RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: cupcake on Friday 24 November 17 10:42 GMT (UK)
-
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
-
I take it you're referring to the 16th. Battalion (Canadian Scottish) Regiment.
-
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
Duplicate post here Merged , edited being splendidly dealt with by jim1
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
-
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.
-
Here is a link to his service record. It has been entirely digitized by Library and Archives Canada and is free to view. There are 64 pages in total.
It is VERY slow to load.
http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B6274-S011
PB
-
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 1st. 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
Many thanks for this -most interesting.
-
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
I now know when was wounded roughly a week before he wrote to his father. That is a long time before being discharged in 1916.
Thank you once again.
-
Here is a link to his service record. It has been entirely digitized by Library and Archives Canada and is free to view. There are 64 pages in total.
It is VERY slow to load.
http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B6274-S011
PB
Many thanks for that. Everyone has been so helpful.
cupcake
-
Looking at their diary again it was no. 1 & no. 3 Coys. of the Batt. that went out on the 20th.
Originally they were meant to go earlier but this was cancelled & they eventually went out at 7.45 pm.
Having achieved their objectives of taking houses at the orchard & South of it they remained there until relieved at 3 am. on the 21st.
So your man would have been with one of these Coys. & wounded by gun/shellfire during the evening of the 20th. either at the orchard or South of it.
Below is a passage from a brief account of what occurred that day:
The positions of the 2nd and 3rd Canadian Brigades and of Canadian medical units. A sketch map from the “War Story of the Canadian Army Medical Corps” by J. George Adami. Online version
20-22 May 1915
The Divisional reliefs take place, without incident. 3rd Canadian Brigade gradually pushes forward and occupies the Orchard (known thereafter as the Canadian Orchard). The Canadian troops report many problems with their standard Ross rifle, which exhibits a tendency to jam.
Also a map of their exact position on the day with medical aid posts indicated.
He would have been taken first to Indian village as this was the nearest & also 3 Bde. HQ.
-
Looking at their diary again it was no. 1 & no. 3 Coys. of the Batt. that went out on the 20th.
Originally they were meant to go earlier but this was cancelled & they eventually went out at 7.45 pm.
Having achieved their objectives of taking houses at the orchard & South of it they remained there until relieved at 3 am. on the 21st.
So your man would have been with one of these Coys. & wounded by gun/shellfire during the evening of the 20th. either at the orchard or South of it.
Below is a passage from a brief account of what occurred that day:
The positions of the 2nd and 3rd Canadian Brigades and of Canadian medical units. A sketch map from the “War Story of the Canadian Army Medical Corps” by J. George Adami. Online version
20-22 May 1915
The Divisional reliefs take place, without incident. 3rd Canadian Brigade gradually pushes forward and occupies the Orchard (known thereafter as the Canadian Orchard). The Canadian troops report many problems with their standard Ross rifle, which exhibits a tendency to jam.
Also a map of their exact position on the day with medical aid posts indicated.
He would have been taken first to Indian village as this was the nearest & also 3 Bde. HQ.
Thank you so much for all this information, very much appreciated.
cupcake
-
Hi there Cupcake. Have you tried
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/search/Pages/ancestors-search.aspx
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/personnel-records/Pages/personnel-records.aspx
If you cant find him the write to them. I found three brothers this way.
-
See the duplicate post above - cupcake has downloaded his record.
MaxD
Threads merged.