The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

columba · Joined: 19 Feb 2014 Posts: 404

I'm not sure if this should be in Queries/Requests but here goes.

A lady at church asked my to find out where her uncle was buried.
Henry Rose
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service No: S/40684
Date of Death: 28/10/1917
Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 10th Bn.
Grave Reference: III. A. 7.
Cemetery: RAMSCAPPELLE ROAD MILITARY CEMETERY
(He was originally buried in Oost Dunkerque Bains Military Cemetery and was killed in action, as opposed to died of wounds)

The cemetery is near the Belgian coast, so far so good. Now, with all the mention of the Somme etc in the media, she wants to know which battle he was killed in.
From CWGC: Historical Information
From June to November 1917, Commonwealth Forces (XV Corps) held the front line in Belgium from St.Georges (now Sint Joris), near Ramskapelle, to the sea.
I assumed from this that he had been killed during the German offensive to capture the Belgian coast or perhaps during a skirmish.
However, according to the Long Long trail, he wouldn't have been in the XV corps. The 10th Argylls were in the 9th Scottish division which was at Paschendaele from September 1917.

I was wondering if some of the experts on here could shed some light on this. Is it possible that he was posted to XV corps? Or would he have been buried there from Paschendaele? (It isn't that far away)
Thank you in advance!
Sandra

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2016 5:06 pm Post subject:

That is a puzzle!
His service record exist on Ancestry but I'm afraid it doesn't help a lot.
He was 17 and a bit when he enlisted in the Territorials at Clydebank in March 1914. Born in Greenock he was working as a Porter with the North British Railway Company (possibly at Singer Station)
He is named on the NB memorial in Edinburgh Waverley Station.
His father was Albert Rose of 9 Southbank Street, Clydebank.
He landed at Boulogne 0n 4 August 1916 and was posted to the 10th A&SH on 18 October 1916. He moved to the Trench Mortar Battery in February 1917 and was wounded on 3 May with a gun shot wound to the hand.
I'm not sure what happens next but he appears to have been attached to various medical units until he was killed on 28 October 1917.

This might explain why he was away from his battalion but..............
_________________
Ken

columba · Joined: 19 Feb 2014 Posts: 404

Ken, you are a wonder! Thank you so much for that info; as you say, it doesn't answer my question but it gives Jessie so much more detail about her uncle. I'm sure she will be delighted!

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2016 11:57 am Post subject:

There was another 10th Argylls man killed on the same day and buried in the same cemetery. Private G.G. Cowan.

Two men from the 8th Black Watch were also buried in Oost Dunkerque Bains Military Cemetery a few days later. One who died on 3.11.1917 is listed on the CWGC database as 8th Bn but on the old IWGC paperwork it notes he was attached to a TMB. Like L/Cpl Rose in a Trench Mortar Battery

8th Black Watch and 10th Argylls were both in the 26th Brigade, 9th Scottish Division so the TMB would have been the 26th Trench Mortar Battery. Now you have to cross your fingers that that unit wrote up a war diary at that time and it survives.

Thanks

Adam

columba · Joined: 19 Feb 2014 Posts: 404

Fingers crossed indeed Adam!