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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

George McBrearty


kev1874

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4 hours ago, kev1874 said:

Cheers Andy, between them and the ones I've found in Brigade WD I should be able to figure out where the companies were on the morning of the 30th.

Kev

 

Kev,

11/KRRC war diary has the dispositions thus ...

 

'A' Coy - Outpost Line, left (N) half.  Left on the cemetery at 57B.M.4.b.4.8. extending SW for ~800yds.

'B' Coy - Main Line, right (S) half.  Behind 'C' Coy.

'C' Coy - Outpost Line, right (S) half.  Continuing the line for another ~800yds, but with a gap of ~400yds to 'A' Coy

'D' Coy - Main Line, left (N) half.  Behind 'A' Coy.

Bn HQ - 57B.M.2.d: old German gun pits

 

According to the war diary, 6/DCLI were on their left (N), but this battalion was in 43 Bde, 14th (Light) Division.  This divn was in the Ypres Salient at this time, so this must be a mistake.  The 20th (Light) Division History instead has 12/KLR (61 Bde, 20th (Light) Divn) with 7/SLI (also 61 Bde) to their left (N).  12/KLR's war diary confirms this.

 

10/KRRC were on 11/KRRC's right (S).

 

Continuing southwards to the main area of the German break-in, we have:

12th Divn, 37 Bde

12th Divn, 36 Bde

12th Divn, 35 Bde

55th Divn, 166 Bde

55th Divn, 165 Bde

24th Divn.

 

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9 hours ago, kev1874 said:

20th Div WD's is dated 27th Nov and its ordering a strong defensive line being built but talks about M+G squares? 

Kev, you really need to stop researching soldiers fighting battles on map junctions!!

 

 name  latitude  longitude  description pin
Sheet 57b.M.8.d.3.7 50.085366 3.210153  line start (cross tracks) and outpost line flank Blue Pin
Sheet 57b.M.3.b.0.0 50.094928 3.220788  line middle Blue Pin
Sheet 57b.G.27.c.4.3 50.108455 3.216628  line end (canal) Blue Pin
Sheet 57b.G.33.a.5.5 50.105173 3.217346  EW track to marsh Green Pin
Sheet 57b.M.4.b.5.9 50.098785 3.236677  centre of outpost line (cemetery) Green Pin
Sheet 57b.G.34.a.20.95 50.10713 3.228168  outpost line flank Green Pin

 

image.png.baaa49f6457df6beab6fdca07fc932fc.png

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Many thanks for the info folks that's really helped me, 

6 hours ago, MBrockway said:

A' Coy - Outpost Line, left (N) half.  Left on the cemetery at 57B.M.4.b.4.8. extending SW for ~800yds.

'B' Coy - Main Line, right (S) half.  Behind 'C' Coy.

'C' Coy - Outpost Line, right (S) half.  Continuing the line for another ~800yds, but with a gap of ~400yds to 'A' Coy

'D' Coy - Main Line, left (N) half.  Behind 'A' Coy.

Bn HQ - 57B.M.2.d: old German gun pits

Many thanks I've been struggling to read sone of the words in the 11ths WD, it's not the neatest writing! 

 

Cheers

 

Kev

Edited by kev1874
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I'm trying to read the WD for the 11KRRC 29/30th Nov 1917 and have 95% of it deciphered but I'm struggling with the last 5%, can any body help me please?

 

First. Was ??? ????  ?? ????? intervals

image.png.65466a421bd538a32675747ef660f9e2.png

Second. right ???? by the ? sentry? ?? by? wireimage.png.44f1b4e39cb0264c733a19c802068c9c.png

Third. Orders- ????? the withdrawal of C coy

image.png.5f80e98d1c7a42987e51262a64185c6f.png

Fourth. These planes were ?????? armoured 

image.png.f6cc311923e049e600d1063869b423d8.png

Last one. was continued  ???? a. I think this may be " and a" and the 2nd a is a mistake as the sentence continues "certain amount of covering fire" Would like a second opinion though

image.png.5de5ec0c406270ed667d714f72fbf2bd.png

 

Cheers

 

Kev

 

 

 

 

 

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Yeah I was me who purchased them, found Georges medals and Penny and came across his brothers on the same site. I wanted a "brothers set" so to speak for my collection and I couldn't let them be sold separate so got them. Just looking into both of them now. Looks like Joe signed on for 12 years in the navy aged 16/17 but was discharged in 1923 for TB aggravated by service, he died in 1926 sadly, Their mother is collecting both pensions on the same card in the 20's.

 

Cheers

 

Kev

Edited by kev1874
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Kev - are you related to George McBrearty?

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#1

Quote

About 7.15 a.m. Bn. HQ was shelled heavily, but not much notice [of this] was taken as the outgoing battn. [battalion] had reported [i.e. warned] that this was to be expected at frequent intervals;...

 

#2

Quote

Shortly after this the [telegraph/telephone] wires [from Bn HQ to Bn Coys] were cut, an S.O.S. was then reported on the right, either by the sentry or by wire [i.e. telephone line still intact to 10/KRRC], and the Coys and Bn. HQ stood to arms.

 

#3

Quote

C Coy held on for some time and then withdrew on to the main line of resistance in accordance with their orders.  During the withdrawal of C Coy they were rather mixed up with the enemy.  And as they retired on to the Main Line they rather spoilt the field of fire.

 

#4

Quote

The enemy were greatly assisted by large numbers of aeroplanes flying very low and using Machine Gun fire.  These planes were evidently armoured, as they were heavily shot at without apparent effect.

 

#5

Quote

  A few reached the ravine [the ravine ~1500yds due S of LES RUES VERTES in 57B.M.2.a] but there was no sigh of the Support Battn [10/RB, who had already been surrounded, attacked and virtually destroyed], and as there were too few men to hold up the enemy, the withdrawal was continued under a certain amount of covering fire until the trench near Bde HQ was reached (R10D) [57C.R.10.d. near the head of the VACQUERIE VALLEY].

  There all armed men were collected and lined up; the Reserve Battn. [11/RB who had been in Brigade Reserve at approx 57C.M.b] came up and reinforced this line which was held and the enemy's advance was stopped.

 

 

 

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thanks a lot that's filled in the missing words! now you've said them I can see some of them but others I've no clue how you've figured them out!

 

Thanks again

 

Kev

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