1st bn, devonshires

[Guest devonshiredumpling]

please can anyone tell me about where the 1st bn. devonshires were on 20-12-1916, as i would like to learn more about where my great grandfathers brother served and died.

his name was arthur pugsley born 1889 died 20-12-1916 at la basse i think he was 27. and was serving as a private.

would be greatful for any details

thanks

[Hambo]

Welcome to the forum

Your relative was a Private 25563 in the 1st Battalion. He enlisted at Tiverton and gave his place of birth as West Buckland Devon and his residence as Filleigh Devon.

He is buried in Rue-des Berceaux Military Cemetery at Richebourg-L'Avque

I will try to find what the 1st Battalion were doing at the time

All the best Hambo

[Hambo]

Had a quick look and although I don't have first hand info on the Devons I do have some commentary from the 1st Battalion the East Surreys who were in the same brigade

They were in the Ferme du Bois "sub sector" south of Richebourg l'Avoue (different spelling than the war graves commision)

"The ground was damp and low lying, trenches had to be shallow, with breastworks and parados built up with sandbags and wooden frames. The front line was thinly held and consisted of ten strong points, each garrisoned by 20 to 30 men with one Lewis gun. The support line, about 300 yards in therear consisted of a nearly continuous fire trnch. The sub sector frontage was nearly 2,000 yards"

The 1st E.Surreys relieved the Devons on the 13th of December and were in turn relieved on the 17th, I suspect by the 1st Devons as thats the period when your relative was killed. There is no mention of a major action during this time so he could well have fallen victim to artillery or possibly a sniper

Hope this helps Hambo

[Guest devonshiredumpling]

Welcome to the forum

Your relative was a Private 25563 in the 1st Battalion. He enlisted at Tiverton and gave his place of birth as West Buckland Devon and his residence as Filleigh Devon.

He is buried in Rue-des Berceaux Military Cemetery at Richebourg-L'Avque

I will try to find what the 1st Battalion were doing at the time

All the best Hambo

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hi hambo,

thanks you for the welcome and for taking the time to respond, i have got details of arthur and everything you've put matches apart from his service number, the number i got from the war commission site says 25661.

where did you get his service number from? maybe i've got it wrong.

thanks

[Guest devonshiredumpling]

Had a quick look and although I don't have first hand info on the Devons I do have some commentary from the 1st Battalion the East Surreys who were in the same brigade

They were in the Ferme du Bois "sub sector" south of Richebourg l'Avoue (different spelling than the war graves commision)

"The ground was damp and low lying, trenches had to be shallow, with breastworks and parados built up with sandbags and wooden frames. The front line was thinly held and consisted of ten strong points, each garrisoned by 20 to 30 men with one Lewis gun. The support line, about 300 yards in  therear consisted of a nearly continuous fire trnch. The sub sector frontage was nearly 2,000 yards"

The 1st E.Surreys relieved the Devons on the 13th of December and were in turn relieved on the 17th, I suspect by the 1st Devons as thats the period when your relative was killed. There is no mention of a major action during this time so he could well have fallen victim to artillery or possibly a sniper

Hope this helps Hambo

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hi again hambo,

thanks for these extra details, helps to get an insight into what condition were like.

thanks

[Hambo]

You are absolutely right, a complete brainstorm. Comes from going to fast, 25661 it is

Hambo

[Guest devonshiredumpling]

You are absolutely right, a complete brainstorm. Comes from going to fast, 25661 it is

Hambo

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hi hambo,

thanks for replying so quick and checking the info, is there any way to check details for people who survived the war??