Battle of Doiran / 12th Cheshire Regiment

[Jbarker1975]

Please can anyone help me.

 

I am tracing my relatives from the first World War and have discovered that three brothers from our same family died, two of whom died in the same battle (on consecutive days).  I am desperate to find details of the two brothers who died on 25 and 26 April 1917.  They are called Thomas Howard Connolly (13901) and John William Connolly (13900), and I assume they joined-up together due to consecutive numbers. 

 

I have located where they are buried and their basic details on Ancestry.

 

I believe this was second battle of Doiran, and would love to know more about it.  I am at a loss as to finding more details to the battle.  Anything you can add would be so appreciated.

 

Thank you in advance.

 

James

 

[John_Hartley]

I've researched a John Kenealy, who died of wounds on 28 April 1917.As you'll see from my write-up, 12/Cheshire doesnt appear to have been involved in anything major during the previous days.

 

http://www.stockport1914-1918.co.uk/soldier.php?name_id=1495

 

I'd suggest you download the war diary from Ancestry to see what was actually happening, although you'll note that I recorded that it has no mention of casualties in those days.

[Jbarker1975]

15 minutes ago, John_Hartley said:

I've researched a John Kenealy, who died of wounds on 28 April 1917.As you'll see from my write-up, 12/Cheshire doesnt appear to have been involved in anything major during the previous days.

 

http://www.stockport1914-1918.co.uk/soldier.php?name_id=1495

 

I'd suggest you download the war diary from Ancestry to see what was actually happening, although you'll note that I recorded that it has no mention of casualties in those days.

 

Thanks so much for the prompt response.  Please could you explain how to search the war diary you indicate above, I failed to see how to do that on Ancestry! Sorry..

[clk]

Hi,

 

Unfortunately Ancestry don't have it, and the National Archives haven't digitised for download yet. See here

 

Regards

Chris 

[Jbarker1975]

1 minute ago, clk said:

Hi,

 

Unfortunately Ancestry don't have it, and the National Archives haven't digitised for download yet. See here

 

Regards

Chris 

Thanks Chris.  Assume I would need to visit Kew then? Any other help appreciated on this.

 

James

 

 

[John_Hartley]

That'll teach me to check before opening my gob. Yet again.

[Gardenerbill]

James,

Alan Wakefield's book 'Under the Devils Eye' has a detailed account of the second battle of Doiran and will give you the background details of the campaign in the balkans that led up to the battle and the final victory over the Bulgarians. A search of the 'Salonika and the Balkans' Sub forum might turn up topics with reference to the 12th Cheshires as well.