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Battle of the Lys 17 April 1918

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Penske666 (U9181113) on Saturday, 3rd January 2009

  Hi everyone - hope you have all had a great start to your new year
  
  I'm trying to locate where the York & Lancaster Regt. were on this battlefield on 17th April 1918 so I can roughly locate where my great-granddad was killed (Private L. Wilcox #31207) 1st/5th battalion. Also how do I find out more info on his service record? I have the details of his death but want start/training/active service details.
  
  Cheers.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by LongWeekend (U3023428) on Sunday, 4th January 2009

  Penske
  
  Try the Yorks and Lancs (known to the rest of the Army as the Cork and Doncasters) Regimental Museum.
  
  
  
  The battalion war diary should be in the National Archives.
  
  LW

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Triceratops (U3420301) on Sunday, 11th January 2009

  Penske,
  
  The 1st/5th York and Lancasters was part of the 49th Division. This Division was in front of Ypres on the 9th April and about midway between Ypres and Mount Kemmel on the 29th.
  I'm sorry I can't be more specific.
  
  Trike.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by LongWeekend (U3023428) on Monday, 12th January 2009

  Penske
  
  Had a chance to have a quick look in the Official History. Not a great deal of detail, but broadly:
  
  On 17 April, IX Corps was holding a line North of Bailleau. In the early morning, the Germans attacked 34 Div, dug in on the forward slopes of of the ridge SW of Mont Kemmel. The attack was repulsed, but in the 100 Brigade (reduced to the strength of a battalion) sector, the Germans gained a lodgement in a wood.
  
  Another battalion tried a company-sized counterattack, which failed. Then, at 1830hrs, after a 15 minute bombardment, 1/5 Yorks and Lancs (of 48 Bde, which presumably was serving as Corps Reserve, as 34 Div was not its parent formation) sent three companies to recover the wood. They also failed to dislodge the Germans. That night, the battalion relieved 100 Bde in the line.
  
  Of the 3 officers and 200 men who mounted the attack, 1 officer and 74 men were casualties.
  
  There was then a lull of a week, before the Germans renewed the attack and this time took Mont Kemmel.
  
  The regimental history should have rather more detail. Hope this helps.
  
  LW

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Is_Richo_in_yet (U1776441) on Wednesday, 21st January 2009

  You should ask the same question at the Great War Forum
  You may get more information

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