Raster Scanning Posted 12 January , 2006 Share Posted 12 January , 2006 Having trouble with this posting no text appearing! Anyway, please can someone look him up in SDGW, he served in the 2/4th London Rgt and before that in the Bedfords. Many thanks John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Beckett Posted 12 January , 2006 Share Posted 12 January , 2006 John, this looks like your man Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raster Scanning Posted 12 January , 2006 Author Share Posted 12 January , 2006 That is great. Thanks Peter. CWGC gives his unit as 2/4th Battalion, who arrived in France on 24th Jan 1917. In actual fact this was the renamed 3/4th battalion. Can anyone tell me what they were doing on the date of his death? Thanks again John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmac Posted 12 January , 2006 Share Posted 12 January , 2006 The 2/4th Londons were involved in an attack between the Ypres-Comines canal and the Ypres-Staden railway on the 20th September 1917. The 2/4th provided working parties from the 11th onwards and from the 15th were based on the east side of the Yser canal and they spent four days laying duck boards in front of St Julien. The work was very tiring and dangerous with two officers and 18 men becoming casualties. On the 18th the battalion relieved the 2/3rd Londons in the line and the attacking troops assembled at 9pm on the 19th. The 58th Division attacked north of the Hanebeek with 173 Bde on the right and 174 Bde on the left. The assault columns of the 173 Bde were the four companies of the 2/4th each 100 strong. Their front was 800 yards wide and their objective was a line 100 yards beyond the Winnipeg cross-roads. Other troops would then move through the 2/4th to take a position 500 yards further on. The 400 men were in position at 3am on the 20th with few casualties. The attack went in at 5.40am under a good creeping barrage. Companies were, right to left, A Coy (2 platoons) + HQ of C Coy; B Coy; C Coy with 2 platoons of D Coy. They encountered fierce reisistance from the defences at Winnipeg crossroads and from a nearby pillbox which was captured single-handedly by a Pte Bolton of A Coy. 16 men were taken prisoner at the crossroads. On the left, C Coy were held up by another pillbox until it was outflanked by 2/Lt Walker and six men who captured 20 men and 2 MGs. Within 30 minutes to battalion achieved its objective. A platoon of D Coy was given the task of taking Schuler Farm and two tanks were allocated to support. They both failed to arrive, bogged down in the mud. A MG post in front of Schuler Farm caused major problems and, although it was captured with 16 prisoners and 2 MGs, 2/Lt Warren and every man except for a Sgt Watson and 6 men were killed. Unable to advance further Sgt Watson and his men dug in. By this time, only about 100 men of the 2/4th Londons remained effective and they were reinforced by elements of the 2/3rd. Although under continuous sniper fire the 2/4ths held their position throughout the next day until relieved on the night of the 21st. Casualties were: 4 officers killed/dow and 7 wounded. 60 ORs killed, 176 wounded and 29 missing. Awards for the action: 1 DSO, 4 MCs, 5 DCMs, 4 MMs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raster Scanning Posted 12 January , 2006 Author Share Posted 12 January , 2006 Thank you Bill for taking the time to reply, it is much appreciated. Just the information I was after. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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