12tn Bn Rifle Brigade

[Steve_McGarry]

Does anyone have any idea if the 12tn Bn Rifle Brigade saw action around 25th April 1917... It must have been in the Arras offensive but where?

[Paul Reed]

The 12th RB entered the line opposite Trescault on the night of 22nd April 1917, with 12th KRRC on their left and 6th KSLI on their right. They moved forward to occupy Trescault at 8pm and then moved into the "greater part of Havrincourt Wood", according to the 20th (Light) Division history. They remained in the line here until 26th April.

Hope this helps.

[Steve_McGarry]

Yes Paul it helps ... I have a chap who is recorded as KIA on the 25th and is buried at Trescault Communal Cemetery.. so presumably they came under fire.

[Annette Burgoyne]

I can add a little more to what Paul posted. After the advance on the 22nd the 6th K.S.L.I.’s outpost line ran from Q.3.d.9.9. through Q.3.b.2.2. to Q.3.a.4.1., so the 12/R.B.’s line ran from about Q.3.d.9.9. to in front of Trescault (I can send you a map if you want it but it will have to be by snail mail, as I do not have a scanner, e-mail if you are interested). The 12/K.R.R.C. captured Bilhem on the 24th April, and the next day they were heavily shelled (K.R.R.C. Chronicle 1917), the 12/R.B. may very well have come in for some of this shelling, the K.S.L.I. do not seem to have been shelled. At 9.30 p.m. on the 27th the K.S.L.I.’s left outpost Coy, “A”, was relieved by a Coy from the 12th King’s, so as “A” Coy could then relieve the 12/R.B.’s front line Coy, also “D” Coy, K.S.L.I. relieved another Coy of the 12/R.B. in the second line from Place Mortemore, along a road to Q.15.a.20.95. The K.S.L.I. remained in the line until the 3rd of May, may be because their casualties were lower then the R.B. and K.R.R.C., only one man was killed and 20 wounded on the 22nd.

Regards

Annette