DavidMillichope Posted 8 November , 2007 Share Posted 8 November , 2007 Does anyone know which Bn of the Durham light Infantry would have been at Amifontaine on May 27th 1918. ( 3rd battle of the Aisne) I have a diary of a POW from the DLI who says he was captured there on that date. Many thanks in anticipation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connaughtranger Posted 8 November , 2007 Share Posted 8 November , 2007 Hi All I can tell you and I hope it'll be of some help, is that the 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th Bns of the DLI were east of Craonne, which is about 3-4 miles WSW of Amifontaine, on that day when they were heavily attacked Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMillichope Posted 8 November , 2007 Author Share Posted 8 November , 2007 Hi All I can tell you and I hope it'll be of some help, is that the 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th Bns of the DLI were east of Craonne, which is about 3-4 miles WSW of Amifontaine, on that day when they were heavily attacked Many Thanks That narrows it down quite a alot. I can read the diaries for those four units on May 27th and see which fits best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Clifton Posted 8 November , 2007 Share Posted 8 November , 2007 David Does your man's diary mention any officers? I have a list of all officers taken POW with dates and units, so that might help with identifying the battalion. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMillichope Posted 9 November , 2007 Author Share Posted 9 November , 2007 Thanks Ron. There's a thought. I don't recall any officers mentioned but I'll take another look . His diary details the food and treatment a lot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMillichope Posted 9 November , 2007 Author Share Posted 9 November , 2007 Ron, I had another scan through the diary and he never seems to mention any names at all, so unfortunately no clues there. @Connaughtranger. I noticed, however, that his entry about capture doesn't actually say he was captured in Amifontaine. It says he was captured at 11.00am and "marched to Amifontaine", so your information about heavy attack WSW of Amiphontaine now fits very well. While I'm at it here was one of the meals :- " pickled cabbage with a spoonful of horse flesh ". Yummy . In fairness he does refer to this being one of the worst dinners he'd ever had. He says it made him sick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Blanchard Posted 1 February , 2008 Share Posted 1 February , 2008 Hello David, My grandfather was taken prisoner on the 27th May 1918, in the 8th Bn DLI. Have a look at the thread below, especially post #108. http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...mp;#entry850684 David B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMillichope Posted 9 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 9 February , 2008 Many thanks, David, for pointing me towards your very interesting thread. What a wonderful collaborative effort !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyneside Chinaman Posted 9 February , 2008 Share Posted 9 February , 2008 Hi Don't forgot 22/DLI were also in the area and well split up. Do you have his name and number, I have all the DLI W&V rolls I can look him up for you regards John Sheen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMillichope Posted 12 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 12 February , 2008 Many thanks , John . Here is the extra information. Pte William Brown : Service Number : 10147 Medals : 1914/15 star British war Medal Victory Medal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connaughtranger Posted 13 February , 2008 Share Posted 13 February , 2008 Hi I'm not surprised that your grandfather was captured on the 27th May while fighting with the 8DLI. The history notes sadly that "not a single officer or man of B (front line)& D (Lamoureux Hill) Companies escaped" & "At 5 a.m. Capt B M Williams, C Company,(redoubt line) reached Battalion Headquarters in search of reinforcements for his Company, which had almost been annihilated" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyneside Chinaman Posted 13 February , 2008 Share Posted 13 February , 2008 Hi again Correct regimental No 3/10147 indicating he enlisted into 3rd (Reserve) Battalion probaly late 1914. Served overseas with 10th Durham Light Infantry Promoted LCPL then transferred to 1/5th Durham Light Infantry in 150 Brigade. regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Blanchard Posted 13 February , 2008 Share Posted 13 February , 2008 Hello David, I forgot to ask you about the diary extract of Pte William Brown. Is it very extensive about the events of 27th May 1918. Do you have his photograph by any chance? Regards David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMillichope Posted 14 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 14 February , 2008 Sorry I've not been very punctual with this thread. I've been struggling with flu for a while now and my internet connection has also been AWOL for most of the last two weeks. @Connaughtranger Yes my first guess was that William Brown was with the same unit as David's grandfather - either the 6th or 8th ( looking at maps from Official History), @John That solid information you have from the rolls , John, is just what was needed. So he was with the 1/5th DLI when he was captured. Many thanks for that. @David_Blanchard Unfortunately, William Brown was very short on any military details. For some reason his diary is a very detailed account of virtually each meal he had, his state of health, how he was treated and the work he was made to do. There's occasional mention of places, and he indicates the national composition of the work parties he was in. When I can shake off my flu and internet problems I'll try and make an appearance on your Aisne thread. Many thanks again , everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Blanchard Posted 16 February , 2008 Share Posted 16 February , 2008 See Chemin des Dames- Aisne Thread for Maps of 8th Dli on 27th May 1918 (newly Posted) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alphanew Posted 11 March , 2008 Share Posted 11 March , 2008 Hi, I have a chap captured on the same day,he was in the 1/5 DLI if you send me your E mail I will send you the war diary if it helps. Good luck anyway. Regards Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjhl Posted 7 January , 2012 Share Posted 7 January , 2012 David Does your man's diary mention any officers? I have a list of all officers taken POW with dates and units, so that might help with identifying the battalion. Ron Ron 'I've just joined and came across your posting . Do the names of the officers you have happen to include my Grandfathers ? He was Herbert Charles Howell and he was taken POW either on May 27th or a day very close to it . I don't know which unit or battalion he was in but believe he was probably taken to Cambrai and then on to Danholm . Any light you can cast would be much appreciated ! Many thanks Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Clifton Posted 8 January , 2012 Share Posted 8 January , 2012 Hello Paul, and welcome to the Forum! The list I have confirms that Second Lieutenant H C Howell, of the border Regiment but attached to 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, was taken prisoner on 27 May 1918. The only other information given is that he was repatriated on 31 December 1918. Almost all of the officers of 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th DLI who were taken prisoner in the whole of the war were captured on that one day. For an overvieew of the events, whereby four British divisions were sent to a relatively quiet sector of the French front to rest and rebuild after their casualties in March and April, only to suffer a torrential attack on 27-31 May, you might like to look at the British Official History, Military Operations, France and Belgium, 1918 Volume III edited by Sir James Edmonds. Your local library may have a copy, or be able to get it for you through the inter-library loan service. If you can get to London, the War Diary of 6th Bn DLI is in the National Archives at Kew in this file: WO 95/2840 6 Battalion Durham Light Infantry 1915 June - 1918 Nov. Good hunting! Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjhl Posted 8 January , 2012 Share Posted 8 January , 2012 Hello Paul, and welcome to the Forum! The list I have confirms that Second Lieutenant H C Howell, of the border Regiment but attached to 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, was taken prisoner on 27 May 1918. The only other information given is that he was repatriated on 31 December 1918. Almost all of the officers of 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th DLI who were taken prisoner in the whole of the war were captured on that one day. For an overvieew of the events, whereby four British divisions were sent to a relatively quiet sector of the French front to rest and rebuild after their casualties in March and April, only to suffer a torrential attack on 27-31 May, you might like to look at the British Official History, Military Operations, France and Belgium, 1918 Volume III edited by Sir James Edmonds. Your local library may have a copy, or be able to get it for you through the inter-library loan service. If you can get to London, the War Diary of 6th Bn DLI is in the National Archives at Kew in this file: WO 95/2840 6 Battalion Durham Light Infantry 1915 June - 1918 Nov. Good hunting! Ron Thank you very much Ron , I'm most grateful to you for your help and will certainly follow up the sources you mention . Very best wishes Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Blanchard Posted 19 November , 2012 Share Posted 19 November , 2012 Hi, Have you seen the thread on the forum about the Aisne battle. Search Aisne and Chemin des Dames. There maybe details you are interested in as your relative was taken prisoner on 27th May . Regards David Blanchard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barnbarroch Posted 12 May , 2013 Share Posted 12 May , 2013 Ron 'I've just joined and came across your posting . Do the names of the officers you have happen to include my Grandfathers ? He was Herbert Charles Howell and he was taken POW either on May 27th or a day very close to it . I don't know which unit or battalion he was in but believe he was probably taken to Cambrai and then on to Danholm . Any light you can cast would be much appreciated ! Many thanks Paul Dear Paul, I'm editing the diaries of my great uncle Frank Vans Agnew; he mentions Howell, briefly, once, as being in Fürstenberg Camp with him. I'd be extremely interested to exchange info about their experiences - do get in touch. You can email me at jvans@dsl.pipex.com. Jamie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8055Bell Posted 12 July , 2013 Share Posted 12 July , 2013 I've just discovered my Grandad's cousin Percy Grindley 91684 was taken prisoner on 27th May serving with the 6th Bttn. DLI. I wanted to ask what, where and when, but the thread seems to answer all of that. Percy contracted TB as PoW. He had been with in France about 6 weeks before the engagent... T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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