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Remembered Today:

The Battle of Loos Sap 45


micks

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I'm researching the 1st Black Watch in the last days of the Battle of Loos.

It is recorded in their war diary that on the 14th October 1915 they were holding a position

from 36c H.19.c.9.5 to Sap 45. This location is south of the village of Hulloch but as yet I

haven't been able to locate the site of the sap as a trench map reference.If any body

knows of this position I would appreciate the help.

All the best

Mick

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Hi Mick

I have found a reference to a Sap 45 from a June 1916 edition map it's given as 36C Nw1 A.15d,(North of canal Cambrin sector). I haven't had time to check it out yet,so I can't say if it's gospel truth or not.

Hope that gives you a start.

John

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John

Thanks for your response.

There is no doubt that there was hundreds if not thousands of saps

on that sector of the front. The sap 45 that I'm after would be in

or near to 36c H.19

Thanks again for your help

Mick

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I have 1st Div diaries and the 1st/2nd/3rd Inf. Bde. dairies as I've recently been looking into 2nd Welsh at Loos.

The 1st IB diary has a report on operations of 13th Oct, which doesn't mention SAP45.

Had similar problems as your 'Sap 45'. You may be lucky in that the flanking battalion who may have held from SAP45 to a specified map ref have this info in thier dairy.

In that case you'd have something like eg 'Black Watch H.19.c.9.5 to Sap 45 - Gloucesters Sap 45 to H.19.b.5.5.'

Above is just an example but that would give an indication that Sap45 was roughly half way between the two.

TEW

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According to the War Diary for the 1st Black Watch 14th Oct 1915 obtained from an Ancestry search .........

Eddie

post-74029-0-10653800-1457785558_thumb.j

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Sorry but I've just looked at diary for Oct 1915 1st Black Watch and can't find H.19.c.9.5 or Sap 45.

Appendix A has Battalion oblectives H.19.A.7.6. to H.13.c.4.7.

Only sap I can see is the SAP running from British line to H.13.c.4.5. Bombers suffered heavy casualties coming up this trench.

They blocked this SAP 40yds from German line.

At 11.45pm on 13th Oct they were told to hold the first 3 British Lines.

TEW

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Arrgh!!!

The British Sap runs to H.13.c.4.5 marked in blue on the map I have.

TEW

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