I have to say after reading Andy's thread .... I can't stop thinking about it ! I had never heard the whole story - had you ? http://ww1talk.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=2807#post2807 So ... the soldiers that died .... were they reported as " killed in action " ? I've got loads of questions now ....... Annie
What about the people involved .... what do we know about them ? Brigadier-General Andrew Graham Thomson (Apparently his son was killed early in WWI, and the governess described in an interview - how this contributed to his already dour and taciturn personality) According to the London Gazette Colonel (temporary BGen) A. G. Thomson was retired 8 Feb 1919. He received the CB and CMG. And does anybody know what happened to Captain E.F. Strachan, Assistant Provost Marshal ?? Annie
The Bullring The brutal retraining ground known as the 'Bullring' at Etaples. The troops who had returned from leave or from convalescence would be 'toughened' up here before being returned to the trenches. The picture here shows bayonet practice on the beach. Up to 20,000 men would be drilled here at one time. On the 8th of September 1917 it was the setting for a mass sit-down protest against the brutal treatment by the drill NCOs and military police and marked the beginning of the mutiny.
Seems like this lady had a lot to say about things ! ........ Lady Angela Forbes Lady Angela Forbes was the forces sweetheart at the camp and was extremely voiciferous in her feelings towards the brutal treatment of soldiers there. She was a friend of the Royal Family and very repected in British high society, it's said that she infuriated Haig who called her ' That Damn Woman ' when she told of what was happening at Etaples (the records are released in 2017) http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1918/jan/22/lady-angela-forbes http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1918/feb/05/lady-angela-forbess-canteen http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/largerimage.php?LinkID=mp82044&rNo=0&role=sit
Bless his heart ... he was only 21 ! In Memory of Corporal W B WOOD 240120, 1st/4th Bn., Gordon Highlanders who died age 21 on 09 September 1917 Son of John and Rebecca Wood, of 10, Mid St., Rosehearty, Aberdeenshire. Native of Rosehearty, Aberdeenshire. Remembered with honour ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY SNWM Surname - Wood First name - William Service Number - 240120 Date Death - 09/09/1917 Decoration Place of birth - Pitsligo Aberdeenshire Other - 4th Bn. SNWM roll - The Gordon Highlanders Rank - Corporal Theatre of death - France and Flanders SDGW has Pte Wood as enlisting in Fraserburgh and also lists him as "Died of Wounds" Wonder if his family were told how he died ?
In Memory of Lance Corporal JESSE ROBERT SHORT 26/626, 24th (Tyneside Irish) Bn., Northumberland Fusiliers who died age 30 on 04 October 1917 Son of William and Margaret Elinor Short; husband of Dinah Short, of 11, Parkinson St., Felling, Co., Durham. Remembered with honour BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY
