Mass Grave Inchy en Artois

[brodie]

Brodie,

I have now found two men who were originally buried at Inchy-en-Artois.

The easy one to find was Harry Redmond Wambolt

I haven't found any ICRC documents for him, so far, but he does have an RAF casualty card, although it is not very informative.

Less easy (250 odd casualty reports later) was Fred White.

He has an ICRC enquiry card, but no further info.

I have a few thoughts, but they are purely speculative.

Phil

Really interesting Phil. I knew about Wambolt as he is mentioned several times as being buried in the Churchyard. I notice that the burial report for White says he was in the Churchyard German Extension - so we are looking at the graves being around the church somewhere after all. The information about Ontario Cemetery where he was reburied says graves were consolidated from Inchy-en-Artois Churchyard which contained one British Soldier (presumably White) and 50 German soldiers. So I would speculate that these people were in the other Mass Graves numbered 1 to 11.

I actually noticed another guy on the ICRC records the other day - J Johnson (2151 - Seaforth Highlanders) is actually on the same sheet as MacKenzie and Duncan and is shown as dying on 23/3/18 and being buried in Mass Grave 1 at Inchy. The German notes show that he was identified from a wallet rather than his dogtags. I had some difficulty finding anything for this guy and eventually tracked him down via the Scottish National War Memorial site which confirms that although he was originally in the Seaforth Highlanders with number 2151, he was latterly in the Gordon Highlanders with number 310372. His wallet must have had his previous regiment etc noted in it. He has no grave and appears on the Arras Memorial.

My better half and I have spent hours the last few days going through ICRC records looking for mentions of Inchy. We have looked so far at all the PA records from PA23001 to PA 30000 and found nothing except the 5 records we already know about. We chose those records because they seemed more likely to contain the Spring 1918 deaths. We will do more but it takes a long time.

I'd love to hear your speculative thoughts!!!!

[seaforths]

TNA emailed me the missing part of the index which I'm going through at the moment. I've not seen anything so far on Inchy. I'll finish it tonight.

[brodie]

Thanks Seaforths - that's good of you.

[seaforths]

You're welcome. Will post more tomorrow but meanwhile Alexander Smith, 265382, 6th Bn. Seaforth; wounded at Beaumetz has several PA refs I am too tired to look at just now.

[seaforths]

I found nothing on Inchy in the missing pages. Under medical establishments, Velu popped up two or three times (mis-treatment of wounded). Plenty on the hospitals cropping up again and again (Cambrai, Le Cateau, Valenciennes, Mons, St Quentin, Senlis etc. etc.). Unfortunately, nothing that would help here. I will try and look at the PA refs if I can get onto a computer today. ICRC and iPad drives me nuts.

[seaforths]

Today, I've been working through POWs from the battle of Cambrai, 1917. I must have over 30 odd names for Inchy and haven't finished going through that particular list yet. I will finish that tonight (I hope) and run their names through CWGC tomorrow evening and see if any of them come up. I will also check to see if any of the survivors have surviving statements. Worth a try if not to eliminate names and the possibility of finding a throwaway remark in a statement made at the time that might be useful now... I also found another flyer who was at Inchy. The date on his record is 22 March 1918, he seems to have been wounded and survived his ordeal. Unfortunately, no surviving statement for him (HK Cassels).

[seaforths]

TNA DIARY EXTRACT REGARDING THE ADS AT DOIGNIES:
'...For some weeks before the action commenced construction work had gone on steadily at the Advanced Dressing Stations at BEETROOT FACTORY and DOIGNIES with the view of strengthening them and increasing the accommodation...At DOIGNIES a new elephant shelter was constructed, sunk in and covered with iron rails, bricks etc so as to have a bursting space, thus accommodating an extra 20 lying cases. A good supply of stretchers, blankets and medical stores were in each post in the anticipation that, had our troops to retire and cases were left in t eh enemy's hands, our casualties would to a certain extent benefit by this supply. It was also fully anticipated that the routes BEETROOT FACTORY - BEUGNY and DOIGNIES - BEAUMETZ would be extremely difficult to work; but the absolute occlusion of these routes by enemy fire put the Advanced Dressing Stations completely out of action at once and finally. All personnel then became casualties along with the cars and motor cycles which were probably destroyed by the intense shell fire. Captain Browne of the 1/2nd Highland Field Ambulance made a very plucky attempt to work across from BEAUMETZ to BEETROOT FACTORY but found it quite impossible and returned to BEUGNY. Captain Elder of the 2/1st Highland Field Ambulance who was ordered to make for DOIGNIES after the action commenced was last heard of at BEAUMETZ; and, if he reached DOIGNIES he is also in the enemy's hands.

No cases were evacuated from BEETROOT and no messenger or car got through. No cases were evacuated from DOIGNIES; but in response to the first and last message that got through from Major McConnachie, the M.O i/c there, dated 12-30p.m. an attempt was made to send up two horse ambulance wagons from BEAUMETZ BY fair weather track to DOIGNIES. Major McConnachie stated that a steady stream of casualties were arriving; that a large amount of gas shells had been thrown over; that DOIGNIES Advanced Dressing Station had received several direct hits but that he had sustained no casualties. After proceeding about half way under very heavy fire the drivers came in full view of the enemy and saved their wagons by galloping back to BEAUMETZ...'

EXTRACT OF POW STATEMENT GIVEN BY CAPT. ELDER, 2/1st HIGHLAND FA, RAMC. DATE AND PLACE OF CAPTURE 21 MARCH 1918, DOIGNIES. FROM TNA WO 161 FILES AND MY THANKS TO ANOTHER FORUM MEMBER FOR THIS:
'...I was captured at an advanced dressing station. We were outflanked and surrounded, as soon as the Germans entered the trench, which was converted into a front-line trench by the Germans in spite of the fact that it was marked with the Red Crosses to distinguish it as a dressing station. Without moving the crosses they dug fire steps and machine gun emplacements, where they placed machine guns which they used against our troops. We protested and asked what would happen to the wounded if the trench was attacked; they replied, the officer's exact words were, with a shrug of his shoulders, "Well, that is your look-out.". He spoke perfectly good English; he was a lieutenant. Finally we got our wounded moved further along the trench into a deep dug-out.

They kept us in the trench until dusk at night and sent us then under escort to Inchy. Another RAMC man, Major Maconachie, was captured with me...' 22 March Capt. Elder was moved under escort along with others to Cambrai.

[brodie]

After a few months hiatus due to family illness, I am pleased to say that our evidence submission to the CWGC to have John MacKenzie's grave recognised was sent off recently. Now it's a waiting game. I did speak to them on the phone before sending it off and the person I spoke to said that it sounded like a 'strong case' - but I know that probably doesn't mean much!!!

[seaforths]

After a few months hiatus due to family illness, I am pleased to say that our evidence submission to the CWGC to have John MacKenzie's grave recognised was sent off recently. Now it's a waiting game. I did speak to them on the phone before sending it off and the person I spoke to said that it sounded like a 'strong case' - but I know that probably doesn't mean much!!!

Brodie that's great news!

I managed to pick up a copy of previous research done on Weston Stewart and his brother by their relatives in the 1980s while at the Highlanders Museum so I've got to go through that yet. I did manage to find a couple of Sgts captured from 6th Seaforth on ICRC but places of capture given were pretty vague and there were no statements from them - so nothing worth reporting.

[brodie]

I am somewhat excited - we got this email from CWGC today -

Further to your emails regarding Serjeant John Mackenzie, this email is to advise you that our Commemorations Team have reviewed all the evidence submitted in this case and they have concluded this warrants final adjudication by the Ministry of Defence.

This has accordingly been forwarded to the National Army Museum and we will contact you again with their decision in due course.

So that looks like we've passed one big hurdle. Just one to go - and that will probably take months. But John's been waiting to be found for almost 100 years, he won't mind another few months.

[brodie]

I’ve been waiting 2 years to make this post.

 

I am delighted to say that all our work has finally borne fruit. It has been accepted that we have indeed found John MacKenzie’s grave. The stone currently marking the grave as that of an unknown soldier is to be replaced with one bearing John’s name and a rededication service is scheduled for March 2018, exactly 100 years after his death.  His CWCG record was updated this week with his burial place in Anneux British Cemetery and we have provided an inscription for the stone.  If anyone wants a look, search for John MacKenzie 265217 Seaforth Highlanders.

 

I simply cannot describe how this feels.  It has been a very long wait but ultimately worth every minute. So my advice to others is never never give up searching. 

[thetrenchrat22]

Brodie,  

 

well done, I’m glad that all your hard work paid off.  

 

Im in the same boat, I submitted a case earlier this year, they have passed to the NAM for a further review.  

 

Alan

[andrew pugh]

Hi Brodie

Well done mate, I did it 3 years ago for a soldier called Thomas Houston H L I man, and I will never forget that day its special. And not the last one I hope, I have submitted 5 cases all March 1918, and awaiting the outcome. Once again well done.

Regards 

Andy