9th Highland Light Infantry

[Guest Robyn]

My great uncles David and Parlane Chalmers (twins) were killed in France in 1918. I have details of their deaths and have grave details etc but short of visiting the UK I do not know where to start.

I would very much like to know where they were fighting (they were in "B" Company if that is useful) and of the battles they were involved in, but the language of armies has me a little bit baffled. Can you help?

Many thanks

Robyn

[MartinWills]

Robyn,

At the top of this thread you will see a link to "The Long Long Trail" which is the mother site to this forum. It's a wealth of information about the British Army of the Great War and you will be able to track the basic details of the 9th Battalion of the HLI through the war - it also explains some of the basics about the British army. Take a good long read - it should answer some of the basic questions and pose a few more that you post on this thread at that point. It should also point you to how to start researching their service careers and war and the questions that also follow on can also be asked here.

[Malcolm]

Details

Surname CHALMERS

Firstname David

Service Number 202142

Date Death 26/10/1918

Decoration

Place of birth Shotts Lanarkshire

Other 9th Bn. (T.).

SNWM roll THE HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY

Rank Pte

Theatre of death F.& F.

Details

Surname CHALMERS

Firstname Parlane B

Service Number 202143

Date Death 13/04/1918

Decoration

Place of birth Shotts Lanarkshire

Other 9th Bn. (T.).

SNWM roll THE HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY

Rank Pte

Theatre of death F.& F.

Aye

Malcolm

[Tom A McCluskey]

Robyn,

9 HLI's diary, 13th Apr 1918:

[11 April 1918: transit - about 30 miles north - from Aubigny to Méteren (just west of Bailleul, about 11 miles southwest of Ypres) and then on - about 4 miles east - to Ravensberg (just west of front line near Neuve-Eglise - about 4 miles northwest of Armentières)]

2.30am: Train leaves for CAESTRE and arrives about 9am.

10.30am: Battalion moves off by march route to METEREN, arriving there about 1pm.

Posts are put out to ticket road to BAILLEUL and adjacent roads.

5.15pm: Battalion receives orders to proceed to RAVELSBURG to be in reserve and attached to 25th Division. The 2nd Worcesters and 16th KRRC are in the front line south of NEUVE EGLISE and about 2 kilometres due east of the NEUVE EGLISE - NIEPPE road in squares T 21 and T 27 approximately. We have a line of outposts on the above road between CUSTOM HOUSE and NEUVE EGLISE. “B” Coy furnish these posts. “C” Coy is in position near AUX TROIS ROIS Cabt and 2 Coys in reserve at VAUXHALL CAMP.

3.30pm:We were shelled out of this camp about 8am.The medical officer was severely wounded. We had a few men killed and wounded.

“A” Coy were sent forward to the assistance of the KRRC about 11.30am in accordance with a report from 75th Bde that assistance was urgently required there but on arrival all was quiet.

Late last night “C” Coy were ordered to take up a position on HILL 75.

HQs at junction of WATERLOO and RAVELSBERG Rds.

We received orders at 2.30pm to be ready to take over a one Coy frontage in the front line, taking over from the 75th Infy Bde, but owing to a hostile attack this was cancelled. “A” Coy counter attacked the enemy in their attempts to assist the 2nd Worcesters and KRRC and things soon quietened down.

[12 April 1918: transit - about 1 mile south - from Ravensberg to front line near Neuve-Eglise]

AUX TROIS ROIS CABT 6pm: On hearing of the hostile attack, Headquarters Coy and the minimum reserve from “B” Echelon were sent forward. Headquarters details were sent to the left with “C” Coy and the minimum reserve under Major Chalmers were sent to the right. The left was on the forward slope of Hill 75 south of the RAVELSBERG ROAD in T 14c & d squares and our right was near CUSTOM HOUSE. “A” Coy were very much depleted in numbers after the counter attack which had been delivered and led with the greatest gallantry. 2/Lt W Ross was killed. 2/Lt PA Moodie who was in command of “A” Coy was severely wounded and 2/Lt Watt and a good portion of 2 platoons were missing after the action. Coy Sgt Major Caldwell took command of the Coy. He was afterwards wounded himself. “D” Coy were now moved from VAUXHALL CAMP to lay in support from HILL 75 to CUSTOM HOUSE.

6.30pm: 38th Arty Bde advised that the line was now running north and south about 100 yards east of the NEUVE EGLISE – NIEPPE Road.

6.40pm: Major Donaldson and the minimum reserve of the 2nd Worcestershires were sent forward to S 25 central to support “A” Coy, now under the command of 2/Lt WB Metcalfe.

7pm: Reported 4 Officers and 50 Other Ranks as being our estimated losses up to the present.

7pm: KORTEPYP [Kort Pijp] was reported to be still held by 16th KRRC. The KRR position on night of 12/13 was as follows.

KRR, details of Border Regt, 6th SW Borderers, 9th Cheshires under Col Bunt of Border Regt holding line from X roads at KRR HQs along KORTEPYP - NEUVE EGLISE Road.

From these crossroads East to junction LEINSTER Road and KORTEPYP Road is held by one Coy KRR and one Coy S Lancs.

Thence north along LEINSTER Rd by one Coy of KRRC with posts out to old front line.

One Coy KRRC in support behind these 1½ Coys.

11.45pm: A reconnaissance by 2/Lt Garvie and 20 men sent out to search NEUVE EGLISE found the village unoccupied.

[13 April 1918: front line near Neuve-Eglise]

12.30am: 2/Lt Metcalfe, A Coy, reported that enemy were trying to get round his flank but he was able to keep his position intact.

2 platoons of D Coy were sent into the line to reinforce C Coy whilst their two platoons were clearing up NEUVE EGLISE.

1.50am: “A” Coy have got detached from our right and are now in position between other units on the ARMENTIERES side of the X roads ARMENTIERES - BAILLEUL and NEUVE EGLISE - NIEPPE ROADS, with his right flank resting on the ARMENTIERS - BAILLEUL Road.

6.20am: A Report from Capt Reid, OC B Coy is received stating that the troops on his right flank were retiring before the enemy. This proved to be the beginning of a massed attack on NEUVE EGLISE. The morning was very misty and thereby favoured the enemy but our men held on with great determination and succeeded in repulsing the enemy and inflicting heavy losses on him. We captured an officer and one or two men but most of the loss inflicted on the enemy was in killed. As in yesterday’s attack one or two small parties worked their way into our lines but as the mist faded away the situation was quickly got in hand and the enemy well finished. We had some officers casualties and several Other Ranks. A great number of stragglers of other units were collected by our officers and NCOs and put in the line with our men. These were chiefly men who had been in the line several days and had become detached from units.

By 9.30am the show had quietened down. Our artillery were shooting short and a direct hit was obtained on Battalion HQs which wrecked the room. A good deal of useful work was accomplished by the smart handling of Lewis Guns by their handlers.

8.30am:The enemy put down an intense barrage on our Bn HQs, line and back [illegible].

8.45am: An urgent call for ammunition and reinforcements from “C” Coy received. Captain Harris killed while visiting his posts.

9am: 2/Lt Nairne and 2 platoons of “D” Coy sent forward to reinforce “C” Coy. By this time all Machine Guns in the group in our sector were knocked out and their crews killed or wounded.

9.35am: The enemy were seen retreating and OC “C” Coy sent 2/Lt Nairne and platoon forward to clear NEUVE EGLISE of the enemy.

11am: An officer of the 363rd Regt German Infantry Reserve captured. Documents on him show that an attempt was to be made in the afternoon to capture NEUVE EGLISE [illegible] the morning attempt failed.

7pm: From our headquarters men were seen to be coming over the skyline and a few stragglers moving along the road running from NEUVE EGLISE past AUX TROIS ROIS CABT and through square T 13d. The men were moving in a westerly direction. We collected them and formed them up under our own officers. The enemy succeeded in driving our Coy back from HILL 75 after hand fighting to the ridge running round the west of AUX TROIS ROIS CABARET. The enemy attempted to surround our battalion by an encircling movement approaching WATERLOO ROAD line from the south through squares T 19 and 20 and S 24.

[14 April 1918: transit - about 1 mile northwest - from front line near Neuve-Eglise to Hille (an extremely small hamlet about 2 miles northeast of Bailleul)]

As our R flank was completely open the situation was somewhat critical during the night.

Reinforcements were hurried forward during the night from B Echelon and the 7th Bde were sent up to positions on the RAVELSBURG SPUR at CRUCIFIX CORNER. The enemy was pinned to his ground during the night and the battalion was withdrawn in an orderly manner just before dawn on the 14th inst and marched to HILLE in square S 4d where it lay in a field for the remainder of the morning.

2.30pm: The battalion is working on a defensive line which is being prepared on the high ground in this district.

3.30pm: The following were the casualties among officers:

killed:

11th: Capt D McKinnon RAMC

13th: Capt FJ Harris

13th: 2/Lt W Ross

13th : 2/Lt WM Beattie

13th: 2/Lt J Nairne

wounded:

13th: Capt RC Reid

14th: Capt GH Warren

12th: Lt PA Moodie

13th: Lt CF Syme

12th: Lt WF Alexander

13th: JW Hendry

13th: DT Livingstone

13th: JD Murphy

13th: WB Metcalfe

13th: J Johnstone (at duty)

13th: J Bennet (at duty)

missing :

12th: 2/Lt AGM Watt

Casualties among Other Ranks: see on page for 20-4-18.

During the attack yesterday afternoon a German prisoner was brought in who belonged to the 2nd Bn of the 11th Regt. He stated that he had come straight from Italy and that their division had been sent straight into the battle.

[20 April 1918: transit - about 14 miles west - from Mont des Cats to billets at Noordpeene (about 7 miles northeast of St-Omer)]

Battalion paraded and marched via GODEWAERSVELDE - EECKE - ST SYLVESTRE CAPPEL SHOONEN BORST - HONDEGHEM - STAPLE - LES TROIS ROIS - ZUYTPEENE - to NOORDPEENE where we were Billeted. Our casualties during the recent operations were as follows:

killed:

officers 7

OR 60

wounded:

officers 13 (includes 2 at duty)

OR 172

missing:

officers

OR 148

wounded and missing

OR 6

Hope this helps

Tom McC

[Tom A McCluskey]

Robyn

& Diary Entries for 26th October 1918

[24 October 1918: transit - a short distance - to positions nearer to but still just south of Englefontaine]

0415: The 19th and 98th Brigades again passed through us but 98th Bde did not get sufficiently far ahead to allow of our moving. They were reported to be held up from high ground in F 12 a.

1000: Brigade Major brought verbal orders for Brigade to push on to final objectives, taking the high ground in F 12 a by an encircling movement on the way.

On reaching F 11 b the message was received that WORCESTERS had found the high ground clear so we changed direction and made for our next objective - ENGLEFONTAINE, GD FAY [Grand Gay farm].

1300: During this advance Lt RT ANDERSON MC, OC “B“ Coy was killed. On reaching line of road running through X 30 and X 29 d & c information was received that the 5th SR and Cameronians were found occupying position along road X 30 c 6.0 to X 30 a 6.3. The Batt was in touch with WORCESTERS on Right and 21st Div on left and was preparing to proceed to objective. It was then discovered that CAMERONIANS were not in X30 a or c and road through X 29 d & X30 c was under heavy MG fire which caused WORCESTERS to move to Right. X 29 d was also under direct fire from Battery of Field Guns in X 18 c. It was decided that Artillery support was necessary before proceeding further in daylight. This was fortunate as Northern portion of our objective had also been allotted to 64th Bde who carried out attack on it preceded by heavy barrage. Information was received that the 64th Bde now held the road running through X 17 d. Fighting Patrols were then sent out to ascertain the situation and if possible for us to gain final objective during the night. KRRC at this time held from X 29 c 8.6 to X 29 d 42 and Batt from there to F 6 a 4.1. “B” Coy were all casualties and including HQ the number of rifles available was 130. Battalion HQ was established at X 5 a 4.9.

[25 October 1918: action in and around Englefontaine]

1000: Enemy about 40 strong attempted a small enterprise but quickly withdrew when rifle fire and MG fire was opened by our posts. Lt PATERSON who was in one of the advanced posts was found to be missing.

[26 October 1918: transit - about 4 miles southwest - from Englefontaine to Forest-en-Cambrésis (about 2 miles northeast of Le Cateau-Cambrésis)]

0121: An encircling movement round the SE and NE of ENGLEFONTAINE was carried out by the 4th KINGS and 1st QUEENS. The 100th Bde was allotted the task of clearing the village. This Battalion was allotted the task of clearing the village on its own front - the Right resting on the main FOREST - ENGLEFONTAINE road and the Left about the Northern portion of X 30 c. LT BENNET MC led the attack with the details of HQ Coy, the remaining men of A, C and D Coys following.

This HQ party was specially detailed early on the previous day and rested in a cellar in order to give some zest to the attack as the men of the other Coys were physically exhausted. No opposition was met until touch was gained with WORCESTERS at A 1 b 1.6 at which point a party of Germans was captured. The attack proceeded along the main road. A, C and D Coys mopped up and received a number of prisoners besides inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy who were concealed in cellars etc. By this time touch had been established with the QUEENS.

0200: Objective at S 26 c 3.8 was gained and “C” Coy dug in. Patrols were sent out and “A” Coy moved up and consolidated at S 26 c 0.5. Patrols returned and reported enemy retiring EASTWARDS.

0500: Touch was established with WORCESTERS by “D” Coy and this Coy dug in at S 26 c 2.7. The Left was in touch with the QUEENS until the KRRC took over from them at 0530 hours.

0600: Shortly afterwards the left flank was attacked and the QUEENS were brought forward again to strengthen the resistance. The QUEENS were shortly relieved by a Coy of KRRC. During the attack the Batt accounted for at least 50 of the enemy killed and 78 prisoners. Two enemy posts held out in orchard in X 30 c but a party of KRRC and five of our men cleared them.

1800: Batt was relieved by “D” Coy 2nd RWF and marched to billets in FOREST.

Casualties during operations were as follows :

OFFICERS:

killed 1

wounded 1

missing 1

total 3

OTHER RANKS:

killed 12

wounded 66

missing 3

total 81

The co-operation between all arms was excellent throughout - the Artillery and M Gunners gave every assistance and kept in close touch throughout the operations. MAJOR LOUTHWAITE, 33rd Batt MGC was untiring in his efforts and used his guns to the very best advantage, personally siting and occupying positions with the leading troops on every possible occasion.

Again

Hopr this helps

Aye

Tom McC