Civilian Labourers - 87th Field Company RE

[HMSCalcutta]

Dear All,

 

Apologies if this is in the wrong place! The war diary of the 87th Field Company Royal Engineers mentions 'civilian workman wounded' and 'civilian labourer wounded' on the 27th and 29th June 1915 near Pleogsteert. Would these individuals have been local men and was it normal to employ such men in field companies on military works so close to the frontline?

 

Many thanks,

 

Steve G

[sotonmate]

 This unit was with 12 Division at that time and the group had only disembarked in France in early June 1915, so there may have been an element of using local labour to help get basic Divisional organisation work done as swiftly as possible.

Edited 16 February , 2021 by sotonmate

[HMSCalcutta]

Thanks Sotonmate, that makes sense. Thankyou for replying.

 

Regards,

 

Steve G

[brianmorris547]

Steve G

87 FC were attached to 27 Div RE from 15 to 26/06/1915 and there is more info about these civilian workers in the June 1915 War Diary of the Commander Royal Engineers 27 Div. I also looked in the Div HQ papers but could not find anything else.

Brian

[HMSCalcutta]

Hi Brian,

 

That is very useful. Clearly these 'civilian gangs' as described were necessary at this place and time. Thank you very much for providing this information.

 

Regards,

 

Steve G