16th Battalion of the Canadians

[cupcake]

I would like, if possible any information on Private W.M. MOFFAT of the 16th. Battalion of the Canadians.

All I know he was wounded and under treatment in No 1 Stationary Hospital, Rouen. This information was from a letter to his father (my GGrandfather) 29 May 1915

cupcake

[jim1]

I take it you're referring to the 16th. Battalion (Canadian Scottish) Regiment.

[cupcake]

 That I do not know for sure- but you may be correct.

W.M.MOFFAT went to Canada around 1911 with his brother and family - his brother being a master plumber. William enlisted there - from the letter he sent to his father he describes being shot through his kilt.

c

[jim1]

Sounds painful.
As he was wounded it's difficult to say exactly where the 16th. were as (unless stated in the letter) he could have been wounded days or weeks prior.
As he was in a stationary hospital means he has gone through the system of Field Ambulance, C.C.S. Field Hospital & finally Stationary Hospital.
From the war diary I can tell you that they disembarked at St. Nazaire on 15/2/1915 & went to the Yser Canal area then on to St. Quintin & finally to Festubert where they were involved in the action there.
They did have a number of men wounded at all of these locations the majority at Festubert.
Not got time right now but will take another look at their diary & try & give a few more details.

[cupcake]

The letter was published in the local paper on the 29 May 1915 - in the letter William says on the 19 a sniper split the shaft of my spade, and the bullet went through my kilt.That could possibily have been May 1915.

Sorry I can't be more explicit.

Do you think he was in the (Canadian Scottish) regiment, then.

Many thanks.

[jim1]

If he's kilted he's 16th. Canadian Scottish.
Here's the timelime:
15/2/15- Disembarked St. Nazaire.
18/2/15- Caistre (France) in training.
23/2/15- Erquinghem in the trenches.
3/3/15- Rue Petillon in the trenches.
26/3/15- Estaires.
Here on in they are involved in the 2nd. Battle of Ypres.
7/4/15- S.E. of Cassel (Ypres salient) in the trenches.
16/4/15-St. Julien in the trenches.
17/4/15- Poelcappelle in the trenches.
21/4/15- Ypres in reserve.
Following the 1st. ever gas attack on the French by the Germans the 16th. Batt. were brought up in support.
22/4/15- St. Julien-attack on German trenches. Taken & consolidated.
For this & other actions in the area a memorial was erected to the Canadians at St. Julien.
27/4/15- St. Jean in the trenches.
29/4/15- Yser canal in trenches.
18/5/15- The Battalion makes it's way back to France to Essars.
Same day they are ordered to attack the "orchard" South of La Quingue Rue (2mls. N.E. of Festubert).
19/5/15- Ordered to attack again but this order was cancelled & patrols were sent out to reconnoitre houses to the South & East of their position.
The patrol to the East suffered 6 casualties so he may be one of those. The other patrol had no casualties.
La Quingue Rue & (what became known as Canadian orchard) can be seen on this 1917 trench map in the bottom left hand corner. (square 28).
http://maps.nls.uk/view/101464708

[MaxD]

Duplicate post here Merged , edited  being splendidly dealt with by jim1

MaxD

[MaxD]

Found his service record, he was wounded on 20/21 May 1915 (dates recorded vary) which eventually resulted in his discharge in March 1916.

MaxD

[jim1]

On the 20th. they were involved in the same operation to take the orchard & houses South of the road. This time they succeeded. 21st. into reserve.