Rifle Brigade 1st Batallion.

[bjo]

Thank you Jim.
Yes the word does appear that it could be a G rather than an S.
The extent of injuries of head, hands, shoulder could be from shrapnel or maybe machine gun.
Brenda

[jim1]

Definitely shrapnel.
This is the diary entry for the 2nd. Oct. It doesn't say what the casualties were for that day so I don't know where that came from. The diary gives the monthly figures but they are not broken down to a day either.
He certainly died from the shelling of the HQ & support trench on the 2nd.
Below is a bit more info.
Au Bon Gite 1917. A German block house.
Map of it from the diary in square 28.
It doesn't give precise locations for the support trench but probably White trench in the corner of square 29.

[bjo]

Thank you once again Jim.  That front line looks very close.  I don't remember where I got the information from of the 2nd Oct 1917.  I do recall that it was sent to me.  So I don't know how accurate it was.  I did make notes when I got the info and substituted my Grandfather's name in place of ''your man'' (that was on the original text)  I wish that I knew where I got it from.
Brenda

[jim1]

The register of soldiers effects & the CWGC state he was killed on the 2nd.
There is no information that I can see that's says 2 were wounded & 1 man killed MIA.
It's possible he was recovered & buried but the location was never found. That happened often.
It's also possible he was buried in one of the CWGC cemeteries but not identified ie. a soldier "known unto God".
A bit more information.
This is from the intel. report.
The areas concerned I've shaded red.

[MaxD]

I would suggest your original correspondent didn't quite get the circumstances correct.

confirms that the Rifle Brigade deployment that days was 2 companies in the front line, 2 companies in support at Au Bon Gite and the HQ at U 29 b 8 9.  It records the only hostile shelling that day was on U 29 b 68 98. Given that this location is but 100 yards or so from the area that was shelled, I'd suggest that your man was either in battalion HQ or  moving to or from it.

MaxD

[jim1]

I've added to my above post after finding the intel. report re. shelling on the 2nd.
2 areas of concentration; 1 at rear of Au Bon Gite which you mention & the other at the double cotts & puff houses.
A more accurate location for the double cotts & puff house.
Based on that it's looking like the support was along the blue line in 28 from the road to the Brigade boundary.

[bjo]

Thank you Jim for the time that you have taken to give me all that information.
Brenda

[bjo]

Thank you Max.  I wish that I had kept the source of my information.

[bjo]

Hello Jim.
I have found out where I got that information about 2 men being wounded and one being killed on 2nd Oct 1917.
It was from your good self back in March 2017 !!
''OK. I've had another look this time in the Brigade diary to try & find where exactly the 2 support Coys. were as these are the one's that were shelled.
Your man must have been in support as the front line was quiet on the 2nd.
According to the Bde. diary 1/RB support were at Au Bon Gite on the 1st. & 2nd. Oct. taking in prisoners & moving up small arms ammunition to the front.
So although 1/RB were in the position previously marked on the map I don't believe your man was with them instead I believe he was in a support Coy at Au Bon Gite.
The Batt. HQ was also shelled.
The Bde. diary states that on the 2nd. Oct. 1 man was killed & 2 wounded as a result of the shelling, the 1 man being yours.''

Brenda

ps I I knew that I had seen it somewhere !