2nd Lieutenant Arthur Greg - Cheshires

[chrisleach78]

If anyone can help me find more details of the letters written by Greg about his time at Hill 60 in May 1915 I would be most grateful -I believe he witnessed the death of 2nd Lieutenant George S Shannon of the 1st Dorsets on the 5th May.

[Yorke Scarlett]

There is mention in Crookenden's History of the Cheshire Regiment by Arthur Greg stating an incident relating to the death of a Dorsets officer.

[chrisleach78]

I'm pretty sure that could be our man, Shannon - does it mention him getting his "head blown off by a grenade"?

[Yorke Scarlett]

Unfortunately, yes it does!

So I can take it that I can annotate my copy of the Cheshires history with a name to that Dorset officer of:-

Lt George Strangman SHANNON, MC, MiD; 1st Dorsets; Age 26; 5/5/1915; buried in LARCH WOOD (RAILWAY CUTTING) Cemetery Ref II.G.3

[chrisleach78]

Yes - George Shannon was a former maths teacher at our school and we are planning a ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of his death - we are hoping to name our Maths block after him.

[Yorke Scarlett]

I will place a cross on his grave on the 5th.

What is the name of the school?

[chrisleach78]

Thanks

Winchester House School - we have members of his family visiting the school to place a memorial in the school grounds.

[chrisleach78]

I will place a cross on his grave on the 5th.

Just thinking... If I were to send you a cross on behalf of the school would you be able to place that on his grave for us?

[Yorke Scarlett]

That would be no problem.

I'll take some photographs for you.

[jon_armstrong]

If anyone can help me find more details of the letters written by Greg about his time at Hill 60 in May 1915 I would be most grateful -I believe he witnessed the death of 2nd Lieutenant George S Shannon of the 1st Dorsets on the 5th May.

Greg's letters are in the county records office at Chester, but as Yorke Scarlett says, there is a fairly long section of Crookenden's book that reproduces the letters from the period in question including the incident to which you refer.

[chrisleach78]

Thank you Jon

[Yorke Scarlett]

Chris,

As background to the story from Arthur Greg's side - 1st Cheshire WD has this to say about 5th May 1915:-

5^th May - Called out at 8pm to move to support the trenches Hill 60, trenches 40, 43 and 45 occupied by the enemy. Arrived Larch Wood at Railway Cutting at about 10.30am, drove some of the enemy from vicinity of LARCH WOOD and 41 and 42 support trenches. In the evening the Bn occupied trenches as follows: “A” Company in LARCH WOOD. “B” Coy in 42, with one platoon in 40, “C” Coy in 41 less one platoon in DUMP; “D” Company with Bedfords and Norfolks. The KOSB – attacked Hill 60 but without success.

Remarks & References: Lt Colonel Scott killed. Capt Woodyen, Savage; 2Lt Pym and May wounded.

Bad day for the Cheshires having their CO killed. Unfortunately I don't have 1st Dorsets WD.

[chrisleach78]

Thanks - just for clarification should that first time be 8am ?

[Yorke Scarlett]

Thanks for pointing that out,

A War Diary error - it is written in the WD as 8PM but should read as 8AM!

[HarryBrook]

The War Diary for 1st Bn. Dorsetshire Regt., May 5 1915. Location - Hill 60. In 'Remarks and references to Appendices' column - Reference OSTEND Map and Squared map 1/20,000 & 1/40,000.

5th May Duke of Wellingtons relieved Devons on Hill 60 and trenches. Major Cowie, Dorsets, assumed command of Sector.

5.45am Major Cowie wounded.

9.00am Report received from 38 trench "gas coming over["] followed by message asking for reinforcements. C and D Coys (including? piquet) advanced to 38 to reinforce - as Duke of Wellingtons appeared to be retiring. A & B Coys advanced to trenches.

9.15am Telephone communication with trenches and 15th Bde and also supporting artillery cut by bombardment. Gas very thick and men overcome at Support Dugouts. Telephone communication to 38 trench repaired. From reports received it appeared that situation was as follows:- Germans holding 60 also part of 39, 40, 43 - 45 (known as ZWARTELEEN Salient.[)] Duke of Wellingtons badly gassed. A, B, C and remnant of D Coy holding 38 and most of 39.

about 11am onwards Germans reported to have broken through at a point about 40 - 43 trenches. Details at Hd. Qrs. collected and placed in position to cover gap above mentioned. These consisted of orderlies and men already gassed. Frequent messages that our shells were falling short. Message received from Bde (line now working) that Cheshires would reinforce, and that Colonel Scott, Comdg Cheshires would take over command. Cheshires arrived. Colonel Scott mortally wounded. Cheshires advanced against Germans in ZWARTELEEN Salient - Small party of Germans who had advanced nearly to ZILLEBEKE wiped out.

Afternoon Dorsets reinforced by parties of Cheshires retake 39 and by bombing reoccupy nearly all 40.

Situation at dusk Dorsets and Cheshires holding 38, 39, and nearly all 40. Germans holding 60 and 43 to 45 faced by Cheshires and Liverpools digging in opposite.

10pm Counter attack by 2 Bns 13th Inf Bde

6th May

2am Bn relieved by K.O.S.B's and withdrew to bivouac in Square H24a - Bn withdrew about 200 strong

Casualties 2/Lt. G. S. Shannon killed Major H. N. R. Cowie wounded [etc. - list of casualties difficult to read]

Note: H. N. R. Cowie was Hugh Norman Ramsay Cowie

[chrisleach78]

From all of this can I assume that Shannon and A Company were in trench 39?

[ellimondo]

The Dorsets were rushed into plug the line weakened by the gassing and retirement of the Duke of Wellingtons. Ernest Shephard's diary also mentions Shannon's death briefly in his entry for the 6th (as per the WD). But Shannon was more likely killed on the 5th. Shephard ruefully declares the 5th "Another bitter day for the Dorset Regiment".

The wonderfully waspish Charles Otto Lilly, also an officer in A Company, mentions Shannon in a recollections letter "Shannon I suppose was with me the whole time but I can remember nothing about him". Lilly was wounded that day, albeit from friendly fire, and returned to the war over a year later as a pilot (as far as I can make out).