RE Special Coys. Diaries. Loos 1915, Where?

[TEW]

Have tried to find the relevant diary for the RE special Coys, who released the gas 25/9/1915 at Battle of Loos. They should be 186, 187, 188 or 189 Special Company.

Can't find anything on ancestry and Discovery only gives 'Special Companies' from 1917, no company numbers indicated.

Perhaps they don't exist. Could the diaries be under something else? Perhaps another unit released the gas or was it so hush hush they didn't keep one.

Intrigued by other diary entries which say:

couldn't believe thay were going to use gas

wind was going to change

gas cases started to arrive from our own gas owing to change in wind direction

some were wearing smoke helmets

Thanks

TEW

[Terry_Reeves]

TEW

There are no SB war diaries for Loos. They didn't start them until 1916. Try and get a copy of Gas! The Story of the Special Brigade by CH Foulkes who formed the Special Companies.

TR

[TEW]

Terry

Sorry for my delay in responding, many thanks for the heads up on Foulkes.

TEW

[Torridon1955]

The RE Museum library Gillingham lists the following war diaries:

1 Battalion Special Brigade ( 186 Company and Special Battalion ) ( see also HQ Special Company 1st Army ) Aug 1915 to Jun 1915(?) S

2 Battalion Special Brigade ( 187 Company ) ( see also HQ Special Company 4th Army ) 04 Aug 1915 to 14 Sep 1916 S

3 Battalion Special Brigade ( 188 Company ) ( see also HQ Special Company 2nd Army ) 17 Jan 1916 to Sep 1916 S

4 Battalion Special Brigade ( 189 Company ) 17 Jan 1916 to ? S

Special Works Park 22 Mar 1916 to 16 Dec 1917 S

Special Section ( Yatesbury ) 05 Jul 1916 to ? S

Special Section Special Brigade 02 May 1916 to 25 Jun 1916 S

Reserve Company Special Brigade 01 Jul 1916 to ?

HQ Special Companys 1st Army 06 Aug 1915 to 08 Aug 1917 S

the "S" means Summary. No idea what level of detail is provided in them.

Cheers, Simon