Monthly Archives: June 2014

On this day 29th June 1915 – 1st Reinforcement

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Zillebeke 29.6.1915: Relieved by 5th Leicester Regt. Moved to Farm between Poperinghe and Westroutre.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Robinson VOExtract from London Gazette of 10 June 1915 Lieut. Victor Robinson to be Temp Capt.

Wheatcroft cjExtract from London Gazette of 14 June 1915 Lieut. Cyril Wheatcroft to be Temp Capt.

Bivouac 29.6.1915: Lieut. John Dudley Barker Symonds & 96 men joined from England. For more information including a list of 50 men from this reinforcement see here.

Symonds JDBSymonds MICMedal Index Card for John Symonds recording his arrival in France on the 27th June 1915, which different to the date recorded for his men, although this date has not been confirmed with his Officers Service Record.

1st ReserveArmy Service Record for 1696 Pte. George Rodgers recording his embarkation for Southampton on the 25th June 1915 and disembarkation in Rouen the following day. Details confirmed on his Medal Index Card (below).

1696 Rodgers MIC

On this day 28th June 1915

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3287 Pte. Tom Bennett of “D” Company was killed on the 28th June. He now has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial; however, Tom was in fact buried in a small cemetery in Armagh Wood that was used for trench burials at that time. Unfortunately, in the later fighting of June 1916, many of these small cemeteries were destroyed and it is likely that Tom’s grave was lost at this time.

3287 BennettArmagh Wood 1916

10th Trench Duty 23rd to 29th June 1915

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Zillebeke 23.6.1915: Took over trenches East of Zillebeke from 4th Yorkshire Regiment & 5th Durham Light Infantry.

Total casualties 1 Officer (Lt Davies) wounded. OR 1 killed 16 wounded.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

JUNE 23rd we relieved the 5th D.L.I. at Hill 60, in trench No5.

[1415 Cpl. Alfred Afford]

Sanctuary WoodFor more details see here

 

On this day 20th June 1915

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Kemmel 20.6.1915: Left Kemmel 9 p.m. having at 3 p.m. handed over bivouacs to 1st K.O.Y.L.I. (Major Heathcote).

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

JUNE 20th. We have been temporarily transferred to the 1st Army Corp. and expect moving today. We marched 9 miles to a place called Vlamertinge, and we were billeted in huts.

 [1415 Cpl. Alfred Afford]

 

On this day 19th June 1915

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Kemmel 19.6.1915: Battalion addressed by Lieut.-General Charles Fergusson Commanding II Corps, who praised the way the men had worked.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

JUNE 19th. We have been inspected by Leut.-Gen Sir Charles Fergusson.

[1415 Cpl. Alfred Afford]

Sir_Charles_Fergusson,_ca_1926General Sir Charles Fergusson, 7th Baronet GCB, GCMG, DSO, MVO
(17 January 1865 – 20 February 1951) 

He commanded II Corps from January 1915 and then, from May 1916, XVII Corps corps which he led until the end of the War.

 

On this day 15th June 1915

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June 15th 1915

 JUNE 15th. At 8.30 p.m. the Huns blew a mine up in J. 3 trench which was occupied by the 8th Battalion and the K.O.Y.L.I. There were 28 in it altogether, we had a nice set to, after our artillery bombarded them and they were sending 160lb trench mortars but did not land them far enough.

[1415 Cpl. Alfred Afford]

J3 mineJ3 left and J3 new2006 Wright September 1915