1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt

[andy1400]

Would anyone be able to tell me what the 1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt were doing on the 24/10/1914 and where they were. My interest is in Pte Ernest Wood who was killed in action on this day.

Thanks

Andy

[Stebie9173]

C & D Companies of the 1st Northamptons had attacked a mill near an inn on a crossroads of a lane from Pilckem and the Bixschoote-Langemarck Road, before dawn on the 23rd. Later A Company and part of B Company helped capture the inn and 300 prisoners.

Later that day the battalion dug in at the side of the road. German artillery fire was heavy, particularly against battalion HQ and the reserve company (B ?)

At 6pm the Germans attacked all along the line regaining the inn. C & D Companies were attacked during the night but repelled the attack.

Intermittent occured shelling on the 24th, with the reserve company suffering most. In the afternoon German shells set fire to the mill and surrounding houses and haystacks. The countryside was "lit up by bright jets of flame" by dusk

At 6pm another attack, preceded by artillery, machine gun and rifle fire. The Northamptons (presumably of C & D again) held the line and the Germans retreated.

The battalion was in the process of being relieved by the French under cover of darkness when the mill flared into bright flame illuminating the relief and drawing down artillery fire on the exchange. There were few casualties but the relief was delayed by an hour, with the last company reaching Pilckem at 3am on the 25th, and thence, after a cup of tea, to Ypres.

Hope that helps,

Steve.

[andy1400]

Thanks Steve. Very useful.

Andy