303man Posted 2 November , 2005 Share Posted 2 November , 2005 I have a soldiers diary from WW1 he mentions sailing from Dublin to Holyhead on the SS Leinster to join his Regiment at Newmarket. From there he travels to Southampton (In his diary he is unaware of the destination) then sails Southampton to St Naizaire on the SS West????? date is on or about the 8 Sept 1914 I am trying to decypher the ships name SS West???? any one know of a list of WW1 troopships? Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wrighty Posted 3 November , 2005 Share Posted 3 November , 2005 westward ho and westfield were paddle steamers/cargo ships that were probably pressed into service, dunno if that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
303man Posted 3 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 3 November , 2005 Westfield looks like the one He writes the accommodation is bad but the troops manage to find a piano on board to entertain themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Morgan Posted 3 November , 2005 Share Posted 3 November , 2005 303man - do you know which regiment and battalion the diarist was in? Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
303man Posted 3 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 3 November , 2005 303man - do you know which regiment and battalion the diarist was in? Tom <{POST_SNAPBACK}> 1st Bn Royal Fusilers The Diary starts 4th Aug 14 finishes 24 Dec 14 when he is on leave returns to France but killed Mar 15 presume any diary between Leave and his death was lost as keeping diary was not allowed. I am planning to use it to write a book tracing his route from Landing in France through his actions. He lists things like First casaulty Pte ????? shot accidently by Pte ?????? very serious. Later a 4.5in Howitzer firing from the caves, liddite shell strikes a tree accidently killing Pte ???? and tearing the left arm off Cpl ??????? I am not naming names at this stage as my research into the individual soldiers he names is ongoing. It is fascinating reading. especially as I am still serving and can relate to his writings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Morgan Posted 3 November , 2005 Share Posted 3 November , 2005 1st Bn Royal Fusilers The Diary starts 4th Aug 14 finishes 24 Dec 14 when he is on leave returns to France but killed Mar 15 presume any diary between Leave and his death was lost as keeping diary was not allowed. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I was hoping to be able to check the name of the ship in Ray Westlake's "British Battalions in France and Belgium 1914" but in the case of this battalion, he doesn't name the vessel! Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historydavid Posted 4 November , 2005 Share Posted 4 November , 2005 303man, A cargo ship, SS Westfield, 3,453 grt, owned by Jones, Evan & Co-Cardiff and run by Field Line (Cardiff) Ltd, was sunk on 10th April 1918 in the Atlantic. Could be the same ship after being returned from trooping duties. Best wishes David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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