75th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery 1918

We have a new member who would appreciate finding any info on the 75th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery and their campaigns during 1918 !

I'm going to ask him to reply to this thread with a few more details

In the meantime .... all suggestions gratefully received !

Annie

 

Hi Liverpool Annie, I am trying to gain as much info on my great uncle William Hoare who was a driver in C Battery 75th Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery and died on 20th Oct 1918. I know he is buried at Quievy France. I woulg be very interested in any war/battles fought in as I am going to visit his grave soon. Thanks John.

 

Hi John and welcome !!

I know you already have this .... but just for the benefit of others !! I'll keep looking !

Annie

In Memory of
Driver WILLIAM HOARE

28550, "C" Bty. 75th Bde., Royal Field Artillery
who died age 26
on 20 October 1918
Son of Benjamin Hoare, of Abertillery.

Remembered with honour
QUIEVY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION

Quievy Communal Cemetery Extension was made by German troops, and carried on by the 62nd (West Riding) Division after the capture of the village in October 1918

 

I got this information from my friend ....

Hoare is listed in a small pamphlet entitled: Roll of Honour and Casualties and List of Officers Who Have Served with 75th Brigade, RFA that shows him as 28589 Dvr. W. Hoare, C Bty, 75th Brigade, RFA who died at Fme Auturte on 20 October 1918. Soldiers Died in the Great War, RHA, RFA, RGA indicates that Hoare was born at Abertillery, Mon. and enlisted at Caerphilly, Glamorgan. It also indicates that he died of wounds.

75th Brigade served with the Guards Division and at the time of Dvr. Hoare's death 75th Brigade was taking part in the Battle of the Selle (17-22 October 1918).

 

‘Battle of the Selle’

(‘Amiens to the Armistice. The BEF in the Hundred Days’ Campaign, 8 August-11 November 1918’, J P Harris (with Niall Barr), London, Brasseys, 1998., p.262).

http://www.cwgc.org/victory1918/content.asp?id=266&menu=subsub

 

Many thanks, all info is greatly appreciated.

John.

 

If you aren't able to get to see Williams grave .... you can get a photo of it here ! ( just in case ! )

http://twgpp.org/information.php?id=1873524

 

Have you been able to find anything else John ?

 

No, not really. I already had most of the info on William Hoare's burial site at Quievy. The date he died (20th Oct 1918,)coincides with the Battle of The Selle 17 - 25th Oct1918, so I assume he was either killed or died of wounds during this battle. Also mentioned is William died at "Fme Auturte" but I don't know what this is. If anyone could help, I would like to know more info on battles fought in by C Bty and excuse my ignorance, what is "Fme Auturte"? John.

 

Try this John ... this is one of the less complicated explanations of the Divisions - you'll see there is a list of Battles and Engagements and then you'll see there is a list of Artillery Units

25th Division

Formed at Codford St. Peter and Fisherton de la Mere near Salisbury in September 1914 as part of the Third New Army. Arrived in France in September 1915. Served in France and Flanders until June 1918 when the Division was reduced to Cadre and returned to England. The Battalions were reconstituted with drafts in July 1918. In August 1918 the Division formed a full strength Brigade for service in North Russia (236th Brigade), the rest of the Battalions were broken up. In September 1918 the Headquarters of both the Division and the Brigades went back to France and the Division was reconstituted with nine Battalions from British Divisions serving in Italy. The Division remained in France and Flanders until the Armistice

http://www.warpath.orbat.com/divs/25_div.htm

Also you asked about "Fme Auturte" ( ferme ) .... I believe that was a farm that was used as a temporary casualty station ( possibly ) .... maybe somebody has a map that may give the correct location of it !

Soldiers Died in the Great War ..... indicates that he died of wounds

 

Ferry and hotel booked. Any more info urgently required. Travelling to Quievy on 13th Oct returning 16th Oct. Less than 2 weeks to provide info for the trip. HELP.

 

Hi all. The story of my trip to visit the war grave of my Great Uncle, Driver William Hoare who was shot by a German sniper and died of his wounds whilst watering his horse on 20th Oct 1918 during the Battle of the Selle. With the help of Liverpool Annie and the internet, I was able to research details of the battles fought in by the 75th Brigade Royal Field Artillery during the last 9 months of the Great War, it was my intention to follow the battles up to the time William was fatally wounded, unfortunately I was unable to locate the farm which was used as a field hospital/dressing station where William died. We arrived in Cambrai on the evening of Tues 13th Oct 2009 and studied the maps to find the village of Quievy where William is buried. We set off after breafast and travelled the short distance from Cambrai to Quievy, found the cemetery and paid our respects to our brave relative. After taking a few photo's we had several roads to choose from, not knowing which way to go, I decided to take pot luck and leave it to fate. After only driving for about a minute, I couldn't believe my eyes, I shouted " Mum, Look," there in front of our eyes was road sign which read Fontaine Au Tertre,there was a large farmhouse, Ferme Au Tertre, the only buliding in the area, we had by luck or instinct found the farmhouse which was used as a field hospital and where William died. More photo's taken and more decisions to make. We decided to drive along the valley of the River Selle which was only a very short distance away. I drove down to Le Cateau and back up through several small villages to Saulzoir. As I was driving along the new road between Briastre and Solesmes,( I drove along this route 4 times,) My attention was drawn to a spot on the other side of the valley, I felt I had to get there, I don't know why. I said to mum, "Mum we need to be over there." After studying the map, I found a small back road which followed the river between Solesmes and Briastre only about 1 km in length, driving along, I had another "feeling" I stopped and had to take photo's of this part of the Selle and in particular one bend in the river. This time, for the first time, mum came with me, we stood on the river bank, neither said anything. That night back at the hotel I studied the maps and battle accounts, then it hit me like a sledge hammer, I shouted "Mum look." "What's the matter, look at what?" was her startled reply. "Look at the battle account and the map" "The Battle of the Selle started approx. 2 km north of Le Cateau." The place where we stopped to take photo's was just a little further on, Fontaine Au Tertre where William died was in a direct line and just half mile to our rear. Everything fitted, we believed we had found the place where William was shot. We both decided there and then to scrap our plans for our last day and to revisit the site in the river where we had stopped earlier. Our last day, first stop was at Fontaine Au Tertre more photo's, I could imagine as I looked at the long building, rows of beds and wounded soldiers being attended to by medical orderlies. Back into the car, drive down small country lane between fields of corndrying in the autumn sunshine, turn left, then 300 yards to bend in the river where we stopped previous day. Stronger feelings this time, mum took photo's but seemed rooted to spot, I tried to imagine where horses would be able to drink from the river, 5 yards from where we stood the bank gently sloped down to the river's edge. I walked to the spot, then the pain hit me in the upper chest, my stomach turned over. I told my mum that I felt a bit ill, she replied that she felt drawn to where she was standing and that she couldn't take her eyes off the tree on the opposite bank. We both realised at that moment... this is the place where William was shot. William had driven his horses and field gun into battle, unhitched the horses, taken the horses from the field of battle to a quieter place further on up the valley, led his horse to the river for a drink of water and had been shot by a sniper hiding behind a tree on the opposite bank. Mortally wounded he was taken the short distance to the makeshift military field hospital at the farmhouse at Fontaine Au Tertre where later that day he died of his wounds. Subsequently he was buried at Quievy cemetary annex. Everthing fitted, we now firmly believed that we had slotted the last piece of the jigsaw into place. Our last act was to pay our final respects at the graveside. We said our last goodbyes and as we drove away I felt a little guilty leaving William there and not taking him home with us, although it should be fitting that he rest in peace with his comrades. John.

 

Oh John ! ... I have goosebumps !! ....

I don't know how many times over the years I've heard stories similar to yours .... these soldiers just want us to know they are still around ....

I hope that now he knows you've been there and you are aware of what he went through ... then now he can rest in peace !

I'm so glad you and Mum were able to share the experience .... and I'm especially glad you found the farmhouse ... thats amazing !

I'd love to see some photos if you'd like to post !

RIP William

 

I have tried to add some photo's of my trip but have been unable to. Any ideas where I am going wrong.
John.

 

Possibly they're too big !

If you can't do it .... let me know and I'll send you my email and I'll get them on for you !

 

Heres Johns lovely photos ! ( they were too big John !! ) ... I just numbered them - in case I messed up !!

maybe you can tell us what they are ...... and thank you for sharing them with us !

 

and heres the others

 

Picture 1 is of my mother outside Quievy cemetery annex. 2 is headsone of my great uncle William Hoare. 3 + 4 is of the farmhouse used as a field hospital where William died of his wounds. 5,6 +7 is of the river Selle north of where battle started and the spot where we believe William was shot and fatally wounded whilst watering his horse. 8, William and his sister Florence May Astill nee Hoare(Mother's mother,) 9 William ready to go to war.

John.

 

So is the farm house back to being a farmhouse or is it something else ? were you able to ask about its history at all ?

Annie

 

Farm is back to being a working farm, the only building in the area. Unable to find anyone who could speak English so no more info unfortunately. But absolutely 100% certain this is THE place.

John.