Hello everybody,

I trying to locate -if possible pinpoint- "the daisy patch.

Based on Bean, Pugsley, Steve's Gully Ravine and Waite have made my own guesses.

Is there anyone who's got more detailled information ??

A history or diary of the Aucklands would be useful as they are the ones charging (the morning attack at least) across the daisy patch.

thanks in advance and looking forward to participating this winter again !!!

eric

Its the wrong time of the year to make daisy-chains Eric ... wait until sping before you venture out.

I always thought it was in the middle of Fir Tree Wood during 1915 (as mentioned in my book and I think also Bean), although this wood has definately changed shape since the war, the area now, apart from a small clump of trees by 12 Tree Copse Cemetery, is mostly cultivated. In my travels I have never seen a good map of the area, and probably never will, that locates the daisy patch/field accurately. This maybe one for the GPS next time I am out.

thanks Steve.

an interesting point : open space IN Fir tree Wood.

I also have Fir Tree Wood on some maps just south of the twleve tree copse. on others its further south in the fork of Kirte and engineers dere.

on several occasions the troops also mention finding some shelter on the bank of a dere ....

eric

Finding shelter in a Dere makes sense, I would guess in Kirte Dere putting the Daisy Patch on the eastern slopes of Fir Tree Spur, sout hof 12 Tree. The maps do show Fir Tree Wood as being quite big so it is possible that it covered a larger portion of this slope than it does today. I am still hunting for that pinpointing map or photo, one day ... its out there somewhere, its just finding it that is the problem.

Hope this helps.

The Daisy Patch

Cheers Mike

Mike,

thanks for that ... It's Fred Waite's description and I have some problems with that because :

1. that "creek" cannot be dry in May (yet), its the Kirte Dere which has got water in it till late May, at least.
2. the Kirte dere is the right flank of the NZ front where the Canturbury's advanced.
3. It is the Aucklanders in the centre who first went across the daisy patch. (in the morning attack).

The creek that could possibly be dry in May is a branch of it, "Engineer Gully" which is some 500 yards to the left and therefore in the centre of the NZ front where the Aucklanders advanced.

eric

sorry not 500 but 350 to the left ... just measured on google earth

If you don't have it,

The New Zealand Electronic Text Centre

has 'The Auckland Regiment' by O E Burton - I am pretty sure it does. I would give the link to the book itself, but it is taking too long to load for me. Try page 37.

Joanna

Thanks Joanna,

I'm so much in books & maps that I forget there the good "old" internet as well.

p. 37 was spot on with both helpfull AND confusing information.

Tomorrow I'll be on the terrain most of the afternoon and hopefully can come back with some good news.

eric

Eric,

Glad it is helpful, and I'm not surprised to hear it is confusing as well. I'll keep a look out for what you have to report tomorrow.

Joanna

didn't make it to the daisy patch ... hopefully next time when i have some free time.

eric

Eric,

I am "tracking" this topic now, so I'll be alerted to hearing about your discoveries as and when.

Joanna

Did you find the ' daisy patch ' Eric?

Here is part of a srevice record of a man am researching. He died Lone Pine between 7-14th Aug 1915. This report mentions him being killed in the charge across the ' daisy patch '. He was a Pte in the 2nd Bn AIF.



Not sure if this helps, but perhaps if you know the location of the 2nd Bn on that day, it might help .

Cheers Mike