Battle of Bixschoote (Langemarck), Nov.10, 1914

[LDT006]

2 hours ago, brianmorris547 said:

There are lots of mentions of the Inn in the Division and the Brigade WDs but nothing about a windmill unless I have missed that.

There was a no longer used windmill near Kortekeer, it is shown on this Belgian map from 1904 and also on German WWI trench maps. The map also shows "Kortekeer cab" which was an Inn.
The location of the Inn and the windmill match with the sketch in the war diary of 1 Div HQ GS which Brian posted earlier.

This website (in Dutch) has more information on this windmill and states that the wings were removed in 1890, there was still a mill in use in 1914 at that location but with a steam engine:
https://www.molenechos.org/verdwenen/molen.php?nummer=5531

 

Source of the map: https://www.cartesius.be/ (this site seems to have problems and can't be reached easily)

 

[brianmorris547]

Thanks for that.  

One of the Units of 1 Div that came to the assistance of the Camerons was the 1 Queens Royal West Surrey. The War Diary records that on 23/10/1914 they were ordered to take the Inn. There is a sketch on the page showing that the Inn was at the crossroads and gives a map reference for the Inn of X 23 c. Attached is clearer sketch from the WD.

The Queens WD for the month also contains a rare map of Roulers marked War Office 1914.  Attached is a cropped copy to show X 23, annotated at the bottom.

TNA WO 95/1280

Brian

[Howard]

18 hours ago, LDT006 said:

There was a no longer used windmill near Kortekeer, it is shown on this Belgian map from 1904 and also on German WWI trench maps. The map also shows "Kortekeer cab" which was an Inn.
The location of the Inn and the windmill match with the sketch in the war diary of 1 Div HQ GS which Brian posted earlier.

This website (in Dutch) has more information on this windmill and states that the wings were removed in 1890, there was still a mill in use in 1914 at that location but with a steam engine:
https://www.molenechos.org/verdwenen/molen.php?nummer=5531

 

Source of the map: https://www.cartesius.be/ (this site seems to have problems and can't be reached easily)

 

That point at 20.U.20.a.52.92 is marked on German maps as a mill on these maps on TrenchMapper.

Trenches, batteries, targets. Printed 10/11/1917
Id: m_025843

Geheim Trenches, batteries. Printed 20/07/1917
Id: m_046741

Trenches, batteries, targets. Printed 8/10/1917
Id: m_91_000113

On British Maps it is marked as Mousse Farm

Howard

[brianmorris547]

The sketch in the body of the Queens WD that I referred to earlier shows the Loyal North Lancs to the left of the Camerons and the Northamptons to the right. TNA WO 95/1280.

There is nothing in the Northants WD but the Loyals WD has another sketch which puts the Inn on the other side of the crossroads. TNA WO 95/1270. There is also a good account of the action in the "Diary of a Second Lieutenant" which opens the Loyals WD. 

Again no mention of a windmill but the sketch in the Loyals WD has something marked above the N in LNL and shows where the Camerons trenches were.

I had a look on google maps and streetview earlier this afternoon.

Brian

[Howard]

20 hours ago, brianmorris547 said:

I had a look on google maps and streetview earlier this afternoon.

 

Both of these are available directly via TrenchMapper with the advantage that the Great War maps are georeferenced to them. You can right click and go to StreetView from a trench map. The underlying modern map can be faded in and out via the opacity slider and you can change between imagery or modern map.

Right click to add markers for points or interest and use the bearing and distance tool.

Howard