Cameron Highlanders: Fromelles July 1916?

[heatherannej]

Hi there

I have a family ancestor - David Grant Petrie - who enlisted into the Cameron Highlanders (in Edinburgh September 1914). His Regtl. No. being S/13150, 'D' Coy. 6th Bn. He was killed on 19th July 1916 and is buried in Vermelles British Cemetery. With the date and vicinity involved, I have always wondered whether he was killed taking part in the Battle of Fromelles ...... any thoughts on this and factual knowledge would be very much appreciated. Many thanks in anticipation. Heather

[sotonmate]

Heather

The LLT gives no presence at Fromelles on 19 July 1916 for 6 CH,part of 45 Bde and 15 Div. See:

http://www.1914-1918.net/bat_fromelles.htm

If you go to the Regiment's page on the LLT you will see that there is a book for sale on the 6th and it's war,and is readily purchaseable from Amazon:

http://www.1914-1918.net/cameron.htm

If you have the patience you might like to trawl the Vermelles Cemetery for other casualties from this Bn for that date. I already see from a quick sample that deaths occurred on several days in July,some directly on either side of the 19th.

The book may have the answer,the War Diary certainly will.

Sotonmate

[heatherannej]

Many thanks for the info Sotonmate. I do have the patience for trawling the Vermelles Cemetery but, being an ignoramous, can you tell me what I'd be looking for if I did do that? :-) Perhaps I should be looking towards the Battle of Loos ..... Anyway, many thanks again for that. Heather

[Rob Bulloch]

Heather.

I have a narrative of the 6th Bn Camerons, if you pm me I will scan and send it to you via Email. it will tell you what was happening with the 6th Bn from April 1916 to July 1916. According to the history of the 6th Bn they were at the "Hoenzollern Redoubt" on the date you gave.

Cheers Rob.

[heatherannej]

Thanks Rob.

Have sent a pm to you and looking forward to your contact. With the 'Hoenzollern Redoubt' clue, I've looked up the location and can see that it fits in nicely with my David's final resting place at Vermelles.

Many thanks again, will speak soon. Heather

[Rob Bulloch]

Heather.

The narrative has been sent via your Email addy, the page may perhaps be a little mixed up but they are all there, not to great at this PC stuff, any problem let me know and I will resend the information.

Cheers Rob.

[sotonmate]

Heather

A trawl of the Cemetery will give the numbers of casualties on a given date. It's a tool I sometimes use if I am not certain about the unit's movement and whether there was a large scale operation,rather than the main Battles we know about, at the date of death of a subject. Also whether it was a site for a Casualty Clearing Station and he might have died of wounds,in this case there didn't appear to be a CCS in Vermelles.

All this is now irrelevant on this occasion as you have access to Rob's narrative !

For info the War Diary of 6 CH is WO95/1945 and runs from 7/1915 to 6/1919.

The battle of Loos,by the way,was Sept 1915.

Sotonmate

PS Have you seen the thread in the OTHER section from TYKEPAL about 400 soldiers found recently in a mass grave at Fromelles ?

[heatherannej]

Thank you Rob for all your help, directly - but you know that!

Thank you, Sotonmate, for your advice and info. Yes - have seen the poignant news. It prompted me to think of Fromelles again re was it my David's battle? Now I know different. I have a Great-Uncle on the Somme with no-known grave and when I hear of finds such as this I wonder whether he might be found one day .... still, he and all is not forgotten and that's the main thing.

Heather