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Remembered Today:

10th Scottish Rifles at Arras 9/4/17


Derek Robertson

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Can anyone identify the start location and objectives for the 10th Battalion Scottish Rifles on the 9th April 1917?

As they were part of 46th Bde, 15th Scottish Division then I suspect that they were near Railway Triangle.

Any help would be appreciated.

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Thanks again Malcolm.

I see the battalion are behind the 9th Black Watch - there is a good account of their attack at the infamous Railway Triangle in a relatively new book entitled "To Arras, 1917 : A Volunteer's Odyssey" by Walter Reid.

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"Shortly after 2 o`clock 46 Brig advanced upon the 3rd objective. These splendid soldiers brushed aside every obstacle, and when fired upon at short range by German guns rushed onwards with a yell and captured the battery. By 4pm they had fully reached their final line and had pushed out their patrols some hundreds of yards to the eastwards. This fine advance, which was the only one to reach the extreme limit upon this front, was carried out by 7KOSB, 10ScoRif & 12HLI with 10/11HLI mopping up behind them." Conan Doyle

That indicates they would finish up just short of Watery Wood? Phil B

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Phil,

What book is the quotation from?

My understanding from the history of the 9th BW is that they had pressed on past the Railway Triangle so your point about Watery Wood may be correct.

And thanks to your info it looks like the brigade reserve had passed through the first attacking battalions taking the 10th Scottish Rifles into the battle.

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Malcolm,

What is your source for the maps?

I have a little bell ringing in my ear which possibly remembers that the attack ground to a halt in front of Feuchy?

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Sorry, couldn`t see the brown line so assumed the blue line was the final objective. The quote is from Arthur Conan Doyle`s "The British Campaigns in Europe 1914-1918". Yes! The same Conan Doyle!

I guess they finished up facing Himalaya Trench. Probably astride the railway. :rolleyes: Phil B

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And thanks to your info it looks like the brigade reserve had passed through the first attacking battalions taking the 10th Scottish Rifles into the battle.

Conan Doyle` description also indicates that 10 Sco Rif were in the centre of the 3 attacking Bns. That`s why I guess they would finish astride the railway. Phil B

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Thanks Malcolm and Phil :P

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