13th Kings Royal Rifle Corps

[SOMMESOLDIER]

Hi All,

I would be most grateful for any information as to where the 13th KRRC were and what they were involved in, on the 4-11-18 ?

Cheers

Tim.

[stiletto_33853]

Tim,

The 13th KRRC were involved in the attack on Louvignies on 4/11/18, the attack involved the 13th KRRC on the right of the 111th Brigade, with the 13th Rifle Brigade on the left with the 10th Royal Fusiliers passing through them to capture the Blue Line.

My interest here is the 13th Rifle Brigade, where 2 V.C.'s were won, but, if you put into the search engine the 13th Rifle Brigade something should come up as I put something on the forum regarding the action. Also a personal account by Lieutenant R.N.R. Blacker.

Andy

[sotonmate]

Tim

111 Bde of 37 Div (IV Corps 3rd Army) were deployed to clear the area around Le Quesnoy and the Foret de Mormal on 4.11.1918. This is 10-15 kms SE of Valenciennes. Last night I was able to tie the 9th Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regt to a couple of CWGC sites but haven't been able to (yet) tonight for your 13 KRRC !

Best wishes

Sotonmate

[keithfazzani]

Hi

Cant help with the date you want but I have a fairly readable copy of the war diaries up to May 1918 if you need any earlier lookups

[stiletto_33853]

37th Divisional Boundries for the attack on Louvignies

[BottsGreys]

Tim:

Below may be of help. By the way, Forum Pal Shaun Springer had an ancestor in 13th KRRC who was KIA 4/11/18.

Chris

From The Annals of the KRRC Vol. V The Great War, by Major-General Sir Steuart Hare.

pges 397-399:

"On November 4, our 13th Battalion took part in the attack by the 111th Brigade on a line running north and south through the village of Louvignies-lez-Quesnoy. On the right of the Brigade the 13th KRRC were to take the first objective, and then, when the 10th Royal Fusiliers had passed through them, to be responsible for 'mopping up' the village of Louvignies.

At 05.30 hours the barrage opened, and at 05.34 hours the leading companies of the 13th KRRC and 13th Rifle Brigade advanced, the former closely followed by the 10th Royal Fusiliers. The enemy replied with a heavy barrage, which fortunately fell behind the attacking troops, and did little damage beyond interfering with the laying of wires between battalions and the brigade. Both battalions encountered strong opposition. Our 13th Battalion came under heavy machine-gun fire from the orchards and hedges on the western outskirts of Louvignies. In many cases, as soon as our men were within hand-to-hand fighting distance the enemy surrendered, but here and there more determined resistance was encountered, and had to be dealt with by the bayonet. About 70 dead Germans were counted on the front of C Company alone. Both battalions had reached their objective by the scheduled time, 07.15 hours.

The village was 'mopped up' by the supporting companies, B and D, and soon cleared of the enemy. One NCO of B Company fought three Germans in a cellar, and killed all three, his weapon being a small hand-axe. About 7 officers and 270 other ranks were taken prisoners. The village was reported clear at 08.15 hours.

The Battalion spent the rest of the day consolidating the position they had won, and during the following night their division was relieved by the 5th Division and the Battalion moved into billets at Beaurain.

Their casualties were: Officers, wounded 8; Other ranks Killed, wounded, and missing 98. Their captures included 3 field guns, 12 trench mortars, and 36 machine guns."

[SOMMESOLDIER]

Hi All,

I really am most grateful for all your invaluable help. I didn't expect to get so much info.

SDGW lists 2 Officers and 21 OTR on that day.

2/Lt James Drysdale Meikle

Lt Robert Evelyn Sandford Poole

Rflm John William Beaveridge

C.S.M. Herbert Leonard Edwin Bertouche

Rflm Albert Edward Chadwick

Rflm George Clark

Rflm Harry Ernest Clifford

Sgt William George Dorrofield

Rflm John Fox

Rflm Richard Cecil Goulding

Rflm Alfred Henry Groves

L/Cpl Leonard Alfred Knowles

Rflm Eric William Merry

Rflm Walter Thomas Nowland

Rflm Frederick Onslow

Rflm Robert Peplow

Rflm John Sadler

Rflm William Richard Saunders

Rflm Edward Slater

Rflm Morris Springer

Rflm Arthur Ernest Stormes

Rflm Frederick Albert Tress

Sgt Robert George Wiliams

Just checking their MIC's, I noticed that Lt Poole is listed as Captain. Any ideas ? Is it to do with the fact that he was attached to the 13th from the 6th ?

Cheers

Tim.

[BottsGreys]

From earlier communications with Shaun, I see that he states that his ancestor's name was Maurice Springer, not Morris.

Chris

[SOMMESOLDIER]

Hi Chris,

Many thanks for pointing that out. Thankfully CWGC records the correct name unlike SDGW !!

Cheers

Tim.