6 Connaught Rangers

[Connaught Ranger]

My great grand-father died of wounds on 24 March 1916 in Scottish Hospital. I am trying to find out where in France and Flanders he was wounded.

Thanks

[curranl]

Hello Connaught Ranger,

According to Tom Johnstone's "Orange Green and Khaki", the 16th Division, of which the 6th C.R.s were part, were in the Loos Salient at that time; " Within two weeks (of March 1st) the division concentrated and took over the notorious Hulluch and Puits 14 bis sectors of the Loos salient. Opposite them in the line were 4th Bavarian Division, who proved to be worthy opponents".

Regards,

Liam.

[koyli]

Hi ConnaughtRanger, hope this helps :

From :IRELAND’s UNKNOWN SOLDIERS , The 16th (Irish) Division in the Great War, by Terence Denman, page 65 :

“On 26th December, 25 men of the 6th Connaught rangers went forward to the front line, attached to the 17th London regiment. Whilst in the trenches, a mile North-east of Merville, the enemy blew a mine under them. A sergeant in the Connaughts was buried in the debris for half an hour before he could be dug out. In January and February 1916 the Connaughts were in the Loos area and attached to units of the 15th(Scottish) and 12th (Eastern) Divisions. The battalion was involved in sporadic shelling and small-scale German raids which caused a steady trickle of Ranger casualties. In March, the battalion, still attached to the 12th Division, moved up to the trenches in the Hulluch sector. There they had a hard time, suffering intermittent shelling, mining and German raids; combined with almost continuous fatigue duties in waterlogged trenches and in bitter weather. In ten days in March the battalion lost 10 killed, 31 wounded and 50 men sen to hospital suffering from exposure. Constant labouring duties made it almost impossible for the battalion to continue its more advanced military training, except for some instruction in bombing. The emphasis given to bomb training, which all the battalions’ diaries note, is an interesting glimpse into the developing nature of trench fighting, for far less importance was now being given to rifle training.”

Regards

KOYLI