5th Field Coy, Royal Engineers.

[kitto]

Hi,
I have found a death record for a gg uncle who was killed in action 6th Nov 1914. I am interested to know about the battle records for the Royal Engineers at the time.
I have some information about my gg uncle - Sapper William James Hooton 22518. But I would like to know more about where he may have been when he fell.
Records from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission give a map reference for where his body was found and later put in 'Hooge Crater Cemetery'. Is there any way of knowing what map the reference relates to?
Any information on the 5th field Company, Royal Engineers in 1914 would be appreciated! 

[Romilly]

Hi Kitto,

Was he from Peckham, SE London?

If so, there is some info about him in the 'Damaged' WW1 Service Records on Ances***. Do you already have this?

Romilly.

[kitto]

Yes, thanks Romilly, unfortunately it doesn't give specifics other than 'killed in action'.

[newburychap]

5th Field Coy, RE, was a divisional unit within 2nd Division: http://www.1914-1918.net/2div.htm

Their war diaries are at TNA - you can download (GBP 3.30) the section relevant to you chap via http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/details?Uri=C14016743

The map reference is what it says it is - with the right map the location can be easily identified - in this case it is in Polygon Wood, near a crossing of two of the tracks through the wood.  However, the references are only accurate to 50m - which is not that great when it comes to locating a single grave.

[kitto]

Wow newburychap! That is all so helpful, thank you! 

[Rudolf H B]

Hi Kitto,

the RE sappers did also tunneling and laying very big mines. - The result had been the famous "craters", but the Hooge crater has been done in 1915.

I am almost sure that William has been killed in the First Battle of Ypres.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_Ypres

Hooge Crater Cemetery
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooge_Crater_Commonwealth_War_Graves_Commission_Cemetery

Regards
Rudolf

[kitto]

Thanks Rudolf, fascinating stuff! 

[newburychap]

Search for 50.853020, 2.981810 on google maps and you will be pretty close to the map reference.

Your chap would not have been tunnelling, that didn't get going until they had settled into trench warfare - the battle for Polygon Wood in Nov 14 was at the end of 1st Ypres - the battle that ended the early mobile phase of the war and set out the territory of each side that would be divided by the trench lines from then on. Given the desperate state of the BEF in Nov 14 he could well have been in the line as an infantryman.  The war diary will, hopefully, flesh out the story.

[kitto]

Thanks for this newburychap. The place that you show, the museum and the cemetery all seem close together, so I may have to plan a trip to Belgium! 
The war diary from TNA that you suggested was an incredible read and gave a vivid account of the movements at the time. The date recorded as my gg uncle's death, showed nothing eventful, simply saying "ordered to join 6th bde, but nos 1 & 2 sections returned to work for the 5th bde". However, a few days later, there is an account of the Germans breaking through, with reference to the collection of dead and wounded by night and the burial of the dead by day. It is a harrowing, yet fascinating, read. I would not have known of the existence of these war diaries had it not been for your information, so many thanks again!!