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Author Topic: Villers Guislain action  (Read 632 times)

Offline Westhamboy

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Villers Guislain action
« on: Saturday 17 November 18 18:33 GMT (UK) »
My great uncle, Ernest Charles Withers was killed in action on 5 October 1917 at Villers Guislain. He was in D battery, 178 East Ham brigade, Royal Field Artillery. I would appreciate any input anyone might have in respect of this action, or this brigade.
Many thanks in anticipation

Offline MaxD

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Re: Villers Guislain action
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 17 November 18 19:29 GMT (UK) »
The war diary for the brigade is available to download from the National Archives at: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7354248
It is on Ancestry if you have a sub.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/60779/43849_2598_1-00000?backurl=https%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.uk%2fsearch%2fdb.aspx%3fdbid%3d60779%26path%3d&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnBrowsing#?imageId=43849_2598_1-00000

The diary records what must be the death of your Great Uncle on 5 October when (war diary) "D/178 had 1 how damaged by a shell at Villers Guislan, one man killed two wounded".

More in a sec.

maxD
I am Zoe Northeast, granddaughter of Maximilian Double.
 
It is with great difficulty I share with you that in the early hours of 07 August 2021, Maximilian passed away unexpectedly but peacefully.

With deep sadness,
Zoe



Double  Essex/Suffolk
Randle/Millington Warwicks
Sokser/Klingler Austria/Croatia

Offline Westhamboy

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Re: Villers Guislain action
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 17 November 18 19:42 GMT (UK) »
That's incredibly helpful. Thank you very much Max

Offline MaxD

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Re: Villers Guislain action
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 18 November 18 19:52 GMT (UK) »
Couple of extra things I meant to add yesterday.

D battery was equipped with 4.5 inch Howitzers : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_4.5-inch_howitzer

The war diaries are not very forthcoming with detailed coordinates but there are one or two mentioned such that it seems the Villers Guislain position was on the western side of the village (square X 8 top right quarter)  about where you see a v shaped junction to the left of the V in Villers.
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=14&lat=50.0491&lon=3.1542&layers=101465206&right=BingHyb

MaxD
I am Zoe Northeast, granddaughter of Maximilian Double.
 
It is with great difficulty I share with you that in the early hours of 07 August 2021, Maximilian passed away unexpectedly but peacefully.

With deep sadness,
Zoe



Double  Essex/Suffolk
Randle/Millington Warwicks
Sokser/Klingler Austria/Croatia

Offline Westhamboy

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Re: Villers Guislain action
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 18 November 18 20:14 GMT (UK) »
Quote from: MaxD on Sunday 18 November 18 19:52 GMT (UK)
Couple of extra things I meant to add yesterday.

D battery was equipped with 4.5 inch Howitzers : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_4.5-inch_howitzer

The war diaries are not very forthcoming with detailed coordinates but there are one or two mentioned such that it seems the Villers Guislain position was on the western side of the village (square X 8 top right quarter)  about where you see a v shaped junction to the left of the V in Villers.
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=14&lat=50.0491&lon=3.1542&layers=101465206&right=BingHyb

MaxD

Invaluable. Thanks very much Max
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