Estienne Posted 2 July , 2017 Share Posted 2 July , 2017 Dear Sirs, In the context of a research on the side aspects of the « Battle of Mons » on August the 23rd 1914, we are looking for details regarding the presence of the 1st battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment (6th Brigade - 1st Division) in Haulchin, Belgium, just 8 miles south-east of Mons. We were able to collect the War Diaries of the Battalion ((WO95/1278/1), of the 26th Company Royal Filed Engineers (WO95/1253/1) and of the Brigade HQ of the 3rd Infantry Brigade. We also bought Everard Wyrall’s, R.M. Grazebrook’s and P.R. Littlewood’s books, from which we translated all relevant passages. Unfortunately, the page for 23rd August is missing in the Diary. So we are wondering, if someone would know if there exist some correspondences by officers, non-commissioned officers or soldiers dated from between the 22th & 25th of August 1914. And of course, if yes, how we could consult them? Respectfully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 2 July , 2017 Share Posted 2 July , 2017 Welcome to the Forum The most likely places for any archived correspondence would be the Regimental Museum, the Liddle Collection at the University of Leeds and the Imperial War Museum. The Liddle and IWM collection details are available online. I would recommend an initial broad search simply on "Gloucestershire" and then read the summary details of each archived colleciton to see if it relates to the period. The documents themselves are not available online and you'd need to visit the collections to view them. If there were any officers taken prisoner on these days, a report detailing the circumstances is likely to be in their service file , held by the National Archives. A final source of information might be in any newspaper obituaries for any of the men killed. It may be worth taking a one month subscription to the British Newspaper Archive to search for names. Other than that, contact with the relevent local history libraries might be worthwhile. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estienne Posted 24 December , 2017 Author Share Posted 24 December , 2017 Hello, Thanks for the information provided, it's been very helpful, we were able to get some very interesting documents from the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum. We're still looking after a good quality photograph of Lt-Col Charles Steer Davidson, commander of the 2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment in August 1914. Anyone any idea if & how we could get our hands on such a photo? Our extensive serach on the web has not produced any result so far Thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewThornton Posted 8 January , 2018 Share Posted 8 January , 2018 The Officers of the 2nd Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment, taken at Aldershot on 6 August 1914. Lieutenant-Colonel Davidson is sat in the centre of the group, directly behind the visiting officer from the Japanese Army. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostinspace Posted 8 January , 2018 Share Posted 8 January , 2018 On 12/24/2017 at 03:58, Estienne said: We're still looking after a good quality photograph of Lt-Col Charles Steer Davidson, commander of the 2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment in August 1914. This image is from "A History of the South Staffordshire Regiment (1705-1923) by James P. Jones (1923), page 272. Davidson as a Brigadier-General, from the McMaster University Digital Archive (Canada). http://digitalarchive.mcmaster.ca/islandora/object/macrepo%3A65358#page/1/mode/2up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estienne Posted 20 January , 2018 Author Share Posted 20 January , 2018 Thanks a lot. That's exaclty what we were looking for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estienne Posted 4 March , 2018 Author Share Posted 4 March , 2018 Hello, We're now looking for a War Diary or any other information source regarding the whereabouts of the 50th Battery RFA on 23rd & 24th August 1914 in Vellereile-le-Sec (Belgium). Anyone an idea? Thanks in advance for your help Léon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 4 March , 2018 Share Posted 4 March , 2018 Leon, This is a record of the battalion written by Lieut. R. Grazebrook, 1st Gloucesters regarding the 23rd and appears in the CAB45 papers. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estienne Posted 26 March , 2018 Author Share Posted 26 March , 2018 Dear Mr Pay, thank you very much for the document you sent, it is exceptional. We fit it between the R. M. Grazebrook campaign book, of which we had received a copy from the Gloucesters Museum and the book of Edward Wyrall of 1931. These writings are indeed very interesting to us. Would it be possible to have a copy of pages 1 to 3 and 6, as well as the exact date of release of the document? Thanking you in advance Leon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDWARD1 Posted 26 March , 2018 Share Posted 26 March , 2018 This post has the artillery layout for the 23rd Aug. I believe there is an error in that the 34 Bde RFA comprised 22nd, 50th & 70th Batteries but the layout has 22nd, 59th & 70th, in the area between Binche and Harmignies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estienne Posted 28 April , 2018 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2018 On the 23rd August 1914 around 4 to 6PM, B & D Companies of the 1st Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps were taken under German artillery fire. These 2 Companies were forced to fall back into the 1st Gloucester’s entrenchments in Haulchin. It was the first time of the war they came under fire. Who anyone know if there are letters or writings from B & D Companies soldiers, in which they would relate this first experience of enemy fire? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estienne Posted 27 May , 2018 Author Share Posted 27 May , 2018 Hello, Can someone help? We’re looking for a photograph and a small biography of Soldier George Morris (registration nr. 70399) of 9th Battery, 41st Brigade RFA. He was born in Ratcliffe, and was killed on 23rd August 1914 near Estienne-au-Mont (Belgium), victim of the German howitzers firing from Bray (Belgium). Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estienne Posted 10 June , 2018 Author Share Posted 10 June , 2018 In the night of 23th to 24th August, Lieutenant H. Hardingue from C Squadron 15 Hussars is tasked, by the 1st Division HQ in Rouveroy Castle, with crossing the lines to go observe the Germans. Early morning on the 24th, he reaches the Church in Estinnes-au-Mont, hides men & horses around, climbs with a few elite men to the top of the belltower and takes notes of all German movements. For this action he will be awarded the DSO We’re looking for a photo and a biography of this officer – this to illustrate a forthcoming study. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 10 June , 2018 Share Posted 10 June , 2018 Leon, See requested pages, the account of early doing's goes on for 20 pages. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 10 June , 2018 Share Posted 10 June , 2018 (edited) On 28/04/2018 at 16:53, Estienne said: On the 23rd August 1914 around 4 to 6PM, B & D Companies of the 1st Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps were taken under German artillery fire. These 2 Companies were forced to fall back into the 1st Gloucester’s entrenchments in Haulchin. It was the first time of the war they came under fire. Who anyone know if there are letters or writings from B & D Companies soldiers, in which they would relate this first experience of enemy fire? The 1/KRRC battalion war diary states they passed GIVRY and marched 4 miles (~6.5km) NE-wards to just short of ESTINNES-AU-MONT arriving at approx. 11:30hrs and immediately entrenched. Dispositions thus: D Coy (Capt. LEGARD) along the railway embankment. C Coy along a track running NW (the minor road to VELLEREILLES-LE-SEC) with their right on the main Givry-Estinnes road near the railway station. B Coy (Capt. MacLACHLAN) were to the left of C Coy. A Coy were in Reserve at the SUGAR FACTORY just W of HAULCHIN. Artillery fire began from approximately 16:00hrs for 90 mins with a lot of fire round B Coy's trenches, but no mention of any units moving as a result. The KRRC Chronicle mentions this German barrage followed an overflight by a German aircraft and that the intended targets seemed to be the British artillery batteries nearby rather than the infantry trenches. According to the map in the OH, this appears to be the location of 9th Battery, XLI Brigade, RFA, who were defending the Estinnes Station area with 6 Inf Bde, but the 2nd Division History has them further back towards Givry. The artillery disposition map from Farndale's RA History linked out to by Edward above, points to 70th Battery, XXXIV Brigade, RFA being the battery closest to the 1/KRRC positions, but the OH and the 2nd Div History both have 70th Bty at Vellereille. 1/Gloucesters were to the S of 1/KRRC on the other side of the Givry-Estinnes road. Another enemy barrage began c. 03:00hrs the following night (24 Aug 1914) but no fire fell on the infantry trenches. The implication seems they had not moved, but it is not explicit. There were no casualties sustained by 1/KRRC. It was indeed their first time under shell fire since landing at Rouen ten days earlier. 2/KRRC were also close to HAULCHIN on 23 Aug. Their diary mentions the German artillery engaging 2nd Division to their N, but they did not come under fire themselves. 2/KRRC moved to GIVRY during the early evening, then to HARMIGNIES. There are no published accounts from 1/KRRC covering this period. There is a scrapbook kept by the wife of one of the officers, but it does not mention the 23 Aug action. HTH Mark Edited 10 June , 2018 by MBrockway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 10 June , 2018 Share Posted 10 June , 2018 7 hours ago, Estienne said: In the night of 23th to 24th August, Lieutenant H. Hardingue from C Squadron 15 Hussars is tasked, by the 1st Division HQ in Rouveroy Castle, with crossing the lines to go observe the Germans. Early morning on the 24th, he reaches the Church in Estinnes-au-Mont, hides men & horses around, climbs with a few elite men to the top of the belltower and takes notes of all German movements. For this action he will be awarded the DSO We’re looking for a photo and a biography of this officer – this to illustrate a forthcoming study. Are you aware that the actions of Corporal Garforth, (? B Sqn?), 15th Hussars, at Harmignies on 23 Aug 1914 were part of the citation of his award of the Victoria Cross? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 11 June , 2018 Share Posted 11 June , 2018 Extensive info from me on 2/KRRC on 23 Aug 1914 as well as a large number of other unit war diaries for the day from Martin Gillot in this topic here: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 11 June , 2018 Share Posted 11 June , 2018 On 27/05/2018 at 10:14, Estienne said: Hello, Can someone help? We’re looking for a photograph and a small biography of Soldier George Morris (registration nr. 70399) of 9th Battery, 41st Brigade RFA. He was born in Ratcliffe, and was killed on 23rd August 1914 near Estienne-au-Mont (Belgium), victim of the German howitzers firing from Bray (Belgium). Regards That perhaps lends weight to the OH map mentioned in my text below, which has 9/XLI as the battery closest to Estinnes (I've followed the Belgian spellings) with 70/XXXIV higher up on the ridge to the N of the Givry-Estinnes road. 8 hours ago, MBrockway said: The 1/KRRC battalion war diary states they passed GIVRY and marched 4 miles (~6.5km) NE-wards to just short of ESTINNES-AU-MONT arriving at approx. 11:30hrs and immediately entrenched. <snip> The KRRC Chronicle mentions this German barrage followed an overflight by a German aircraft and that the intended targets seemed to be the British artillery batteries nearby rather than the infantry trenches. According to the map in the OH, this appears to be the location of 9th Battery, XLI Brigade, RFA, who were defending the Estinnes Station area with 6 Inf Bde, but the 2nd Division History has them further back towards Givry. The artillery disposition map from Farndale's RA History linked out to by Edward above, points to 70th Battery, XXXIV Brigade, RFA being the battery closest to the 1/KRRC positions, but the OH and the 2nd Div History both have 70th Bty at Vellereille. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 11 June , 2018 Share Posted 11 June , 2018 Here are close-ups from the maps from the OH (top) and the 2nd Div History ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estienne Posted 20 June , 2018 Author Share Posted 20 June , 2018 Dears, Many thanks to everybody for your help & your information (and sorry for the late acknoledgment & answer). Best regards Léon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estienne Posted 18 August , 2018 Author Share Posted 18 August , 2018 Hello, would it be possible to have a,nlarger view of the card of the OH, showing the surroundings up to about Peissant/Grand-Reng? Thanking you in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 18 August , 2018 Share Posted 18 August , 2018 1 hour ago, Estienne said: Hello, would it be possible to have a,nlarger view of the card of the OH, showing the surroundings up to about Peissant/Grand-Reng? Thanking you in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 18 August , 2018 Share Posted 18 August , 2018 The 2nd Div History map has nothing south of Givry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estienne Posted 20 August , 2018 Author Share Posted 20 August , 2018 Thank you very much for such a quick answer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estienne Posted 13 October , 2019 Author Share Posted 13 October , 2019 Hello, In order to finalize our study on the English presence in Haulchin (Belgium) on 22, 23 and 24 August 1914 we would like to ask for some help again. We are looking for, if possible: - a photo and a brief biography of E. Bertram Denison, Captain at the time of A Company of the 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifles Corps; - a photograph of Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Fraser Campbell, Captain in 1914 with B Company of the 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifles Corps; - a photograph of Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Godfrey Willan, Captain in 1914 with C Company of the 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifles Corps; - a photograph of Colonel Alfred Digby Legard, Captain in 1914 with D Company of the 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifles Corps. Thank you in advance for your help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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