1st East Lancs. Regt.

[snavek]

Hello fellow Forum members,I'm looking for some help locating the positions of the above battalion from the 6th-11th April, 1918. I was recently given a copy of 'The Soldiers War Diary' kept by Pte. 31170 Leslie Johnson. It's not complete, running from 6/4/18 to 16/12/18, when he returned home.

On 6th April he records they put up a new cookhouse, there were rumours of spy's and the guard was doubled.

7th April he was on carrying fatigues for the R.E's.

8th April they moved into the front line outposts.

9th April he was at Post 1.5. Minnie wafer strafing close, gas shells.

10th April they stood to all morning, standing down in the afternoon, they then withdrew through Armentieres.

11th April slept in farmhouses, dug in on railway, one of his group, Jason, was wounded. What a day!!! Cut off in evening (Prisoner of War).

From then on he describes his ordeals as a POW in Lille (including Fort MacDonald), working in the German back areas SW of Lille until he was set free on the 11th November at Waterloo, S of Brussels.

Can anyone give me a better idea of his location when he was taken prisoner please.

Sadly Leslie died of Tuberculosis three months after he got back home.

[sotonmate]

S

Our Mr Chris Baker has written a new book about the Battles of the Lys !

"Battle for Flanders-German Defeat on the Lys 1918"

Sotonmate

[snavek]

S

Our Mr Chris Baker has written a new book about the Battles of the Lys !

"Battle for Flanders-German Defeat on the Lys 1918"

Sotonmate

Thanks for that Sotonmate, I have just got a copy but at first glance I couldnt see where Chris had covered 1st E. Lancs. part in the battle in any detail. I'm grateful to you and will go back and have another look.

Keith

[Chris_Baker]

The 1st East Lancs (A and B Coys in the front line) were holding the stretch between the Armentieres-Lille railway and the Lille road, in the right sector of 34th Division's front. They were not subjected to direct attack on 9 April but in common with the rest of the Division were compelled to pull back and withdraw across the Lys on 10 April.

Around 3pm on 11 April the enemy penetrated the East Lancs position, which was by then near Pont Nieppe and to south of that place. The railway to which he refers is the Armentieres-Bailleul-Hazebrouck line.

[sotonmate]

S

Enjoy the book ! I just looked in case the unit War Diary was digital but it isn't as yet.

WO95/3061 is what you want should it come down to that.

Sotonmate

[snavek]

Chris, Sotonmate, thanks very much for that. Chris your information tells me all I needed to know and I can now settle down to read your book.

Keith