My wifes great grandfather was a young Leutnant in the 182nd Infantry Regt of the 123 Division. He was seriously wounded on the 18th July 1916 when the regt was fighting on the Somme (Schrapnell in the right Shoulder).

I have not been able to find a copy of the regtl history, and have only the "Histories of 251 Divs..." to go on.

Does anyone happen to have any information on the unit and the action they were involved in?

Thanks
Chris

The British Official History reports heavy fighting for Delville Wood, with German attacks throughout the day. The 182nd Infantry Regiment was not amongst the units listed in the attack. The 123rd Division was defending the trench line just south of Guillemont. Presumably your wife's great grandfather was hit in one of the many artillery bombardments that would have been happening all along the line.

Robert

Hello Chris,

From the few records I have of this unit it seems that at noon on 14 July the 123rd I.D. that was in Villers-Faucon received orders to take over the newly formed sector between the 12th and 11th Reserve Divisions from the crossroads 300 meters northwest of the northern point of Hardecourt up to the Red Farm.

The division took over the line with the 178th IR less the I Bn., then the 182nd IR less the II Battalion followed by the 23rd IR. The advance line was held in North Sector A by the III/178 and South Sector B by the III/182. The II/178 and I/182 were placed in the II Line.

There is a larger section from the Reichsarchivs series that relates to the heavy fighting with the 182 IR and surrounding units who were being attacked by elements of the French army. I will get it together and post it for you this weekend.

Best regards,
Ralph

From my review it appears that while the 182nd IR was involved in fighting around this period it was primarily under artillery fire on this date and the shrapnel wound would be quite common.

Can you provide his name? I want to see if I have the Verlustlisten for this period and regiment, thanks.

Ralph

Hi Ralph

His name was Theodor Günther.

He was wounded in the shoulder and if I understand correctly lost the ball to the joint, leaving his arm a couple of cm's shorter then the other. He ended the war serving in the I.R. 101

He died of wounds on XMas day 1943 after being wounded by Schrapnell again. This time on the Russian front where he was the Divisions head Doctor of the 6 Luftwaffe Field division.

Ironically, even though a Doctor, he was the unofficial "mess military advisor" to the divisions commander. Theodor Günther had been an Infantry soldier in WW1 and the commander of the 6 LWFD was an ex transport squadron commander (Junkers 52) who had no ground combat experience.

All the best
Chris

Hello Chris,

I have attached a photo of a group of men from the 182nd IR, some of the same men your wife's relative fought with at the Somme possibly.

Ralph