Lys Canal August 1918

[KONDOA]

Evening Chums,

For those with minority interests and a penchant for pursuing obscure detail (as is my wont) the following may be of moderate interest. The photographs were taken firstly between La Foret on the north bank of the Lys Canal near Haverskerke and secondly across the canal near Bas Hamel.

The right and left sections of 545th Battery RGA occupied these gun positions in August 1918 upon their arrival in France. Similarly other batteries (Essdee may be interested) had also occupied these positions immediatly prior to this date. I was pleased to also have, in my possession, personal diaries recounting how the Holt tractors had brought the guns to these positions and the activities of the battery in the ensuing days. The exact location of the billet in La Foret was not however acurately identified.

Interestingly for the modern day map buff (anorak) it was found that the field boundries and buildings still conformed to the original wartime Sheet 36 outlines which made accurate identification possible.

Unfortunately, the day of the visit being a Sunday and the presence of a sizable dog of unknown temperament precluded further investigation to seek evidence of the pits etc.

The other triumph of the day was the menu available in the village of St Venant which proffered Moules St Michel and Beef Carbonade in Trappist Beer.

Roop

[KONDOA]

La Foret - Haverskerke

Right Section 2 x 6" Mark XIX Guns positioned to rear of buildings shown in orchard.

EarlyWalker in camera.

[KONDOA]

Bas Hamel

2 X 6" Mark XIX Guns were positioned towards the willow tree.

[essdee]

Roop

The first picture is of most interest. It is this position that 521 Siege occupied at an earlier date, although according to the map I have it is behind and to the left of the farm buildings. I assume you were standing on the La Foret to Croix Marraise road facing south south eastish.

I'm a bit dissappointed you got all girly over a frog dog and didn't do a bit of a Time Team job.

I hope to go to Kew in the next few days and will pull out the 1st Army X1 Corps artillery maps for July/August and copy them for you.

Stuart

[KONDOA]

Hi Stuart

Yes, once bitten as one says. You are correct in your position description. Next time I go it will not be a Sunday so will boldly go !

The location as you say is facing south towards the canal between La Foret and Croix Marraise.

Nearby in Tannay cemetary is the only casualty from the battery who drowned whilst swimming in the canal. Shackleton was not from the original enlistment but had joined the battery in 1918 upon their embarkation for France.

Roop