5 replies to this topic

[THE SHINY SEVENTH]

As part of my local war memorial research: Lance Corporal Harry Davis, 1st Btn, Hampshires, he arrives in France 27/1/1915, and is KIA 4/7/1915. My question is, where would his Battalion have been around this date? I have found references to their movements/actions, but nothing that ties up with his death date. Thanks for any help, regards Sean

[sotonmate]

Sean

Buried on the Ypres to Boesinghe Road at Talana Farm,so it seems that the unit was still in the area of the Battles of 2nd Ypres,which they fought in earlier in the year. According to notes in the Long Long Trail,at top left of this page,the war was quite static at that time,and we were losing around 300 men a day to sniping and shellfire.
Have you noticed that the unit War Diary is digital,so can be downloaded from the NA Catalogue ? WO95/1495 will tell you where he was on the 4 July 1915.

Sotonmate

[THE SHINY SEVENTH]

Sotonmate, thanks for your reply. I had considered sniper or stray shell as it did seem they were not in the thick of it around this date. Had no idea the war diary was digitised, many thanks for the heads up, I just need to work out how to find it, the NA and I have crossed paths before without much success!! Regards Sean

[sotonmate]

http://www.nationala...ov.uk/catalogue

and then type WO95/1495 into the small box at upper centre of screen,and follow the pages to paying 3.50 for the 1 Hants Diary. You may get more than just this unit if it is linked to others in the same Brigade,but it is the same price irrespective of how much is linked to 1495 !

[Marc Thompson]

L/Cpl 3/4275 Harry DAVIS, a Special Reservist, was killed in action on 4th July, 1915 prior to 11th Infantry Brigade's attack on 'International Trench' between Ferme 14 and Fortin 17 (6th July - carried out by 1/Rifle Brigade & 1/SLI). From 30th June to 4th July 1/Hants were across the Yser Canal, in reserve. They suffered 25 casualties during this period mainly from shell-fire, with 4 fatalities on 4th July. They were relived during the night of 4th/5th July by 1/East Lancs taking over 1/Hants position (I believe that this may have been PILKEM trenches).

Marc

[THE SHINY SEVENTH]

Marc, thankyou very much for posting, regards Sean