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Remembered Today:

8th. Cameronians October 1918


bobpike

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Can anyone, please, tell me in what action this officer was killed? The battalion's movements in September/October would be very welcome, if possible,

kind regards,

Bob Pike

Lieutenant Alfred John WYATT 1st. attached 8th. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), killed in action October 23rd. 1918, aged 32. Buried in Highland Cemetery, Le Cateau, France, Plot 8 Row E Grave 7.

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Bob

According to the war diary of up to this date the battalion was training around the village of Knock near Wevelgem in Belgium - the armies had advanced some way forward of Ypres.

On 23rd October 'The Brigade moved eastward in accordance with the attached order. Line reconnoitred.' No mention of fighting or casualties. The appendix referred to is App IX but I don't have a document labelled that with the diary - whether I missed it when I photographed the diary or it wasn't present I could not say. It seems a long way from there to le Cateau - could he have been wounded and captured only to die later or might his body have been centralized there from an outlying burial?

Kind regards

Colin

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Thank you, Colin, further developments seem to suggest he was definitely with 8th Battalion. I will post what I have when it makes sense, thanks again,

Bob

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SDGW shows killed in action. The named cemetery did in fact take in "burials from Oct and Nov 1918 brought in from isolated positions on all sides of Le Cateau".

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Thank you, I have now looked at the war diary and all is getting clearer, when it is I'll post it,

Bob

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Bob

According to the war diary of up to this date the battalion was training around the village of Knock near Wevelgem in Belgium - the armies had advanced some way forward of Ypres.

On 23rd October 'The Brigade moved eastward in accordance with the attached order. Line reconnoitred.' No mention of fighting or casualties. The appendix referred to is App IX but I don't have a document labelled that with the diary - whether I missed it when I photographed the diary or it wasn't present I could not say. It seems a long way from there to le Cateau - could he have been wounded and captured only to die later or might his body have been centralized there from an outlying burial?

Kind regards

Colin

That's right Colin, it is a long way from Knock ( near Zwevegem) to le Cateau. The 34th Division was involved in the fightings near te canal Zwevegem-Moen on the 23rd October, and the 1/8th Cameronians were not on duty. And I'm a bit surprised Lt Wyatt is buried in Le Cateau. Most of the casualties in this area are buried in Harlebeke NBC, Vichte MC or Heestert MC.

kind regards,

Jef

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Can anyone, please, tell me in what action this officer was killed? The battalion's movements in September/October would be very welcome, if possible,

kind regards,

Bob Pike

Lieutenant Alfred John WYATT 1st. attached 8th. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), killed in action October 23rd. 1918, aged 32. Buried in Highland Cemetery, Le Cateau, France, Plot 8 Row E Grave 7.

Some additional information:

Lt Wyatt is listed on page 187 of the Regimental Roll of Honour (he was initially from Saffron Walden)

http://archive.org/stream/regimentalrollof1920grea#page/186/mode/2up/search/WYATT

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With grateful thanks to bydand here is a précis of the events leading up to Wyatt’s death –

The Battn had advanced over 15 miles across open country, fighting most of the way, & the manner in which, in the closing stages of the advance, they rose superior to fatigue, & drove the enemy from successive strong captured positions was worthy of the best traditions of the Battn.

TROISVILLES 10/10/18

11/10/18 Same Billets. - 4 Coys on working parties at night at K20. digging posts.

MALINCOURT 12/10/18

Bn. moved back across country to MALINCOURT, where Minimum Reserve rejoined.

Lt WYATT. 2/Lt. WILKIE & 2/Lt. CATHRO joined Battn.

MALINCOURT 13/10/18 Battn. paraded for inspection by G.O.C. Division who congratulated all ranks on the splendid work done & made special reference to the work of patrols on the 5th October, & to the courage & endurance of the men who had responded so well to every call made on them on the 9th inst. A Battn. concert was held in the evening

14/10/18 Reorganisation of Coys. - Training - out posts, advance Guards - Specialist Training & Range in afternoon.

15/10/18 Training - Range - Field firing. etc. Brigadier inspected Transport.

16/10/18 Training - Range - Coy. in attack. - outposts.

17/10/18 Training - Range - Coy Schemes.

18/10/18 Training - Brigade Scheme.

TROISVILLES 19/10/18 Bn. moved across country to TROISVILLES artillery formation - All mounted officers mct Brigadier en route and several tactical schemes were carried out.

20/10/18 Lt. Col. Hon. H. RITCHIE D.S.O. rejoined & assumed

command.

21/10/18 Lt. Col. H.H. LEE D.S.O. assumed command vice

Lt. Col. RITCHIE who took over 1st Queens Regt from

him. 2/Lt DOBSON, 2/Lt STRATTON joined Bn.

Battn. moved forward to assembly positions across SELLE River, east of SOLESMES-LE CATEAU RAILWAY, in order to attack objectives shown on Map 57BNE attached.

22/10/18

K10 b-11c 23/10/18 A,B & C Coys attacked at 2 a.m. with D in reserve.

The Battn. reached the Northern edge of VENDEGIES WOOD in front of which night outpost positions were taken up.

25/10/18 The Bn. was concentrated at LES TUILLERIES which was formed into a defended locality & held by Bn. During operations which resulted in the capture of ENGLEFONTAINE.

LES TUILLERIES

25/10/18

The following casualties were incurred during these operations:-

LT. COL. H H. LEE D.S.O.

2/Lt R.G. NICOL

Missing:- 6 O.R.

Captures; about 50 prisoners

Killed: Lt A. J. WYATT 27 O.R.

2/Lt J.C. CATHRO.

Wounded:

2/Lt. N.C. DOBSON

2/Lt. R. HERBERT.

2/Lt. C. GEMMELL 169 O.R.

1 Field Gun

6 M.Gs.

26/10/18 On night of 26th inst Division was relieved by 38th Div & Battn. returned to Billets in TROISVILLES.

Thank you very much also to Tom, Jef, Colin and Sotonmate for their much appreciated input,

Bob

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