roel22 Posted 15 December , 2004 Share Posted 15 December , 2004 My great grandfather Heinrich Unland (German, yep) was killed in action 14th of may 1918 near Kemmel Hill (Belgium). It's very hard to find anything in German archives, as most of them were lost during WWII. I only know he fought between Kleine Vierstraat and Kemmel Village in Reserve Infanterie Regiment 238, and his unit was trying to re-capture a trench lost to British troops the day he went missing. Is there anyone who has information/maps/anything about the British units near Kemmel in may 1918? It might be of great help to me! Thanks in advance, Roel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve chilton Posted 15 December , 2004 Share Posted 15 December , 2004 Roel, Cant help you with your querie Im affraid, but welcome to the forum. You will find a lot of experts here will probably be able to help you though, also a lot of German experts so post away... Regards Steve Chilton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andigger Posted 15 December , 2004 Share Posted 15 December , 2004 Wilkommen bei the Forum Roel! I am sure you will find this a great resource especially while reseaching actions around Kemmel. While you are waiting to see what others reply here I would recommend using the search function (second icon from the left on the top tool bar)to see the other threads related to Kemmel. Not a week ago there was some discussions with pictures and maps about the area. Good luck! Andy ps... This is the thread I was referring to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frie Posted 15 December , 2004 Share Posted 15 December , 2004 Hello Roel. I think you should look for French troops not British. Is it Kleine Vierstraat cabaret?. Looking for a battlefield area : Kemmel Hill - Kleine Vierstraat cabaret - Scherpenberg. In wich could be : 1) French 121 infantry Division : - (10 may - 27 may) - was attacked by the Germans on 14 may and 27 may. 2) French 129 infantry Division : - sector : Scherpenberg ( but Scherpenberg north of Kemmel, north - west of Kleine Vierstraat. But If you have more details... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roel22 Posted 15 December , 2004 Author Share Posted 15 December , 2004 About the location of the fights on may 14th: it was in the Basseye-area, north of Kemmel village. 'Kleine Vierstraat' as I mentioned, is nothing more than a junction. The trench they were trying to recapture was on 'Hill 44'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frie Posted 16 December , 2004 Share Posted 16 December , 2004 Hello Roel All French regiments... 404 - in the Godezonne area : month of may 36 - area De Clytte 205 - Rac ( artillery regiment - (Fuss artillerie regiment F.A.R) 55 bat. chasseurs à pied - Riffles -- Jäger Don't know if those regiments have a published history of the regiment.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roel22 Posted 16 December , 2004 Author Share Posted 16 December , 2004 Thank you for the information, you're a great help! You have any idea where I can find French regimental histories? So far I haven't really been focussing on the French part of the war, I'm afraid... many thanks Roel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Dunlop Posted 16 December , 2004 Share Posted 16 December , 2004 Roel You won't find a lot of detail but checkout http://perso.wanadoo.fr/chtimiste/ Click on "Régiments". Occasionally, there are some details for a particular battle but I didnt see anything on the fighting in Kemmel at that time. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roel22 Posted 16 December , 2004 Author Share Posted 16 December , 2004 I checked out the site you mentioned -with the little French I can read- but I don't think it's any of those regiments. The 404 comes close, but they went to Kemmel may 20th; my great-grandfather was KIA the 14th. But in your first post you mentioned the French 121 infantry division, which was attacked by The Germans om may 14th. Do you have any possible links to this division? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frie Posted 16 December , 2004 Share Posted 16 December , 2004 Roel, You found the Battle of Locre (West of Kemmel). Not what you are looking for. The 121 division has: Infantry : 11th group BCP (Bat. Jâger)= Bat. Riffles. part of (45th -48th-55th) 404 R.I; 36 R.I Cavalry : 3th Esc. / 7th dragoons Artillery : 205 th RAC (Fuss- artillerie) and 6th group / 135th R.A.L (schwere Artillery) Genie : (ing.) compagny 11/74, cie 15/36 Service de Sante - (abteilung gesundheit) - (Health serv.) SSU/65, SSA/38 telegraph :sec. telegraph. I am sure this is what you are looking for -- Did you searched in the German books : Authors: Kabisch und Goes and the many German regiments histories about the battle of the "Kemmel" All those troops I mentioned were around and close to Baseie. I dont think there are published regiments histories Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roel22 Posted 16 December , 2004 Author Share Posted 16 December , 2004 Many thanks (so far)! I'll keep you posted about my inquiries... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roel22 Posted 19 December , 2004 Author Share Posted 19 December , 2004 I'm pretty sure I found the regiment my great-grandfathers unit was up against. On the website you mentioned I found plenty of regiments fighting near Kemmel in 1918. But only one -the 15eme Regiment d'Infanterie- actually fought at Hill 44 in may. The same hill my great-grandfather was killed. So you were right after all: a French regiment, not British! You've been a great help! Thanks again Roel btw: you have any idea which divison this regiment was part of? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frie Posted 20 December , 2004 Share Posted 20 December , 2004 Hello Roel, You are looking for the (French) 32th infantry division Came to Belgium. From 1 november - until 13 november 1914: defences of Wijtschate (Wytschaete). Wytschaete was taken by the Germans on 2th november, but the western en northwest was in French hands. Wytschaete was (90%) in German hands 20 november 1914. (heavy battles on 14,15 and 16 december 1914.) (this battles are unknown to the British) in 1918 : from 4 until 16 may - defence of the Flemish Hills (Kemmel, ..) infantry : 15th - 80th and 143 th cavalry: 1th Esc/1th Hussar Artillery : 3th Rac - regiment artillerie de campagne (Field artillery) -6th group /116 RAL -reg. art. lourde. - (heavy) (schwere). Genie (ing.): Cie 16/2 - and 16/52 Service de Santé (Health - Gesundheidsabteilung) GBD, Amb 3/16, SSA, Amb/517 Parc et convois : (transport) PAD, cie de parc 16/71. You are lucky: the 32th division has a memorial on Hill 44 - It's in the "Kriekstraat" at Kemmel. I look for a picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Russell.Gore@crawley.gov.uk Posted 22 December , 2004 Share Posted 22 December , 2004 I will be at Kemmel in January,if you need any photos taken give me a shout....Russell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roel22 Posted 22 December , 2004 Author Share Posted 22 December , 2004 I guess this is the monument you are referring to? Dedicated to the French 32rd division. Would be quite a coincidence... I made a videorecording of it a some five years ago when I drove by and saw a shell at the bottom of the monument... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roel22 Posted 22 December , 2004 Author Share Posted 22 December , 2004 The image! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frie Posted 22 December , 2004 Share Posted 22 December , 2004 Roel, Yes ..... Thats the one..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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