4th Battn. South Lancashire Regt.

[Beselare]

The war diary for the 4th Battn., South Lancashire Regt. (WO 95/1414/2) is not yet available online from the NA. I am researching Pte. James Bennett, No.2268, killed 1st April 1915 (buried at La Clytte Military Cemetery). I believe they were in the Kemmel area, but I am hoping that someone has a copy of the diary or knows what trenches they were in on 1.4.15.

Many thanks

Bob

[Colin W Taylor]

Bob

Please find the page attached - apologies for the creases making it more difficult to read.

Kind regards

Colin

[Ian Riley]

Bob,

Soldiers Died in the Great War actually shows James Bennett as 'Died of Wounds' on 1 April 1915. This could mean that he was actually wounded some time before. However his burial at La Clytte would indicate that he has not been evacuated very far at all and therefore I would think it likely that he was wounded only a few days at most before his death.

The typescript copy of the diary held at Fulwood Barracks (The Lancashire Infantry Museum - this is an official typescript made, I think, for the use of the Official Historians rather than regimental historians) shows no casualties on 1st April in that it makes no comment about casualties at all. During this period the diary usually makes an explicitly comment such as 'No casualties' or comments such as '3 wounded, one of whom later died of wounds'. Unfortunately I am working from notes and can't access my images of this diary at the moment. I think you may have to go back a few days to see if there were relevant entries

26th March 1915 DICKEBUSCH 6:30 pm The Battalion moved out and occupied trenches N5, 6, 10, 10a, O1, 1A, 2, 3, 4, 5 and redoubt 56. HQ at THE BRASSERIE at CROSS ROADS N. of 4th milestone on YPRES-KEMMEL ROAD ... Trenches Breastworks ... Casualties wounded other ranks one

27th March 1915: Casualties Lieutenant Seymour Jones ... at 5.45 pm ... died of wounds 8.30 pm. Wounded: Wounded other ranks 7 (one afterwards died of wounds)

28th March 1915: ... Casualties Wounded OR 4

29th March 1915: ... Casualties wounded OR 2

30th March 1915: ... Casualties wounded OR 3 (1 died of wounds at 11:30 pm)

31st March 1915: Trenches occupied as for 26th with the exception of O5 which was handed over to the R. Irish Rifles. Casualties: Wounded OR 2 and 1 man self-inflicted

Hope that helps. It seems that the trenches they handed over on 1 April (as shown by Colin) were pretty much those that they took over on 26 March

Ian