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jrah60
Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 2413 Location: East Kibride
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2015 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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THOMPSON, PETER
Rank: Private
Service No: 13802
Date of Death: 03/07/1916
Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry 15th Bn.
Grave Reference: IV. A. 10.
Cemetery: BLIGHTY VALLEY CEMETERY, AUTHUILLE WOOD
Additional Information: Place of birth Cambuslang Lanarkshire (SNWM). |
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jrah60
Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 2413 Location: East Kibride
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2015 7:30 pm Post subject: |
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WAUGH, THOMAS
Rank: Corporal
Service No: 15827
Date of Death: 01/07/1916
Age: 21
Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry 17th Bn.
Grave Reference: III. E. 10.
Cemetery: BLIGHTY VALLEY CEMETERY, AUTHUILLE WOOD
Additional Information: Son of Jemima L. Waugh, of The Tors, Falkirk, and the late Thomas Masterton Waugh. |
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jrah60
Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 2413 Location: East Kibride
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2015 7:31 pm Post subject: |
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WOOD, ALEXANDER
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service No: 16203
Date of Death: 01/07/1916
Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry 17th Bn.
Grave Reference: III. B. 11.
Cemetery: BLIGHTY VALLEY CEMETERY, AUTHUILLE WOOD
Additional Information: Place of birth Glasgow (SNWM).
John |
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kenmorrison
Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747
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Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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So many 17th HLI men here.
An extract from the Battalion History
http://ia800306.us.archive.org/29/items/17thHLI00glasuoft/17thHLI00glasuoft.pdf
At 7.23 a.m. the Battalion started moving across "no man's
land." When the barrage lifted the men entered the enemy
front line and the work of the moppers-up soon began. The
advance across the open was splendidly carried out, all ranks
behaving magnificently, as was the case throughout the entire
action. Leipzig Trench was taken and the leading lines
advanced against the Hindenburg Trench. These were mown
down and by 8.15 a.m. every Company Officer was a casualty.
It now became obvious to Colonel Morton that Leipzig Trench
must be held, as without reinforcements, no further advance
could be made, both flanks being exposed, as the 8th Division
on their right had been driven back. The left was particularly
exposed and parties under Sergt. Macgregor and Sergt. Watt were
organised and sent to strengthen the left where " B " and " D "
Companies had been almost annihilated. It was now 9 o'clock
and the Battalion casualties now amounted to 22 officers and
400 other ranks. The bombers, who had been sent up to
replace casualties, were holding the flanks successfully. By
11.15 the entire line was very weak, and still at 2 o'clock in
the afternoon the situation was unchanged, 2nd Lieut.
Morrison and 2nd Lieut. Marr working and organising
the protective flank bombers without the least regard for
personal safety. At 4 o'clock the 2nd Manchesters reinforced
them with two Companies. Just at this time the line
wavered a little in face of the overwhelming bombardment
and the appalling casualties, but control was immediately
gained. At 5 the shattered unit was ordered to consolidate the
ground taken. This was done and two strong enemy counter
attacks repulsed. At 9.30 the Battalion started to be relieved
by the Manchesters, but the relief was not wholly carried out
until near midnight.
The first V.C., not only for the Battalion, but of the
Division was gained in this battle and was won by Sergeant
James Young Turnbull.
The following is the extract from The London Gazette, of 25th
December, 1916, intimating the award of the Victoria Cross :-"
"No. 15888 Sergeant JAMES YOUNG TURNBULL,
late Highland Light Infantry.
" For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty,
when, having with his party captured a post apparently of
great importance to the enemy, he was subjected to severe
counter attacks, which were continuous throughout the whole
day. Although his party was wiped out and replaced several
times during the day, Sergeant Turnbull never wavered in his
determination to hold the post, the loss of which would have
been very serious. Almost single-handed he maintained his
position and displayed the highest degree of valour and skill
in the performance of his duties.
" Later in the day this gallant soldier was killed whilst
bombing a counter-attack from the parados of our trench."
Of all the units operating in that ghastly Sector, the zyth H.L.I.
was the only Battalion which reached and occupied and held
the enemy's trenches from La Boiselle northwards. Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle, writing of the battle of the Somme in his history
of the war, emphasises what this unadorned record of the day's
fighting bears out-that there had been no flinching anywhere,
and the military virtue shown had been of the highest possible
quality ; but the losses from the machine guns and from the
barrage was so heavy that they deprived the attack of the
weight and momentum necessary to win their way through the
enemy's position. " In the desperate circumstances," he
says, " it might well be considered a remarkable result that a
stretch of the Leipzig Redoubt should be won and permanently
held by the Highlanders, especially b y the i7th Highland Light
Infantry." |
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