Pte Cyril George Palmer, 16th Entrenching Bn kia 31 Mar 1918

[wesleycj]

I would appreciate any help trying to establish the circumstances of Cyril Palmer's death 21-31 Mar 1918.

Here is everything I know so far and the sources of information:

 

7th Bn Lincolnshire Regiment 12630, Joined B Coy at Grantham Sep 1914, France 14 July 15 - MIC, SDGW, BWM & VM Roll, FWR Hospital Record 21 Oct 1915

6th Bn DCLI  28645 - BWM & VM Roll, CWGC, UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects

16th Entrenching Bn - BWM & VM Roll, CWGC,

KOYLI - Letter from Coy CO to parents

kia 21 Mar 1918 - UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects

kia 31Mar 1918 - CWGC  &  Letter from Coy CO to parents

 

The last entry in the war diary for 6/DCLI Feb 1918 states that on disbandment the men are going to the 16th ET Bn at the disposal of III Corps.

I cannot find a diary for the 16th ET Bn.  I suspect there might be something in the 14 Div or III Corps diaries, but where to start?

Historically once the balloon went up on 21 Mar 1918 the ET Bns would soon have found themselves back in their original infantry roles.

 

My greatest source of confusion apart from the date of death is the attached letter from Captain John Best his Company Commander in the KOYLI ???

(or KOYLI officer now in the 16th ET Bn).  Could Palmer have been hurriedly attached to a KOYLI unit to replace casualties.

 

Palmer is buried with 4 other British soldiers in Chauny Communal Cemetery alongside a Cpl G H Graves 6/KOYLI kia 31 Mar 1918 .  There is no concentration report so it could be the orchard was very close.  The area ties in with 31 Mar 1918 as its well back from the fighting of 21 Mar.

 

Has anyone any information on Capt John Best or a War Diary for the 16th ET Bn

 

[wesleycj]

I have a little more information on Capt John Best.

 

Gazette Date 19 Aug 1918  page 10921  Award of MC to Temp Capt John Best KOYLI

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. In spite of determined attacks by the enemy in great numbers, the section commanded by this officer remained intact throughout the fighting.  The heaps of dead in front of the company sector testify to the splendid work done by his men, largely due to his example and leadership"

There is also a Croix de Guerre Award gazetted 10 Oct 1918 page 11948

 

Unfortunately I still cannot find anything on his unit.

 

My comment about Concentration Reports was in error I may we'll have been looking at the report.  The map ref is 70D.A20.d.3.8

Can anyone help with that map location?

[Colin W Taylor]

Wesley,

 

The 16th Entrenching Bn was only in existence for a very short time and  a war diary does not survive but an account was written in 1925 by the CO, presumably for the Official History, and is stored at Kew amongst WO95 along with other war diaries . For only four pages it probably isn't worth £3.50 but it can be found here:

 

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/070d55720ea74c86a80597cf79302102

 

Having examined a photographed copy it was not in action until 31 March which would suggest this was when he was killed.  The KOYLI comprised three companies with another made up of DCLI and SLI.  Officers of the KOYLI may have commanded this company due to a shortage of other officers with these drafts or during the fighting this company came under Best's command.  They relieved a French unit which might account for the French award.

 

The 14 Div A and Q / Admin War Diary may include mention, likewise the same for III Corps.

 

PM me with an email address if you would like a copy of the 16EB report.

 

Regards

 

Colin 

Edited 27 December , 2017 by Colin W Taylor

[wesleycj]

Just to end this post and tie up the loose ends

 

Captain John Best joined 6/KOYLI on 26 Jan 1918 - entry in  6/KOYLI Bn War Diary

The 600 strong 6/KOYLI and 190men of 6/DCLI marched off on 12 Feb 1918 under Lieut Col  W H Nichols to Crisolles where they become the 16th Entrenching Bn under III Corps Reinforcements - 6/KOYLI diary and 16EB report

On 31 March 1918 16EB defended the river Oise bridges at the village of Chauny-Sud. After the village had been infiltrated by a German Stormtrooper unit the Bn successfully counter-attacked over a period of 24hrs and drove the unit and follow-up troops back across the river.-16EB Report  

 

I am now happy that Cyril Palmer late 6/DCLI was serving under Captain Best late 6/KOYLI when he was killed on the 31 March 1918 with the 16EB.

 

My thanks to Colin Taylor for the report detailing the action by 16EB that cleared all this up.

[kenf48]

A supplementary - He was posted to the DCLI 6th Bn. on 3 September 1916 from the IBD at Etaples, and allocated the number 28645,  joining the Battalion in the field on 10 September.

 

The Entrenching Battalions formed in 1918 following the reorganisation of the Army were temporary units that could provided a pool of men as reinforcements to other units.  As noted above they were disbanded in April after the German Spring Offensive and the men redeployed, probably but not necessarily to a battalion of their original regiment, hence they retained their original identity until posted.

 

Also killed on 31 March was Lt William Norman Simpson 6th Bn KOYLI

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205388671

 

Ken

 

Edited 27 December , 2017 by kenf48