MParnham Posted 9 February , 2006 Share Posted 9 February , 2006 My grandfathers brother was killed whilst serving in the HLI on the 25th Sept 1917 during the third battle of Ypres. The war diary refers to the action taking place at the following location – “Reference map Shrewsbury Forest part of sheet 28 1/10,000. Battalion halt at BIRDCAGE HILL on way up to front line for 2 hours and lay in shell holes. Battalion has to pass through heavy hostile barrage from JASPER AVENUE through INVERNESS COPSE to front line in J21 A and B.” The family would like to go pay their respects, would anyone have this map or anything which would help us find the location of this front line. Many thanks Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolus Posted 10 February , 2006 Share Posted 10 February , 2006 Your grandfather's brother was presumably the 9th HLI. But you do not give his name. On 25 September 1917 the 9th HLI - known as the Glasgow Highlanders - were engaged in a fierce and costly battle at the Menin Road, (part of the 3rd battle of Ypres, now usually referred to as the battle of Passchendaele). To all intents and purposes the location of 9th HLI on 25 September can be identified as the site of what is now the Hooge Crater cemetery, just off the Menin Road (which runs west/east between Ypres and Menin) opposite the Hooge museum and also more or less opposite a large, relatively new theme park. It's probably much easier to orientate from these modern day and accessible reference points than the old trench maps, but pages 33 and 36 in "Topography Of Armageddon: A British Trench Map Atlas Of The Western Front" does show "Jasper Avenue", "Inverness Copse" and "Shrewsbury Forest". For more details about the 9th HLI see Alec Weir's newly published history of the 9th HLI, "Come On Highlanders". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MParnham Posted 10 February , 2006 Author Share Posted 10 February , 2006 Your grandfather's brother was presumably the 9th HLI. But you do not give his name. On 25 September 1917 the 9th HLI - known as the Glasgow Highlanders - were engaged in a fierce and costly battle at the Menin Road, (part of the 3rd battle of Ypres, now usually referred to as the battle of Passchendaele). To all intents and purposes the location of 9th HLI on 25 September can be identified as the site of what is now the Hooge Crater cemetery, just off the Menin Road (which runs west/east between Ypres and Menin) opposite the Hooge museum and also more or less opposite a large, relatively new theme park. It's probably much easier to orientate from these modern day and accessible reference points than the old trench maps, but pages 33 and 36 in "Topography Of Armageddon: A British Trench Map Atlas Of The Western Front" does show "Jasper Avenue", "Inverness Copse" and "Shrewsbury Forest". For more details about the 9th HLI see Alec Weir's newly published history of the 9th HLI, "Come On Highlanders". Thank you very much - this is tremendously useful information. He was Pt George P Taylor and you were correct with his battalion. He still lays their somewhere – ironic that it is probably on the site of a ‘formal’ cemetery. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted 10 February , 2006 Share Posted 10 February , 2006 Surname TAYLOR Firstname George P Service Number 332800 Date Death 25/09/1917 Decoration Place of birth Leeds Yorks Other 9th Bn. (T.). SNWM roll THE HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY Rank Pte Theatre of death F.& F. Name: TAYLOR, GEORGE P. Initials: G P Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment: Highland Light Infantry Unit Text: 9th (Glasgow Hds.) Bn. Date of Death: 25/09/1917 Service No: 332800 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 131 to 132. Memorial: TYNE COT MEMORIAL Aye Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6th Shropshires Posted 10 February , 2006 Share Posted 10 February , 2006 J21 A is just in the far bottom right corner. I will see if I can find map that shows J21 in full. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MParnham Posted 11 February , 2006 Author Share Posted 11 February , 2006 Surname TAYLOR Firstname George P Service Number 332800 Date Death 25/09/1917 Decoration Place of birth Leeds Yorks Other 9th Bn. (T.). SNWM roll THE HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY Rank Pte Theatre of death F.& F. Name: TAYLOR, GEORGE P. Initials: G P Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment: Highland Light Infantry Unit Text: 9th (Glasgow Hds.) Bn. Date of Death: 25/09/1917 Service No: 332800 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 131 to 132. Memorial: TYNE COT MEMORIAL Aye Malcolm Thank you Malcolm - I have read the account of the fighting from the 23rd to the 25th of that month it sounds dreadful - May he rest in peace. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MParnham Posted 11 February , 2006 Author Share Posted 11 February , 2006 J21 A is just in the far bottom right corner. I will see if I can find map that shows J21 in full. Much appreciated - many thanks - Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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