where originally buried?

[KIRKY]

Trying to understand the map references, I have a casualty buried in British Courcelette Cemetery name of Lofthouse 3403. According to his records he was originally buried at 57d R28 cannot see how to locate this reference anyone help please?

tony

[thetrenchrat22]

It’s looks like 57d R. 28 

 

without the a, b, c or d and the actual location being recorded 

[Phil Wood]

57D,R.28 refers to square R28 of sheet 57D. Not a very precise reference as the square is 1000x1000 yards. 

http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/battlefields/how-to-read-a-british-trench-map/

 

It is north of Pozieres west of Courcelette.

http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=14&lat=50.0584&lon=2.7180&layers=101465251&right=BingHyb

[thetrenchrat22]

I don’t think the reference of c d 5 is the map reference as the cob shows F. G and Z 

 

if I remember the c d 5 is Grave Registration Unit reference for their paper work as I’ve seen similar on other COB reports 

Edited 3 January , 2018 by thetrenchrat22

[EDWARD1]

Check here https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Gallery151/dist/JGalleryViewer.aspx?B=8204209&S=7&N=27&R=0#/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ShowImage.aspx?B=8204209&T=P&S=15

record states.... "buried is 65yds S of cemetery at Moquet Farm: 1 1/4 miles SW of Courcelette: 3 3/4 miles NE of Albert"

Eddie

[kenf48]

Mouqet Farm is in square R33. Though the report gives his date of death as between 21 -23rd August.

 

The war diary gives the Battalion's position on the 21st August as R28 C.5. 1 and a 1/2., which is marked with an arrow on the 1918 map by which time the old front line appears to have been obliterated!

 

According to the war diary here the operation got off to a poor start and things went from bad to worse, the Battalion was heavily shelled and during the period 21 -23 suffered many casualties through no fault of their own. 

 

Ken

 

 

 

Edited 3 January , 2018 by kenf48

[KIRKY]

3 hours ago, EDWARD1 said:

Check here https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Gallery151/dist/JGalleryViewer.aspx?B=8204209&S=7&N=27&R=0#/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ShowImage.aspx?B=8204209&T=P&S=15

record states.... "buried is 65yds S of cemetery at Moquet Farm: 1 1/4 miles SW of Courcelette: 3 3/4 miles NE of Albert"

Eddie

Thanks for that,

Anyone know where this cemetery was?

Tony

2 hours ago, kenf48 said:

Mouqet Farm is in square R33. Though the report gives his date of death as between 21 -23rd August.

 

The war diary gives the Battalion's position on the 21st August as R28 C.5. 1 and a 1/2., which is marked with an arrow on the 1918 map by which time the old front line appears to have been obliterated!

 

According to the war diary here the operation got off to a poor start and things went from bad to worse, the Battalion was heavily shelled and during the period 21 -23 suffered many casualties through no fault of their own. 

 

Ken

 

 

 

THanks for the map really interesting,

Tony

[kenf48]

2 hours ago, KIRKY said:

Thanks for that,

Anyone know where this cemetery was?

Tony

 

 

The CWGC description of Courcelette Cemetery describes MOUQET FARM CEMETERY GRANDCOURT begun in October 1916 and immediately North of the farm as one of the cemeteries concentrated at Courcelette

https://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2000045/COURCELETTE BRITISH CEMETERY

 

postdates the burial of Pte Lofthouse and his mates, but no doubt following the massive casualties incurred in the prolonged battle to capture the Farm, bodies were buried all around.  As described in the above link they were interred 65 yards South of the Cemetery, but as I noted previously the grid square for the farm (highlighted by the rectangle on the map) doesn’t match the concentration report.

 

The collection of buildings around the farm was one of the reasons it was so difficult to attack and assisted the defenders.

 

 

Ken

 

Edited 4 January , 2018 by kenf48

[thetrenchrat22]

Nab Junction Cemetery, Ovillers-La    Boisselle was at 

 

57d R. 33. a. 0. 6. 

 

Lonsdale Cemetery shows that Nab Road Cemetery was at the side of the road leading to Nab Valley

Edited 4 January , 2018 by thetrenchrat22

[KIRKY]

8 hours ago, kenf48 said:

 

The CWGC description of Courcelette Cemetery describes MOUQET FARM CEMETERY GRANDCOURT begun in October 1916 and immediately North of the farm as one of the cemeteries concentrated at Courcelette

https://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2000045/COURCELETTE BRITISH CEMETERY

 

postdates the burial of Pte Lofthouse and his mates, but no doubt following the massive casualties incurred in the prolonged battle to capture the Farm, bodies were buried all around.  As described in the above link they were interred 65 yards South of the Cemetery, but as I noted previously the grid square for the farm (highlighted by the rectangle on the map) doesn’t match the concentration report.

 

The collection of buildings around the farm was one of the reasons it was so difficult to attack and assisted the defenders.

 

 

Ken

 

Thanks Ken thats great,

Tony