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Remembered Today:

9th Royal Scots 23rd April 1915


Derek Robertson

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Can anyone tell me where the 9th Royal Scots were in the Ypres salient on 23rd April, 1915?

This question relates to the thread: Plaque Reunite

As one of the PALS visiting Ypres this April, 90 years later, and as the group's token Scot, it would be nice to know a little bit more about the battalion before I go.

I hope to pay my respects.

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The 1/9th Royal Scots (always referred to as The Dandy Ninth by a veteran of the Bn I knew) took part in the fighting near St Jan on 23rd April 1915. They lost 4 officers and 120 OR in this battle. Hope that helps a little.

They were part of 27th Division at this time. Little bit more about them below:

http://battlefields1418.50megs.com/regular_divisions_pt3.htm

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Hi Derek,

There was a book published that covered the movements of the Dandy Ninth at this particular juncture of the war. I do have a copy but not at hand at the moment, but I should be ablt to lay my hands on it by tomorrow and then I will let you know what it says.

With regards,

Tim

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Looking at a copy of the V Corps diary, I see the following entries:

Apr 22,1915 7:45 p.m. 9th R.Scots from Vlamertinghe to H.6.

Apr 23,1915 1:44 a.m. 2 Battns in H.6. ordered up through YPRES to MENIN GATE

where further orders will be given.

Apr 23,1915 11:10 a.m. D.C.L.I. & 9th R.Scots ordered to go under command of

LT.Col. TUSON, D.C.L.I.

12:50 p.m. D.C.L.I. & 9/R.Scots now up at C.22.b.

11:00 p.m. D.C.L.I. & 9/R.Scots South of Farm in C.15.c.

The line generally is:-

c.19 - C & 4 - C.21.a - C.15.c - C.16.b.c.

Apr 26 5:00 a.m. 9/R.Scots returned to POTIJZE.

There is a sketch map for 25 Apr 1915 here:

http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e064/e001588484.jpg

Hope this helps.

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Superb, thank you folks.

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Hi Derek,

Here it is...

post-2-1110139083.jpg

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Tim,

Thank you for that.

The 9th couldn't have been long in F&F before the action of 23rd April, 1915?

Does your source say when the Battalion arrived at Ypres?

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Hi Derek,

I have another 4 pages to load up yet but I am having problems with the second page.

Cheers,

Tim

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Hi Derek,

Yes, the 24th February 1915.

My source is; 9th Royal Scots (T.F.) B Company, On Active Service, February to May 1915

Let me know if there is anything else you need from it.

Cheers,

Tim

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They landed in France on 26th February 1915 and went straight up to the Ypres area.

Lambs to the slaughter it would seem

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still trying...

if I can't get it to work I can email them to you.

All the best,

Tim

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so here is the second...

post-2-1110140543.jpg

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They landed in France on 26th February 1915 and went straight up to the Ypres area.

Lambs to the slaughter it would seem

Not really. It was regarded as a bit of a "nursery" sector at this point of the war, especially where they were sent for trench instruction

Dave.

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Hi Derek,

There is obviously more covering the surrounding days so if you think any of it may be of use to you just let me know.

As far as the date goes I would take Paul's as the official one. The date I quoted was only a guess from following the days in the diary. There is no date actually stated, only the dates the chapter covers.

Hope it is of help to you.

All the best,

Tim

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Does your source say when the Battalion arrived at Ypres?

They first arrived in the trenches on 6th March after a stay at Abeele and were fully engaged by the 12th March.

Dave.

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Hi Derek,

Sorry misread the question before.

The battalion arrived in the square in Ypres at noon on March, 26th.

All the best,

Tim

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Tim,

Your contribution is superb.

Can you tell me which source you have scanned the images from?

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Hi Derek,

Yes, it is the book I mentioned before.

This is a facsimile that I picked up a little while ago though I have an original too. They are readily available but as far as I am aware it is not in reprint anywhere.

Glad I have been of assitance, anything else I can do just let me know.

All the best,

Tim

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The battalion arrived in the square in Ypres at noon on March, 26th.

...but had already served in the Ypres Salient before this date.

("B Coy." at Dickebusch working in the trenches near Voormezeele and Vierstraat on 6th March. "A.Coy." the same on the 10th March and the rest following on the 12th. They were under instruction in the trenches between the Brasserie and Vierstraat from this date until the 23rd March (not constantly) when they moved to Kokereele. As Tim has said ,they then moved to Ypres on the 26th.)

Dave.

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Tim

Thank you for posting the pages from the latter part of April.

If you were able to either post or email pages covering 4 -8May I would be very grateful indeed.

Alan

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Hi Alan,

Yes I will post them as soon as I get the chance - I would imagine sometime tomorrow.

I will post around those dates because again the exact detail is a little mixed up in the prose.

All the best,

Tim

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