16th June 1915 Diary & Casualty List

[martinc]

The 16th June will be the 94th anniversary of 'The Battle of Bellewaarde Ridge'
Whilst researching this battle i managed to get a copy of the Battalion Diary and Casualty List. The document needed transcribing and after many brain draining weeks I managed to complete it.

Bellewaarde is just north of Hooge near Ypres.
The 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers attacked the German trenches near Railway Wood. The enemy held the high ground and made good use of machine guns, artillery and gas, many young men died that day.

I should point out that the document is a transcription of the original, therefore some regimental numbers and first name initials are incorrect, however the largest amount of errors are those for deaths. I am working on an amended document at the moment.

In memory of my Great Uncle, Austin Frank Broughton who gave his life on 16th June 1915

[mmm45]

Thanks for sharing..The casualty lists are great research tool.

Ady

[martinc]

No problem Ady, but please remember that it isn't that accurate where deaths are concerned. I'm working on that at the moment.

Martin

[spof]

Great work Martin and thank you for sharing it.

Don't worry about accuracy, all research is evolving so the details will change over time.

Glen

[martinc]

Thanks for the comments Glen.
Having spent many hours trying to decipher someones handwriting is hard work, so I would want it to be as accurate as posible so that others do not need to spend time trying to correct it.

Martin

[Bill T]

Thanks for your efforts. I found my grandad on your list,
He is 8937 Thomas Henderson PT, its down on the list as J but I guess that's an easy mistake.
Interestingly his army records say he was from Cleckheaton but he was actually from a small farming community in Northumberland called Kirkheaton.
I assume that back then he may have been illiterate and with his accent it could have been misconstrued as Cleckheaton.

[martinc]

Hi Bill.
Thanks for your comments and the correction.
I am glad that you have been able to find a relation (If glad is the right word)

I am building a website dedicated to that battle, which will be available in a few weeks time.
In the mean time, and to commorate 95 years since the battle, I have created a full list of deaths from all the regiments. You can find this at:-

www.bellewaarde1915.co.uk   You may need a short while to load the page as it is quite a big file.

The website, as I have said is dedicated to all the men who were there. If you would like details and maybe some images of your relation I would be please to add him to the site.

You can contact me by clicking the 'info' link at the bottom of the memorial list.
I hope you will add content and look for ward to hearing from you.

All the best.


Martin