Posted 17 April 2012 - 04:42 PM
Peter
I have this
His battalion landed at St. Nazaire, France on Thursday 10 September 1914 and on Friday 9 October 1914 entrained at St. Remy for St. Omer. They moved into billets at Arques and then moved into the Vieux Berquin area on Monday 12 October 1914.
The battalion then advanced until Sunday 18 October 1914 when they relieved the 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry in positions at Ennetière. On the day of his death the Germans attacked the battalion who were ordered to fall back to the high ground at La Vallée. The retiring troops were surrounded during this procedure and forced to surrender. The survivors, 2 officers and 49 other ranks, held a ridge near the windmill at La Vallée and managed to fight off further German attacks at 7.30pm.
The War Diary notes,
“20 October 1914 On night of 19th-20th “A” Company relieved “D” Company, “C” Company relieved “B” Company taking “A” Company’s place in reserve. All night the companies were employed in improving their trenches and communications but the work was considerably interfered with by enemy fire.
At daybreak the enemy commenced a heavy shell fire on the village, the house occupied by Battalion HQ being destroyed.
At 7.10am it was reported that a considerable number of the enemy were massing round our right flank towards Escobecques. At 10am “B” Company was sent to reinforce the trenches on the right. At 11.30am 1 company of Durham Light Infantry arrived to reinforce the BM. About 1pm a vigorous attack was made on our front trenches, but it was driven off with considerable loss. About 3pm enemy commenced his advance against the right flank supported by artillery from north, east and south. All remaining reserves, 3 platoons of Durham Light Infantry and about 50 men were pushed to aid the 5 platoons who were holding that flank. The enemy’s advance was however very ?? and we were vastly outnumbered. The few remaining men were collected and fell back, some covered the retirement of a battery of our guns and others assisted to man handle the guns onto the road. For some time the remnants of the battalion held on to some high ground overlooking the sandpits west of Ennetteres, but at 7pm fell back to the road running through T of Fetus. Here we joined up with the Durham Light Infantry and West Yorkshire Regiments and remained in position until ordered to fall back to Bois Grenier.
Casualties 710 NCOs and men missing.”
Very lucky if the WD mentions a ranker by name !! Who is it you are looking for ??
Regards,
Graeme
0
peter4447, on 17 April 2012 - 05:18 PM, said:
Pt. 8405 John William PINDER. He had enlisted on 11th Aug 1902 and served his 3 years active service in Hong Kong and the 'Straits Settlements'. Ironically, his 9 years A.R. would have ended on 10 Aug. 1914, but was recalled from the reserve.
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