99th Anniversary

Ninety-nine years ago today Australian soldiers were involved in an offensive near Flers and Geuedecourt, France. 

 Thomas (my great-grandfather) and his fellow Australian soldiers of the 1st and 3rd Battalion attacked a 'triangle' just near Geuedecourt, France. Unfortunately a number of them were wounded and/or died during this attack.

This is an attack map for the 'triangle' attack on November 5th 1916

A little further along the front the 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th Battalions were also involved in this offensive. They were attacking a section called 'The Maze' and a larger number of these soldiers were wounded and/or killed then involved in the 'triangle' attack.

This is photograph of the original attack plan for the November 5th offensive.

 

 

Unfortunately for a number of the soldiers killed (especially in the 'triangle' attack) they remained un-buried where they fell until early March 1917. 

Memorial at Gueudcourt

After my last visit to Gueudecourt for the 95th anniversary of the death of Thomas and the other soldiers I decided that for the 100th I REALLY want to place a plaque in France commemorating them and the battle they lost their lives in.

A couple of months ago I decided to start to try and make this happen, I have contacted someone in France in the hope they can help me and I have started saving money for the plaque.

I have to admit in a perfect world I would be able to get the plaque I have imaged (and drawn) and it would be placed right near their burial site. I know I am going to have to settle for something else, but I will not settle for anything less then a plaque recognising the battle and the loss of lives.

I may have already posted the following previously on here - My image of the perfect plaque (or monument) to Thomas and the other soldiers would be the return of what was placed for them when they were originally buried (though in stone) - A simple cross bearing all their names. I have to admit when I told my family and friends most were a little confused (confused might not be the right word) as I am far from religious, but I feel it is only fitting that the cross be returned. I know others may not feel this way.

I will post updates on what happens when things occur (hopefully).

Continued Research

With continued research more information is turning up and yet it isn't. What is turning up is adding to the information of the 1st Battalion soldiers being buried March 1917. Yet the information isn't always specific - some of it is very general.



An example of the information adding to the knowledge of the burial of the 1st Battalion soldiers is to the right. This letter clearly states that William Gibney was buried about 450 yards North North West of Gueudecourt but after searching they couldn't locate his grave.


To me this letter proves that the soldiers were buried before the end of the war near Gueudecourt but for some unknown reason after the war their graves couldn't be found. One such reason could be the cross or crosses marking their graves was destroyed during the war. Also after reading war diaries I discovered that the area around Flers and Gueudecourt was bombed by the German for the following few months after March 1917 (when they were buried).


William Gibney had the same burial location in his military file as Thomas Rutherford. The record below is taken from William Gibney's military file.