John Beech Posted 14 June , 2015 Share Posted 14 June , 2015 In remembrance of those officers and men of the 3rd Division, and in particular of 9th Brigade, who lost their lives in the First Action at Bellewaarde on Wednesday 16th June 1915 - 100 years ago on Tuesday. One of those units involved on this day was 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers who attacked on the left of 9th Brigade with their left anchored on Railway Wood. They attacked with Y Company on their right, W Company in the centre and X Company on their left with Z Company in support in Railway Wood itself. They left their trenches on Cambridge Road at 4.15 am and quickly covered the short distance to the German front line, although casualties were heavy. The intention was to push through the German defences and bypass Bellewaarde Farm to get onto Bellewaarde Ridge itself, but the fighting soon became confused in the maze of German trenches and the battalion veered to its left towards the Ypres/Roulers railway line. The Germans counter attacked and eventually after heavy fighting, forced the Battalion back to the old German frontline which they were able to consolidate and hold. The Battalion went into action with 15 Officers and 645 NCO and other ranks of which the casualties amongst the officers were 5 killed, 9 wounded and 1 wounded and POW. Of the men, 148 were killed, a further 12 died of wounds, 133 were wounded or less seriously wounded and remained with the Battalion, 9 men were taken POW of which 4 died of their wounds whilst prisoners, and 131 men who failed to answer the roll, later rejoined the Battalion. It has not been possible to identify 6 of the men mentioned on the roll as being casualties that day - a total of 439. I shall be at Bellewaarde on 16th June, and will be particularly remembering the following men of Nottingham who fought with the Battalion that day: 8148 Sergeant Samuel Ashmore - Killed - Menin Gate 8103 Lance Sergeant Arthur Loach - Killed - Menin Gate 8548 Corporal Frank Smith - Killed - Menin Gate 9282 Lance Corporal Edward Beech - Killed - Menin Gate 4338 Private Albert George Abbott - Killed Menin Gate 8564 Sergeant Joseph Widdowson - Died of wounds whilst POW and buried at Harlebeke Cemetery Edward Beech was my grandfathers cousin and had been a pre-war regular. He was born in Nottingham late in 1887 and joined 2nd Battalion in June 1903. He served purely in the UK and was discharged in 1910, returning to Nottingham where he married and became a miner like his father William. William was killed in a mining action which Edward witnessed in 1912, so may not have been too desponded on being recalled in 1914 along with his brother William. Both men fought at Mons where William was wounded and captured at Frameries on 24th August. Edward took part in the Retreat from Mons and was wounded at Vailly on the Aisne on 14th September 1914. It is not known how long he was away from the Battalion with his wound, but when he returned, he was posted to W Company with whom he lost his life on 16th June. Edward is one of the few men in the War Diary listed as killed on the day, such was the confusion. Within the last year, a photo of Edward has been found and this is the only known photo of him. He and his wife had no children, and as families grow apart over time, the sacrifice made by men like Edward is little remembered. If you have the chance to visit Ypres and look at the Menin Gate, look out for the Northumberland Fusiliers and look for the names of the men like Samuel Ashmore, Arthur Loach, Frank Smith, Edward Beech and Albert George Abbott - these men gave their all and it is right that they should be remembered. I am sure I'll shed a small tear for them on Tuesday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 14 June , 2015 Share Posted 14 June , 2015 John, I'll be there too on Tuesday. Don't know yet if before or after noon. However, I'll be with a British visitor and his two sons. He is the great nephew of a soldier of 2nd Royal Irish Rifles, Patrick Fitzsimmons, who died that day 100 years before, and whose remains were found, buried across Railway Wood, just left of the main road. They were taken to Poelkapelle Cemetery, but beneath a headstone with the wrong name. When I know when I'll be there, maybe ... who knows ... Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Beech Posted 14 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 14 June , 2015 Hi Aurel I am planning on walking around the site on Tuesday morning from Cambridge Road around Bellewaarde Wood and onto the ridge - i'll be on my own with various books and laminates so should be easy to spot! If you pass feel free to say hello. I have prepared a guide to the Nottingham men which I will leave near the Liverpool Scottish memorial for others to read. Another will be at the Menin Gate Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Feledziak Posted 14 June , 2015 Share Posted 14 June , 2015 Here is a model of Menin Gate - above the real gate. May 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rum Ration Posted 14 June , 2015 Share Posted 14 June , 2015 Lest We Forget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 14 June , 2015 Share Posted 14 June , 2015 John PM sent. Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bierast Posted 14 June , 2015 Share Posted 14 June , 2015 From the German side I would like to invite you to spare a thought for the brave men of 54. Reserve-Division (a mixed Saxon / Württemberg formation), principally Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 248 (Railway Wood / Eierwäldchen sub-sector) and Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 246 (Bellewaarde sub-sector as far south as the lake), who bore the brunt of the assault - both of them Württemberg regiments. The line they were holding had been taken by the division on 24th May at a terrible cost in blood, and its defence was not merely a matter of the strategic value of the ground but also of keeping faith with those who had given their lives to capture it. In addition to these regiments, their southern neighbour 1. Unter-Elsässisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr.132 (of 39. Infanterie-Division) and the Saxon Reserve-Jäger-Bataillon Nr.26 (another unit of 54.RD) took part in the successful counterattacks. RIR 246 suffered total losses (killed, wounded and missing) of 19 officers, 17 senior NCOs (Portepee-Unteroffiziere), 42 junior NCOs and 662 ORs. Their published death list names 124 all ranks killed in action that day. The III. Bataillon was hardest hit, and temporarily reduced to a composite company. Most of the dead were buried at Eksternest, but some were interred in a mass grave within the retaken positions at the northwestern corner of the Storchschnabelwäldchen (Dead Man's Bottom). This Schwabengrab (Swabian Grave) was marked with a memorial cross adorned with garlands and surrounded by a small fence, and naturally considered hallowed ground by the regiment; there is a photo of it in our book Fighting the Kaiser's War: The Saxons in Flanders 1914-1918. The monument survived unscathed until the still more dreadful battle of 25th September (beginning with a mine detonation at Railway Wood), in which RIR 246 and 248 again suffered severely. The regimental history of RIR 248 does not include detailed casualty figures, but it is clear that their losses were grievous. Their published death list lists 41 all ranks killed in action that day. Treue um Treue - Furchtlos und Trew * * 'Furchtlos und trew' is the motto of the Kingdom of Württemberg and its army, meaning 'fearless and loyal' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIFFO Posted 14 June , 2015 Share Posted 14 June , 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Beech Posted 14 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 14 June , 2015 Hi Andi Your quite right of course - both sides should be equally remembered. There is tendency to forget that both sides suffered grievously during the war. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Feledziak Posted 14 June , 2015 Share Posted 14 June , 2015 Great Thread.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rum Ration Posted 15 June , 2015 Share Posted 15 June , 2015 From the German side I would like to invite you to spare a thought for the brave men of 54. Reserve-Division (a mixed Saxon / Württemberg formation), principally Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 248 (Railway Wood / Eierwäldchen sub-sector) and Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 246 (Bellewaarde sub-sector as far south as the lake), who bore the brunt of the assault - both of them Württemberg regiments. The line they were holding had been taken by the division on 24th May at a terrible cost in blood, and its defence was not merely a matter of the strategic value of the ground but also of keeping faith with those who had given their lives to capture it. In addition to these regiments, their southern neighbour 1. Unter-Elsässisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr.132 (of 39. Infanterie-Division) and the Saxon Reserve-Jäger-Bataillon Nr.26 (another unit of 54.RD) took part in the successful counterattacks. RIR 246 suffered total losses (killed, wounded and missing) of 19 officers, 17 senior NCOs (Portepee-Unteroffiziere), 42 junior NCOs and 662 ORs. Their published death list names 124 all ranks killed in action that day. The III. Bataillon was hardest hit, and temporarily reduced to a composite company. Most of the dead were buried at Eksternest, but some were interred in a mass grave within the retaken positions at the northwestern corner of the Storchschnabelwäldchen (Dead Man's Bottom). This Schwabengrab (Swabian Grave) was marked with a memorial cross adorned with garlands and surrounded by a small fence, and naturally considered hallowed ground by the regiment; there is a photo of it in our book Fighting the Kaiser's War: The Saxons in Flanders 1914-1918. The monument survived unscathed until the still more dreadful battle of 25th September (beginning with a mine detonation at Railway Wood), in which RIR 246 and 248 again suffered severely. The regimental history of RIR 248 does not include detailed casualty figures, but it is clear that their losses were grievous. Their published death list lists 41 all ranks killed in action that day. Treue um Treue - Furchtlos und Trew * * 'Furchtlos und trew' is the motto of the Kingdom of Württemberg and its army, meaning 'fearless and loyal' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannyboy1807 Posted 15 June , 2015 Share Posted 15 June , 2015 Also remembered my Great Great Great Grandfather Septimus Henry Legg who was with the 1st Wiltshire Battalion on the 16th June he name is on the Menin Gate along with 59 Fellow comrades who fell on this day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bierast Posted 15 June , 2015 Share Posted 15 June , 2015 Your quite right of course - both sides should be equally remembered. There is tendency to forget that both sides suffered grievously during the war. Thankyou John - personally I find it hard not to forget, because my ancestors fought on both the British and German sides. I try to do my bit to help each side to understand the other's perspective! In passing I must mention Martin Clift's website and Carole McEntee-Taylor's book devoted to this battle. Sadly Martin's charitable project to build a memorial on the grounds of the Hooge Crater Museum (which was to have featured both British and German figures) failed to achieve its financial target. http://bellewaarde1915.co.uk/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 17 June , 2015 Share Posted 17 June , 2015 Andi, all: Would you happen to know where Königlich Württembergisches Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 248 were on 09 Oct 1915? I have a relation who was with RIR 248 and died that day, and is buried in Langemark Cemetery, Endgrablage: Block B, Grab 17930: Ersatz-Reservist Leo Levin, 6. Königlich Württembergisches Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 248. His entry in weltkriegsopfer: http://www.weltkriegsopfer.de/Krieg-Opfer-Leo-Lewin_Soldaten_0_471143.html -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bierast Posted 17 June , 2015 Share Posted 17 June , 2015 Would you happen to know where Königlich Württembergisches Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 248 were on 09 Oct 1915? They were still in this same sector astride the Ypres-Roulers railway, with RJB 26 periodically taking over to allow all three battalions of the regiment to be out of the line at once. The sector was largely quiet following the successful repulse of the British attack on 25th September, which had resulted in the mine crater marked '1' on the map below (from the published history of RJB 26): You can view or download the entire regimental history from the Württembergische Landesbibliothek Stuttgart, who have now made pretty much all of the published histories of their own contingent (and a lot of other WW1 books besides) available for free online. http://digital.wlb-stuttgart.de/purl/bsz40801265X Incidentally I have a particular fondness for RIR 248, as we have Württemberger friends who reenact that regiment: http://www.royalsaxonarmy.co.uk/index.php/news/38-back-from-zonnebeke The beautiful regimental memorial still stands in Kirchheim: http://www.teckbote.de/nachrichten/stadt-kreis_artikel,-Die-Suche-nach-dem-Sinn-des-OpfertodsInfo-_arid,83185.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 17 June , 2015 Share Posted 17 June , 2015 Hi Andi, All of these resources are wonderful and will really help in fleshing out his story...many many thanks! -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 17 June , 2015 Share Posted 17 June , 2015 I'm afraid I owe some members an apology. I was there yesterday (accompanying 2 British friends, on let's say a "personal mission" regarding one particular soldier). I had not expected so many people being there, and was totally unprepared. And all the time I was very well aware : no doubt there are GWF members here, but ... I hardly know faces, and if I see faces, then I can't remember them :-( , can I, Ian ?) So : sorry, John, and Steve and .... ? Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bierast Posted 18 June , 2015 Share Posted 18 June , 2015 All of these resources are wonderful and will really help in fleshing out his story...many many thanks! My pleasure. Once my house move is complete at the end of the month and my library is unpacked again, I will also check the quite detailed and thorough published history of RJB 26, of which I possess an original copy. I would guess that your man's battalion (II./248, if I am correctly reading his entry as indicating that he was with the regiment's 6. Kompagnie) was probably in the line when he was killed, but it is possible that this was not the case and that he was with a working party or similar. I look forward to you unearthing a relative with the Royal Saxon Army so that I can bring my full resources to bear! The relatives you've found to date seem to be all over Germany so I wouldn't be surprised if you found a Saxon one eventually. You've been doing an excellent job specifically on German-Jewish soldiers and I will certainly seek your advice as and when we need assistance in that area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 18 June , 2015 Share Posted 18 June , 2015 Hi Andi, Thanks, I have had to become a bit of a specialist out of sheer necessity. One day I certainly I hope I can return the favor and assist you in some way! -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Beech Posted 18 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 18 June , 2015 Hi all Just to round off the original thread, just on my back home from Belgium. I too was expecting little commemoration on the day, but an excellent service delivered by the Liverpool Scottish padre and over 250 representatives of their regimental association complete with pipers.Also finally got to meet Martin Clift with whom I have corresponded with for some time and helped provide some of the information for his website. I am aware of others from the Northumberland Fusiliers who attended and also met a Canadian called Rob who just happened to be in Ypres and found out not only that his relative was killed with the RSF but also that he was killed at Bellewaarde and he was able to gain a better understanding of the day. Also helped flog him a copy of Martin and Carole's book which Martin graciously signed for him. To round off the day, the Liverpool Scottish paraded at the Last Post which was very well attended and Martin was able to lay a wrath. Sad we were not able to raise the funds for the memorial, but with the raised interest who knows what may happen in the future? These men have certainly not been forgotten, and Andy I did remember that there were two sides involved and also spared a thought for the German casualties as well. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Riley Posted 18 June , 2015 Share Posted 18 June , 2015 I will write more fully when I return to the UK (still in Ieper) but it was a great pleasure to meet so many more people other than our Liverpool Scottish party who represented so many of the regiments and men who fought on 16th June 1915. We apologise to any who were inconvenienced by the morning road closures (agreed and supervised by the police - I hope never again to have to make, transport, place and recover 75 'No Parking' or 'No Waiting' signs) but hope that the the arrangements we made for parking at Hooge Crater and the splendid 'Polygon Wood Tourist Road Train' (with police outrider) to move people round to Railway Wood and get them back again helped. Any intensive traffic would have stopped farm vehicles and endangered the nearly 200 people undertaking the battlefield walk. I have to admit that we did not advertise more widely, and apologise especially to local people (sorry, Aurel), for fear of completely swamping the site around the Liverpool Scottish Stone. In the end we managed only with the co-operation of three local farmers/residents and the splendid Niek and Ilse Benoot at Hooge Crater and with support from Stad Ieper We were please to meet all who were there. Ian PS Delighted to renew our acquaintance with Aurel Sercu in the Documentation Centre (Kenniscenrum) the next day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 19 June , 2015 Share Posted 19 June , 2015 I was privileged to be one of four London Jocks who went along to show solidarity with the Liverpool boys. An excellent 'do' all round, reflecting great credit on the organisers. We were also invited to attend the drinks reception the evening before, lunch after the ceremony, a free tour of the Hooge Crater museum and a copy of the excellent memorial brochure. We also attended the memorial service at the Menin gate, but we observed the event standing in front of the names of our forebears. The links between the old G Company and V Company (1/51 Highland days) have never been stronger. The disbandment of such a fine regiment is a disgrace: I am only happy that we seem able to hang on (by our finger nails sometimes). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorke Scarlett Posted 19 June , 2015 Share Posted 19 June , 2015 I was privileged to attend the Liverpool Scottish Centenary Commemoration at Hooge on Tuesday (16th June) and very well organised and presented a event it was too. I was there, not only as a local resident, attending the tour, the service and the lunch but as a cavalryman paying tribute to all those of the Cavalry Corps fighting dismounted who fell in the area a few weeks before. I went to the Liverpool Scottish Stone yesterday at 6.30am - June 18th - to take some photographs - my mind wandered a little as it was raining - and remembered my forebears - The Inniskilling Dragoons and it was in fact Waterloo Day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Riley Posted 20 June , 2015 Share Posted 20 June , 2015 John Beech (or other claimant) - I have a folder of laminates titled "Quo Fata Vocant" (Whither the Fates Call) sitting on my desk. I was only made aware of it when I unpacked the car an hour ago immediately on returning from Ieper (someone had to turn out the lights). Apparently, it was found whilst we were clearing the site of the Liverpool Scottish Stone after Tuesday's ceremony. I am afraid it got mixed in with the 50 No Parking signs and tourist train timetables. I suggest any claimant contacts me via ilrileyATliverpoolscottishDOTorgDOTuk rather than PM. I will be working with emails to clear the 400 that have arrived in the last seven days! Ian PS If anyone has a photo of the tourist train, especially with Francis, the police outrider, I would really like a copy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Beech Posted 20 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 20 June , 2015 Hi Ian I cam confirm it was something I prepared myself listing those men of Nottingham who died that day whilst serving with Northumberland Fusiliers ie Samuel Ashmore, Arthur Loach, Frank Smith, Edward Beech my relative, George Abbott and Joseph Widdowson who died of wounds and is buried at Harlebeke. I left a copy at Bellewaarde and a copy at the Menin Gate which I intended people could look at and remember these men. I still have a copy and will not need it back Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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