Below are simplified extracts from The 2nd Battalion of the Kings Own Lancaster Regiment. 15/1/1915 Southamton - Board 1730hrs SS Novian to Havre 16/1/15 Disembarked 1630hrs marched to Granville 17/1/15 Marched 1300hrs camp to station, entrained 1730hrs for Hazbrook 19/1/15 Billets at Clapbank, 1 mile SW Bailleul 1/2/15 Clapbank bus to Vlamertinghe and bivi'ed 2/2/15 Marched to Vijver and Ypres 3/2/15 1730hrs marched to Bde HQ S of Ypres and into trenches S of canal near Oosthoek 4-6/2/15 In trenches. Relieved by 3rd Middlesex Battalion. Moved to Cavalry Barracks in Ypres. 1 officer and 140 OR's taken to hospital with frost bite 7/2/15 Marched to Ouderdom 8-9/2/15 Rested and drew stores 10/2/15 Moved to billets 11/2/15 HQ, B & C Companies to Tuilleries just N of Zilibeke to support East Yorks. A & C Companies to Ypres 12/2/15 Remained in support 13/2/15 Relieved E Yorks and HQ to Zilibeke Farm 15-16/2/15 Relieved by E Yorks but remained in close support to fire trenches 17/2/15 German assault, lost one trench but A Coy made a baynot attack and re-took trench. Took over part of a fire trench from E Yorks. This happened at Swartelen Lost 1 officer killed 1 wounded OR's 18 killed and 33 wounded 18/2/15 Remained in fire trenches 19/2/15 Relieved by E Yorks and KOYLI. B Coy stayed in trenches while others went into support trenches at Blauwport Farm 20/2/15 Coy's moved to different parts of the farm. At 2100hrs relieved by 2nd Btn KOYLI and marched to Ypres. Officers 1 wounded, OR's 6 killed 42 wounded and 7 missing 21/2/15 Marched to huts in Vlamertinghe and Ouderdom. 80 OR's with frostbite 22-26/2/15 On rest in huts 26/2/15 Marched to Ypres for tour of duty. Tea at Drapers Hall then to trenches at Zilibeke. Occupied trenches 49,50,51 1/3/15 Relieved by Coys of Duke of Wellingtons and RW Kent Regts. Marched ti Ypres 2/3/15 Rest in huts N of Ouderdom Losses, 0 officers killed or wounded, OR's 2 killed, 3 wounded and 70 Frostbite 3/3/15 Marched to billets at Bailleul 3-7/3/15 In billets - baths and re-fit 7/3/15 Marched to billets at Dranoutre rready to relieve E Yorks 8-10/3/15 Remained in billets 11/3/15 Relieved E Yorks and took over trenches at Cooker Farm and Cob Farm, HQ at Tea Farm with dressing station 12-17/3/15 In trenches Lost 0 officers killed or wounded, OR's 8 killed 12 wounded Majority of these losses occurred on the night of the 12-13/3/15 when an unsuccessful attack was made on hill 76. The Battalion was not part of this attack but if it had been successful then units of the 84 Bde would attack trenches opposite our Btn. Sniper
Very inreresting and detailed account of the 1st three months Sniper, many thanks for the read, it has actually made the whole event seem somewhat more real if you know what I mean. Many thanks.
Your welcome mate, if my other computer was fixed to the printer i would print off the pages and send them to you. Mike
Thanks for the gesture Sniper, I will have to drag my a$$ to the museum for a gander, next time I am over in England I will make the pilgrimage.
