Comments on: The Bing Bong Boys http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2006/12/05/bing-bong-boys/ Failing better at understanding the past Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:11:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: michael mccall http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2006/12/05/bing-bong-boys/#comment-13969 michael mccall Wed, 21 May 2008 20:27:22 +0000 http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2006/12/05/bing-bong-boys/#comment-13969 Beginning to understand my father more & more & feel very humbled. Beginning to understand my father more & more & feel very humbled.

]]> By: Gavin Robinson http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2006/12/05/bing-bong-boys/#comment-11499 Gavin Robinson Sat, 22 Dec 2007 10:44:39 +0000 http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2006/12/05/bing-bong-boys/#comment-11499 Was he in 1/5th or 2/5th? You've probably already seen the official history of 1/5th Lincs, but this is all it has to say about Christmas 1917 (see <a href="http://www.4-lom.com/sandall/trenches-winter-1917.html" rel="nofollow">here</a> for the whole chapter; I've put the entire book online): "Christmas Day, marked by a heavy fall of snow, passed quietly, but was saddened by the accidental death of 2nd Lieut. Harvey, who was killed by the premature explosion of a rifle grenade which exploded 6 feet from the muzzle. More snow fell on the 26th, when we were relieved and proceeded to Divisional Reserve at Beuvry." It's not unusual for this book to only name officer casualties and ignore other ranks, so the battalion war diary might have more details of the incident. On the other hand if he died of wounds in hospital then it would be very difficult to find out when and where he was wounded. Was he in 1/5th or 2/5th?

You’ve probably already seen the official history of 1/5th Lincs, but this is all it has to say about Christmas 1917 (see here for the whole chapter; I’ve put the entire book online):

“Christmas Day, marked by a heavy fall of snow, passed quietly, but was saddened by the accidental death of 2nd Lieut. Harvey, who was killed by the premature explosion of a rifle grenade which exploded 6 feet from the muzzle. More snow fell on the 26th, when we were relieved and proceeded to Divisional Reserve at Beuvry.”

It’s not unusual for this book to only name officer casualties and ignore other ranks, so the battalion war diary might have more details of the incident. On the other hand if he died of wounds in hospital then it would be very difficult to find out when and where he was wounded.

]]> By: Steve Chambers http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2006/12/05/bing-bong-boys/#comment-11461 Steve Chambers Sat, 22 Dec 2007 01:30:08 +0000 http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2006/12/05/bing-bong-boys/#comment-11461 It's getting close to the 90th anniversary of my great uncle's death. He was a bandsman in the 5th Lincs. He died christmas day 1917, still trying to find out how. Glad to see that your grandad got out of it ok. It’s getting close to the 90th anniversary of my great uncle’s death. He was a bandsman in the 5th Lincs. He died christmas day 1917, still trying to find out how.
Glad to see that your grandad got out of it ok.

]]> By: Investigations of a Dog » 90 Years On http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2006/12/05/bing-bong-boys/#comment-9007 Investigations of a Dog » 90 Years On Sat, 17 Nov 2007 13:00:23 +0000 http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2006/12/05/bing-bong-boys/#comment-9007 [...] William A. Wenham (I’ve posted about William’s experiences in the Great War here and [...] [...] William A. Wenham (I’ve posted about William’s experiences in the Great War here and [...]

]]> By: Gavin Robinson http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2006/12/05/bing-bong-boys/#comment-7276 Gavin Robinson Wed, 24 Oct 2007 18:19:01 +0000 http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2006/12/05/bing-bong-boys/#comment-7276 I was going to suggest asking at the Great War Forum but I see you're already there. I can't add anything much as I've never looked into 8th battalion. I was going to suggest asking at the Great War Forum but I see you’re already there. I can’t add anything much as I’ve never looked into 8th battalion.

]]> By: matt eyre http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2006/12/05/bing-bong-boys/#comment-7262 matt eyre Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:37:29 +0000 http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2006/12/05/bing-bong-boys/#comment-7262 My Grandfather, Corporal William Needham, Lincolnshire Regt was posted missing on the 26th September 1915 (presumably with 8th Lincolns at Loos) and was a prisoner for the rest of the War, would love to find out any more info. He was from hasland, Chesterfield My Grandfather, Corporal William Needham, Lincolnshire Regt was posted missing on the 26th September 1915 (presumably with 8th Lincolns at Loos) and was a prisoner for the rest of the War, would love to find out any more info. He was from hasland, Chesterfield

]]> By: Investigations of a Dog » Google Trench Maps http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2006/12/05/bing-bong-boys/#comment-4943 Investigations of a Dog » Google Trench Maps Fri, 27 Jul 2007 18:44:54 +0000 http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2006/12/05/bing-bong-boys/#comment-4943 [...] great-grandfather was captured by the Germans in December 1916 (I wrote about that in more detail here and here). We’re lucky that the incident was recorded in enough detail to reconstruct it [...] [...] great-grandfather was captured by the Germans in December 1916 (I wrote about that in more detail here and here). We’re lucky that the incident was recorded in enough detail to reconstruct it [...]

]]> By: Ernest Taylor http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2006/12/05/bing-bong-boys/#comment-4476 Ernest Taylor Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:53:09 +0000 http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2006/12/05/bing-bong-boys/#comment-4476 Lance corporal Ernest Button 2237 1st/5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment killed in Action 13th October 1915 Lance corporal Ernest Button 2237 1st/5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment killed in Action 13th October
1915

]]> By: Investigations of a Dog » Berlin By Christmas http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2006/12/05/bing-bong-boys/#comment-511 Investigations of a Dog » Berlin By Christmas Wed, 17 Jan 2007 20:10:29 +0000 http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2006/12/05/bing-bong-boys/#comment-511 [...] More details of my great-grandfather’s experiences in the First World War, up to the night he got captured in December 1916. Since my last post on the subject we’ve uncovered a few more details of his life, including copies of his birth and marriage certificates. I’ve also had some invaluable help from Steve Bramley and Chris Bailey who are writing a new history of 5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, based on years of research. It turns out that Chris has been trying to trace William’s descendants to find out what happened to him after he went missing but had drawn a blank! Even with this new information it’s difficult to trace the movements of one individual, so this post is as much about the battalion as about the man. Most of this is paraphrasing the official history of the battalion written by its commanding officer (Lt. Col. T. E. Sandall, A History of the 5th Battalion the Lincolnshire Regiment, Oxford, Blackwell, 1922), along with some quotes from the battalion war diary (Public Records Office, WO95/2691). It should at least give an impression of what things were like. [...] [...] More details of my great-grandfather’s experiences in the First World War, up to the night he got captured in December 1916. Since my last post on the subject we’ve uncovered a few more details of his life, including copies of his birth and marriage certificates. I’ve also had some invaluable help from Steve Bramley and Chris Bailey who are writing a new history of 5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, based on years of research. It turns out that Chris has been trying to trace William’s descendants to find out what happened to him after he went missing but had drawn a blank! Even with this new information it’s difficult to trace the movements of one individual, so this post is as much about the battalion as about the man. Most of this is paraphrasing the official history of the battalion written by its commanding officer (Lt. Col. T. E. Sandall, A History of the 5th Battalion the Lincolnshire Regiment, Oxford, Blackwell, 1922), along with some quotes from the battalion war diary (Public Records Office, WO95/2691). It should at least give an impression of what things were like. [...]

]]> By: Gavin Robinson http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2006/12/05/bing-bong-boys/#comment-449 Gavin Robinson Fri, 12 Jan 2007 18:44:21 +0000 http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2006/12/05/bing-bong-boys/#comment-449 More information from the <a href="http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=42134" title="Great War forum" rel="nofollow">Great War forum</a>: his capture is also mentioned in the history of the German 77th Reserve Infantry Regiment. More information from the Great War forum: his capture is also mentioned in the history of the German 77th Reserve Infantry Regiment.

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