1/7th Cameronians November 1915

[bobpike]

Some general questions, please, relating to 1/7th Cameronians November 1915

1. How long did it take to evacuate soldiers from Gallipoli to Egypt i.e the length of the voyage?
2. Between November 6^th to 28^th were there any particular hospital ships who might have taken wounded Cameronians?
3. Were the 1/7th Cameronians involved in any significant actions or incidents during the period November 6^th to November 28^th.
4. Can anyone provide details of their war diary over that period, please?

Thank you

[alantwo]

Bob

1. HMHS Assaye left Cape Helles on 27th November and arrived Alexandria 1st December 1915
2. I have a record of 13 1/7th Scottish Rifles on board Assaye during that voyage..
3. From Westlake 'November To firing line - Russel's Loop sector (7th). Took part in successful attack on enemy trenches H11A and G11B (15th). Relieved and to rest camp (21st), To firing line (28th).'
4. I couldn't find the month on Ancestry, hopefully someone else will be able to help.

Regards

Alan

[kenmorrison]

While looking for some background I ran across this man (Boy!)

A Lance Corporal at 15????

His birth was registered in Camlachie, Glasgow in 1900!

DEANS, PETER LYALL

Rank:Lance Corporal

Service No:2465

Date of Death:30/11/1915

Age:15

Regiment/Service:Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 1st/7th Bn.

Grave Reference:A. 37.

Cemetery:ALEXANDRIA (CHATBY) MILITARY AND WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY

Additional Information:Son of Alexander and Christina Deans, of Central Fire Station, 33, Ingram St., Glasgow.

Ken

[Guest]

1/7th and 1/8th Bn Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) amalgamated for Oct-Nov 1915. The diary was run by 1/8th Bn. A few scrawled pages cover the period in exceptionally poor detail. The 1/8th published a decent history which might provide more detail. 156 Inf Bde diary doesn't help much either. Is there any specific date you are interested in? The last major offensive action at Gallipoli was 21st AUgust. Thereafter it was stalemate interrupted by a blizzard in November which was pretty horrific. The 1/7th Cameronians were on Cape Helles and therefore slightly better off than the souls at Suvla.

The diaries were never available online through TNA. They are available on Ancestry.co.uk which costs about £14 per month and is occasionally free. Bizarrely despite being commercially available it is not possible to download them from TNA. File is WO 95/4321 if anyone can download from the terminals at TNA. MG

[alantwo]

In the 1/8th War Diary the month of November is covered in about 4 pages. A number of Officers are mentioned, joined, hospital, killed etc., and there is a note of a DCM awarded to No. 969 Sergeant James Clark (1/7th) at the end of the month. The action on 15th is covered in a little more detail but the blizzard mentioned by Martin warrants one line.

Regards

Alan