124th Brigade RFA-location on 25th October 1917

[Mark Hone]

A friend's grandfather, Bombardier William Foster was wounded on this date and ended up being invalided out (he narrowly escaped having his leg amputated). I am trying to find out where the Brigade was located on 25th October. Interestingly his service record indicates a severe gun shot wound to his leg but apparently he always maintained that it was shrapnel. I've encountered this discrepancy before. The Brigade suffered one fatal casualty on that date, according to CWGC..Any help as always much appreciated.

[Ron Clifton]

Hello Mark

In passing, GSW (gun shot wound) was use to cover bullet, shrapnel and shell-fragment wounds, the latter being caused by shots from artillery guns. This has been covered elsewhere on the Forum, several times.

Ron

[Mark Hone]

Thanks Ron, sorry, not paying attention. I'll put myself in detention.

[Colin W Taylor]

Mark

According to the war diary the Brigade reported a heavy bombardment on their gun positions on the 23rd which resulted in several casualties to men and guns. About 3000 rounds landed in an area of 1300 sq yards in 3 1.2 hours. During the month the brigade suffered five men killed and one officer and 52 men wounded. The batteries were in I28 which is in or northwest of Verbrandemolen.

There is nothing mentioned on the 25th - either he was wounded in a separate, unrecorded, event, there is a minor disparity in dates or 25 has been miss-transcribed somewhere for 23.

I hope that is of assistance

Kind regards

Colin

[Mark Hone]

Thank you, Colin. That sounds more likely. I shall look at the CWGC records for the earlier date. When we are in the vicinity we shall go and have a look at the area.

[Mark Hone]

Looking at CWGC records the two fatal casualties of the 23rd October bombardment were both B Battery-one buried in Vormezeele 1 and 2 and the other two days later in Lijssenthoek so he clearly made it to a CCS. Not conclusive but suggestive that my friend's grandfather may also have been in B battery. Certainly we now know the area he was wounded in, so thanks again.

[Mark Hone]

Yesterday we cycled out to the area of Verbrandmolen and surveyed the area in which the Brigade was deployed in October 1917. Inter alia we saw the unusual isolated burials of three 124th Brigade men at Woods Cemetery from November 1917. The wall of the cemetery forms a salient to include them. Two were D Battery and one was from 37th Div Trench Mortar Battery. I would be very interested if anyone knows more details about the circumstances of this. My friend, who has only recently become interested in the Great War, was astonished at the speed of response and helpfulness of Forum Pals, despite the slightly odd tone of one reply.