20th May 1915 On this day: Battle of Festubert    6th County of London Brigade RFA report: 15th London Battery fired thirty six rounds at registering gaps on K.5. 16th London Battery did not fire. The attack was continued. War Diaries Battle of Festubert    Secret 47th Div Artillery Instructions 20th May 1915 (1) The following received from 47th Div. The offensive of the First Army is to be continued towards La Bassee. Alderson's force is to secure localities L.11 - L.12 - L.9 and group of houses P.13 - P.14 - P.15 - P.16. Indian Corps is to secure localities Q.15 - Q.16 - R.8. Troops of the 47th Div. holding the line will use every means by day and night to harass the enemy continually. All avenues of approach to the enemy's forward positions are to be kept under shrapnel fire by day and night especially between dusk and 2200. (2) 47th Div. Arty. will deal with communication trench K.13 - J.21 Charelle St Roche and cross roads Charelle St Roche in particular. (3) In continuation of above, the 3rd Canadian Inf. Bde. will tonight secure localities L.12 and L.11 with two companies. The assault will take place at 1945 proceeded by a heavy bombardment of 9.2" guns from 1800 to 1900 and from guns of the Canadian Div. Arty. from 1600 to 1945. At the same hour a small party of the Canadian Inf. Bde. will attack points --.9 and --.12, These points will have been similarly submitted to an Artillery. bombardment (4) All ground gained will be consolidated and joined up. (5) The 2nd Canadian Inf. Bde. with two companies will secure K.5 at 1945. A heavy bombardment of K.5 and surrounding trenches will be carried out by 9.2" guns from 1800 to 1900 and by heavy and field guns of the Canadian Div. Arty. from 1600 to 1945. After 1945 the 9.2" guns will fire at L.8. (6) As soon as K5 is secured the trenches towards J.1 and L.8 will be secured as far as possible by bombing outwards. All ground gained will be consolidated and joined up. (7) 2nd Div. will keep up a slow continuous bombardment throughout the night on P.15 to P.16 and Rue Du Marais. (8) The heavy gun group will bombard through the night K.13 and Charelle St Roche. (9) All avenues of approach to enemy's forward positions are to be kept under shrapnel fire by day and night and particularly between dusk and 2200. (10) 47th Div. Arty. will deal with communication trench K.13 - J.21 Charelle St Roche and cross roads Charelle St Roche in particular (11) No infantry fire will be directed north of the line J.3 - L.13 (12) All troops will be in a state of constant readiness except the Div. Reserve, 7th Div., Mounted Troops and 7th London Regiment. (13) Horses will not be saddled. Signed D.S. Sherlock Bde. Major 47th Div. Arty. War Diaries The "Second Battle of Ypres". 1st Battalion fighting at Sanctuary Wood, Zillebeke, Belgium May 1915.   1st Battalion fighting at Sanctuary Wood, Zillebeke, Belgium. 14th Heavy Battery proceed to France   14th Heavy Battery RGA land in France   entrenched Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders arrive   Lt. Macleod proceeds to Gris Pot to be instructed in medical work in the trenches by Lt. Chandler. 10 Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders arrived in billets at Blue Blind Factory attached to 19th 1B till 22nd inst. Hyposulphite of soda unobtainable at present. Some 50 Respirators already soaked - awaiting hypo to continue. War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance, Erquinghem-Lys  Into Billets    On this day the Tyneside Irish Brigade, along with many other troops paraded on the Town Moore in Newcastle to be inspected by His Majesty the King, who was accompanied by Lord Kitchener, research  122nd Brigade inspected  An Adventure  11th Royal Scots under Instruction  Working Parties  Enemy Mine Explodes  13th Londons on the March  New Fellows in the Company  Working Parties  Working Parties  Into the Trenches  Into the Trenches  On the Move  Movement orders  Troop Distribution  Working Parties and Reorganisation  Reliefs Complete  Reliefs  On the March  At Rest  Quiet  Shelling  On the March  In Support  In Billets  Recce  On the Move  In the Trenches  Relief Complete  Advance Party  Water Crates  On the Move  Instruction  Working Party  Gun Destroys Sap  Respirators  Instruction  On the Move  Reliefs  Reliefs  In Town  Practice with Incendiary Shells  Resting and checking rolls.  In Action  Reorganisation  Working Parties Can you add to this factual information? Do you know the whereabouts of a unit on a particular day? Do you have a copy of an official war diary entry? Details of an an incident? The loss of a ship? A letter, postcard, photo or any other interesting snipts? If your information relates only to an individual, eg. enlistment, award of a medal or death, please use this form: Add a story.

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Want to know more about 20th of May 1915? There are:52 items tagged 20th of May 1915 available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.

Remembering those who died this day, 20th of May 1915. Stoker 1st Class William Arnold. Hood Btn. Royal Naval Division Read their Story. Pte. Peter Bishop. 2nd Btn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers Read their Story. Sjt. George Ernest Victor Cullingworth. 2nd Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers Read their Story. Col. George Herbert Farrar. DSO, MID. General Staff Read their Story. Pte. Walter Young Gibson. 1st Battalion Royal Scots Read their Story. Pte. Joseph Hateley. 1st Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment Read their Story. L/Cpl. Eugene Patrick Mahony. 2nd Btn. Read their Story. Pte. Malcolm Marshall. 1st Battalion Royal Scots Read their Story. Add a name to this list.

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