Spike Posted 23 December , 2021 Share Posted 23 December , 2021 (edited) I am trying to find some more details of what happened to an uncle of mine who received wounds on 7th June 1917. He was part of 13 Bn, Durham Light Infantry. Following the detonation of the 19 mines along the ridge at 0310 that day he ‘went over the top’ at some stage during that day. They had been close to the bund when the detonation took place but moved forward and I wondered if anyone knows the details please? The 13th DLI Ops record is a bit thin. I have heard that they were moving forward to capture Impartial Trench to the east of the railway line. Can anyone fill in the gaps?? My Uncle Stephen received wounds during the day, was evacuated and died the following day at 69 FA station near the Hop Store at Vlamertinghe. Edited 23 December , 2021 by Spike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 23 December , 2021 Share Posted 23 December , 2021 Hi and welcome to the forum. You can download war diaries for free from National Archives at the mo once registered Search results: 13 Battalion Durham Light Infantry. | The National Archives Also tell us any moreifo about him you have and if you subscribe to such as Ancestry or Find My Past regards Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 23 December , 2021 Share Posted 23 December , 2021 If you are on Ancestry here is the specific diary page, image #172 Ancestry.co.uk - UK, World War I War Diaries (France, Belgium and Germany), 1914-1920 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 23 December , 2021 Share Posted 23 December , 2021 As they relieved the 12 DLI see their diary for more detail Ancestry.co.uk - UK, World War I War Diaries (France, Belgium and Germany), 1914-1920 also if you sscroll forward on Ancestry there is a map and a report from image #123 onwards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 23 December , 2021 Share Posted 23 December , 2021 You could also try 68 Infantry Brigade Headquarters 68 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters. | The National Archives Reference:WO 95/2181/4 Description: 68 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters. Date:1917 May - July On Ancestry 7th June 17 - scroll back & forth as needed Ancestry.co.uk - UK, World War I War Diaries (France, Belgium and Germany), 1914-1920 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 23 December , 2021 Share Posted 23 December , 2021 The headquarters diary has the plan of attack from image #513 Ancestry.co.uk - UK, World War I War Diaries (France, Belgium and Germany), 1914-1920 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteStarLine Posted 23 December , 2021 Share Posted 23 December , 2021 Spike, welcome to the forum. The war diaries jonbem has quoted will give you plenty of information. Here is a May 1917 photograph of Impartial Trench, which I have crudely shaded in yellow. Click on it to enlarge. It is an Imperial War Museum photograph taken from a height of 7000 feet by 6 Squadron RFC and covers W Gheluvelt. Hill 60, Battle Wood, Inverness Copse etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 23 December , 2021 Share Posted 23 December , 2021 For trench maps see Index for WWI Maps & Air Photos (mcmaster.ca) Trench Name Nearest Place Map Sheet Number Map Squares Impartial Trench, Avenue, Lane Zillebeke 28NW4 & NE3 I 36 a, c, d Bottom right corner of this one [Ypres Region : 4th Battle of Ypres] | Digital Archive @ McMaster University Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteStarLine Posted 23 December , 2021 Share Posted 23 December , 2021 19 minutes ago, jonbem said: For trench maps see ... Or why not use tmapper.com and select the April 1917 map to see the named trench from Spike's post? Click to enlarge. Maps courtesy National Library of Scotland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Posted 23 December , 2021 Author Share Posted 23 December , 2021 That’s great stuff to be getting in with - many thanks for this fellas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 23 December , 2021 Share Posted 23 December , 2021 If you give us his full name, date of birth and location we might turn up more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Posted 23 December , 2021 Author Share Posted 23 December , 2021 Thanks. He was Pvt 43413 Stephen TODD. I have his service record and also the record for 13 Bn and that of 69 FA. Details are thin in all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 23 December , 2021 Share Posted 23 December , 2021 Have yu seen his entry on CWGC Private Stephen Todd | War Casualty Details | CWGC and on War Grave Photographic Project Photograph of the final resting place of Todd, Stephen - The War Graves Photographic Project (twgpp.org) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Posted 23 December , 2021 Author Share Posted 23 December , 2021 Great - many thanks for this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 23 December , 2021 Share Posted 23 December , 2021 I've found also Life story: Stephen Todd | Lives of the First World War (iwm.org.uk) Every One Remembered - Soldier Profile Private Stephen Todd also the parents address of 4 Hilton, Darlington DL2 3JA is around 17 miles from my location Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Posted 23 December , 2021 Author Share Posted 23 December , 2021 Many thanks once again. Small world that their home location is so close to you. Stephen was a miner before he volunteered working in a colliery in Near Bishop Auckland. He volunteered at Darlington. I have downloaded some of the documents above and it looks like 13 DLI went over the top during the afternoon before being relived at 2200. It looks like Stephen may have received his wounds between 1300 and 2200 on 7th June. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 23 December , 2021 Share Posted 23 December , 2021 (edited) His service record is on Ancestry UK, British Army World War I Service Records, 1914-1920 - Ancestry.co.uk It looks like originally entered into the 9th DLI #5355 on 7th Feb 1916. Went to France 16/12/1916 on Ancestry you can also find Medal Index Card (also on National Archives), Medal Roll, Soldiers Died record, Soldiers Effects record Edited 23 December , 2021 by jonbem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 23 December , 2021 Share Posted 23 December , 2021 If you look on Street View on Google maps this is numbers 2 & 3 so near here Google Maps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 23 December , 2021 Share Posted 23 December , 2021 potentially at this mine, though unknown unless you have further informatio Durham Collieries item - Durham Record Office Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Posted 23 December , 2021 Author Share Posted 23 December , 2021 I think he was there as was his father but he moved to one at Bishop Auckland later. Thanks again. It sounds like he may have rested a number of times at Montreal Camp just south of Vlamertinghe. Sadly, I didn’t go to the spot last time I was over there but it appears to be on the south-west road a mile or so south of the town. I don’t suppose that there’s a photo of Stephen on Ancestry? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 23 December , 2021 Share Posted 23 December , 2021 6 minutes ago, Spike said: I don’t suppose that there’s a photo of Stephen on Ancestry? not come across one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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