Menin Road

[Guest bonza]

Remembering two individual casualties of 7 Bn AIF who were mortally wounded at Black Watch Corner, Polygon Wood, during the "Battles Across The Menin Road".

Major Tubb, VC, and CSM Jackie Schwarer were both, but separately, the victims of friendly fire.

The battle was the first in which two AIF Divisions had attacked "side by side" and the creeping barrage was reported as a resounding success. Reference to individual battalion records indicates endorsement of that opinion, despite numerous mentions of a "Rogue Gun" inflicting casualties & disrupting planned movements.

The AWM has the original of a handwritten message [almost copperplate IMHO] from Tubb reporting that gun, some hours before its tragic results.

[Andrew P]

Hi Pat

The loss of Tubb was very sad considering what he survived at Lone Pine.

Also would like to remember the following from my hometown who died on this date.

Pte Thomas Brooks 28th Bn, a 19 year old Plumber.

Pte Harry Budd 28th Bn, a 40 year old Carpenter,

Pte Alfred Dixon 28th Bn, a 19 year old Labourer,

Pte Charles Garden 28th Bn, a 20 year old Carter,

Pte Walter Grist 28th Bn, a 29 year old Bread Carter,

Pte Arthur Ing 28th Bn, a 30 year old Grocer,

Pte Victor Opie 28th Bn, a 23 year old Labourer.

[Andrew Hesketh]

Also Sgt. Fred Abberley MM, 8th North Staffordshire's, of Tibshelf, Derbyshire, killed in the battle of Menin Ridge and whose remains have still not been found or identified.

[Max]

Remembering my Great Uncle 12145 Sgt. William Henry Piper MM, 11th Bn. West Yorks, resident of Featherstone, West Yorkshire. Mortally wounded whilst moving up to the assembly area on September 19th 1917 for the Bn attack on Inverness Copse. He died on 2nd October 1917 and is buried at Etaples.

Andy