Terry Posted 12 December , 2003 Share Posted 12 December , 2003 Do any of the Pals have an idea how many of the BEF war diaries reported detailed lists of casualties? The diary of the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers on The Long, Long Trail site gives lists of killed and wounded for the reporting period, but I would imagine that many diaries perhaps simply list the officer casualties, and the numbers of OR's (eg. "On 26 August, Capt.Smith, Lieut.Jones, and 13 OR's were wounded".) I am particularly interested in the 1914 period. Is the 1/North.Fus. diary the exception rather than the rule? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 12 December , 2003 Share Posted 12 December , 2003 Terry Artillery Brigades seem particularly good at recording the details of casualties. Possibly because they didnt have so many each day. I was well chuffed when I got the week my great uncle Benjamin was killed (mentioned below in the signature) and found that he was mentioned by name. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted 13 December , 2003 Share Posted 13 December , 2003 Terry, I have a copy of "E" battalion Tank Corps diary for Cambrai,it gives a very detailed casualty return which includes names,ranks and numbers of every casualty,I have never seen another like it,very interesting. Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted 13 December , 2003 Share Posted 13 December , 2003 I found that the diary to the 6th Royal West Kents had long lists of other ranks joining and leaving the Battalion (on leave, courses, sick, etc.) The details were written on the back of the diary pages. Unfortunately it looks like someone has sorted every page into random order and hardly any 2 pages are consecutive . Also, the 4th Grenadier Guards and 4th Kings list other ranks casualties by name. Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted 13 December , 2003 Share Posted 13 December , 2003 17th Sherwood Foresters, Welbeck Rangers, War Diary has lists of Killed, wounded and missing. Differentiates between 'wounded at action ' and ' wounded ' Aye Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnreed Posted 29 December , 2003 Share Posted 29 December , 2003 Today at the National Archives I have been searching War Diaries of 16 Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps Officers Listed by Name only and then OR's only. The same goes for:- 18 Bn London Irish Regiment. 170 Tunnelling Company RE 171 Tunnelling Company RE 172 Tunnelling Company RE The most comprehensive War Diary I have found to date is the Diary of 173 Tunnelling Company RE Ref WO 95/335 it lists fully Officers and OR's whether Killed, Wounded, Missing, Admitted to Hospital, Discharged from Hospital, Gone on Leave, Returned from Leave, Taken on Strength, Struck off Strength Returned under Escort etc. very comprehensive and the handwriting is as if it had been written yesterday. I had a great day there. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulianB Posted 29 December , 2003 Share Posted 29 December , 2003 As is quite clear from the previous replies, they vary enormously. Whilst researching a particular MGC unit, I discovered that returns (and other matters) varied as to the whims of the COs. But because they had an obligastion to provide returns to ther higher echelons I found that it is much more useful is to look at the War Diaries etc of the parent Brigade and Divisions. I've done that am am about to embark on Corps WD (with a little less optimism !) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Fair Posted 29 December , 2003 Share Posted 29 December , 2003 But because they had an obligastion to provide returns to ther higher echelons I found that it is much more useful is to look at the War Diaries etc of the parent Brigade and Divisions. I've done that am am about to embark on Corps WD (with a little less optimism !) I quite agree, this is essential. Not sure about the Corps though, havent looked there. I have found the Divisional A&Q diaries to be more complete in recording returns than their corresponmding main Divisional operational diary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Henschke Posted 30 December , 2003 Share Posted 30 December , 2003 If you wanted the casualty list for a particular unit, wouldn't it be easier to access the Field returns. Army form B. 213 was compiled weekly and listed all casualties up to each Saturday. Would they be kept at the PRO? Most War diaries I have researched give a daily figure and possibly mention the name of an officer that became a casualty that day. the field returns give the Regimental details for killed,wounded,missing,gassed,sick, leave,school, in hospital and NYDN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAYJAY Posted 8 February , 2004 Share Posted 8 February , 2004 Hi All, The Highland Light Infantry has a Regimental Newspaper which was published throughout the first war and gave details of all casualties for all battalions right up to the end of the war. This was very usefull as the newspapers stopped reporting wounded men in January 1918 due to pressure from the war department as giving to much information to the enemy. Regards Ken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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