Pozieres battlefield - Yarra Bend near the Old German lines

[delta]

Grateful for assistance.

In the Tanks at Flers, Trevor Pidgeon refer to the Yarra Bend which joined the Old German (OG) Lines 1 and 2, to the north of the remains of the Windmill. 

Could someone please let me have a grid reference or a map of the trench 

Thanks in advance.

 

[charlie2]

57cSW1.M.24.b http://lt1.mcmaster.ca/ww1/wrz4mp.php?grid=57c

Charlie

Edited 21 August , 2022 by charlie2

[Don Regiano]

I also noted the grid reference M. 24. b for Yarra Bend, given in Rats Alley.  However, I am not convinced this is the same.  It is located to the east of Eaucourt L'Abbaye.  The OP is quoting a reference in a chapter in Pidgeon's book relating to the action by the Canadian Division and it does state that the junction referred to was around R35c. 05. 65 which is much closer to the Windmill.  I will need to re-read about the action in question but my recollection is that no tanks (let alone those supporting the Canadians) got anywhere near M. 24. b. at that time.  Pidgeon ackowledges there is a lot of confusion about the report in the war diary which refers to Yarra Bend.  Maybe there is something that might help contained within the Canadian diaries?

[Hyacinth1326]

Eaucourt bottom left. Yarra Bend and Yarra Support centre right

Edited 22 August , 2022 by Hyacinth1326

[delta]

Thank you all

There were a couple of tanks near the Bayonet Trench on 18 Oct but, as Don says, Trevor was describing the action on one month earlier between Pozieres and Courcelette. 

[Gerald Moore]

The war diary of the 2nd Aus. Pioneer Bn. states that they dug a 270 yard extension of Sydney Street trench to connect it with Yarra Bend on Aug. 26, 1916. The location of Sydney Street, north of the eastern end of Pozieres village, is marked on the map below (p. 532, Bean, The AIF in France, 1916). I suspect that "Yarra Bend" refers to the curve in the OG lines NW of the Windmill.

 

Edited 24 August , 2022 by Gerald Moore

[delta]

Thank you Gerald Moore

 

[delta]

A fellow researcher in New Zealand has located a map of the Bayonet trench area dated 29? Dec 1916 

This shows a tank hulk near Yarra Bend and I am wondering whether this could be Stuart Hastie's tank which bellied during the attack on 18 Oct 1916 

[Howard]

There are several maps of various dates on TrenchMapper, e.g. right click, choose Map ID jump with id=m_012075

or put the map reference in the box on the left:- 57c.M.24.b then select from the map list.

(Map references should not have the shaeet quadrant like SW1)

Howard