7th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment

[Paul Bradshaw]

Have checked the National Archives lists of War Diaries and can find everything but the above. I am looking for the November, 1916 period when a soldier I am interested in was killed in action.

Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

[GraemeClarke]

Hi

Its here

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=6&CATID=5636415&SearchInit=4&SearchType=6&CATREF=WO+95%2F2081

but not yet available

Regards,

Graeme

[Paul Bradshaw]

Once again Graeme, many thanks.

Paul.

[Stephen Nulty]

Paul

A few bits and pieces in the history tells us that they were involved in the Battle of the Ancre.

What particular date are you looking at?

[Paul Bradshaw]

Hello Stephen--the man I am currently researching is Robert Slack from Nottinghamshire who was killed in action on the 18th November, 1916. I am off to Kew in February to look up several men whose Battalion War Diaries are not yet digitised.

Paul.

[Stephen Nulty]

I'll type it up for you and post it in the morning, just rushing out

[GraemeClarke]

Mornig Steve,

Hate to ask this BUT.....

is it possible to have a couple of dates, please.

Researching a man KiA on 7 June 1917 and a man DoW on 31 October 1916

many thanks,

Graeme

[Stephen Nulty]

Paul, here's the transcription

On 18^th November the 19^th Division made another determined effort to capture the village of Grandcourt and the role allotted to the 7^th Battalion was t move up the Hansa Road to the Western outskirts. By this time the unit was very weak, and the companies were reduced to an average strength of 80 each; for actual fighting the Battalion as a whole could only muster 324 rifles. Orders for the attack were received very late and were given out in the open verbally to the assembled officers. An electric torch was the only light available for reading the written instructions, which were sodden with the falling sleet.

At 6:10 am the barrage opened and the attack commenced under the most unpropitious conditions. At this early hour of the winter morning, it was dark and hail was falling, and the troops were shivering in their dripping uniforms. Nevertheless, the assaulting battalions moved forwards at zero and kept close to the barrage. Once beyond the immediate neighbourhood of the starting line, however, the attackers merged into the darkness and the artillery observers could see nothing.

The battalion advanced well to within 200 yards of its objective on the western outskirts of Grandcourt. At this point it came under heavy machine gun fire from the German positions north of the Ancre. In spite of this check, the companies pressed on and reached their objective, which was quickly captured. Meanwhile the 8^th Gloucesters, on the right, had succeeded in entering Grandcourt itself, although the remainder of the 57^th Brigade had been driven back. The Battalion immediately established touch with the Gloucesters and sent bombing parties to assist in clearing the village.

The failure of the main attack, however, had resulted in the virtual isolation of the devoted battalions in and around Grandcourt, and the day dragged wearily on, the battle having developed into a series of “dog fights|” with all hope of a decisive success gone. During the 19^th, the positions won the previous day were held, but towards the evening it was decided that further offensive operations would be abandoned for the present and the prince of Wales Volunteers and the Gloucesters were withdrawn to a line 1000 yards in rear of Grandcourt.

[Stephen Nulty]

Graeme, here’s October 1916

In October the 19^th Division returned to the Somme area where its brigades were moved about from sector to sector for the next month, eventually taking over that portion of the front which included such notorious localities as Hessian Trench, Schwaben Trench and the Stuff Redoubt, a mile north east of Thiepval. The Battalion undertook normal tours in the trenches during this period, but the time was uneventful as regards major incidents, although winter was now setting in and life in the front line was very uncomfortable; the enemy’s artillery was also exceptionally active and in one tour of two days in the brickfields sector, the unit lost one officer and 13 other ranks killed, and 4 officers and 47 other ranks wounded. Privates J W Clarkson and V Christopher, stretcher bearers, received immediate awards of the Military Medal for gallantry under fire during this tour.

[Stephen Nulty]

June 1917 Messines

On 6^th June, in the evening, the Battalion left camp and marched up to the assembly positions to the south of St Eloi.

At 3:10 am on the 7^th, the battle opened with the explosion of nineteen deep mines under the German front-line trenches, a million pounds of explosive being used. Simultaneously a British artillery barrage came down on the now shattered defences and infantry, rising from their assembly positions, swarmed forwards towards their objectives. The Battalion, following the 7^th Loyals, advanced by sections in single file. It was very dark and very difficult to keep direction, but our own front line was safely passed before the hostile defence fire opened.

The Germans, surprised and dazed by the holocaust, created by the mine explosions, offered but a feeble resistance, and the Battalion captured the Blue Line in strict accordance with the timetable, taking in its stride Catteau Farm, which was organised as a machine-gun nest. By 5.32 am consolidation was in progress and the companies were re-formed in readiness for the advance against the Green Line, which was to take place in two hours time.

At 7.20 am the advance was continued and the Green Line in turn was taken with few casualties. The few Germans seen either ran away or surrendered eagerly, having no fight left in them. By 11.30 am the Battalion had been reorganized and at 2.00 pm moved forward to relieve the 8^th North Staffords on the Black Line, which had also been captured according to plan.

[GraemeClarke]

Hi Stephen,

Absolutely fantastic, many thanks yet again,

Regards,

Graeme

[CROONAERT]

Graeme,

Here's the 7/SLR War Diary for the first week of June 1917 (unfortunately (Paul and Graeme), I've only got the diaries from 1st December 1916, so cannot post the other required dates)........

Dave

[GraemeClarke]

Dave,

What can I say, cannot thank you enough. Thanks for taking the time and effort,

Regards,

Graeme

[Paul Bradshaw]

Cannot thank you enough for all the help.

It really is appreciated - never disappointed by the generous help freely given by members of the forum.

Once again, a sincere thank you.

Paul.