!st Border Regt -21 Oct 1916

[Guest John Lowton]

My Gran's brother - Jack Shepherd 19094 - 1 Borders was KIA - 21 Oct 1916.

I believe this was "the Battle of the Ancre Heights". On this day he and a number of Borders were killed by their own artillery I am informed, and they were part of the 29 Division .

I have a letter to my Great gran.from the chaplain Rev. Ewbank telling of Jack's burial at Guedecourt, however he is remembered at Theipval and now has no known grave. Also I think Rev. Ewbank lost two sons serving in the Border Regt.

Any information concerning threads from this would be gratefully received.

Also:-

?Could he have served in the Dardanelles

?Why the Border Regt. When he enlisted in Wigan Lancashire

?Would he have seen action on 1st July with the 29th Division

? His brother Abraham Shepherd 19095 Died Feb. 1918 presumably of flu in 3rd Bordersat the Mersey Garrison. - where was this?

[Guest Hill 60]

John, welcome to the forum.

If you go to the mothersite (link at the top of the page) and look for the 1st Borders, you'll find a lot of what you want to know.

The 1st Borders were in Maymyo, Burma, when the war started.

9/12/14 sailed from Bombay & arrived in Avonmouth 10/1/15.

To Rugby & 87th Brigade, 29th Division.

17/3/15 sailed from Avonmouth & arrived Alexandria 28/3/15.

12/4/15 to Mudros.

25/4/15 Landed at Gallipoli.

9/1/16 Mudros & to Alexandria by 16/1/16.

March 1916 to France.

11/11/18 Belgium, near Celles, S. W. of Renaix.

The 29th Division fought in the Battle of Albert between 1st - 13th July 1916.

Taken from 'The Somme, The Day-by-Day Account' by Chris McCarthy:

87th Brigade:

The 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers attacked south of Y Ravine. The majority were held up on uncut wire.

Some men of the 2nd South Wales Borderers, opposite the Ravine on the left, managed to get within 100 yards of the front-line but the majority were caught by three machine-guns.

At 08:05 am, 1st KOSB, with the 1st Border Regiment in support, met with a similer fate.

I may be wrong, but I don't think the 29th Div took part in the Battle of the Ancre Heights.

The 29th Div were involved in the Battle of Le Transloy between 1st-18th October 1916.

Hope this is of some use.

[CROONAERT]

John,

This is the "snippet" from the Border's Regimental history concerning Oct. 1916...

Dave.

[Malcolm]

8th Borders, 75 Brigade, 25th Division along with 11th Cheshires and 2nd & 8th South Lancs were held up attacking Stump Road by the British Barrage. The Borderers received casualties from staying too close to the barrage.

Somme Day by Day account.

This gives 8th Battalion as the unfortunates of the barrage.

Aye

Malcolm