fritz Posted 27 March , 2013 Author Share Posted 27 March , 2013 Just learnt that my GF after he was captured on April, 9th belonged to 55th Prisoners of war coy. Is there a chance to get any information about this unit? Fritz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dilymojo Posted 27 August , 2014 Share Posted 27 August , 2014 Hi, I wonder if anyone can help with details of the 12th West Yorkshire Regiment on the first day of the Battle of Arras? My great uncle - Captain William Morris died of injuries received on the 9th. I visited Wellington Quarry in Arras over the weekend + believe the 3rd infantry division, 9th brigade fought near Tilloy les Mofflaines. A letter from my great uncle's commanding officer says he was hit by a "sniper ensconced in a tree". This does not seem likely. Does anyone have an opinion on this? Thank you, Dilys Morris-Jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fritz Posted 27 August , 2014 Author Share Posted 27 August , 2014 German units near Tilloy. Where fought the 9th brigade? Fritz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dilymojo Posted 27 August , 2014 Share Posted 27 August , 2014 I believe the 9th brigade fought south of Arras and took the village of Tilloy before moving on to the Harp. Would there be German snipers in trees? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eairicbloodaxe Posted 27 August , 2014 Share Posted 27 August , 2014 I'm sure I've seen a picture of a sniper and his spotter hiding in a tree. Also, in the IWM north in Salford, they have on display an original WW1 "Sniper hide" which is a fake tree trunk. Regards Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ridgus Posted 27 August , 2014 Share Posted 27 August , 2014 Dilys A British Sniper Hide from the Great War I presume the Germans had the same type of contraption David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ridgus Posted 27 August , 2014 Share Posted 27 August , 2014 Dilys There is a wonderful picture of the 12th West Yorks on the 9th April in Barton and Banning's terrific book on Arras. The picture is captioned An evidently delighted group of 12th West Yorkshire Regiment celebrating their triumph of 9 April in Arras David Edit: And here it is. although not quite as clear as in the book Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fritz Posted 28 August , 2014 Author Share Posted 28 August , 2014 I believe the 9th brigade fought south of Arras and took the village of Tilloy before moving on to the Harp. Would there be German snipers in trees? The map above shows various small copses around Tilloy. Despite the heavy fire of English artillery enough trees will have survived. But I do not think a sniper in this season relatively unprotected selects a tree as position. It would be a "Himmelfahrtskommando". Kind regards Fritz Änderungen rückgängig machen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dilymojo Posted 28 August , 2014 Share Posted 28 August , 2014 Thank you so much for your help. This is my first enquiry on the forum and I am amazed by the depth of knowledge and the kindness in sharing information with others. Much appreciated. Dilys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fritz Posted 28 August , 2014 Author Share Posted 28 August , 2014 What was your great-uncle´s battalion? If he fought at Tilloy he probably was faced with my grandfather´s 17. Reserve-Division. And by the way. The trees were used sometimes as observation posts. Here an example nearby at Neuville-Vitasse. Regards Fritz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dilymojo Posted 29 August , 2014 Share Posted 29 August , 2014 Hi, He was in the 3rd infantry division whose objective was Wancourt-Feuchy. Tilloy was in their path 76th brigade- 2nd Suffolk, 1st Gordon Hr, 8th Kings Own, 10th Royal Welsh Fusiliers (Black Line) 8th brigade - 2nd Royal Scots, 1st Royal Scots Fusiliers, 8th East Yorkshire, 7th Shropshire Light infantry (Brown Line) 9th brigade - 1st Northumberland Fusiliers, 4th Royal Fusiliers, 12th West Yorkshire, 13th Liverpool (Blue Line) At 7:30 9th brigade advanced to Tilloy. Where was your grandfather? Did he survive? Dilys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fritz Posted 29 August , 2014 Author Share Posted 29 August , 2014 Hi Dilys, my GF belonged to 2. Kompanie, I. Bataillon, Schleswig-Holsteinisches Infanterieregiment 163, 17. Reservedivision, IX. Reservekorps. His position on April, 9th was Telegraph Hill Trench near Neuville-Vitasse (see map). The 9th brigade must have been very near to him. Coming from Tilloy via Telegraph Hill to Wancourt the English had to pass Neuville-Vitasse, but in the rear of my GF. Fritz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fritz Posted 29 August , 2014 Author Share Posted 29 August , 2014 I forgot to say that he survived the war. He was captured on the same day by London Scottish ca. at noon. Fritz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wig Posted 29 August , 2014 Share Posted 29 August , 2014 my own grandfather was killed in the battle, and was buried at Tilloy les Mofflaines. http://broadsidesdotme.wordpress.com/2012/01/04/peter-mcguiggan-of-c-battery-78th-brigade-of-the-royal-field-artillery/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dilymojo Posted 31 August , 2014 Share Posted 31 August , 2014 Broadsides website + previous thread very informative. Thank you both Fritz - your grandfather looks very young. Is that an Iron Cross? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fritz Posted 1 September , 2014 Author Share Posted 1 September , 2014 Fritz - your grandfather looks very young. Is that an Iron Cross? So thought the interrogation officers. They asked him his age and he answered twenty-one. And that was true. They did not believe him and examined his dog tag. For the English it was important to know whether the German were forced to use very young vintages. The photo of my grandfather was taken in Moorslede near Ypres on 03.11.1916 when he received the Iron Cross for his bravery at the Somme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twl0704 Posted 27 August , 2018 Share Posted 27 August , 2018 Fritz; I'm guessing that you have the answer to your question since I now have the book describing your grandfather's adventures. It has been very valuable for me in producing a book on the various operations in and around Monchy le Preux between 1914 and 1940 and your grandfather was one of the very few to leave a description of the village before it was attacked in April. Thanks very much for the book for the posts and the pictures. They have clarified a number of things and opened up a whole new interest in what happened to the POWs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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