KOSB 1 November 1914

[BatterySergeantMajor]

Wulverghem Communal Cemetery

Four KOSB graves: 7420 Pte D. SMITH, 11174 Pte W.J. GOODMAN, 7418 Pte H. HENDRY, 11333 Pte J. CAIRNS, all buried on Wulverghem Communal Cemetery.

Killed or died on the 1st of November 1914.

Strange enough I couldn't find Pte Cairns in the CWGC database.

Anyone more information about the operations in that area/ period or about the casualties? Especially the role of the 2nd Bn KOSB?

Thanks

Erwin

[Tom Morgan]

Erwin - on 31st October, the battalion

moved from Merville to Wulverghem in buses, and then forward under heavy shell fire for the attack on Messines. They advanced 300 strong south of the Wulverghem-Messines road at 1 p.m. Engaged in heavy fighting around the convent = 140 casualties.

Retired to line of trenches east of Wulverghem 8 p.m. (Ist November).

From British Battalions in France and Belgium 1914 by Ray Westlake.

Tom

[Stebie9173]

Private Cairns on CWGC.

http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/casualty_...casualty=482784

Name: CAIRNS

Initials: J

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment: King's Own Scottish Borderers

Unit Text: 2nd Bn.

Date of Death: 01/11/1914

Service No: 11333

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: A. 6.

Cemetery: WULVERGEM CHURCHYARD

(Search for Cairns died in 1914, Army, UK, etc.)

Burial place seems to be Wulvergem (no 'h') Churchyard. All four men are listed here, not in the Communal Cemetery.

Steve.

[Malcolm]

Surname CAIRNS

Firstname John

Service number 11333

Date of death 01/11/1914

Decoration

Place of birth Selkirk

Other 2nd Bn.

SNWM roll THE KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS

Rank Pte

Theatre of death F.& F.

Aye

Malcolm

[Malcolm]

Surname HENDRY

Firstname Hugh

Service number 7418

Date of death 01/11/1914

Decoration

Place of birth Port Glasgow

Other 2nd Bn.

SNWM roll THE KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS

Rank Pte

Theatre of death F.& F.

Surname GOODMAN

Firstname William James

Service number 11174

Date of death 01/11/1914

Decoration

Place of birth Littlethorpe Leicester

Other 2nd Bn.

SNWM roll THE KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS

Rank Pte

Theatre of death F.& F.

Surname SMITH

Firstname David

Service number 7420

Date of death 01/11/1914

Decoration

Place of birth Port Glasgow

Other 2nd Bn.

SNWM roll THE KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS

Rank Pte

Theatre of death F.& F.

Aye

Malcolm

[ceebee]

Erwin

I did a quick search through the Scottish National War Memorial data base and it provided the following figures for soldiers from the 2nd Battalion KOSB who died between 31 October and 3 November 1914:

31 October - 5 died

1 November - 19 died (including the 4 listed in your post)

2 November - 3 died

3 November - 1 died

4 November - nil

SNWM does not distinguish KIA from DOW. However, comparing these figures with those in Ray Westlake's book, it looks like there was a high proportion of wounded soldiers arising from the action.

It would be interesting to see what the unit war diary records.

Chris

[BatterySergeantMajor]

Thanks to all. This is very useful.

If someone has a copy of the war diary or eventual annexe this would be very appreciated.

Erwin