I am on a quest for one of my near ancestors. He was James Percy Hewitt (Second Lieutenant) and he was killed on 5 April 1918. He was in the Somerset Light Infantry 8th battalion (detached from the 4th) but I can't find where they were at the time. His is commentated of the memorial at Arras rather than have a known grave, so he may died during the heavy German attacks over the previous few days. Any ideas?

Hello Tim
I have a book which you would find very interesting if you could get it from your local Library, or I bought mine online?
The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's) 1685-1959 by Liz Grant ISBN 0 86183 491 7
I'll quote you a paragraph from 1918:
"On 5th April the Germans launched a heavy attack on the whole front, north of the Somme from Bernancourt to Bucquoy, but gained little ground thanks to the defensive actions of the 37th Division and the 8th Battalion. The German offensive coincided with a planned attack by the Allied forces, which aimed to straighten out and strengthen their line. The Allied attack, involving the 8th Battalion was fairly successful, but it was forced to withdraw because of a loss of communication. A counter-attack by the enemy was beaton off, apart from a small sector where the enemy surrounded the troops there, capturing 20 Somerset men whose rifles were clogged with mud. A total of 161 men were killed, wounded or missing at the end of the day."
All those young men - it doesn't bear thinking about does it?
Jan

Hi Jan

Thank you so much. It now seems clear where my gr uncle was killed. I saw a copy of a book History of the Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's) 1914-1919 available, I would have to buy as I live abroad. I lost three members of my family in Somerset lights in WWI. One in the middle east and the two in France. Two were brothers and their other son died in flu epidemic of 1918/1919.

I like to add a piece to my trees about all the members of my family lost in the conflicts.

As I am not able to see the book you mentioned and I haven't found a review would you recommend it as a good source. It does not seem available at present. But hopefully one come up for sale.

Tim

Hi Tim

Try Halsgrove Publishing at http://www.halsgrove.co.uk/search.php

I found it a very interesting book because it gives the history of the regiment, plenty of photos, and those little reports on what action the various sections were involved in have proved very helpful.

Its half price from Halsgrove at the moment, so definitely worth thinking about I'd say.

Jan

HI Tim,
I also suggest that you write the regiment. I have done that for my relative and apparently each regiment has an archival section. They respond and the help I received was fantastic! Everything from where the regiment was posted over several years plus they identified the medals my relative was wearing in a picture of poor quality. The regiment was different but apparently all regiments must reply to a query. Just put the organization into google and their page will surface and lead you from there. The interest and assistance was exceptional.
Noreen

hi Tim

the Somerset Records Office holds the war diaries for the SLI

if you go to the website you can search the online catalogues.

if you know the regiment then you can find details in the diaries of what that regiment was doing on any given date

it is fascinating stuff, was able to see what my gt grandfathers reg was involved right up to the day he died in 1916 in France

regards

Bev

Hi Bev

Thank you very much for your reply and interest. I regret I live in Hungary so the records office is not on my doorstep. Like so many doing their research around the world I don't have ready access to a lot of papers. I also really appreciate all the help people like yourself give. I have ordered a copy of the book on the Light Infantry recommend to me which I hope will give me a lot of answers. But I also hope to get into the records office again in around a year.

Regards

Tim

hi tim

ok maybe your lucky day

guess where i live!!

email me all the info you have

when i next go to the records office i will look up the relevant war diaries and get them photocopied for you

i will need a postage address to send them

Bev

bevfarthing@hotmail.com