Stephen Barker Posted 29 August , 2006 Share Posted 29 August , 2006 I'd be gratfeul if you could tell me what the 1st Norfolk's were doing on May 9th 1917. Many thanks Stephen Barker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philg Posted 21 September , 2006 Share Posted 21 September , 2006 Hi Garth, What can you tell me about the 2nd Bn, Suffolk Regiment on 30/8/18, the day when Pte Stanley H. Townsend was killed in action? cheers Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gem22 Posted 23 September , 2006 Author Share Posted 23 September , 2006 I'd be gratfeul if you could tell me what the 1st Norfolk's were doing on May 9th 1917. Many thanks Stephen Barker Stephen At 2a.m the battalion attacked Fresnoy. "As the infantry advanced the waves were broken up by intense machine gun fire, and eventually, though small bodies penetrated into the woods around Fresnoy, it was found impossible to retake the village and the battalion fell back to Farbus Wood beyond Arleux, where only 36 men and 5 Lewis guns remained. Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gem22 Posted 23 September , 2006 Author Share Posted 23 September , 2006 Hi Garth, What can you tell me about the 2nd Bn, Suffolk Regiment on 30/8/18, the day when Pte Stanley H. Townsend was killed in action? cheers Phil Phil The battalion was involved in an attack on the villages of Ecoust St Main and Neuville. " It appears that the village of Ecoust was taken easily, but that the battalion, unable to maintain itself in its advanced position, was compelled to fall back on the line of the Ecoust trench." Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philg Posted 24 September , 2006 Share Posted 24 September , 2006 many thanks Garth. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34thdiv Posted 29 September , 2006 Share Posted 29 September , 2006 I've got these if anyone needs anything looked up. Garth Garth, hello, Could you find out anything more regarding 13266 Private William Edward Ludkin, 1st. Norfolk Regiment, joined 6th Sept 1914 and killed in action 4th July 1916, possibly Guillemont, buried Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery, Arras. Anything else however small would be appreciated, and were the 1st. Norfolks at Guillemont? Thanks, Regards, Rob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gem22 Posted 3 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 3 October , 2006 Rob First off your man was killed on 4 June 1916 not 4 July. The history does not give much detail as to the whereabouts of the battalion but they were somewhere on the Bailleul - Arras road. At 9.17pm after 3 hours of bombardment the enemy exploded three large mines of which two were on the Norfolk front. The explosion was immediately followed by an enemy attack. The enemy failed to reach the Norfolk lines but in the course of the action the Norfolks lost 21 men killed, 25 wounded and 19 missing. The battalion was relieved the same night and retired to billets in Agnes-lez-Duisans. Hope that helps Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34thdiv Posted 5 October , 2006 Share Posted 5 October , 2006 Garth, In case the first "thank you" did not work, thanks for your time and trouble, the information is very much appreciated. Best regards, Rob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Lewis Posted 30 January , 2007 Share Posted 30 January , 2007 Gareth Have you any information on the 2nd Btn Suffolk Rgt. I have today discovered my grandads cousin was kia 20/7/16 serving with them. Any information around this date would be gratefully received. Regards Doug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmoodub Posted 5 February , 2007 Share Posted 5 February , 2007 Hi there, I realise this thread has been going for quite sometime now, so my fingers are crossed for a reply.. I have recently discovered that my great uncle was killed in action 9th april 1917 at the ages of 21 whilst serving in the second battalion Suffolk Regiment. his name was Sidney James Adams and his regimental number was 40746. He is buried in Tilloy-les-Mofflaaines cemetary. Could you give me any information on the actions of the 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment for this time as would love to find out what he was involved in at the time of his death.. Thanks very much in advance just incase you get this Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 5 February , 2007 Share Posted 5 February , 2007 Doug, As Gareth seems to have been AWOL for a couple of months, this is from the History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 by Lieut.- Col. C.C.R. Murphy. On the afternoon of the 18th the Germans counter-attacked, forcing their way with fine courage but at great cost into Delville Wood and the northern end of Longueval, which troops of the 3rd Division had just cleared. In consequence, two companies were sent up to Longueval Ridge to support the attack of the 1st Gordon Highlanders on Longueval, the remainder of the battalion moving from the wood into Caterpillar valley itself, where they were persistently shelled. Early on the 19th Captain and Adjutant Trollope and Lieut. T.D. Pickard-Cambridge were wounded, 2nd Lieut. V.C. Russell taking over the duties of adjutant. Throughout this time of stress Captain J.D. Marshall, R.A.M.C., medical officer to the battalion, always proved himself equal to the occasion, being subsequently awarded the D.S.O. in recognition of his splendid services. On July 20 the battalion, having assembled and deployed in Pont Street, took part in the renwed attacks on Longueval and Delville Wood. It was still dark when the artillery bombardment lifted and the advance began. The tow Suffolk companies in the forward line moved in double lines of platoons with a front of about 140 yards each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 5 February , 2007 Share Posted 5 February , 2007 Much bitter fighting followed, which, though indecisive locally, enabled a footing to be gained in High Wood by a Division (33rd) containing another Suffolk battalion - the 4th, and the British line to be linked up thence with Longueval. The casualties in the 2nd Battalion were heavy, and included the following officers- Killed: Captain A.L. Platts; Lieut. H.N. Kemble; 2nd Lieuts. S. Johnson and S.G. Bennett. Wounded: 2nd Lieuts. G.F. Igglesden and W.H. Hamblyn. Missing : Lieut. C.B. Bevan; 2nd Lieuts. A.L. Evans, H.P. Allanson, A.G.B. Patten, A.C. Taylor, and J.C. Bradley, M.C. With the exception of 2nd Lieut. Patten, who was wounded and taken prisoner, all these missing officers were subsequently reported killed. During this attack Brevet-Major W. La Touche Congreve, D.S.O., M.C., brigade-major to the 76th Brigade, was killed by a sniper while reconnoitring. On July 21 the battalion returned to Breslau trench, and a few days later moved out of the battle zone to Bois des Tailles. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 6 February , 2007 Share Posted 6 February , 2007 Paul, From the same source, On Easter Sunday - the day before the Battle of Arras - The Rev. G.C. Danvers, chaplain to the 2nd Battalion, and himself a Suffolk man, who had done so much good work in the Serre sector on the Somme in 1916, held a Communion service in the chalk Caves at Arras. A sketch of this solemn and impressive scene, made on the spot at the time by Lieut. W.J. Allum, appeared in the Illustrated London News. The 2nd Battalion emeged from the caves on April 9, and moved into its assembly trenches. The preliminary bombardment, which had been going on for several days, was then nearing its height. To men who had been so long underground, the noise sounded like that of "cannons overcharged with double cracks," and after the silence of the caves was almost deafening. Attached to the 9th Brigade for these operations, the battalion was ordered to support the 4th Royal Fusiliers, the objective being a strong position known as the Harp. When the Fusiliers reached a certain point the battalion was to pass through them and carry on to the north and east sides of the redoubt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 6 February , 2007 Share Posted 6 February , 2007 At zero the Fusiliers advanced. On the way to the Harp a valley had to be crossed along which the enemy put down a 5.9 barrage, but the 2nd Battalion, moving in artillery formation, managed to get through almost untouched. From our original line the ground for some distance in front was clearly visible, and it was obvious from the steady forward movement of our men that the attack was going well. Prisoners began to trickle in, and soon the whole objective was in our hands. About noon the battalion headquarters moved up into the Harp. No counter-attacks came, and in the early afternoon the 8th Brigade passed through and continued the advance. In the evening the battalion returned to the old Hindenburg line, where they were replaced under the orders of their own brigade. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmoodub Posted 6 February , 2007 Share Posted 6 February , 2007 Hi Stiletto.. Thanks so much for your speedy reply! its so facinating to read exatcly what my great uncle would have been a part of on the day he died.. i shall now try and find some more doccuments detailing this day (if there are any) and continue on my journey into his last days. Thanks again Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 6 February , 2007 Share Posted 6 February , 2007 Hi Pau, Here is the sketch of the Rev. G.C. Danvers holding Communion Service in the caves. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmoodub Posted 6 February , 2007 Share Posted 6 February , 2007 your a star!! after reading your post i started hunting for this sketch in the internet.. thankyou so much!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Lewis Posted 7 February , 2007 Share Posted 7 February , 2007 Andy Thank you very much for the information. Regards Doug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 7 February , 2007 Share Posted 7 February , 2007 Doug, No problem, hope it helps you a little. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Wayman Posted 8 February , 2007 Share Posted 8 February , 2007 I've got these if anyone needs anything looked up. Garth Hi Garth Any chance of a few details in respect of 7/Suffolk on 28th April 1917, please? Much appreciated. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerb40uk Posted 8 February , 2007 Share Posted 8 February , 2007 Hi I'd like to know if anyone has any info on my father's service in the Suffolks, before he joined the MGC and became a tank commander. 2041 Arthur Herbert Blowers 1/4 Suffolk Regt arrived France 9/11/1914. Thanks. Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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