1/7th Northumberland Fusiliers

[pam_vowles]

Can anyone tell me where the 1/7th NF were for December 1917 please? My Grandfathers brother died of wounds 29 Dec 1917 and his name is commemorated at Tyne Cot. The family received a letter saying he was wounded and in hospital? then later another letter saying he had died and had been buried. I suppose the grave could not be found later hence his name being on one of the panels.

I have been told that he was going into line as my grandfather was coming out of line, the first time they had met since they went to the war (my grandfather was in a different regiment) they arranged to meet up, but it was not to be. I am trying to find out if this could be so or a touching family story.

My grandfather was near Molenaarelsthoek for the whole of December.

Pam

[sandyford]

Pam

7th N.F. were with the 149th Bde, 50th Division and in December 1917 they were in the area of Passchendaele just South of the village.

They had been involved in the Second battle of Passchendaele 24th Oct. to 10th November 1917.

After this battle the 149th Bde had moved back to the Serques area for training etc but by 13th December they were back in the front line in the area, east & South of the village of Passchendaele.

Divisional history & War diaries report that the conditions were very bad. The ground was churned up mud, with shell holes & stumps of trees. On the 18th & 19th December there was a frost and the ground was frozen hard. Hot food & rum were taken to the front line troops.

The Brigade were in the front line for Christmas Day.

I have not got the War Diary for the 7th N.F. but the 6th N.F. diary, who were in the Seine and then Potijze area, record that on 28th December they relieved the 7th Battalion who were in the IRKSOME area.

This is a small section of, I think, a 1918 map Passchendaele area from Paths of Glory trench map website.

The 7th N.F. diary would tell us more of possible action where your grandfather's brother was wounded. The Divisional account says that the last day of the old year was signalled by a heavy burst of hostile artillery fire at 6a.m.. The Bde headquarters was swept by a hurricane of shell which lasted for 10 minutes but that was it.

Kate

[pam_vowles]

Kate

Many many thanks for your reply, I have looked at the map and my Grandfather's position was very close to his brothers so it is very possible that they did meet. So sad they did not get a chance to talk properly.

A few years ago I followed my grandfathers footsteps, and when I go again in May I can at least visit where his brother was, unless I can get to Kew and see the war diary, then I can see the other places as well.

Thank you so much again Kate

Pam

[sandyford]

Pam

Some of the War Diaries of the N.F. are online at the National Archives.

I can't see the 7th N.F. at a quick search, but if the diary has ben digitised you can download about a month for 3.50.

Kate

[pam_vowles]

Thanks Kate, will have a look.

Pam

[connaughtranger]

Hi The information given in the history for December 1917 is:

2nd Battalion moved to billets in Nortleulinghem, where training was resumed.

11th Battalion marched to Watten, entrained there and proceeded by rail to Brandhoek

12th Battalion moved to St Jean Camp at St Jean. For 10 days working parties were supplied for work on the light railways, 3 Companies to assist the 6th CRT (Canadian Engineers) and the other the 269th Railway Co RE

24th Battalion in billets in Ypres.

27th Battalion moved up to a support position at Hamburg, acting as "coounter-attack battalion" Snow

28th Battalion relieved the 4th Yorkshire Regiment in the front line at Passchendaele. An enemy patrol attempted to surround our left post, but was engaged by the garrison. One German was killed, and the NCO in charge of the enemy patrol wounded and taken prisoner

31st Shelling early morning with a direct hit on pill-box, no-one hurt

Casualties for December: 1 officer wounded, 11 men killed, 24 wounded and 1 died

That's all given for that period

[pam_vowles]

Hi Connaughtranger, many thanks for that.

Pam