21/10/1914 my Great Uncle was taken prisoner at midnight.
3rd Battalion or 4th Battalion Rifle Brigade?
On the Aisne River?
Armentiers?
Houplines? or Frelinghien?
a farm called PORT EGAL FME , or was this a trench or a position?
EJ Van Walwyk 4859.
I live near these places could I get a more precise position? These are some of the 'details' I have collected over the years?
Susanne

No expert on RB but from reading Long Long Trail it would seem 1st Btn in 4th Division would be a prime candidate for unit?
Apologies if I am well off the mark.
Des

Susanne,
I thought that we had already gone over this but here goes. Your relation was in the 4th RB during the Boer War (confirmed with the medal rolls for South Africa), but was with the 3rd RB for his service for WW1. The 4th RB did not arrive in France until the 22/12/14.


Andy

3rd RB War record states:-

21/10/14.
1am Retired into a new position by Porte Egal Farm, with 'B' Company on the right, then 'C' then 'D', and 'A' on the left. Trenches already half dug for us but very badly sited and quite disconnected, and we had very little artillery support. A few casualties.

22/10/14
1.30am Strong attack by the Germans. They advanced obliquely from the N.E., and suffered heavily, but their left overlapped our right and got behind us. Our artillery did some vey good shooting. We took a few prisoners.
4.00am Sent out a party to clear out Germans but most had gone, leaving behind a lot of dead. More attacks during the day.
8.00pm Dug new trenches on the left bank.

Andy

This page does not relate to a unit of the RB's, but it does show the location of Porte Egal-Ferme: http://www.1914-1918.net/Diaries/wardiary-2leinster.htm

Ok I'll try to remember which battalion he was in!

PERFICK ! GOOD ANSWER I CAN NOW GO AND LOOK, MUCH OBLIGED.

Seems you/we are off the mark as I have trouble with my battalions..not being a military man! but Chris Baker has sent a good answer!

Susanne

Susanne,
Not a problem and I am glad that Chris has been able to pinpoint the location for you.

Andy

Thanks everyone