2/5th Lincolns

[Chris Noble]

Hi Pals.

Anybody provide me with the actions of the above battalion on 21/3/18?

SDGW lists O/Rs 43 casualties, Officers 1. Only 2 casualties have known graves (buried Grevillers British Cemetery, Pas de Calais).

Any info much appreciated.

Chris.

[Robert Dunlop]

From the British Official History, firstly a footnote on 21st March:

'[Refering to the 2/5 Sherwood Foresters] It was just too late [after 12 noon]; before the retirement had proceeded far, the greater part of the survivors were surrounded from the north and cut off. Some held out until 3 pm, but only a few managed to join the supporting force which had moved up from behind Vraucourt about noon. The men [of the supporting force]... seem to have been the leading parties of the 2/5th Lincolnshire sent up from divisional reserve.'

The story continues:

'The 2/5th Lincolnshire moved by successive platoons along the ridge north of the Hirondelle valley. After passing through the rear defences of the Battle Zone, it came under a withering fire from machine guns and rifles. Heavy casualties bought the rapid advance to a sudden stop, and, after further efforts to hold their ground, the Lincolnshire were driven back, eventually to take cover in a switch trench running southwards from Noreuil, whence they opened fire from both sides. The remnants of the battalion were, however, soon surrounded and overpowered, a few men only of the rear companies succeeding in extricating themselves.'

Robert

[Robert Dunlop]

Here is a map showing Vraucourt and the Hirondelle Valley leading to Noreuil. The ridge is marked and there is an arrow pointing to the switch trench.

Robert

[CROONAERT]

Map from O.H. showing positions at the start of the battle on 21st March. (2/5 Lincolns in bottom left hand corner of scan). The solid line is the line at the beginning, the broken line is the line on the morning of 22nd march.

Dave.

[Chris Noble]

Robert and Dave.

A rather tragic story.

Thanks for the info.

Regards to you both, Chris.

[Steve Bramley]

Chris,

Please contact fellow forum member Chris Bailey who has the Lincolnshire Regimental history, i know there is a little more detail to add from there to what Robert has told you.

Do you have a specific interest here? I am compiling a database of the 5th Lincolns and will have details for most of these casualties. I have not yet studied the period you are concerned with in any depth though.

Cheers,

Steve.

[Steve Bramley]

P.S.

You really do have some fantastic maps Dave, superb stuff.

[Chris Noble]

Hi Steve.

Thanks for the pointer. I'll drop Chris a p.m.

As for the interest, have a lad commemorated on my local war memorial.

Sergeant Walter Dukes 41400, K.I.A., 21/3/18.

Previously served as 23916 West Yorkshire Regiment and then in a Training Reserve Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment becoming 8708. Walter has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

Not a great picture but here you are.

Regards, Chris.

[Chris]

Scanned from Regt History.

[Muerrisch]

My friend Jim Haw junior is going to be fascinated by this thread as it may well be of his father's battalion.

Thanks everyone.