Battle of the Dunes, July 1917

[ElaineK]

17 minutes ago, Stebie9173 said:

Some extracts from the War Diary of Y/1* Trench Mortar Battery:

 

 

 

* There were three Medium Trench Mortar batteries in 1st Division "X/1", "Y/1" and "Z/1". Similar named batteries were in most divisions, e.g. 8th Division would have "X/8", "Y/8" and "Z/8", etc. The trench medium trench mortar batteries were armed with 2" trench mortars up until mid-1917. In fact, the trench mortar batteries were in the process of switching to 6" trench mortars at the time of the Battle of the Dunes. The links below show the 2" trench mortars - known as "toffee apples" because of the shape of the projectiles.

 

https://howlingpixel.com/i-en/2-inch_medium_mortar

 

https://armourersbench.com/2019/03/17/ww1-2-inch-trench-mortar/

 

 

 

Steve.

Thanks for the information.  I now have lots of reading to do!

[James A Pratt III]

The book "Strafer Desert General" by NS Nash A bio of LTG WHE "Strafer" Gott. He was a Lt in the 2 KRRC and was captured in this battle and has some chapters on this and his WW I experienceshis time

[MBrockway]

On 17/10/2019 at 20:34, James A Pratt III said:

The book "Strafer Desert General" by NS Nash A bio of LTG WHE "Strafer" Gott. He was a Lt in the 2 KRRC and was captured in this battle and has some chapters on this and his WW I experienceshis time

 

Currently available through Postscript books at £9.99 (full list price was £25).  See here:

Strafer: Desert General,  The Life and Killing of Lieutenant General William Gott

[Sars0785]

Does the war diary include excerpts from 25th July by any chance I think my great uncle was one of the 16 gunners who died on 25th 

[Sars0785]

On 05/10/2019 at 16:05, Stebie9173 said:

Some extracts from the War Diary of Y/1* Trench Mortar Battery:

 

 

 

* There were three Medium Trench Mortar batteries in 1st Division "X/1", "Y/1" and "Z/1". Similar named batteries were in most divisions, e.g. 8th Division would have "X/8", "Y/8" and "Z/8", etc. The trench medium trench mortar batteries were armed with 2" trench mortars up until mid-1917. In fact, the trench mortar batteries were in the process of switching to 6" trench mortars at the time of the Battle of the Dunes. The links below show the 2" trench mortars - known as "toffee apples" because of the shape of the projectiles.

 

https://howlingpixel.com/i-en/2-inch_medium_mortar

 

https://armourersbench.com/2019/03/17/ww1-2-inch-trench-mortar/

 

 

 

Steve.

 

On 04/10/2019 at 19:08, Stebie9173 said:

He was part of "Y" Trench Mortar Battery in 1st Division ("Y/1 T.M.B.") - they would have been in the trenches in the dunes supporting the Northamptons and K.R.R.C.

 

The War Diary page for 10th July 1917 is on Ancestry here if you have a subscription:

 

Y/1 Trench Mortar Battery

 

 

Steve.

Hi Steve, 

 

Do you have any excerpts from 25th July, my great uncle was one of the 16 gunners who died on this day

[Martin George]

I came across an interesting personal account with a mention of the battle from the west side of the canal in the book ‘Everyman at War - sixty personal narratives of the War’ edited by C.B. Purdom, J.M. Dent & Sons (1930) - George Brame of 2/5 East Lancs attached to the Royal Engineers describes the 24 hours of bombardment and use of mustard gas. He was almost taken by a shell while gathering materials for the trenches. I have also found the same account at the following link.

 

https://www.firstworldwar.com/diaries/onthebelgiancoast.htm

All the best Martin

[Sars0785]

Many thanks Martin

 

I will have a read through