4th Bn Seaforths Oct 1915 where were they and what Div

[LinaMoffitt]

Hi

I was wondering if anyone has Haldane's book and can tell me what this unit were doing Oct 1915 and what Division?

I have them in the trenches but dont know where or the larger picture.

thanks

Lina

[johnboy]

From Long Long Trail, top left of page.

2nd Battalion
August 1914 : at Shorncliffe. Part of 10th Brigade in 4th Division. Moved on mobilisation to York area (including Darlington and Strensall) before moving to Harrow.
23 August 1914 : landed at Boulogne.

[headgardener]

.....4th battalion, on the other hand, were part of Dehra Dun Brigade in 7th (Meerut) Div. ;-)

I've got Haldane somewhere. Will try to find it tomorrow and get back to you, if no-one's beaten me to it....

[johnboy]

My mistake, read too quickly ..... Div instead of Btn.

[kenf48]

On the 25th September 1915, the opening day of the Battle of Loos the Indian Corps made an initially successful diversionary attack at Petrie. The Meerut Division played a major part in the battle, although the Dehra Dun Brigade was Divisional Reserve. They did become involved in the battle later in the day but by then the attack had been a costly failure. The Division suffered heavy loss and was effectively withdrawn to refit. On 29th September the Indian Corps joined the major engagement at Loos but during October took little part in the fighting until the Indian troops came out of the line aat the end of the month to prepare for their withdrawal from the Western Front.

"At the commencement of October, 1915, the Indian Corps front extended for a distance of 10,825 yards; the 19th Division ran on the right from the La Bassee Canal to Farm Corner and the line was continued northwards by the Lahore Division as far asSunken Road. The Meerut Division had been withdrawn to refit after the heavy fighting of the 25th September, but on the 1st October the Bareilly Brigade was brought up to relieve Sirhind in the front line, the latter moving back into Army reserve. The weather for the greater part of the month was fine and cold, varied by short spells of mist and light rain.

On the 4th October a redistribution of the Corps on the same front was completed. By this disposition the Meerut Division held the souther portion of the line with the right of the Bareilly Brigade resting on the La Bassee Canal; the centre of the front was occupied by the 19th Division, and the northern section by Lahore, with the left of the Jullundur Brigade on Sunken Road.

The month passed without any events of special importance. The usual mining and counter-mining operations continued on Givenchy Ridge, which was pockmarked in every direction by the craters formed by previous explosions."

The Indian Corps in France http://lib.militaryarchive.co.uk/library/divisional-histories/library/The-Indian-Corps-in-France/files/assets/basic-html/page501.html

This site has maps of the Loos Battlefield where the features mentioned are shown http://battlefields1418.50megs.com/loos_maps.htm

There is an extensive account of the Loos battle on the LLT (for the bigger picture) and there are accounts of Petrie on the forum and other examples of trench maps.

The war diary for the 1/4 Seaforths for this period is available from TNA as a digital download. http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7356125

Ken

[LinaMoffitt]

On the 25th September 1915, the opening day of the Battle of Loos the Indian Corps made an initially successful diversionary attack at Petrie. The Meerut Division played a major part in the battle, although the Dehra Dun Brigade was Divisional Reserve. They did become involved in the battle later in the day but by then the attack had been a costly failure. The Division suffered heavy loss and was effectively withdrawn to refit. On 29th September the Indian Corps joined the major engagement at Loos but during October took little part in the fighting until the Indian troops came out of the line aat the end of the month to prepare for their withdrawal from the Western Front.

"At the commencement of October, 1915, the Indian Corps front extended for a distance of 10,825 yards; the 19th Division ran on the right from the La Bassee Canal to Farm Corner and the line was continued northwards by the Lahore Division as far asSunken Road. The Meerut Division had been withdrawn to refit after the heavy fighting of the 25th September, but on the 1st October the Bareilly Brigade was brought up to relieve Sirhind in the front line, the latter moving back into Army reserve. The weather for the greater part of the month was fine and cold, varied by short spells of mist and light rain.

On the 4th October a redistribution of the Corps on the same front was completed. By this disposition the Meerut Division held the souther portion of the line with the right of the Bareilly Brigade resting on the La Bassee Canal; the centre of the front was occupied by the 19th Division, and the northern section by Lahore, with the left of the Jullundur Brigade on Sunken Road.

The month passed without any events of special importance. The usual mining and counter-mining operations continued on Givenchy Ridge, which was pockmarked in every direction by the craters formed by previous explosions."

The Indian Corps in France http://lib.militaryarchive.co.uk/library/divisional-histories/library/The-Indian-Corps-in-France/files/assets/basic-html/page501.html

This site has maps of the Loos Battlefield where the features mentioned are shown http://battlefields1418.50megs.com/loos_maps.htm

There is an extensive account of the Loos battle on the LLT (for the bigger picture) and there are accounts of Petrie on the forum and other examples of trench maps.

The war diary for the 1/4 Seaforths for this period is available from TNA as a digital download. http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7356125

Ken

thanks very much Ken that's terrific!

regards

Lina

[LinaMoffitt]

thanks very much Ken that's terrific!

regards

Lina

in that book it says the Meerut Div didnt arrive at the front until 29 Oct so what Div were the 4th Seaforths attd to until that date?

[kenf48]

The book was originally published in 1917 so the style is a bit difficult but free!

I think if you have continued with the chapter link I posted the author is discussing why the Indian Corps experienced so many difficulties after deployment to Europe. The October he is talking about is the previous year.

The 4th Seaforths joined the Division in December 1914 having landed in France the previous month. The Deployment of the Battalion is listed on the LLT and is noted in the book under the heading 'The Territorials Arrive'

http://lib.militaryarchive.co.uk/library/divisional-histories/library/The-Indian-Corps-in-France/files/assets/basic-html/page235.html

The Battalion HQ of the 4th (Ross Highland) Battalion Seaforth Highlanders was at Dingwall in 1914 with no fewer than eight Companies across the Highlands.

Hope this clarifies it for you, depending how deep you want to go I recommend the war diary if you haven't seen it.

Ken