High wood / Bois des Four Caux

[jim1]

I should read my own writing.
He was at Geauzeaucourt Cambrai in Nov. 1917.
Althouugh the Langemark maps are correct for his location it's not where he was taken prisoner.
It was here.

[tioman]

Unbelievable thank you both so much.

[jim1]

Today I've had time to take another look & try & find the exact location he was taken prisoner.
Although I have the map references from the was diary I can't find the actual map.
But reading the order of battle & timeline I can tell you he was captured during the retreat from Masnieres which the 20th. had taken by the 26th. Nov. but as was the usual habit of the British High Command they managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
The advance halted & the Germans regrouped & mounted a counter-attack pushing the 20th. Div. back across the Hindenburg line towards Gouveaucourt & Havrincourt wood.
The Germans reached Villers-Plouich which is just East of the wood by the 4th. Dec.
So by my calculation based on all of the information he was at the location shown on the map.

[tioman]

That's great Jim thanks so much. I am going to collate all the information I have about Percy from his first attempts to join up until he leaves the army in 1922 and produce a timeline. I can then add all the extra details along that timeline with links, maps etc. It will be invaluable when we go across to France & Belgium in September. After all your hard work if you would like to see a couple of pictures of Percy or even a transcript of his diary then I'd be happy to share.
I had two other Uncles serve (and survive) WW1 but other than knowing which regiments they served in there are no diaries and their military records do not appear to have survived. Such a shame.
Regards
Tioman

[jim1]

Give Regt's. names & numbers & we'll see if there's anything else.
you also might like to know that your Uncle unbeknown to him was making a bit of history at Cambrai as this was the first time tanks, infantry, artillery & aircraft were used in a co-ordinated attack.
It went on to become the blueprint for warfare after that.

[tioman]

Ok Jim will do, might have to wait until Monday as on Grandad duties this weekend! Thanks
Regards
Tioman

[tioman]

Louis Seward (200823) joined Royal Sussex regt at Horsham November 1914. According to his brother's diary he didn't go abroad until June 1916. Then in Royal Horse Artillery (277220). Definitely still in RHA in 1919/20 as I have dated photographs of him in India. I'm sure he told me or I heard from other family members he was in Mesopotamia during WW1

Charles Seward (18999) joined Royal Fusiliers with brother Percy Seward at Ealing August 1915. Joined Royal Flying corps (144543) as a mechanic 3rd class 19.03.18. Percy's war diary states that they were in the same Battlion Royal Fusiliers but not same company. They were both at Shoreham on sea just before Percy was transferred to the MGC 25/02/16.

That's just about all the information I have on these two. Anything you could dig up would be a bonus.
Regards
Tioman

[jim1]

The 1/4th. Batt. RSR is the only Sussex Batt. I can find that went to Mesopotamia (1915).
There were a number of RHA Batteries that went to Mesopotamia including. S Battery of the 9th. Brigade attached to the 6th. Indian Cavalry Brigade (1915).
Also V Battery attached to the 7th. Cavalry Brigade (1916).
The 6th. was formed in 1915 so that's the earliest he could have transferred but I suspect he might have joined later if he was in this Brigade.
The 6th. & the 7th. joined together in 1916 to form the Cavalry Div. I suspect this is when he transferred.
He may have already been in Mesopotamia with the RSR but can't say for sure.
Can't find anything against his name with a Battalion attachment.

With Regard to Charles he didn't serve overseas with the R. Fus. His war medals were both with the RAF as it became known in 1917. He went into the reserve in 1919.
He appears on the Muster Rolls on Findmypast but I don't have a sub.
This is what it will tell you:
Name
Rank
Service number
Job in the RAF (trade classification)
Date and terms of enlistment
Rate of pay

[tioman]

Thanks for that Jim
Regards
Tioman