In memory of Duncan Munro Shiels, who was killed in action this day, 30th September 1917. Duncan was born and enlisted in Edinburgh; in September 1917 he was serving as Gunner 168131 in 5 Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. 5 Siege Battery had just moved to a new forward position at Hindenburg Farm (SSE of Pilckem) in readiness for the coming attacks on Poelcappelle, and on the 30th was registering its 6" howitzers on Poelcappelle church.

Duncan now rests in Bard Cottage Cemetery.

Click to view attachment

Photo of Duncan's grave kindy provided by Nick Haworth.

Gone but not forgotten

Kind regards

Steve

We Will Remember.

Remembering.

Thank you for the freedom that I enjoy.

RIP

Scottie.

My granddad Arthur Duncan Whyte, from Peterhead in Scotland was also in the RGA. He served with 118th Siege Battery and must have been in that general area at the same time.
He was lucky enough to survive tha war and died in 1968.

Many thanks for your thoughts folks,

I get the impression, as a whole, artillery units in the Ypres Salient during the summer and autumn / early winter of 1917 seem to have had a pretty poor time (not only due to the terrible ground and weather conditions at the start of the battle and later in the autumn, but also given the battery positions commonly being in sight of the Germans on the ridges surrounding the salient). 5 Siege Battery for one, a battery that had been in France since the end of September 1914, suffered almost half its casualties for the whole war during the period July - December 1917, with the majority of casualties (not surprisingly) being a result of counter-battery shelling.

Thankfully my grandfather, also a 5 Siege Battery man, came through the war unscathed.

Kind regards

Steve