26th battalion, third battle of ypres, november 1917

[Margaret]

I am looking for information about my great uncle, who was wounded at Ypres on November 16, 1917.  He joined the 26th on June 26, 1917.  As far as I know, the btn did not see action again until November, when they were brought into the Ypres train station and moved into position on November 5th.  Their action began at 9am the next day and lasted until they took their objective around noon.  My great uncle, John Albert Toner ,was wounded during this period.  I am looking for information about what he would have been doing with the unit between June 26 and November 6, how he might have come to be wounded (Ithink he fell behind the rest of the unit and was caught relatively alone between the guns and the infantry where the germans were shelling).  Anyone who could shed light on this short period in Uncle Jack's life is encouraged to email me at margaret.toner@shaw.ca.  Much appreciated.

 

[Michael OLeary]

There was a regimental history of the 26th Bn C.E.F., that might help:

New Brunswick's "Fighting 26th": a history of the 26th New Brunswick Battalion, C.E.F., 1914-1919 / by S. Douglas MacGowan.   Saint John, N.B.: Neptune, c1994. 428 p.
D547 .C2 M225 1994

And I see that there is a copy listed through the site abebook.com: http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet...d.y=18&imageField.x=30&tn=Fighting+26th&sts=t

 

[1feral1]

G'Day from Sydney, Margaret.

I too, had a Great Uncle who fought at Passchendaele on the 6th of Nov, 1917. He was with the 28th Battalion, which was a Regina based Unit. The 26th also fought at Passchendaele that same day, but on the far right of the 28th.

Unfortunately my Great Uncle 267104 PTE R.F. Allen was hit by enemy fire in both legs, and left arm early in the fray (some reports list the wounds as GSWs (gun shot wounds) and another as SW (shrapnels wounds). It was a difficult evacuation under constant small arms fire, and with the mud and all, but for him, he kept his humour up, joking around, saying 'it looks like I am going home boys".

He was removed from the area by SB's and ended up at N0. 3 CCS near Rouen, where both legs and left arms were amputated. He was given morphine for the pain and died of his wounds the next day. He was 21, and never made it back to the Quill Lake District of Saskatchewan, where we (my family) come from.

As for the 28th, they reached their objective that day by 0900, and held it until relieved. It took a fair bit of research (even finding out what the METREP was that day, right down to the temperature), and I managed to find an old Vet in the Quill Lake District, back in the late 1970s who was present and knew Robert well (they had all joined up together in Wadena, Saskatchewan [214 Batt'n, Wadena Wildcats] in Jan 1916) when they were evacuating Robert out of the line.

I had also wrote to Vets Affairs and I got a complete copy of his service record, and the location of his burial. I have read many books, including Dancocks Legacy of Valour, The Canadians at Passchendaele, ISBN 0-88830-305-X. After just having a quick squizz, it lists the 26th, and what they did during the battle. Its out of print now, but you should be able to find a copy.

Good luck in reseaching your Great Uncle Jack.

Regards,

Wes

 

[logau]

Margaret

Follow this link http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/02015202_e.html and typ in 26th Battalion and the Unit War diary pops right up

You may also try this link on how to find out more of your WW1 relatives http://army.ca/forums/threads/19207.0.html

 

[logau]

How he might have been wounded is likely by artillery shell bursts

 

[logau]

War DIary Cover Page http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e039/e000969764.jpg
Nov 1 to 6 1917 http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e039/e000969765.jpg
Nov 7   to 15 1917 http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e039/e000969766.jpg
Nov 16 to 22 1917 http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e039/e000969767.jpg
NOv 23 t0 30 1917 http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e039/e000969768.jpg

OK he was wouinded on the 6th of Nov where were they?

at 11 pm Nov 5 1917 they moved into an Assembly area and also had a group at SEINE DUMP

180 soldiers were carrying stretchers for the rest of the attack
The units are spread out in various known positions as shown at the first link   Nov 1 to 6 1917 http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e039/e000969765.jpg

SITREP MAP! 5 NOV 1917 http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e039/e000969795.jpg

I will be back soon with the map references to get inisde the 26th Bn area of operations for the 5th of Nov 1917

 

[logau]

26th Bn Battle area - I think she meant 6 Nov vs 16 Nov as on 16 Nov they were back down in Vimy Ridge area to the west at Villers au Bois

Keep clicking the images and use VIEW FULL SCREEN

http://www.donlowconcrete.com/44/26bnnov517_files/fullscreen.htm

 

[logau]

Wes

If you want the grid refs of the 28th Area of OPs for 5-6 Nov just email me through this link

 

[1feral1]

I had a squizz at the above diary entiries of the 26th. Interesting stuff. How does one find the 28th diaries? Anything on the 28th on 05-08 Nov would be great.

Robert was TOS in July 1917 from a 'reserve battalion'.

Cheers,

Wes

 

[Michael OLeary]

You can access the database of online CEF War Diaries here:

http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/020152_e.html

 

[logau]

When that link comes up - type in 28th Battalion and away you go. I can provide more inisghts as you go.

Am back in Ottawa (the eye of the Army Storm where all skies are sunny ) on 27th