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Lonsdale Battalion events that took place on 11 April.
For events that took place elsewhere, see 11 April on The Great War wiki.
1915 (Sunday)
- Letter to Lt-Col. Machell from B.L. Montgomery: “As the move is put off for at least two weeks I hardly think it necessary to send a section from each company to Grantham. Your advance party will have plenty of time to get things straight, while we go on with the training. You can if you like bring back one of the two officers you sent down there. One officer at Grantham would be quite enough; however that is as you like.[1]
- Private F.G. Atkinson is 25 minutes late at tattoo and is confined to barracks for three days.[2]
1916 (Tuesday)
- Senlis: Situated in billets involved in training.
- Lance Corporal W.H. Postlethwaite writes a letter to the Workington Star and Harrington Guardian from a home hospital:
“Dear Sir, I have received with much pleasure your postcard informing me that my Uncle, Mr. W.T. Pursglove, of Philadelphia, U.S.A, has sent to you money and instructions for you to forward to me a parcel of your cigarettes to the value of £1. It is evident that my uncle at time of writing was unaware that I had been wounded, and naturally expected you carrying out his wishes by sending them out to me in France. Therefore, it is my wish that you would kindly send out the parcel of cigarettes and twist tobacco, to the value of £1, to my Platoon in France, with the exception of a small amount of cigarettes, which I should be obliged if you would send on to me in this hospital. I know only too well the value of a cigarette in the trenches, and I am sure the men of my Platoon will appreciate the parcel so much. In concluding, I am pleased to say that I am well on the road to recovery, and trust soon to be up North to see the old home town once again. Wishing yourself, your staff and readers the very best of health and luck.[3]
1917 (Wednesday)
- Holnon: In front line improving trenches, fire positions and communication trenches. Reconnaissance of ground in front.
- Deaths: John Reuben Hampson (24382 Pte.)
1918 (Thursday)
- In the Line: Day quiet except for shelling of front line shortly after dawn.
- Protective and reconnoitring patrols go out early morning.
- From observation post movement is seen in enemy outposts, round Moyenville and along the roads opposite our front.
- D Company relieves A Company – A Company moves into Brigade Reserve. Here they dig themselves in.
- C Company relieves B Company.
- C Company's old positions in support are abandoned and B Company occupies old reserve positions.
- Joseph Watson (202966) is killed in action.
- James Forbes-Robertson of the 1st Border Regiment is award the Victoria Cross for his actions on this day:
“On the first occasion, when troops in front were falling back, he made a rapid reconnaissance on horse back in full view of the enemy, under heavy machine gun and close range shell fire. He then organised, and still mounted, lead a counter-attack which was completely successful in re-establishing our line. When his horse was shot under him he continued on foot.
Later on the same day, when troops to the left of his line were giving way, he went to the flank and checked and steadied the line, inspiring confidence by his splendid coolness and disregard of personal danger. His horse was wounded three times and he was thrown five times.
The following day, when the troops on both his flanks were forced to retire, he formed a post at Battalion Headquarters and with his battalion still held his ground, thereby covering the retreat of troops on his flanks. Under the heaviest fire this gallant officer fearlessly exposed himself when collecting parties, organising and encouraging.
On a subsequent occasion, when troops were retiring on his left and the condition of things on his right were obscure, he again saved the situation by his magnificent example and cool judgement. losing a second horse, he continued alone on foot until he had established a line to which his own troops would withdraw and so conform to the general situation.[4]
References
- ↑ Record No. DLONS/L/13/13/116
- ↑ Record No. DLONS/L/13/13/108
- ↑ Well on the Road to Recovery. Published 21 April, 1916.
- ↑ London Gazette, (Supplement) no. 30697, p.6057
Sources: Various sources contemporary to the war have been used to compile the Lonsdale Battalion on this day... (hover to read more)
Various sources contemporary to the war have been used to compile The Lonsdale Battalion On This Day. The majority of the events shown on this day (11 April), including any supplementary notes, enlistments and statistical data etc., have been primarily sourced from the Lonsdale Battalion War Diary (November 1915 to June 1918), Record of the XIth (Service) Battalion (Lonsdale) and abridged material from Timeline and Chronology of the Lonsdale Battalion (September 1914 - May 1915), which are sourced from the original DLONS/L/13/13 Lowther Estate Archives. Events from that chronology are reproduced here with kind permission of Jim Lowther (2016). They are identified and referenced separately by their unique DLONS numbers. Please do not publish these events without prior permission from the Lowther Estate. All casualty names, numbers, ranks, date of deaths and places of burial/commemoration have been sourced from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-19, Volume 39, The Border Regiment and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database respectively.