| > > 431
Field Company, the |
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| A summary
of key points from the Company war diary March
1917 to April 1918 |
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| Originally
called the 2/2nd East Lancashire Field Company, a unit of the
Territorial Force, this Company served with 66th (2nd East
Lancashire) Division. |
| |
| February
1917:
the Company receives orders
to move to France |
| 27th: Entrained
at Colchester. |
| 28th: Arrived
at Southampton. |
| |
| March
1917:
the moves to the front |
| 1st: Embarked
for France. |
| 2nd: Disembarked
at Le Havre. |
| 6th
to 7th: At
Steenbecque, Calonne, Bethune in billets. |
| 21st: At
Le Preol. Work on Observation posts, MG emplacements, communications
trenches, support trenches, mono rail system. Bathing and gas
drill. Trenches muddy and in poor condition |
| |
| April
1917:
Work continues |
| Snow
making trench conditions poor. Work in Canal Right and Canal
Centre sectors |
| 7th: Pioneer
dump shelled no casualties. |
| 20th: Much
shelling. |
| 22nd: Much
shelling in canal sectors. 1man KIA, 3 wounded. |
| 27th: Gas
bombardment of enemy. |
| 29th: Sumps
dug in trenches for drainage. |
| The Long, Long Trail has
researched the casualties. Those we have been able to trace
are: |
| 440606 Sapper William
Webster.
Killed in action 22 April
1917. Buried in Gorre British and Indian Cemetery.
Aged 25, he was a native of Oldham in Lancashire. The Company's
first death. |
|
| |
| May
1917:
Work
continues |
| Working
in communications trenches and trench mortar emplacements |
| 14th: Two
raids to place bangalore torpedoes. First unsuccessful due to
enemy fire. Second cut wire as planned. |
| 15th: Work
on forward routes in preparation for advance. |
| 23rd: Marking
forward routes and painting notices. |
| 28th: Shell
holes filled, debris cleared. Work on strong point in the “village
line” at Cambrin. |
| |
| June
1917:
the Company moves to the Belgian coast |
| Working
on roads and water supplies |
| 17th: Aquatic
sports on Le Preol Canal. |
| 23rd: To
Annezin by road. |
| 25th: Entrained
at Fouqeureuil for Ghyvelde Station.
To Bray Dunes. |
| 28th: Moved
to Oost-Dunkerque Bains by road. Work
on camp improvements. |
| |
| July
1917:
the Company begins preparations for Operation Hush |
| Constructing
gun pits for the RFA and erecting huts |
| 2nd: 1
NCO and 3 horses killed by shell. |
| Enemy
artillery lively |
| 19th: Moved
to Nieuport-Bains. Work
on comms trenches and constructing front line. |
| 22nd: Heavy
barrages. Parties working overnight where possible.
Fixing gas curtains. |
| 31st: 2
sections to Furnes to practice handling pontoons. |
| The Company's casualties of July 1917
that we have been able to trace are: |
| 440233 Sergeant Herbert
Lloyd.
Killed in action 2 July
1917. Buried in Coxyde Military Cemetery. Aged 34 and
married, a native of Hulme in Manchester. |
| 440483 Driver James
Lawton.
Killed in action 10 July
1917. Buried in Coxyde Military Cemetery. Aged 22, a
native of Timperley. |
| 440256 Sapper Thomas
Duffy.
Died of wounds 10 July 1917. Buried
in Coxyde Military Cemetery. A native of Dundalk, Co Louth, Ireland. |
| 440197 Sapper Frederick
Blackburn.
Died of wounds 26 July 1917. Buried
in Coxyde Military Cemetery. Aged 34 and
married, a native of Pendleton in Manchester. |
|
| |
| August
1917:
the Company continues to prepare for an amphibious crossing |
| 4th: Moved
to Oost-Dunkerque Bains. |
| 5th: To Furnes to
practice pontoons and ferrying on canal.
Return to Oost-Dunkerque
Bains. |
| |
| 440278
Corporal E. Dobson. Killed in action 28
August 1917. Buried in Ramscapelle Road Military Cemetery.
He was born in Ardwick in Manchester. |
|
| |
| September
1917:
the Company moves to the area behind Ypres |
| Work
on strengthening cellars and MG emplacements |
| 3rd: To
Nieuport-Bains. General work on railway embankments and MG emplacements.
Heavy shelling. |
| 19th: To
Surrey Camp. Work on dugouts and support lines. Work on tramways.
Work on Yorkshire, Wiltshire and Middlesex Camps. |
| 25th
to 28th: To
Wormhoudt, Dickebusch,
La Clytte, North of Ypres and
Vlamertinge. |
| |
| October
1917:
the Company leaves the front for the first time |
| Working on road construction
on road east of Wieltje, moving up by lorry |
| 4th: No
lorry movement due to congestion of wounded and ammunition traffic.
[Major attack going on towards Passchendaele] |
| 6th:To
Dead End. Work on cross roads between
Ypres-Gravenstafel Roadd and Ypres-Zonnebeke Roadd. |
| 25th: To
Poperinghe then Racquinghem. Training and exercises. |
| |
| November
1917:
another tour in the Ypres salient |
| 1st: To
Hondeghem. Training. |
| 10th: To
Reninghelst. |
| 11th: To
Belgian Chateau west of Ypres. Work on duck walks and roads. |
| 16th: Gas
proofing mined dugout in Railway Wood. |
| 25th: To
Meteren. |
| 26th: To
St Sylvestre Cappel. Improving billets. |
| |
| 440604
Sapper Harold Stephenson. Killed
in action 17 November 1917.
Buried in Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery. Aged 24, he was
a native of Padiham near Burnley. |
| 440271
Sapper Isaac Jones. Died of
wounds 24 November
1917.
Buried in Etaples Military Cemetery. He enlisted in Manchester. |
| 440586
Sapper Harry Hill. Died of
wounds 29 November 1917.
Buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. Aged 23, he was
a native of Rochdale. |
|
| |
| December
1917 |
| Work
on winter accommodation scheme. |
| |
| 440610
Sapper James Ray. Died of
wounds 23 December 1917. Buried
in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. Aged 23, he was a native
of Bacup. |
|
| |
| January
1918 |
| Work on duck walk tracks. Carrying parties and work on support
line in
Ypres area. |
| |
| 440246
Acting Sergeant Byron
Hibbard. Killed in action 3
January 1918.
Buried in Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery. He enlisted in
Manchester. |
|
| |
| February
1918:
the Company has moved to the valley of the Somme |
| 9th: Moved
to Bell Camp. Squad drill and musketry. |
| 27th: To
Vraignes. Erecting baths and working parties in billets. |
| |
| March
1918:
the Company is in the area attacked by the enemy on 21 March 1918 in
"Operation Michael" |
| 1st: To
Millieu Copse. |
| 18th: To
Hervilly. |
| 21st: All
ranks to stay in camp. Orders to man battle stations. Heavy barrage.
Camp evacuated back to Hervilly. Engaged while withdrawing. |
| 22nd: To
Eterpigny Canal (this is the Somme canal,
south of Peronne). |
| 23rd: Bridges
prepared for demolition and blown up. Under enemy fire. To Barleux. |
| 25th: To
Herbecourt. Controlling stragglers on
roads. To Dompierre. |
| 26th: To
Foucaucourt. Sappers acting as infantry. |
| 28th: To
Cachy. To Bois De Boves. Bridges surveyed for demolition. |
| 31st: To
Amiens. Resting. |
| |
| The
Company's casualties of March 1918 that we have been able to
trace are: |
| 440598
Sapper Harry Coupe. Killed
in action 21 March 1918. Has no
known grave and is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing
at Pozieres. Aged 25, a native of Waterfoot in Lancashire. |
| 440673
Acting 2nd Corporal John Davey.
Killed in action 21 March 1918.
Has no
known grave and is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing
at Pozieres. A native of Devon. |
| 97126
Sapper George Palmer. Killed in
action 21 March 1918. Has no
known grave and is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing
at Pozieres. He enlisted in
Manchester. |
| 440101
Acting 2nd Corporal William Wallwork.
Killed in action 21 March 1918.
Has no known grave and is commemorated on the Memorial to the
Missing at Tyne Cot. A native of Salford. |
| 440592
Sapper Joseph Booth MM. Killed
in action 25 March 1918. Has no
known grave and is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing
at
Pozieres. Aged 23, he lived in Gorton in Lancashire. |
| 141902
Acting Lance Corporal Harry Neal.
Killed in action 25 March 1918.
Has no known grave and is commemorated on the Memorial to the
Missing at Tyne Cot. He lived in Kent. |
| 440076
Sergeant Edmond Yates. Killed
in action 25 March 1918. Has no
known grave and is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing
at Pozieres. Aged 25, a native of Manchester. |
| 440579
Sapper Horace Aspin. Killed
in action 26 March 1918. Buried
in Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension. Aged 24, a native of
Crawshawbooth in Lancashire. |
| 440288
Sapper John Coupe. Killed in
action 27 March 1918. Buried in
Heath cemetery, Harbonnieres. He enlisted in Manchester. |
| 440211
Sapper John Miller. Killed in
action 27
March 1918. Has no
known grave and is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing
at
Tyne Cot. Aged 22, he lived in Gorton in Lancashire. |
| 440096
Sapper Bertram Armstrong. Died
of wounds 29
March 1918. Buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery. Aged
21, a native of Smedley in Manchester. |
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| April
1918:
the Company recuperates, west of Amiens - and is then sent to Flanders
again |
| 2nd: To
Floxicourt. |
| 3rd: To
Ergnies. |
| 6th: To
Millencourt. |
| 13th: To
Vaux-les-Amienois. |
| 18th: Reinforcements
arrive 1 officer, 31 other ranks. |
| 22nd: To
Long. |
| 23rd: By
train to Wizerne. To Leucene
(?). |
| 27th: To
Morbecque. Resting and cleaning up all month. |
| |
| May 1918: |
| Work on 2nd zone defences |
| 11th: To
St Marie Cappel. Supervising Labour Companies on earthworks. |
| 21st: To
Helvant (Helfaut?). |
| 22nd: To
Bientques. Resting. |
| |
| 440773
Sapper Lancelot Adamson.
Died of wounds 2 May 1918.
Buried in Ebblingham Military Cemetery. Aged 25 and married,
he lived in Nottinghamshire. |
| 398825
Sapper Edward
Clarkson.
Killed in action 2
May 1918.
Buried in Cinq Rues British Cemetery, Hazebrouck. Aged 21,
a native of Burnhope, County Durham. |
|
| |
| June
1918: |
| Constructing trenches at Bilques |
| 23rd: To
Les Ciseaux. Training and earthworks. |
| |
| July
1918: |
| Same area. Marking out and clearing new reserve lines. Practised
manning battle stations in case of attack. |
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| 440228
Sapper Albert Sixsmith. Died 19
July 1918.
Buried in Aire Communal Cemetery. Aged 33 and married, he lived
in Manchester. |
| 241568
Sapper George Gilbert. Died 19
July 1918. Buried
in Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension. Aged 36 and married,
a native of Stechford, Birmingham. Formerly with the Royal
Army Medical Corps. |
|
| |
| August
1918: |
| Work on new support lines. Working also on Ciseaux Switch trench. |
| 28th: Move
to Steenbecque.Working on Steenbecque-Lilles
line. |
| |
| September 1918:
back to the Somme |
| 21st: To
Berlencourt. Intensive training |
| 27th: To
Raincheval. |
| 28th: To
Vaire. |
| 29th: To
Eclusier. Training. |
| |
| October
1918:
moving eastwards behind the advancing British army |
| 2nd: To
Combles. |
| 3rd: To
Epehy. Work on billets. |
| 7th: To
Le Catelet. |
| 9th: To
Auelu. Clearing land mines and filling mine craters. |
| 11th: To
Maurois. Digging new strong points.
Preparing footbridge across River Selle. |
| 19th: To
Reumont. Bridge work. |
| 23rd: To
Le Cateau. Road maintenance, salvaging RE material. Portable
artillery bridges. |
| |
| 414482
Sapper Alexander Scott. Died of
wounds 5
October 1918. Buried in Sunken Road Cemetery, Boisleux-St-Marc.
A native of Glasgow. |
|
| |
| November
1918:
advancing with the 18th (Eastern) Division |
| 5th: To
Landrecies. |
| 6th: To
Maroilles. |
| 7th: To
Taisnieres. Constructing horse water point. |
| 8th: To
Dompierre. Bridge work. |
| 10th: To
Solre-le-Chateau. |
| 11th: Cessation
of hostilities ordered at 11am. |
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