B Coy 4th Battalion Machine Gun Corps

[GBoulton]

My wife’s gt grandfather was wounded whilst serving with the above unit, the date was early May 1918.

Does any forum member have access to the unit diary
? Could you let me know where roughly he may have been when he stopped a bullet and returned home to recover from his wounds.

We are off to Flanders next week and it would be great to visit the approximate area.

[youngtug]

https://vickersmg.blog/in-use/british-service/the-british-army/machine-gun-corps/machine-gun-corps-infantry/no-4-battalion-machine-gun-corps/

[jim1]

4/MGC were in the La'Bassee/L'Ecleme area April/May 1918.
This was during the German Spring Offensive which had the allies
on the back foot so probably wounded defending his position.
Where that position was depends on knowing the day he was wounded.
Where has the info come from?
Can you give details?

[GBoulton]

Hi, many thanks for your reply.

The details come from his service record, one of the few that survived.
64052 L/Cpl Charles H Taylor
Unfortunately the date is obscured, I have attached a number of images from his record, he was back in the UK 16th May 1918.

[GBoulton]

May 1918

[jim1]

It looks like 6/5/18.
However on the 6th. the C.O. says it was a quiet day.
They were engaged on 5th. & 7th.
The diary says the 4/MGC were laying down harassing fire on Pecaut wood.
This map was drawn in June 1918 which shows the British front line in Pecaut wood
so they wouldn't have been here the previous month but must have within 400 yds.
in order to fire on it.
My best guess is they were in the Canal Switch which suffered shelling on the dates I gave.
So a shrapnel wound rather than gunshot.
Full map:
https://maps.nls.uk/view/101723830

[GBoulton]

Hi Jim 1,

Many thanks for your information, that is exactly what I was after, my wife and I will be visiting that area next week.

[jim1]

You need to head for Bios Du Pacault which is 10Km. North
of Bethune.
The canal & trench is at the Southern end of the wood.
Came across this slightly earlier map showing the German trenches (in red)
which would have been the 4/MGC's target of opportunity.
Quite often wooded areas contain remnants or evidence of occupation
as the ground has lay undisturbed.
Might be worth taking a look.