Guest jjroche Posted 8 August , 2006 Share Posted 8 August , 2006 Hi, This is our first posting and we shall appreciate any information you can give us about grandad of whom we only know the following: Private John Joseph Roche 8th Bn East Lancs no.29127 Listed as missing near Arras April 11th. 1917 Any information concerning the movements of the 8th. Bn from 9th. to 12th. April 1917 gratefully received. During a visit to France, we shall attempt to trace and then walk grandfather's steps during the last few days of his life. I would like to know when he enlisted/was conscripted and where. Many thanks, Ian & Ann Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 10 August , 2006 Share Posted 10 August , 2006 Hello Ian & Ann and welcome to the forum, A response to your query has been a bit slow so I thought that I would come in and 'bounce' your request back up to the top of the board where it more easily noticed. I wonder if you have seen this site: http://www.galloping8th.com/History.html It is still under construction but it gives you an idea what the 8th were doing in the Arras area and the problems they had. There is also a contact address. They intend to have a full roll of honour for the battalion and would, no doubt, welcome any details you might have about John Roche. Hope this helps, Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jjroche Posted 11 August , 2006 Share Posted 11 August , 2006 Hello Ian & Ann and welcome to the forum, A response to your query has been a bit slow so I thought that I would come in and 'bounce' your request back up to the top of the board where it more easily noticed. I wonder if you have seen this site: http://www.galloping8th.com/History.html It is still under construction but it gives you an idea what the 8th were doing in the Arras area and the problems they had. There is also a contact address. They intend to have a full roll of honour for the battalion and would, no doubt, welcome any details you might have about John Roche. Hope this helps, Ian Hi, IanA, Not sure how to reply to you but we'll see if this works. Many thanks for your reply; the site you recommended is excellent and we will respond to the authors' offer of help. We didn't know that the 8th. was called the 'galloping 8th. so that is another snippet of information for our file. Thanks again, Ann & Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 11 August , 2006 Share Posted 11 August , 2006 Hi Ann & Ian, Yes, for future reference, just click on 'reply' and it all works! I am sorry the contact doesn't work but it is obviously under construction. (Incidentally, I have nothing to do with the site, know nothing about the 'galloping 8th' and am just trying to be helpful) Another pal may yet come in who knows all there is to know. Good luck with your quest. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 12 August , 2006 Share Posted 12 August , 2006 Ann & Ian, I just checked the on-line index at the PRO and they have the full set of war diaries for the 8th East Lancs ref. WO 95/2537. The even better news is that it appears to be downloadable so you can see the exact movements of that battalion in March and April 1917 for £3.50. Not bad. Cheers, Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jjroche Posted 12 August , 2006 Share Posted 12 August , 2006 Ann & Ian, I just checked the on-line index at the PRO and they have the full set of war diaries for the 8th East Lancs ref. WO 95/2537. The even better news is that it appears to be downloadable so you can see the exact movements of that battalion in March and April 1917 for £3.50. Not bad. Cheers, Ian Hi, Ian, Many, many thanks for finding that site for us. We have dowloaded the relevant document and will spend a lot of time reading through it and following them on the map. It means a lot to us because it is the closest Ian will ever be to his grandfather; he remained a mystery throughout Ian's childhood because none of the family spoke about him; we didn't even know his name when we started our search; fortunately, he had an unusual surname. Visiting the sites will help to give us some closure on a very sad part of personal history. Our sincere thanks, Ann & Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 12 August , 2006 Share Posted 12 August , 2006 Glad to be of service! I hope your war diary is interesting - they all vary in the amount of detail they give but you should certainly have a day to day account of where they were and what they were doing. Names of soldiers are very rarely mentioned and often not individual officers either although these are certainly more common. If you have any queries about exact locations or 'army speak' do not hesitate to get back and I'll do my best. Cheers, Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Barker Posted 28 August , 2006 Share Posted 28 August , 2006 I have just picked up this thread having been on holiday. I recently visited the ground over which this attack took place at Monchy-le Preux and have some photos of the ground. I also have copies of the orders for the assault, know a little bit about Edmondson and am a contributor to the Galloping 8th website. If I can help in any way please let me know. Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Barker Posted 29 August , 2006 Share Posted 29 August , 2006 Ann and Ian If you let me have your contact details via my profile I have some material for you which I can scan via e-mail. My colleagues and I at the galloping8th.com have assisted several people in this way. Let me know via the forum if you have a problem. regards Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulTudge1916 Posted 29 August , 2006 Share Posted 29 August , 2006 Hi I have a copy of the original East Lancs Regimental History for the Great War it has several pages covering the 8th Bn actions at Arras. If you email me your address I will post you photocopies of the pages. my email is: paultudge1916@aol.com Regards Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Barker Posted 29 August , 2006 Share Posted 29 August , 2006 Hi I have a copy of the original East Lancs Regimental History for the Great War it has several pages covering the 8th Bn actions at Arras. If you email me your address I will post you photocopies of the pages. my email is: paultudge1916@aol.com Regards Paul I'd be grateful for a copy if that's ok Paul - dstephenbarker@hotmail.com Many thanks Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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