Trench raid 28 March 1916 by Thiepval.

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

I was hoping that someone knows of a raid made against the British lines by Thiepval on 28 March 1916 where at least 4 men were taken prisoner. 
 

i have a photo from RIR 99 showing 4 wounded prisoners by a dressing station and the date is the only description available. Any suggestions or information would be appreciated. Ralph

[charlie962]

Three men of the 9th R Irish Rifles were taken that day. Not sure if result if a trench raid.

Stockman 15926

McDonald 3784

Hamilton 1189

 

 

Edited 14 February by charlie962

[charlie962]

War diary shows a patrol of the 9th Bn was surprised by a larger German patrol and 6 men wounded and captured that evening, 28/3/16.

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/60779/images/43112_2503_2-00040?treeid=&personid=&queryId=4febddd3-e0e4-48a4-8bef-b8d7b800adba&usePUB=true&_phsrc=tLN889&_phstart=successSource&pId=599798

I think the battalion were within a few kms of Thiepval.

Courtesy Ancestry

Edited 14 February by charlie962

[charlie962]

Would they have been patrolling in that headgear in March 1916? and those leggings?

Is that a divisional sign on the right shoulder of the man on the right? (Certainly not 36 Div)

Edited 14 February by charlie962

[charlie962]

Northern Whig, 15/4/16.

Courtesy Findmypast newspapers.

 

Hope I'm not down the wrong rabbit hole 

[charlie962]

The 36th Div did hold the line up to Thiepval Wood early 1916.

[charlie962]

10/5/16 Belfast Newsletter

Courtesy Findmypast newspapers 

[charlie962]

Northern Whig, 10/5/16

Courtesy Findmypast newspapers 

Edited 14 February by charlie962
Date

[caladonia]

Hello Charlie962

The chap on the far right seems to wear a inverted triangle on his sleeve, the Battalion patch of the 9th RI Rifles was  an orange inverted triangle, so would fit.

The winter trench cap was worn during the winter of 1914-15, worn into 1916 by those that had them, but withdrawn later in 1916.

William

[charlie962]

34 minutes ago, caladonia said:

Hello Charlie962

The chap on the far right seems to wear a inverted triangle on his sleeve, the Battalion patch of the 9th RI Rifles was  an orange inverted triangle, so would fit.

The winter trench cap was worn during the winter of 1914-15, worn into 1916 by those that had them, but withdrawn later in 1916.

William

Useful id. Thanks. So I'm probably on the right track.

I thought steel helmets were on limited issue by March 1916 and used for frontline troops and, I would have thought, patrols?

Edited 14 February by charlie962

[charlie962]

Here's a photo of James McDonald but I cannot see an obvious match.

Courtesy Findmypast newspapers 

[charlie962]

Here's John Hamilton 1189.

Courtesy Findmypast newspapers 

[charlie962]

Probable 6 mentioned in War Diary. They were all initially reported Missing.

Sergt John K Bell 14078 (killed in action death 29/3/16 Mailly-Maillet officially accepted)

Hugh Gault 3773 (died subsequently as pow 1.4.1918)

John Hamilton 1189

James McDonald 3784

Hugh Stockman 15926

Samuel Williamson 2789 (killed on action 29/3/16)

Edited 14 February by charlie962

[charlie962]

Northern Whig 7/4/16

Courtesy Findmypast newspapers 

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

Thank you for all of the fascinating information. I wish I had more to go on other than a single photo with just a date. I will take a look at some other German sources to see if there is anything I can add. 
Ralph

 

[AOK4]

7 hours ago, Ralph J. Whitehead said:

Thank you for all of the fascinating information. I wish I had more to go on other than a single photo with just a date. I will take a look at some other German sources to see if there is anything I can add. 
Ralph

 

Beware with writings on a picture. Sometimes, the information written on the back is totally wrong.

Jan

[charlie962]

43 minutes ago, AOK4 said:

Beware with writings on a picture. Sometimes, the information written on the back is totally wrong.

Jan

 

 

Could that patrol have been one of the units of RIR 99? They and 36 Div seem to have been in the same area north west of Thiepval. 

 

The date the photo was taken would be 29/3 (ie daylight) rather than 28/3 (9pm patrol capture) if indeed it relates?

Edited 15 February by charlie962

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

All I can say is that the writing says Gefangene 28 March, most likely taken the following day by the dressing station. I have a number from this album and so far the captions written on the reverse have been accurate.