11 replies to this topic

[czechmj]

My great-uncle joined the Drake Bttn on 28.8.17 in France and I would like to know where they were at this time.
Thanks.

[horatio2]

Holding the line in rotation in the Gavrelle-Oppy sector. 122 reinforcements joined Drake Bn. on that day.

[GrahamC]

I wonder if anyone can help with one of my Buxton lads, also in the Drake Bn.?

A.B. Frederick Currie McCRERIE was reported missing, later confirmed as k.i.a. on 23 April 1917.

Frederick was originally reported missing on 23rd April 1917 and on the 5th June 1917 he was reported buried in support trenches West of Gavrelle about 1st - 3rd June 1917 by 18th West Yorkshire Regiment. On 14th December 1920 his family were informed by Director of Graves Registration and Enquiries that he had been provisionally reported buried at Gavrelle (51b).  If so his grave was subsequently lost and he is now commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

He was one of 75 members of his Battalion killed on the 23rd April 1917, presumably on the first day of The Second Battle of the Scarpe (23rd -24th April 1917), a phase of the Arras Offensive, in which the Division (63rd [Royal Naval] Division) captured Gavrelle. (see: LLT)

Details from the War Diary would be appreciated for my website if anyone has access to it.

Thanks
Graham

[czechmj]

horatio2 - thanks very much for the info, much appreciated.

ps. is this info from the war diaries? If so, are they available? I can't see them listed on at the National archives.

[horatio2]

At Kew under references ADM 137/3063 and WO95/3114 (the same war diaries are filed under both Admiralty (ADM) and War Office (WO). They are not on line.

[czechmj]

Thanks for that.

Kind regards,

czechmj

[John Morcombe]

Eh viola!

GAVRELLE 21st 5pm Battn relieved Hood Battn, relief complete 11.20pm.  Battn HQ moved to gun pits on right of ARRAS - GAVRELLE road at H.4.c.6.8.
22nd Preparations for attack on GAVRELLE.
23rd 4.45am Zero.  Barrage opened & Nelson & Drake advanced to the attack.  Nelson took from the road down the centre of the village to the left & Drakes to the right from the road.  Hoods advanced in close support to mop up the village.  Our objective was reached by 6.30am.  We dug in fifty yards beyond Sunken Road from C.25.d.6.4 - C.25.b.8.9.  Our front was held by C, B, D Coys from left to right with A Coy in reserve in the Sunken Road.  Roughly 2 off & 150 prisoners from 85th IR were            
                                1917
GAVRELLE       April 23rd taken by the Battn.  The day was spent in improving the position.  During the afternoon bodies of the enemy in extended order were observed coming over the crest between OPPY & FRESNES-LES-MONTAUBAN.
24th The Germans made a strong counter attack at 3pm & were completely repulsed by our barrage & rifle fire.  The Germans suffered very heavily.
St CATHERINES 25th 4am Relieved by Howe Battn & marched back to bivouacs at St Catherines.
MAROEUIL 3pm Marched to billets at Maroeuil arriving at 5pm.  Total number of casualties sustained during operations.
Killed Died of Wounds Wounded Missing Total
Officers   4              1         5        0      10
Men 23 2     232      36    293
   303

26th-27th Day spent in cleaning up.  Corps Commander congratulated CO on the Battalion.  Greetings received from II ANZAC Corps on anniversary of landing at Gallipoli.
FREVILLERS 28th 1.15pm Battn left Maroeuil & marched to Frevillers arriving 6.30pm.
MAGNICOURT 29th 11.0am Battn moved into billets at Magnicourt arriving 12 noon.
30th Day spent in cleaning up - all the Battn had a bath.

[Graeme Clarke]

Hi John

You couldn't pull

Drake Battalion, Royal Naval Division

Wednesday 4 September 1918

and

Friday 27 September 1918

out of your magic hat, could you ??

Regards.

Graeme

[GrahamC]

Many thanks for the War Diary, John, greatly and gratefully appreciated.

Graham

[John Morcombe]

Abracadabra

BOIRY ST            Sept 1st Preparation for Move carried out, passed Starting Point at 7pm and spent the night in Trenches at T.4.d (SHEET 51b).  At RICTRUDE 2nd 4am we marched through FONTAINE-LES-CROISILLES and HENDECOURT passing throught the 57 Div, we moved through CAGNICOURT, and on to the BOIS DE BOUCHE passing throught the 188 Bde at 4pm.  The Bn attacked Railway Line lying 1500 yds in front of wood and succeeded in overcoming all opposition, the Bn swept on for a further 2500* settling astride the INCHY - PRONVILLE Rd capturing the HINDENBURG Support LINE, this was completed by 8pm.
3rd The Bn mopped up the Hindenburg Line and pushed on to TADPOLE COPSE which was consolidated by 4pm.
4th At 9.30am the Bn swept down through MOEUVRES but owing to exceptionally Heavy Shell fire was forced to withdraw to the HINDENBURG System lying just in rear of the Village.
5th At 9am Relief Completed by 7 TFs (190 Bde) and we moved back to V.14 (Sheet 51b).
6th Moved to HINDENBURG Line at QUEANT - very QUIET.
                               1918
                             Sept 7th Relieved by 2/4th LOYAL N LANCS 57th Div by 2pm and marched to a point on the CROISILLES - FONTAINE Rd.
                           8th Bn entrained at BOYELLE and detrained at LA HELIERE and marched to BARLY which was reached at 12.30am on 9th.

25th At 6pm Bn moved to Sunken Rd S of PRONVILLE which was reached at 10.30pm.
PRONVILLE 26th Bn lay under cover all day.
MOEUVRES 27th At 1.30am Bn moved to assembly position S of MOEUVRES and were in position by 3.30am.  At 5.20am the 190th attacked the CANAL DU NORD under a great barrage, the Bn passed through the 188th Bde which was lying in Rear of ANNEUX and GRAINCOURT, changing direction we passed the Right of the FACTORY and through the Right position of GRAINCOURT to KNAVE TRENCH where we were relieved by the 57th Div, we returned to the FACTORY for the night.
28th At 9am Bn moved forward passing through the 57 Div at 4pm and attacked the L'ESCAUT CANAL and succeeded in getting a few men across same, under cover of darkness the Bn crossed the CANAL and established 3 posts across the River.
29th Passage across the River was forced by 12.30pm and enemy retired through the MARCOING LINE to the EAST of the BOIS-DE-PARIS.  Bn were relieved and came back to LA MANIERE for the night.
30th At 7.30am Bn again moved forward to the Road East of BOIS-DE-PARIS but were again relieved and brought back to
LA MANIERE by 9.20pm.
Casualties   KILLED    WOUNDED   MISSING  
Officers        3           11          1  )       TOTAL
Men      42     302        25  )     384

[Graeme Clarke]

Hi

Now THATS magic !!

Cannot thank you enough, most brilliant.

Regards,

Graeme

[czechmj]

I saw from a previous post that from the 9th October, 1917  the Drake were used as attached labour to the 7th Canadian Railway troops. Is it safe to assume that all the men in the Drake battalion would have been used at some point for this task?
Thanks, Czechmj