11 replies to this topic

[kmcgee]

I am trying to trace the movements of a family member who was in 1/6th Bn Cheshire Regt. He arrived in France in Jan 1915 and was killed on 11th Feb 1917.

Not much detailed information is available (I have used records of 4/5th Black Watch for period 9th Jan 1916 until his death. They were in the 118th Brigade with 1/6th Cheshires)

In March 1915 they were carrying out communication and fatigue duties as GHQ Troops. According to my research this lasted until June 1915 and nothing more is mentioned of them until they became part of 7th Division in Jan 1916.

Does anyone have information to fill that gap?

Any other detail would be appreciated.

I know that the 1/6th were at:

Givenchy-la-Bassee mid July 1916
In reserve at Beaumont Hamel 3rd Sep 1916
in reserve at Thiepval 13th-15th Oct 1916 then in line for attack on Schwaben Redoubt.

He was killed in trench at Wieltje Farm on 10th Feb 1917 so obviously the 1/6th were there but I can find nothing on line about their presence.

Looking to put together some sort of timeline for him - Alfred Ball  Service Number 265329.

Kevin

[shawndymond]

Kevin

Are you aware that the war diary for the Battalion as part of 15 Inf Bgd  5 Div (from Aug 1914 to Dec1915) and as part of 118 Bgd 39 Div (from Mar 1916 to May 1918) are available to download here http://1914-1918.inv...st&f=2&t=176941

Apologies if you already have this but, if you don't, then it's your next port of call.

Regards

Shawn

[John Hartley]

Send me a PM with your email address and I'll send you a transcript of the Battalion history. Between that and the download of the war diary, you should then have as complete a story as there is.

John

[kmcgee]

shawndymond, on 07 March 2012 - 03:25 PM, said:

Kevin

Are you aware that the war diary for the Battalion as part of 15 Inf Bgd  5 Div (from Aug 1914 to Dec1915) and as part of 118 Bgd 39 Div (from Mar 1916 to May 1918) are available to download here http://1914-1918.inv...st&f=2&t=176941

Apologies if you already have this but, if you don't, then it's your next port of call.

Regards

Shawn

Hello Shawn

Is the link correct?

It brings up the message page rather than a download site.

John

PM sent to you .

Thanks to both of you.

Kevin

[shawndymond]

Hi Kevin

Sorry! My Fault!  THIS is the link -

http://www.nationala...=1&mediaarray=*


Regards

Shawn

[kmcgee]

shawndymond, on 07 March 2012 - 04:04 PM, said:

Hi Kevin

Sorry! My Fault!  THIS is the link -

http://www.nationala...=1&mediaarray=*


Regards

Shawn

Thanks Shawn. Downloads completed also received details from John.

Marvellous.

Kevin

[shawndymond]

You're very welcome -

with the war diaries you will now have the relevant diaries for each Battalion in the Brigade so can now get a really good overview of activities of the Brigade as a whole as well as the work of 1/6th Cheshires....

Kind regards

Shawn

[John Hartley]

Just by the by, Kevin. His medal index card records him as "died of wounds", rather than "killed in action". That would certianly tie in with his burial at Lijssenthoek.

Look at the appendix in the battalion history for the contribution by Sgt Boardman - he notes 2 killed, 10 wounded on the 10th.

[raysearcher]

Alfred Ball

Wounded   10 February,         Wieltje Farm, Cheshires' trench (2 killed, 10 wounded
Died on the 11th Febuary         Shrapnel in the back; died of gunshot wounds to the back and chest,

details and  photo of Alfred Here

regards Ray

[kmcgee]

John Hartley, on 07 March 2012 - 04:44 PM, said:

Just by the by, Kevin. His medal index card records him as "died of wounds", rather than "killed in action". That would certianly tie in with his burial at Lijssenthoek.

Look at the appendix in the battalion history for the contribution by Sgt Boardman - he notes 2 killed, 10 wounded on the 10th.

Hello John

The first research I carried out was a couple of years ago (and more) when I got information from your website "More Than A Name". Since that time I have chipped away and we placed his photo with some facts in Annemie's records of Lijssenthoek Cemetery.

The family connection is via my wife and I am compiling the info. to give to her mother, who is getting on in years, she still lives in Stockport.

Kevin

[John Hartley]

Ahha. That Alfred Ball  

http://www.stockport...php?name_id=127

[kmcgee]

raysearcher, on 07 March 2012 - 06:18 PM, said:

Alfred Ball

Wounded   10 February,     Wieltje Farm, Cheshires' trench (2 killed, 10 wounded
Died on the 11th Febuary     Shrapnel in the back; died of gunshot wounds to the back and chest,

details and  photo of Alfred Here

regards Ray

Thanks Ray

We provided the photo and some facts but it looks like Annemie has gathered additional information, I haven't looked at the website for some time.

I didn't know that he went through No.17CCS. Presumably that was the ID of the CCS at Poperinghe so all casualties were handled there? Or maybe she has records for the CCS?

It would suggest that the new visitor centre will have comprehensive details of Lijssenthoek soldiers when completed.

Kevin