Chapter 3b – Back in the Salient

Hill 60 Advanced parties set off for the rest billets, to the rear of the Hill 60 lines, in the new area on Wednesday the 15th of December. Over the following two days the 5th…

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Footnotes

  1. Pioneer battalions were formed from late 1914 onwards, or converted from existing infantry battalions, to carry out digging and construction work
  2.  Railway dugouts were in the Ypres-Comines railway line embankment. The area was also called Transport Farm, probably because it was the closest transport wagons would venture to the front line in the Hill 60 sector. Now the site of a CWGC cemetery – Map Ref: 
  3. Bedford House  - Zillebeke Map: 10-28NW4-5A – Ref: I.26.a.9.4
  4.  Blauwe Poort Farm originally had a moat around three sides of the farm buildings – Zillebeke Map 10-28NW45A - Ref: I.26.b.6.4
  5. Canada Huts was a hutted military encampment located near Dickebusch at M.17.c. The camp appears to have been renamed at some point
  6. The Dump - Zillebeke Map: 10-28NW4-5A – Ref: I.29.c.2.4
  7.  Café Belge - Ypres Map 28NW4 – Ref: H.29.b.8.4 
  8.  The Ravine - Zillebeke Map - Ref: 1.34.b
  9. Zwarteleen - Zillebeke Map - Ref: 1.29.d.7.8
  10. The origin of the term 'strafe' was the German ‘strafen’ (to punish) and was commonly applied to machine gun fire, but also used to describe a bombardment
  11.  Gum boots were rubber boots or waders and ideal for use in the waterlogged trenches 
  12.  Lt Robert Allen - Database shows this man killed, but also POW in 1918? 
  13. Lt Charles Arthur Collingwood was drafted from the 15th NF on 19 August 1915 
  14.  2nd Lt Stephenson (‘A’ Coy)
  15. Scottish Lines - Poperinghe Map: 28NW3-3a – Ref: G.23.b.3.8
  16. The 24th Divn was comprised of the 17th, 72nd and 73rd Infantry Bdes
  17. The 3rd Battalion of the Rifles was in the 17th Rifle Bde (24th Divn)
  18. The 17th Divn was comprised of the 50th, 51st and 52nd Infantry Bdes
  19. The Bluff was the name given to a spoilheap created when the Ypres- Comines canal was cut through the Messines ridge. Zillebeke Map - Reference: I.34.c.3.2
  20. The 76th Bde (3rd Divn) was comprised the 1st Gordon Highlanders, 2nd Suffolk Regt and the 8th King’s Own
  21.  Lt William Turner 
  22.  Bedford House is now the site of a CWGC cemetery 
  23.  V Corps Cdr (Lt Gen. H. Fanshawe) placed the 76th Bde, 3rd Divn (1st Gordon Highlanders, 2nd Suffolk Regt, 8th King’s Own) an additional RFA Bde and 172nd Tunnelling Coy under 17th Divn command for the attack 
  24. 52nd Bde was part of the 17th Divn
  25.  The 2nd Canadian Divn (4th, 5th and 6th Canadian Bdes) was formed in Britain after the arrival of a number of Canadian units 
  26. Armagh Wood - Map 28NE3  - Ref: H.30.a
  27. General Sir Douglas Haig – GOC BEF
  28.  Numerous Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) centres and canteens were established in huts and marquees along lines of communication, near casualty clearing stations and in rest camps. They were staffed by male and female volunteers and provided soldiers with shelter, food, drink, free writing paper and envelopes
  29. Mount Sorrel - Map 28NE3 - Ref: I.30.a b c d 
  30. Square Wood - Map 28NE3  Ref: I.29.b.
  31. The 16th Canadian (Scottish) Battalion was part of the 3rd Bde of the 1st Canadian Divn
  32. Canada Huts - Ouderdom - Poperinghe Map: 10-28NW3-3A - Ref: G.30.c.2.6 
  33. Locre - Kemmel Map 28SW1 - Ref: M.23.c.4.4
  34. Westoutre - Map 28SW1 - Ref: M.9.c
  35. Byron Farm - Wyteshaete Map: 10-28SW2-5A - Ref: N.18.a.3.4
  36.  Bois Confluent -  Wyteshaete Map: 10-28SW2-5A - Ref: O.7.b.5.9 
  37. Streets and Alleys were the names typically applied to communication trenches
  38.  The Hospice - Wyteshaete Map: 10-28SW2-5A - Ref: O.19.a.8.8
  39.  Hollandscheschuur  Farm - Wyteshaete Map: 10-28SW2-5A - Ref: N.18.b
  40.  York House Farm - Map 28.SW.2 Ref: 16.c.9.3
  41. St George was the patron saint of the Northumberland Fusiliers
  42. The 13th (Service) King’s Liverpool Regt joined 9th Bde (3rd Divn) on the 4th of April 1916 
  43. The specialists were the machine gunners, bombers and signallers etc
  44.  It was mandatory for British troops to be inoculated to protect against Typhoid (not to be confused with Typhus) and Cholera infection. The bacterium behind both diseases were transmitted through the faecal-oral route so could quickly and easily spread in the trenches where there was mass concentration of troops exposed to poor sanitation and inadequate hygiene.  Water supplies were not strictly controlled 
  45.  Quarantine is likely to have been imposed to limit the spread of Measles (Rubeola) or possibly Meningitis. It would be another 50 years before a Measles vaccine was developed, so quarantine was the only effective way to limit its spread. The symptoms of measles were similar to a cold, but were coupled with sensitivity to light, high temperature, lack of energy, aches and pains, poor appetite, a rash and cough. It rarely killed, but there were common complications that could incapacitate its victims, particularly soldiers whose health, living standards and nutrition were probably already seriously tested
  46. The 1st Battalion NF was part of the 9th Bde (3rd Divn)
  47. Machine gun fire
  48. Siege Farm was northeast of Kemmel, approx one mile behind the lines - Kemmel Map: 10-28SW1-3B – Ref: N.16.c.3.9
  49. RE Farm was northwest of Kemmel - Kemmel Map: 10-28SW1-3B – Ref: N.15.c.1.5
  50. Trench L1 - Kemmel Map : 10-28SW1-3B – Ref: N.18.c.4.8
  51.  Trench L2 - Map Ref: N.18.a.5.1 
  52.  Trench L3 - Map Ref: N.18.c.4.8 
  53. Trench L4 - Map Ref: N.18.a.8.4
  54. 2nd Lt Wilson and F.H.E Reeve
  55.  The Stokes Mortar was designed in 1914 by English engineer, Sir Wilfred Scott-Stokes. Mortars were designed to ‘lob’ high explosive shells on a high trajectory into enemy trenches. The advantage of the Stokes was that it was relatively small, simple and light for infantrymen to operate. It consisted of a 3’’ diameter tube with a striker at the bottom. Bombs, fitted with firing cartridges at the base, were dropped into the tube and the cartridge fired when it hit the striker 
  56. The Petit Bois (small wood) to the rear and left of the German line, in which trench mortar batteries and guns of all sizes were housed
  57.  L/Cpl Robert Watson (4/1212) ‘D’ Coy was previously wounded on the 31 Aug 1915. Robert is buried in La Laiterie Military Cemetery
  58.  La Clytte - Kemmel Map: Ref: N.7.c.9.8 
  59. 2nd Lt  Henry Roleson Tully -
  60.  2nd Lt James Hope-Wallace - 
  61. 2nd Lt H.W. Rennison -
  62. The base – This draft is believed to have consisted of men who had enlisted and trained with the Norfolk Regt
  63. 6th Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow) battalion formed at Yorkshill Street in Glasgow. The battalion was in Egypt at this time, so it seems likely the officers were diverted on initial posting , after home or sick leave
  64.  Bulford Camp - Bailluel Map: 28SW3-2B – Ref: T.26.a.5.9
  65. Cooker’s Farm - Ploegsteert Map 28SW4 – Ref: - N.35.c.4.8
  66. Daylight Corner - Bailleul Map: 28SW3-2B - Ref: N.33.c.9.7
  67. 200mm trench mortar
  68. The 10th (Service) Royal Warwickshire Regt and 8th (Service) North Staffordshire Regt (57th Bde, 19th (Western) Divn)
  69. Badajos Huts – Location unknown at present. May have been renamed on 1918 map