Stan.J
26-03-2009, 19:33
I am reading at present "Passchendaele" The sacrificial ground... by Nigel Steel and Peter Hart.
The following report by Captain Arthur Glanville.2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers:-." Aug.16..Attack at dawn -- given away by Sergeant Phillips. Boche puts up terrible barrage before zero as we are moving into position."
The enigmatic reference to Sergeant Phillips was occasioned by the belief that spread throughout the army that treachery had given the Germans advanced warning of the attack.
Quote:- I was shown a report captured from a German digout in the front line which had been translated and circulated by our GHQ. The night before, (Aug 15th) a Sergeant of the Welsh Fusiliers who had been employed as a clerk at GHQ and had been returned to the front line for disciplinary purposes, had treacherously deserted to the enemy taking with him not only information of tomorrows attack, but also a copy of a map on which was indicated the position of every battery on that section of the British front."...G,.E.Mackenzie 153rd Brigade, Royal Horse artillery.
In these circumstance the Irish had little chance of success, and they made a pitiably weak site as the thin lines struggled forward lashed by machine-gun bullets and scything fragments of shell.
I wonder how true this was?? It sounds plausible in regard to the Germans guns earmarking with uncanny effect the sites of the British heavy guns.
Passchendaele, or the third battle of Ypres..was a killing ground ...
My Wifes Uncle died of his wounds there..Many families would have been shocked if they had thought that a traitor had led to these brave mens deaths....So unnecessary...
Any thoughts or ideas? was it true? I don`t know???
The following report by Captain Arthur Glanville.2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers:-." Aug.16..Attack at dawn -- given away by Sergeant Phillips. Boche puts up terrible barrage before zero as we are moving into position."
The enigmatic reference to Sergeant Phillips was occasioned by the belief that spread throughout the army that treachery had given the Germans advanced warning of the attack.
Quote:- I was shown a report captured from a German digout in the front line which had been translated and circulated by our GHQ. The night before, (Aug 15th) a Sergeant of the Welsh Fusiliers who had been employed as a clerk at GHQ and had been returned to the front line for disciplinary purposes, had treacherously deserted to the enemy taking with him not only information of tomorrows attack, but also a copy of a map on which was indicated the position of every battery on that section of the British front."...G,.E.Mackenzie 153rd Brigade, Royal Horse artillery.
In these circumstance the Irish had little chance of success, and they made a pitiably weak site as the thin lines struggled forward lashed by machine-gun bullets and scything fragments of shell.
I wonder how true this was?? It sounds plausible in regard to the Germans guns earmarking with uncanny effect the sites of the British heavy guns.
Passchendaele, or the third battle of Ypres..was a killing ground ...
My Wifes Uncle died of his wounds there..Many families would have been shocked if they had thought that a traitor had led to these brave mens deaths....So unnecessary...
Any thoughts or ideas? was it true? I don`t know???