mcderms Posted 2 September , 2004 Share Posted 2 September , 2004 Can anyone help me find out the names and other details of Highland Light Infantry soldiers taken prisoner on the Somme on 22nd November 1916? These boys would all have been from the 16th bttn, engaged in the attack on Frankfurt Trench on 18/11/16 and subsequently over run around the 22nd. Any help gratefully received as usual! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desmond7 Posted 2 September , 2004 Share Posted 2 September , 2004 In my experience, lists of POWs could take a few weeks to appear in the Newspapers. If you can do it, well worth checking out archives of papers in Glasgow area because of the 16th's connection to the city. Maybe also 'The Scotsman'. Des Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hambo Posted 14 September , 2004 Share Posted 14 September , 2004 There is a book called "Epic Acions of the First World War" which decribes this action and lists those survivors who recieved decorations for it. This was recommended by Genral Sir Hubert Gough in Army Order 193 in 1919. He says " I consider that these men deserve great recognition for the magnificent example of soldierly qualities they displayed" It seems that they mostly came from D company and the two NCOs who are MID were recommended for a posthumous VC. The medals were awarded to the following. Lt John Stewart DSO 2/Lt Malcom Murray Lyon MC 2/Lt Frank Scott MC 14952 Cpl Browne DCM 14811 Sgt Buchan DCM 3579 L/Cpl Eastop DCM 14661 L/Cpl Fletcher DCM 43183 Pte Fraser DCM 26203 L/Cpl Mc Arthur DCM 14493 Pte McLay DCM 27274 Pte Manson DCM 43155 Pte Millar DCM 14388 Pte Mitchell DCM 43163 Pte Smart DCM 27252 Pte Cairns MM 3563 Pte Duncanson MM 28779 Pte Grant MM 9345 Pte Gunning MM 40546 Pte Hay MM 43144 Pte Hughes MM 45105 Pte Lamb MM 32681 L/Cpl McAllistar MM 24571 Pte McBride MM 27250 Pte McGregor MM 14823 Pte McGrottie MM 30325 Pte McKinley MM 1451 Pte McInnes MM 3524 Pte McPhee MM 27270 Pte Manson MM 14398 Cpl Reed MM 43181 Pte Shaw MM 43232 Pte Smart MM 14287 Pte Smith MM 30306 Pte Stevenson MM 40542 Pte Steward MM 43165 Pte Whittet MM 15154 Sgt Lee MID 14545 L/Cpl Veitch MID There aeems to be some dispute as to how many were taken into captivity but two of the wounded died on the way to prison camp and one was shot for giving a piece of bread to a Frenchwoman. They actually surrended on day eight being the 25th of November. Fifteen were unwounded and ther may have been dozens more taken away on stretchers. It sounds like the German wrath was such that the only reason prisoners were taken is because of the pleas of the 8 German prisoners in Frankfurt Trench with them. The Co of the 16th HLI received the Croix De Guerre although he wasn't involved directly in the action, being mainly occupied with several unsuccessful rescue attempts. Some of the 11th Borders from the same brigade were also in the trench, their part is often forgotten. It might be worth crosschecking soem of the names above with the POW data base. Officer POWs of the Great War mention Stewart, Scott and Murray-Lyon and also adds Lt Skene as being captured on the same day. Their date of capture,however, is listed as the 18th of November which of course the date the attack started, not the date they were captured. I have a copy of the history of the 16th HLI but it doesn't name names. Lynn MacDonald's excellant book "Somme" ends with an account of this action Hope you find this useful Hambo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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