Help reading personal war record

[P.Rhodes]

Hello friends

 

I'm hoping someone can help me to read a few words on my Uncle Leonard's personal war record. The words I'm having difficulty with are on the line beginning 1918, I read French ????  then Feb Abbeville with something ?? above the Feb. The attached photo is Leonard age 20 in September 1917. Is the patch a shamrock and is this to denote the 26th Battalion Tyneside Irish? He survived the war but would never talk to me about it. Thanks in advance Peter

[charlie962]

5 minutes ago, P.Rhodes said:

1918, I read French

Trench Feet

[Vlaamse Verhalen]

2 minutes ago, charlie962 said:

Trench Feet

 

Agreed. With "Nov(ember) Wancourt" above

[charlie962]

Peter,

The word below Abbeville is Marne.  May 27th 1918 is the date of his capture. D company 4th NF. Have you seen the  ICRC PoW record here ?

edit  scroll down to page R36702 if the link doesn't go straight there.

Charlie

Edited 27 April , 2018 by charlie962

[tullybrone]

29 minutes ago, P.Rhodes said:

Hello friends

 

I'm hoping someone can help me to read a few words on my Uncle Leonard's personal war record. The words I'm having difficulty with are on the line beginning 1918, I read French ????  then Feb Abbeville with something ?? above the Feb. The attached photo is Leonard age 20 in September 1917. Is the patch a shamrock and is this to denote the 26th Battalion Tyneside Irish? He survived the war but would never talk to me about it. Thanks in advance Peter

 

 

Hi,

 

What a great document to have in the family.

 

You're correct it is a Tyneside Irish Brigade emblem - if I remember correctly the 4 Battalions each wore a different coloured Shamrock emblem.

 

He was likely posted to 3rd TI  from an IBD to make good their losses suffered at La  Boisselle 1st July 1916 and posted to 4th NF on disbandment of 3rd TI in 1918.

 

Steve.

[PJS]

The date of his capture, 27 May 1918, was the first day of the 3rd Battle of the Aisne. If you have not already seen it there is a good overview of what happened to the 4th NF on that day here: http://www.4thbnnf.com/wordpress/sectors-battles/the-lys/ and there is an excellent thread on the overall battle here: http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/topic/44335-aisne-chemin-des-dames-battle-may-june-1918/

 

[P.Rhodes]

Thanks charlie962 for the link, I already have seen the ICRC details but I appreciate all the help that members of this forum provide, so thanks again.

 

PJS thank you also, I hadn't read the information in the first link so thanks again. I have purchased David Blanchard's book already as another Uncle [Reg Worrall who was to become Leonard's Brother in law] was also captured on that day near Craonne and his picture appears in the book. 

 

Cheers, Peter.

 

Attached are the 2nd + 3rd cards that my Grandparents recieved after the capture of Leonard, the 1st card stating that he was missing isn't around anymore but my Father remembered his Mother not knowing what to do with herself until the 2nd card [red cross] arrived to put her mind at rest. Leonard's relief at being captured safe and well "I'm glad to be out of it"

reaches out to me.

[charlie962]

Always fascinating to see those cards and notices. Thanks for posting them.

Edited 29 April , 2018 by charlie962