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16th Battalion Highland Light Infantry HLI


Woody

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I have a copy of the War Diary of the 16th Highland Light Infantry HLI - ( Boys Brigade ) if anyone requires look ups based on dates etc - please let me know

Woody

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  • 1 year later...
Guest kenneth mcarthur
I have a copy of the War Diary of the 16th Highland Light Infantry HLI - ( Boys Brigade ) if anyone requires look ups based on dates etc - please let me know

Woody

hi, could you please have a look for a ' sgt kenneth mcarthur' many thanks

regards,

alex

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  • 2 months later...
I have a copy of the War Diary of the 16th Highland Light Infantry HLI - ( Boys Brigade ) if anyone requires look ups based on dates etc - please let me know

Woody

Hi

Could you please check for mention of my grandfather.

Private Robert Gray 'A Coy'

I have inherited over a dozen photographs of A Coy from him in an album he prepared at the end of the war.

Regards

Jonathan

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Any information on:

WALTER RANKIN

Lance Corporal

33398

16th Bn., Highland Light Infantry

who died on

Monday, 9th July 1917. Age 28.

COLIN BRUCE

Lieutenant

16th Bn., Highland Light Infantry

who died on

Thursday, 5th September 1918. Age 26.

would be greatly appreciated.

Aye

Malcolm

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Hi

Could you please check for mention of my grandfather.

Private Robert Gray 'A Coy'

I have inherited over a dozen photographs of A Coy from him in an album he prepared at the end of the war.

Regards

Jonathan

CRANLUM

Do you have the service number of your relative please I can then do a search in the war diary and other sources I have for you. Would be very interested in scans of your photos if at all possible. I'll send you a message also.

Woody

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  • 5 months later...

This is a long shot but I would be grateful if you could see if there is any mention of cpl D.Wilkie 14306 who was awarded the MM in the first half of 1917.He was LG in september 1917.

Best Regards,

Murrough.

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14306 Pte WILKIE, D. 16th

Proceeded to France on 23rd November 1915 - 16th Bn Regimental History

Military Medal - HLI Chronicle, October 1917, Page 142

Wounded - HLI Chronicle, October 1918, Page 147

Award of Military Medal - 16th Bn War Diary, 23rd July 1917

MM - London Gazette, 17th September 1917

Your man is mentioned in Appendix 4 - see July 23rd

Appendix 1 to 3 give details of the actions at Nieuport / Lombardzyde which presumably his MM was for.

This info was kindly provided by Gary.

Regards,

Murrough.

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And the diary,

JULY 1917

LOMBARDZYDE

1st In occupation of LOMBARDZYDE Sector, Right Subsector.

2nd In occupation of LOMBARDZYDE Sector, Right Subsector.

Casualties :- Killed 5 O.R., wounded 14 O.R.

3rd In occupation of LOMBARDZYDE Sector, Right Subsector.

4th In occupation of LOMBARDZYDE Sector, Right Subsector.

Wounded - T.B. Gray, 13 O.R.

The Battalion was relieved by 2nd K.O.Y.L.I., relief complete 11 p.m.

On completion of relief the Battalion withdrew to Brigade Support

in NIEUPORT.

NIEUPORT

5th In Brigade Support NIEUPORT.

Casualties - Killed 2 O.R., wounded and missing 1 O.R.

“A” Company carried out a successful raid on enemy trenches

at point M.23.a.3.4. Operation Orders and report are attached

as Appendices 1 and 2.

6th In Brigade Support NIEUPORT.

Casualties - wounded 1 O.R.

7th In Brigade Support NIEUPORT.

The following reinforcements joined the Battalion on this date:-

2nd Lieut. C.N. RUTHERFORD

2nd Lieut. M.M. WOTHERSPOON

From 5th H.L.I., 33 Other Ranks.

8th The Battalion relieved the 2nd Bn. K.O.Y.L.I. in

LOMBARDZYDE Sector, Right Subsector.

Relief complete 11.30 p.m.

Casualties - Killed 1 O.R., Wounded 5 O.R.

LOMBARDZYDE

9th In occupation of LOMBARDZYDE Sector, Right Subsector.

Casualties - Killed 9 O.R., Wounded 5 O.R.

10th In occupation of LOMBARDZYDE Sector, Right Subsector.

Our Sector was subjected to a violent bombardment lasting 15 hours.

A special report is attached as Appendix 3.

Casualties:-

Killed - 2/Lieut T.W. Hill, 3 Other Ranks

Wounded - 2/Lieuts. D.M. Ross, D.M. Robertson,

J. Halliday, J.W. Greig, C.N. Rutherford,

49 Other Ranks.

11th In occupation of LOMBARDZYDE Sector, Right Subsector.

Casualties:-

Killed - 11 Other Ranks

Wounded - 56 Other Ranks

Missing - 9 Other Ranks

JULY 1917

12th The Battalion was relieved by the 2nd Manchesters and moved to

Hutments in JEAN BART Camp, COXYDE. Relief Complete 3.30 a.m.

Draft of 56 O.R. joined Battalion this date.

JEAN BART CAMP

13th In Hutments JEAN BART Camp.

Casualties - Wounded 2 O.R.

14th In Hutments JEAN BART Camp.

15th In Hutments JEAN BART Camp.

16th In Hutments JEAN BART Camp.

The Battalion moved from Hutments in JEAN BART CAMP

to Hutments in GHYVELDE.

GHYVELDE

17th In Hutments in GHYVELDE.

18th In Hutments in GHYVELDE.

Draft of 21 O.R. joined Battalion this date.

19th In Hutments in GHYVELDE.

20th In Hutments in GHYVELDE.

The Battalion moved from GHYVELDE to

Camp in D.8.a. BRAY DUNES area.

CAMP D.8.a

21st Under Canvas in Camp D.8.a BRAY DUNES Area.

22nd Under Canvas in Camp D.8.a BRAY DUNES Area.

Draft of 102 O.R. joined Battalion this date.

23rd Under Canvas in Camp D.8.a BRAY DUNES Area.

List of Honours and awards granted during this month

is attached as Appendix 4.

24th Under Canvas in Camp D.8.a BRAY DUNES Area.

25th Under Canvas in Camp D.8.a BRAY DUNES Area.

Draft of 8 O.R. joined Battalion this date.

26th Under Canvas in Camp D.8.a BRAY DUNES Area

27th Under Canvas in Camp D.8.a BRAY DUNES Area, Coxyde.

KUHN CAMP

28th In Hutments KUHN CAMP.

2 O.R. Wounded

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  • 4 months later...

Hi Woody,

If you are still providing look ups, I wonder if the war diary gives any information for July 1, 1916 and the following days:

Which trench was the attack launched from?

What was their objective?

Which regiment/batallion supported and relieved them after their attack?

Regards, Pete S

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  • 2 years later...
Hi Woody,

If you are still providing look ups, I wonder if the war diary gives any information for July 1, 1916 and the following days:

Which trench was the attack launched from?

What was their objective?

Which regiment/batallion supported and relieved them after their attack?

Regards, Pete S

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I have a copy of the War Diary of the 16th Highland Light Infantry HLI - ( Boys Brigade ) if anyone requires look ups based on dates etc - please let me know

Woody

Any info on my gg John Dunnachie pte #22453

kia july 1 1916

would be interested in where the bt attacked from etc

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16th HLI war diary for 1st July

The 16th HLI with 25 officers and 755 other ranks relieved the 2nd KOYLI on the night of 30th June/1st July 1916 taking over from them the trench system extending from Skinner Street, point R.31.a.1.4, to Tyndrum Street, point R.31.c.0.5 (Apprximately 500 yards of front)

Casualties during relief: 1 other ranks killed, 2 other ranks wounded.

Before midnight Lt Bogue and 2 other ranks reconnoitred the German wire and found that the wire was very much broken down and that there were numerous gaps in it. They reported that they anticipated no difficulty in getting through the wire.

During the whole night we bomabarded the enemy’s trenches heavily to which he retaliated feebly. At 6.25 a.m. the bombardment prior to the advance commenced and continued until zero time at 7.30 a.m. During that time our front line and communication trenches were badly shelled with HE, shrapnel and minenwerfer. The advance commenced at 7.30 a.m., A Company leading on the right with C Company in support and B Company on the left with D Company in support. On our right were the 17th HLI and on our left the 16th Northd Fus. The 2nd KOYLI were in support and the 11th Border Regt in reserve. The enemy opened heavy machine gun and rifle fire as soon as our men jumped over the parapet and manned their parados with bombers with men at 2 yards interval. Our platoons advanced in waves in extended order and were simply mown down by the machine gun fire and very heavy casualties resulted. On the left the support company got close up to the German wire but were unable to advance. On the right we succeeded in entering the German trenches where we were in touch with the 17th HLI and where we remained until relieved by the 2nd Manchesters.

On our left the men took what cover they could in shell holes firing upon the enemy whenever he showed himself. One of our Lewis gunners fired 24 magazines of ammunition. When it was finished, being the only one of his section left he crawled back under cover of darkness, bringing the gun with him.

During the day all available men were organised into bombing posts and were prepared to offer every resistance should the enemy have made any attempt to counter attack. The artillery were informed of our position and during the afternoon bombarded the front line opposite us very heavily. The Germans were very active with machine gun, rifle fire, bombs and oil cans on No Man’s Land, sniping at any men who made any movement.

In retaliation to our bombardment in the afternoon our trenches were heavily shelled. This decreased during the night and was renewed again between 3 and 5 a.m. Numerous flares were sent up during the night including many red and green. The enemy were very much on the alert and kept No Man’s Land under continuous fire. We were in touch with the 15th Lancashire Fus (???) on our left and with the 2nd KOYLI on our right.

Col Laidlaw having been wounded was evacuated about 8 a.m. and Maj Kyle joined the battalion and took over command about 5 p.m.

Our casualties during the day were 20 officers and 534 other ranks.

List of officers who went into action with the 16th (Service) Battalion HLI

Headquarters

Lt Col and Hon Col D Laidlaw commanding

Capt W D Scott Adjutant

2nd Lt A C Smith Intelligence Officer

2nd Lt A P Wilson Lewis Gun and Liaison Officer

2nd Lt A McFarlane Officer i/c Mopping Party

Lt V E Badcock, RAMC Medical Officer

A Company

Capt D B Kerr

2nd Lt R A Bogue

2nd Lt R Mitchell

2nd Lt J Kerr

2nd Lt G McCurrach

B Company

Capt G S Fraser

2nd Lt R S Brown

2nd Lt J A Brown

2nd Lt P S Hodgkinson

C Company

Maj J McElwain

Lt W McLaren

2nd Lt J A Gemmill

2nd Lt J Laing

2nd Lt D S McHardy

D Company

Capt F W Reid

Lt T Johnson

2nd Lt J Murdoch

2nd Lt R B Stewart

2nd Lt J Cooper

Officer casualties

Killed:

2nd Lt R S Brown

2nd Lt J A Gemmill

Lt T Johnson

Capt D B Kerr

2nd Lt D S MacHardy

Died of wounds:

2nd Lt J A Brown

Missing believed killed:

2nd Lt J Murdoch

2nd Lt J Kerr

2nd Lt G McCurrach

Wounded:

Lt Col D Laidlaw

Maj J McElwain

Capt G S Fraser

Capt F W Reid

2nd Lt R A Bogue

2nd Lt J Cooper

2nd Lt R Mitchell

2nd Lt J Laing

2nd Lt R B Stewart

2nd Lt P S Hodgkinson

Capt & Adjt W D Scott (at duty)

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  • 5 months later...
Any info on my gg John Dunnachie pte #22453

kia july 1 1916

would be interested in where the bt attacked from etc

Hi

Just saw your message re the 16th HLI.

I see your great granddad served with them - I have a database on all 16th HLI men.

Is there anything I can help you with or have you fully researched him. I am on the look out for photos and extra info

if you are willing to share

Best Wishes

Woody

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  • 8 months later...

Woody,

I would be grateful if you could check the 16th HLI War Diary for any information on below soldiers:

Pvt 43069 T Donaldson

Date of death: 11/7/1917

Buried at: Coxyde Military Cemetery

Pvt 40910 John Johnstone Shepherd

Date of death: 27/11/1916

Buried at: Etaples Military Cemetery

Rgds,

Alex Morris

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  • 11 months later...

Hi Woody,

It would be fantastic if you could dig up anything about my Great Grandfather

Pte Philip McGrory

14916

C Comp

16th HLI

Killed; 6th June 1917

Burried at Lindenhoek Chalet Military Cemetery

I have a copy of a letter from his C/O informing my Great Grandmother of his death, (died along with two others when his billet was hit by a shell),

Thanks

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  • 8 months later...

Hi Woody, would you have a breakdown of other ranks casualties of killed, wounded and missing for the 1st July, 1916 please.or for the 18th November, 1916. Many thanks .Regards John

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  • 5 years later...

Hi Woody, I hope you are still monitoring this site. I too would like any information you have on :

WALTER RANKIN

Lance Corporal

33398

16th Bn., Highland Light Infantry

who died on

Monday, 9th July 1917. Age 28.

I am his great niece and trying to find out what he was doing and where and how he died. I have a copy of the letter he wrote home the night before he died.  Thanks

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  • 8 months later...

Hello Susan,

 

i wonder if you could message me. My wife (nee Christina Rankin and her brother Anthony Rankin) are also researching Walter, and we may be able to compare notes.

 

john

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