Pte Lancelot Slee. Grenadier guards 1st Battalion

[STEVENG]

This soldier was killed on the 2.1.1916  K would appriciate any infornation as to where this battalion was in the line. And what action they were involved on the day he was killed.

Thanks. Steven.

[Langdon]

Soldiers Died in the Great War on Ancestry has him in the 2nd Battalion at the time of his death. The War Diary (also on Ancestry) has the battalion in billets at Riez Bailleul on the 1st January 1916, when they relieved the 1st Bn Irish Guards at the trenches of the 'Ebenezer Farm section'. On the 2nd the entry reads:

"In trenches as above. A quiet day. Casualties, 1 man killed, 1 wounded."

Here's a later trench map from 1917 showing Ebernezer Farm in the bottom right of Square 28 here. To the NW of Rouge Croix is Riez Bailleul.

You can 'change transparency of overlay' by moving the blue button on the left of the NLS page.

Hopefully there's a trench map somewhere dated closer to Jan 1916..

There are map co-ordinates of the trenches in the war diary - running from 36NW.M.35.D.4.8 to 36NW.M.29.D.5.9. A trench map convertor gives the following co-ordinates (which you can sync on the NLS map by looking at the bottom right of the page): 50.5876, 2.7853 to 50.5962, 2.7857 - these lie north of Neuve Chapelle.

 

Mike

 

Edited 10 December , 2017 by Langdon

[Guest]

This transcription of the 1st Bn Grenadier Guards War Diary 1914-1919  will cost you less than downloading from the National archives. It is fully searchable.  MG

Edited 11 December , 2017 by Guest

[Guest]

49 minutes ago, QGE said:

This transcription of the 1st Bn Grenadier Guards War Diary 1914-1919  will cost you less than downloading from the National archives. It is fully searchable.  MG

 

     And very good all round to use.  

[clk]

Hi Steve,

 

17 hours ago, Langdon said:

Soldiers Died in the Great War on Ancestry has him in the 2nd Battalion at the time of his death.

 

Soldiers Effects also notes him as being in the 2nd Battalion.

 

Regards

Chris

[Mark1959]

Pic and biog details here

http://www.lancasterwarmemorials.org.uk/memorials/lancaster-s.htm

scroll.

Edited 11 December , 2017 by Mark1959

[Guest]

He is on the 1914-15 Star medal roll disembarking on 27/10/1915. Every battalion received men from this draft. The BWM only shows service with the 2nd Bn GG

 

2nd Bn Grenadier Guards War Diary 1914-1919

[STEVENG]

Many thanks for all the information.

 

Steven.

[STEVENG]

Hi I see from diary the day he was killed it was a quiet day would it be safe to assume he was killed by a sniper  just a thought especially if other soldier was wounded.

[ss002d6252]

29 minutes ago, STEVENG said:

Hi I see from diary the day he was killed it was a quiet day would it be safe to assume he was killed by a sniper  just a thought especially if other soldier was wounded.

 Or by German shelling - even a quiet day was not always shell free.

 

Craig

[STEVENG]

Hi Craig

Yes thats a possibility many thanks.  i always wonder why the diaries aren't a bit more specfic.