canal bank and A Coy. in reserve was also along the Canal bank. Annette unwittingly(?) gives the right answer as no. 17 was Grouse Butt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annette Burgoyne Posted 13 July , 2004 Share Posted 13 July , 2004 Hi Martin Quote - gives the right answer as no. 17 was Grouse Butt. Martin all the butts were known as Grouse Butts ?, so it should be grouse Butt No. 17 and not no. 17 was Grouse Butt ? or am I braking up the wrong tree ? I would be showing the funny faces instead of question marks but mine do not seem to working ? Jim for your interest a fellow Bakers Pal - Brendon Moorhouse as produced a book on the 7/Som.L.I. Annette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JIM EDWARDS Posted 13 July , 2004 Share Posted 13 July , 2004 Would I be pushing my luck if I asked some kind member to post a map of the position. I took my digital camera along to the IWM but I'm afraid the results reflect my camera skill which is about as poor as my research skill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROONAERT Posted 13 July , 2004 Share Posted 13 July , 2004 Somewhere around here? Dave... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JIM EDWARDS Posted 15 July , 2004 Share Posted 15 July , 2004 Thanks for the map. Could you indulge me by going a bit further north as, according to an earlier post, Grouse Butt was near Skipton & Nile trenches. Thanks once again. Jim Edwards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annette Burgoyne Posted 15 July , 2004 Share Posted 15 July , 2004 Hi Jim There may not be a map with these grouse butts mentioned by number or name, I have great map for section to the right of Dave's map. It is very detailed and mentions trench names but the butts are not named or evan marked by numbers. The only reason I know Butt 17 was near Skipton & Nile trenches is because the 6/K.S.L.I. diary records that they took over front line and supports in Skipton & Nile trenches and Butt 17. I am not saying there is not a map out there with the butts named or numbers - War diary usauly had maps attached but I believe the PRO removed them from the diaries and filed them elsewhere ? Annette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mebu Posted 16 July , 2004 Share Posted 16 July , 2004 It seems that all the Buts were Grouse Butts...Dec 15 War Diary of 2/1 West Riding REs "most work done on the new line. The object of the work was to provide a discontinuous series of "Grouse Butts" behind the firing line". Another diary says week 22/1/16 to 31/1/16, butts 22,23 completed, Butt 18 old portions completerd, mg position rebuilt, "Butt 17 begun, extensions of two firebays on each wing required, ...". Also have some maps, will scan these but poor quality b/w I'm afraid, Peter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mebu Posted 16 July , 2004 Share Posted 16 July , 2004 here's one map Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mebu Posted 16 July , 2004 Share Posted 16 July , 2004 here's another, hope they of use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROONAERT Posted 16 July , 2004 Share Posted 16 July , 2004 Thanks for the map. Could you indulge me by going a bit further north as, according to an earlier post, Grouse Butt was near Skipton & Nile trenches. Thanks once again. Jim Edwards Your wish is my command! Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annette Burgoyne Posted 16 July , 2004 Share Posted 16 July , 2004 This forum is so good, I wish it was around in 2000, I could have used the extra details in yours maps Peter back then. Anyway I can still add them to my map for future referance. Annette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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