9 battalion royal scots arras

[janeh]

I am trying to get information about their activities in 1917 before and at the beginning of the battle of Arras up until 18th April 1917. My great uncle - H Burrows- 351917-fought with them and died on April 18th 1917 aged just 25. Other than where he is buried - Hervin Farm cemetery, St Laurent Blangy- we have little info so anything anyone has would be VERY helpful. Many thanks in advance

[little bob]

Henry Burrows had formerly served as 28141 Leicestershire Regiment.

 

Bob

[janeh]

58 minutes ago, little bob said:

Henry Burrows had formerly served as 28141 Leicestershire Regiment.

 

Bob

thanks. Yes, I had found that in the war records. I am going to the Nat Archives as I am hoping there may be war diaries as to where he was 17th/18th April as he died on 18th and seems to be the only one to have died that day. I am in Arras at the weekend so may find out more there too. Thanks for your help

[Colin W Taylor]

Jane,

 

The War Diary entry can be found here if you subscribe to Ancestry (they do a free trial though) - https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/60779/43112_2887_5-00000?backurl=https%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.uk%2fsearch%2fdb.aspx%3fdbid%3d60779%26path%3d&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnBrowsing#?imageId=43112_2887_5-00093

 

Or here at the National Archives for £3.50 - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7354792

 

There is also a regimental history volume covering the service battalions of the regiment which another kind soul may be able to assist with. 

 

As this date wasn't during a major action in the campaign there may not be mention of him.

 

Regards

 

Colin

[Ron Clifton]

There may also be some useful information in Cheerful Sacrifice, by Jonathan Nicholls.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cheerful-Sacrifice-Battle-Arras-1917-ebook/dp/B009EE9H34/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid

 

Ron

[Neill Gilhooley]

Jane,

The battalion moved up near Fampoux on 15 April, in support positions along the railway embankment. This was prior to the major action against Rœux. The War Diary states two other ranks were killed on 18 April (CWGC has three men died on this day, one died of wounds behind the lines), they were almost certainly killed by shellfire.

As well as John Ewing's The Royal Scots 1914-1919 and Cheerful Sacrifice, I would recommend Bewsher's History of the 51st Division, available online.

My history of the 9th Royal Scots is presently with the publisher and is due out "in the spring".

Map:

They were either side of the railway. The arrow points at Hervin Farm Cemetery.

I have an index of the battalion, but it adds little on your great uncle: https://neillgilhooley.com/9th-royal-scots/index/ 

I hope you have an interesting trip - send us some pictures!

Edited 22 January , 2019 by Neill Gilhooley

[Neill Gilhooley]

I should have said, of course, that it is quite likely your great uncle had recently taken part in the successful attack on the southern shoulder of Vimy Ridge, the battalion taking a trench named Poser Weg (marked below) on 9 April. There is information on this in Jon Nicholl's excellent Cheerful Sacrifice.