nfh249 Posted 5 October , 2006 Share Posted 5 October , 2006 Does anyone out there have a copy of the war diary for the 1st/7th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers for the 6th September 1917? My great grandfather was killed on that day: Name: SMITH Initials: J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Lancashire Fusiliers Unit Text: 1st/7th Bn. Date of Death: 06/09/1917 Service No: 281147 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: I. B. 5. Cemetery: AEROPLANE CEMETERY and I was wondering what they were doing around that time?? Regards, Neil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armoured Farmer Posted 5 October , 2006 Share Posted 5 October , 2006 Neil, This won't be much help, but SDGW records three men, including your grandfather, from the battalion as Killed in Action on that date. Farmer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfh249 Posted 5 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 5 October , 2006 Neil, This won't be much help, but SDGW records three men, including your grandfather, from the battalion as Killed in Action on that date. Farmer Thanks Farmer. I seem to remember from years back when my mother and I did our research that the battalion wasn't 'in action' that day (not sure now what sources we looked at, but I know it wasn't the war diaries), so I've often thought it might be shelf fire etc. If there were 'only' three that day that might support that idea. Regards, Neil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem49 Posted 5 October , 2006 Share Posted 5 October , 2006 Does anyone out there have a copy of the war diary for the 1st/7th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers for the 6th September 1917? My great grandfather was killed on that day: Name: SMITH Initials: J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Lancashire Fusiliers Unit Text: 1st/7th Bn. Date of Death: 06/09/1917 Service No: 281147 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: I. B. 5. Cemetery: AEROPLANE CEMETERY and I was wondering what they were doing around that time?? Regards, Neil. They were in the front line as part of 125th Inf Brigade, 42nd Div, XIX Corps 5th Army, along with 1/5th, 1/6th and 1/8th LF. 42nd Div relieved 15th Div on 30th August and were themselves relieved on 18th September. 125th held the front line between 30th Aug and 8th September. If no one has the war diary, Wellington Barracks in Bury will have them. stevem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfh249 Posted 5 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 5 October , 2006 They were in the front line as part of 125th Inf Brigade, 42nd Div, XIX Corps 5th Army, along with 1/5th, 1/6th and 1/8th LF. 42nd Div relieved 15th Div on 30th August and were themselves relieved on 18th September. 125th held the front line between 30th Aug and 8th September. If no one has the war diary, Wellington Barracks in Bury will have them. stevem Thanks Steve, all interesting stuff Regards, Neil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfh249 Posted 7 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 7 October , 2006 They were in the front line as part of 125th Inf Brigade, 42nd Div, XIX Corps 5th Army, along with 1/5th, 1/6th and 1/8th LF. 42nd Div relieved 15th Div on 30th August and were themselves relieved on 18th September. 125th held the front line between 30th Aug and 8th September. If no one has the war diary, Wellington Barracks in Bury will have them. stevem Anything interesting happening around this time? I assume they were in the front line in the Ypres Salient? Regards, Neil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 7 October , 2006 Share Posted 7 October , 2006 If no one has the war diary, Wellington Barracks in Bury will have them. I wouldnt put a quid on it. In my experience, the Museum is a bit thin in its war diary collection. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfh249 Posted 7 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 7 October , 2006 I guess that's something else to add to my list of things to do at Kew... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linge Posted 7 October , 2006 Share Posted 7 October , 2006 Neil The Lancashire Fusilier's Annual for 1917 has the following for the First (Seventh) Battalion: "On August 20th we moved to the Ypres front going into support on August 30th. The march from Gommiecourt was of great interest, passing as it did through the scene of some of the hardest fighting of the Somme battle. On the evening of the 22nd we entrained at Albert and reached the fair named town of Godeswaerswelde, resting near this place for a week. After two days in support we held the front line in front of the Frezenberg ridge and hear witnessed very heavy barrages for the first time. Until the 18th of September we alternated between the front and support lines, and though the Battalion did not actually take part in an attack, it was in support to the 5th Lancashire Fusiliers on September 6th, and suffered a good many casualties, particularly among a carrying party acting for the 5th. 2nd Lieutenant H. W Heaton was killed; 2nd Lieutenant Green was wounded and several officers suffered from gas, of whom 2nd Lieutenent J. Murgatroyd was the most affected." Pam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfh249 Posted 7 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 7 October , 2006 Excellent Pam, thanks a million for that. Regards, Neil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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