| > > 510
(1/2nd London)
Field Company, the |
| |
| A summary
of key points from the Company war diary March
1917 to April 1918 |
| |
| March
1917:
the Company is on the old Somme battlefield, and receives orders
to move |
| 1st: Company
HQ and 3 Sections at Wedge Wood; No. 4 Section
at Bronfay
Farm. |
| 3rd: To
billets in Treux. Instruction, overhauling equipment, etc. |
| 18th: Advance
party moves to Saisseval and Saissemont [both
west of Amiens]; transport goes to Daours. |
| 19th: Transport
moved to Argoeuvres. Rest of company by road to Edge
Hill, then
by train to Hangest and road to Saisseval and Saissemont. |
| 30th: March
by road to Flesselles. |
| |
| April
1917:
the Company plays a part in the Battle of Arras |
| 1st
to 11th: series
of moves by easy stages via Beauval, Grenas, Ivergny and Coullemont to Gouy-en-Artois.
On 9 April, the Battle of Arras opened to the east. |
| 12th: March
by road to Arras and on to Feuchy Chapel. Working on strong
points at Monchy le Preux. |
| 23rd: Wiring
in front of Shrapnel Trench. |
| 24th
to 27th: series
of moves by easy stages to Montenescourt, Gouy-en-Artois to
Sailly au Bois. |
| Casualties: in the month 4 killed, 3 died of wounds, 7 wounded. |
| The Long, Long Trail has researched these
casualties. Those we have been able to trace are: |
| 548460 Sapper Timothy Brades.
Killed in action 13 April 1917.
Buried in Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery. Lived in Walworth,
Surrey. |
| 548615 Sapper M. T. Brennan.
Killed in action 13 April 1917.
Buried in Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery. Enlisted in London. |
| 548172 Sapper Walter Dancer. Died
of wounds 13
April 1917. Buried
in Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery in Arras. Aged 32, a native of
Slough, Buckinghamshire. |
| 546814 Sapper David Legg. Killed in action 13
April 1917. Buried
in Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery. Aged 27, a native of Upper
Nash, Pembrokeshire. |
| 548500 Sapper Frank Stevens. Died
of wounds 13 April 1917. Buried
in Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery in Arras. Aged 37, he lived in
Bow, Middlesex.. |
| 548154 Sapper Thomas Williams.
Died of wounds 1 May 1917.
Buried in Duisans British Cemetery. A native of
Surrey. |
|
| Reinforcements: 1 officer and 20 OR including 15 infantry transferred
to RE after being attached from Battalions of 88th Brigade to the
Company pending transfer. |
| |
| May
1917:
the Company goes back into the Arras battlefield |
| 1st: March
to St-Amand. |
| 2nd: March
to Caserne Levis [?] in Arras. |
| 7th: March
to Dainville. Training commences. |
| 13th: March
to Arras. |
| 17th
to 23rd: Working
in Bayonet Trench and Rifle Trench, and at Feuchy railhead
dump, Ivory Dump and the saw mill at Rue de Moulinet in Arras. |
| Casualties: in the month 1 killed,
2 wounded, 4 wounded slightly, 13 wsick, 1 man posted. |
| Strength: on 26th May 1917 7 officers,
215 OR. |
| The Company's casualties of May 1917
that we have been able to trace are: |
| 550936 Sapper Thomas
Gilder.
Killed in action 22 May
1917. Buried in Happy Valley British Cemetery near Fampoux.
Aged 34, he was a native of London. |
|
| |
| June
1917:
the Company moves to Flanders, joining the force preparing for a major
offensive |
| 4th: Move
to Lucheux. |
| 5th: Move
to Canaples. |
| 19th: Move
by train from Candas to Proven, and into billets near Saint
Sixtus.
Providing carrying parties and working on Observation Points
[for artillery]. |
| Casualties: in the month 1 killed,
6 wounded, 2 slightly wounded, 12 sick. |
| Reinforcements: 11 OR. |
| The Company's casualties of June 1917
that we have been able to trace are: |
| 548629 Sapper Charles
Barber.
Killed in action 24 June
1917. Buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery.
Aged 20, he was a native of Stratford in Essex. |
|
| |
| July
1917:
the Company works behind 29th Divisional front as artillery
bombardment opens |
| 1st
to 13th: In
bivouac between Elverdinghe and Woesten. |
| 15th: Move
to horse lines at International Corner. |
| 16th: Company
resting and bathing, less 8 carpenters employed at CRE workshops. |
| 28th
to 31st: Working
on road from Boesinghe to Cactus Junction (C.7.b.05.50). Shell
fire interfered with work. |
| Casualties: in the month 1 wounded,
6 slightly wounded, 5 sick, 2 officers and 1 OR posted. |
| Reinforcements: 3 officers and 15
OR. |
| |
| August
1917:
the Company moves up towards Langemark as the front pushes forward |
| 1st
to 9th: Working
on canal bank and roads in Boesinghe area. |
| 9th
to 13th: Making crossings over the Steenbeek
for the infantry. |
| 16th: Started
a trench tramway from Pilkem Ridge to Steenbeek. |
| 26th: To
Proven area and improving bivouacs. |
| The Company's casualties of August 1917
that we have been able to trace are: |
| 552745 Sapper Ernest
Kerrison.
Killed in action 5 August
1917. Buried in Bleuet Farm Cemetery. Lived
in Forest Gate in Essex. |
| 554387 Sapper Sidney
Lowings.
Killed in action 5 August
1917. Buried in Bleuet Farm Cemetery. Enlisted in Haringay. |
| 548554 Sapper Harry
McLennan.
Died of wounds 18 August
1917. Buried in Canada Farm Cemetery. Lived in Holborn
in Middlesex. |
| 245085 Sapper Clarence
Tankins.
Died of wounds 24 August
1917. Buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery. Aged 19,
he was a native of Montpellier, Bristol and had formerly been
with the Worcestershire Regiment. |
| 548592 2nd Corporal Percy
Thomson.
Died of wounds 24 August
1917. Buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery. Aged 24,
he lived in Ilford in Essex. |
|
| |
| September
1917:
the Company moves out for rest and re-fit |
| 1st: To Crombeke. |
| 7th: To
White Hope Corner. |
| 19th: To
Elverdinghe Chateau Wall dugouts; transport to Wippe Corner. |
| The Company's casualties of September 1917
that we have been able to trace are: |
| 91189 Driver Ernest
Barker. Died of wounds 9 September
1917. Buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery. Lived in
Poplar in Middlesex. |
| 548186 Sapper Joseph
Kennett.
Killed in action 9 September 1917.
Buried in Bleuet Farm Cemetery. Aged 33, he lived in Surbiton
in Surrey. |
|
| |
| October
1917:
the Company leaves Flanders and returns to the Somme |
| 1st
to 15th: In
Boesinghe and Ypres areas. |
| 16th: Entrained
at Peselhoek and moved to Saulty. Marched to Pommier and into
camp at Bienvillers. |
| 19th: To
huts at La Herliere. |
| 25th: Transport
moves to Bapaume, and rest of Company into huts
at Heudecourt. Building huts and shelters at
Gouzeaucourt. |
| |
| November
1917 |
| The
Company continues to provide working parties in the Gouzeaucourt area and after the attack of 20 November, on the battlefield
at Marcoing and Masnieres. |
| |
| December
1917 |
| The
Company moves and carries out work at Sorel le Grand,
Ribecourt and Aubrometz. |
| The Company's casualties of December 1917
that we have been able to trace are: |
| 548260 Sapper Herbert
Gann.
Died of wounds 9 September
1917. Buried in Ruyaulcourt Military Cemetery. Aged
23, he was a native of Brentwood in Essex. |
|
| |
| January
1918:
the Company returns to Flanders |
| 1st: Vickers
machine gun training at St. Denoeux. |
| 3rd: Moved
via Maninghem to Happe [south
west of Saint-Omer]. |
| 4th
to 7th: Moved
to Vlamertinghe via Quercamps, Watten, Winnezeele,
Watou and Poperinghe. Went
to work on Second Army Battle Zone [the army was adopting a
new system of defence in depth, and these works were to construct
strongpoints]. Stables at Vlamertinghe, Red
Farm and 'sGrafentafel. |
| |
| February
1918:
still in Ypres salient |
| Company
works throughout the month on Bellevue defences. |
| |
| March
1918:
still in Ypres salient |
| 1st: Moved
to rest billets at Watou. |
| 6th: Moved
to Lock Camp at Dead End, Ypres. Working in Passchendaele area, and
on construction of a cinema hut at Brandhoek. |
| |
| April
1918:
29th Division is ordered to the Lys to help stem the enemy's attack
that opened on 9 April 1918 |
| 1st: Billeted
on Ypres canal bank. |
| 2nd: Moved
to Ypres. |
| 10th: De-bussed
at Vieux Berquin and then to billets at Merville. |
| 11th: Ordered
to stand-to. Men went to dig strong points. |
| 14th: Company
HQ established at St-Sylvestre Cappel. |
| The Company's casualties of April 1918
that we have been able to trace are: |
| 548236 2nd Corporal Arthur
Bird.
Killed in action 11 April 1918.
Has no known grave and is commemorated on the Memorial to the
Missing at Ploegsteert. Aged 28, he was a native of
Buckhurst Hill
in Essex. |
| 65843 Sapper Leonard
Cole.
Killed in action 11 April
1918. Has no known grave and is commemorated on the
Memorial to the Missing at Ploegsteert. His family lived in
Tottenham. His brother Arthur Cole was also killed in the war. |
| 167992 Sapper Charles
White.
Killed in action 11 April
1918. Has no known grave and is commemorated on the
Memorial to the Missing at Ploegsteert. He enlisted in Widnes
in Lancashire. |
| 548590 Sapper James
Morris.
Died of wounds 13 April 1918. Buried
in Aire Communal Cemetery. Aged 24, he was a native of
Hammersmith in Middlesex. |
|
| |
| More war diaries |
