Pte L Etches

[Steve Grace]

Hi,

I am interested in the Sherwood Foresters 17btn and was surfing the net just to try and find new info when I came across this name -

Pte L Etches died 11th April 1916 aged 20.

I was under the impression that the 17btn didn't arrive into France until late April 1916? He is buried in Cambrin cemertary.

I was just wondering what actually happened to him?

Any help would be great!

Thanx

[eviltaxman]

Hi,

Pte Levi Etches, 28338, 17th Btn. KIA 11/4/16.

Born - Derby

Enlisted - Nottingham

Resided - Carlton, Notts.

A little book I use to ascertain when different btns went where shows the 17th Btn arrived in France & Flanders on 6th March 1916. Unfortunately it does not show the relevent battles etc.

Looks like your man didn't last too long

Les.

[Steve Grace]

It certainly seems that way!!

Thanx for the help!

Regards

[Ali Hollington]

This is from the CWGC site:

CAMBRIN MILITARY CEMETERY

Country: France

Locality: Pas de Calais

Location Information: Cambrin is a village about 24 kilometres north of Arras and 8 kilometres east of Bethune on the road to La Bassee. The Cemetery is on the north side of the road and is approached by a path from the main road.

Historical Information: At one time, the village of Cambrin housed brigade headquarters but until the end of the First World War, it was only about 800 metres from the front line trenches. The village contains two cemeteries used for Commonwealth burials; the churchyard extension, taken over from French troops in May 1915, and the Military Cemetery "behind the Mayor's House." Cambrin Military Cemetery, often called Cambrin Chateau Cemetery, was begun in February 1915 and used as a front line cemetery until December 1918. It contains many graves of the Battle of Loos and in row D there are buried 57 officers and men of the 1st King's (Liverpool Regiment) who died on the first day of the battle, 25 September 1915 Cambrin Military Cemetery contains 816 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. The cemetery was designd by Charles Holden.

No. of Identified Casualties: 816

There is also:

CAMBRIN CHURCHYARD EXTENSION

Country: France

Locality: Pas de Calais

Visiting Information: Wheelchair access to site possible - maybe by alternative entrance. For further information regarding wheelchair access, please contact our enquiries dept. on 01628 634221.

Location Information: Cambrin is a village about 24 kilometres north of Arras and about 8 kilometres east of Bethune, on the road to La Bassee. Cambrin Churchyard Extension is on the south side of the main road, 200 metres from the Mairie. The Commonwealth plot will be found behind the church.

Historical Information: At one time, the village of Cambrin housed brigade headquarters but until the end of the First World War, it was only about 800 metres from the front line trenches. The village contains two cemeteries used for Commonwealth burials; the churchyard extension, taken over from French troops in May 1915, and the Military Cemetery "behind the Mayor's House." The churchyard extension was used for front line burials until February 1917 when it was closed, but there are three graves of 1918 in the back rows. The extension is remarkable for the very large numbers of graves grouped by battalion, the most striking being the 79 graves of the 2nd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and 15 of the 1st Cameronians (Row C), the 35 of the 2nd Royal Welch Fusiliers and 115 of the 1st Middlesex (Row H), all dating from 25 September 1915, the first day of the Battle of Loos. Cambrin Churchyard Extension contains 1,211 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 98 French war graves and a few of other nationalities. The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.

No. of Identified Casualties: 1304

So knowing roughly where the cemeteries are might help you narrow down your research.

On the mother site is information on about actions during the spring of 1916,

http://www.1914-1918.net/bat14.htm

Haven't read all the above fully, but hope it helps.

Ali