War Diary 6th Batt Border regiment

[2Harriet]

 Hello everyone, It is 100yrs today since the battle of Passchendaele began.I have had no luck in finding a war diary to help me find where my gt uncle was when killed in action. John enlisted on 2/3/1916 in the 12th Battalion Border Infantry Regiment for the duration of the war at age 31. Name: JOHNSTON, JOHN Initials: J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Border Regiment Unit Text: 6th Bn. Age: 33 Date of Death: 05/10/1917 Service No: 24065 . I have his service record ,medal information but no luck re a war diary. The 6th Battallion doesnt get much mention online .Any ideas please ?

[newburychap]

The war diary is available online - £3.50 from the national archives - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7352623

Or via an Ancestry subscription (could use a 14 day free trial) - https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/60779/43112_1817_0-00000/615029?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.uk%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3dUKWarDiariesWWI%26gss%3dsfs28_ms_db%26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26msT%3d1%26gskw%3d1817%26MSAV%3d1%26uidh%3dqjc&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

[jim1]

Map 1. This was their disposition on the 4th. They came under heavy shelling & took several casualties.
On this map (bottom RH corner)
http://maps.nls.uk/view/101464861
They were supporting the other Batt's in the Bde. that were involved in the main assault.
Their job was to form a defensive flank in case of a German counter-attack.
Unfortunately the other Batt's were badly beaten up & the decision was made to bring forward the 6/Borders to continue the assault. They moved forward at 8.30 pm. on the 5th. reaching their positions (approx. 2mls. NE of their position on the 4th.) by 5 am. of the 6th. They took four casualties during the move (map 2).
Because it all went so badly the 2nd. assault was cancelled & the 6/Borders were relieved that day & went into reserve.
On this map (bottom LH corner).
http://maps.nls.uk/view/101464627
He was one of 37 killed that month most during this operation.

[2Harriet]

Thank you so very much newburychap for the link to Ancestry. I have been with them for years and missed them having war diaries! This is a great insight into his time serving his country. I cross  referenced it with his service record and can see why  he had so many abscesses and foot trouble in the trenches and  mud.  Let us never forget these brave men.

[2Harriet]

Jim1 I cannot thank you enough for your detailed summary, explanation of the war diary information and maps. It means a lot to the family to know how he spent his last days . Thanks again for your time and help. Fantastic people on here!

[newburychap]

Glad to be of assistance - Ancestry's indexing of the diaries is somewhere between bad and appalling, often the easiest way to find one is to get the piece number from the National Archives search and use that to search on Ancestry - in this case Ancestry have the diary indexed under Various (Infantry Bridages, 11th Division)!

[jim1]

This is the map from the diary used at the time marking out the battle front.
Arrow shows the route they took from the start of the month up to the 6th.