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World War One / Battle of Neuve Chapelle Centenary
« on: Monday 16 March 15 09:41 GMT (UK) »
This post is just for interest. Last week I travelled to Flanders and walked/cycled the battlefield of Neuve Chapelle (10-13 March 1915). A very significant but often neglected battle of WW1. This was in memory of my Grandfather William Allen who served with 1/3 Battalion (City of London) Regiment of the Royal Fusiliers. His battalion formed part of the Garwhal Brigade - Meerut Division of the Indian Corps. Indian Troops formed half of the British forces in the battle and suffered some 4,200 casualties and there is a magnificient memorial to the Indian Troops that fought in WW1 at the La Bombe (Port Arthur) crossroads at Neuve Chapelle. From Regimental trench maps, handwritten maps and brigade/divisional messages as well as the citation in the London Gazette I was able to locate and stand on the very ground where my Grandfather earned the DCM. I visited many cemetaries, all of which are beautifully maintained by the CWGC and was able to find some of the graves belonging to my Grandfathers fallen comrades. My Grandfather also fought in the disastrous Battles of Aubers Ridge and Festubert (May 1915) and was later wounded in June 1915 by a high explosive shell which killed four of his colleagues. He took no further part in the War and died in 1937. Again I was able to pinpoint the location where this happened from the War diary and maps of his battalion. The visit culminated in attending a ceremony held at 3pm on Friday 13th to commemorate the Centenary and the involvement of Indian troops at the Indian Memorial. On my visit I met many people from the UK including a coach party from Tring at the Le Touret Cemetary & Memorial who carried out a small ceremony and wreath laying on 12th in honour of Pte Edward Barber VC 1/Grenadier Guards on the centenary of his death.
Having visited the battlefields I re-read the account of the battle by Geoff Bridger. As I read I was able to picture the very locations and appreciate the circumstances which my Grandfather experienced 100 years before. I would urge anyone reading this to do similar if they are researching their ancestors who fought in WW1.
In memoriam. Frank
Having visited the battlefields I re-read the account of the battle by Geoff Bridger. As I read I was able to picture the very locations and appreciate the circumstances which my Grandfather experienced 100 years before. I would urge anyone reading this to do similar if they are researching their ancestors who fought in WW1.
In memoriam. Frank
