- 12th Infantry Brigade during the Great War -
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12th Infantry Brigade
18th Aug 1914 Concentration
19th Aug 1914 Concentration
25th Aug 1914 On the March
26th Aug 1914 Shellfire
27th Aug 1914 Enemy Advance
27th August 1914 On the Move
28th Aug 1914 Enemy Advance
28th Aug 1914 On the March
29th Aug 1914 In Action
29th Aug 1914 On the March
30th Aug 1914 Rear Guard
30th of August 1914 A Hot March
30th Aug 1914 On the March
31st August 1914 Outpost positions
31st Aug 1914 Rear Guard
31st August 1914 Continued withdrawals
31st Aug 1914 On the March
1st Sep 1914 Rear Guard
1st Sep 1914 On the March
1st Sep 1914 On the March
2nd Sep 1914 Rear Guard
2nd Sep 1914 On the March
3rd Sep 1914 Rear Guard
3rd of September 1914 Across the Marne
3rd Sep 1914 On the March
4th Sep 1914 Rear Guard
4th Sep 1914 At Rest
5th Sep 1914 Rear Guard
6th Sep 1914 Advance Guard
6th Sep 1914 On the March
7th Sep 1914 Advance Guard
8th Sep 1914 Advance Guard
9th Sep 1914 Bridging
10th of September 1914 Marching
13th of September 1914 A Showery March
15th Sep 1914 Shelling
15th of September 1914 An Attack Falters
16th Sep 1914 Entrenching
17th September 1914
17th Sep 1914 Entrenching
18th Sep 1914 Trench Work
28th Sep 1914 Hard at Work
29th Sep 1914 Attack Imminent
13th Oct 1914 On the March
14th Oct 1914 On the March
16th Oct 1914 Defensive Positions
18th October 1914 Relief action
19th Oct 1914 Entrenching
21st October 1914 Ongoing Action
23rd Oct 1914 Wire Entanglements
30th Oct 1914 Under Shellfire
1st Nov 1914 Entrenching
17th Nov 1914 Trench Difficulties
18th Nov 1914 Bridges and Trenches
19th Nov 1914 Snow
27th Nov 1914 Bridge, Shelters and Trenches
5th Dec 1914 Bridge Dismantled
5th December 1914 Quiet
9th Dec 1914 Trench Work
9th December 1914 Uniforms
10th Dec 1914 Trench and Road Work
11th Dec 1914 Aerodrome
13th Dec 1914 Flares
26th Dec 1914 Back to Work
2nd Jan 1915 Trench Work, Huts and Paths
13th Jan 1915 Trench Work
31st Jan 1915 Defence Work
6th Feb 1915 Instruction
19th of February 1915 Three Airships?
30th of April 1915 Fairly Quiet Day
2nd of May 1915 A Suspected Spy
2nd May 1915 Gas
3rd May 1915 Heavy Shelling
6th of May 1915 Another Attack Fails
14th May 1915 Orders
14th May 1915 Instruction
14th May 1915 Divisional Reserve At 11:30am Orders received from 50th Division placing 149th Brigade under the orders of the 4th Division. Brigade Major to report at 4th Division H.Q. for orders.At 1.30pm In accordance with verbal instruction from 4th Division Battalions of the Brigade were attached as under G.Brigades of the 4th Division. 6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers to the 11th Brigade. 7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers to the 12th Brigade. 5th Border Reg. to the 10th Brigade. The 6th and 7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers had proceeded during the preceding night to join their respective Brigades and orders for the move of the 5th Border Reg. would be issued later in the day also instructions as to the disposal of the remaining two Battalions (4th and 5th Northumberland Fusiliers ) of the Brigade.
At 5.40pm Orders received for movement of 5th Border Regiment One company to report at 1900 with machine gun section to R. Warwick Regiment in chateau grounds H2b. One Company to Argyll and Sutherland in Vlamertinghe. One company to Seaforth in B27A. Orders for more of remaining Companies would be sent next day.
At 5.50pm Orders issued personally to O.C. 5th Border Reg. as to above moves. Orders issued to 4th and 5th Northumberland Fusiliers to supply the following working parties to report at 8pm at level crossing in H11 centre where they would be met by guides. 4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (Party B 200 men with 180 shovels and 20 picks. 5th Battalion N.F. (Party A 150 men with 140 shovels and 10 picks. (Party C 50 men with 45 shovels.) Also at 5.50pm Orders received from 4th Division confirming verbal orders given to Brigade Major at 1.30pm and placing the 4th and 5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers in Divisional reserve under Brigadier General Feilding D.S.O.
At 7pm Orders were issued in accordance with above.
149th Brigade war diary
17th May 1915 Working Parties
17th May 1915 Working Parties 1.15pm Orders received by 149th Brigade HQ at Hospital Farm from 4th Division for working parties to be found from the Brigade same as ordered for yesterday. At 1.45pm Orders issued to 4th and 5th Btn's Northumberland Fusiliers to find these parties.6pm Instruction received from 4th Division that the 7th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers at present attached to 12th Brigade were to reform 149th Brigade on 19th inst and placing the area immediately surrounding Brigade HQ as bivouac for them. Arrangements for the move to be made between brigades concerned.
Day passed quietly with rain at intervals. Night heavy rain.
149th Brigade war diary
18th May 1915 Working Parties
18th May 1915 Orders At 10am 12th Brigade asked by 149th Brigade to issue instructions to 7th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers to move into bivouac at Hopital Ferme not later than 10am on 19th May. Fourth division informed.2pm Orders received for working parties to be found by the Brigade as under: 200 men to parade at 7pn in their bivouacs to work under Lt Bretherton RE on Divisional Second line. 200 to parade in their bivouacs to work under Lt Martel RE on French switch line.
2.5pm Orders issued to 4th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers to find both these parties.
8pm Orders received from 4th Division that 4th or 5th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers were to be attached to 12th Brigade for a period of trench work. Details of attachment to be made by Brigadiers concerned.
149th Brigade war diary
19th May 1915 Working Parties and Attachments
19th May 1915 Working Parties and Attachments At 9.10am 12th Brigade requested 149th Brigade to say when and where the 7th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers should report.10am 7th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers arrived Hopital Ferme and bivouacked.
Fourth Division informed that 5th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers had been detailed for a period of attachment to 12th Brigade.
Brigadier General Feilding DSO granted four days leave of absence to proceed to England. At 12.30pm Brigadier General Feilding left HQ for England. Command of the Brigade devolved to Col. A.H. Coles CMG DSO 5th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers.
2pm Orders for following working parties received: 200 men to parade at their bivouacs at 7pm to work under Lt Bretherton RE on Divisional second line. 200 men to parade at their bivouacs at 8.30pm to work under Lt Green RE on French Switch line. At 2.15pm Orders issued to 7th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers to furnish first party and to 4th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers to furnish second party.
At 3pm Instructions received from 12th Brigade that 5th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers were to be attached as under. Companies to report at 11.30am. 20th inst:
1 Coy signals MO 2nd Essex Regiment HQ road in A21 a995.
1 Coy 1st Kings Own HQ South of road A23 G22
1 Coy 1 machine gun 1st/2nd Monmouths HQ Vlamertinghe Church
1 company 1 machine gun 2nd Royal Irish HQ A16 Central
HQ to 1/2nd Monmouths
3.15pm Orders issued to 5th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers in accordance with above instructions and 4th Division informed.
At 5.30pm Instruction received by Fourth Division that a relief of 11th Brigade by 12th Brigade the 6th Northumberland Fusiliers attached to the former should return to the brigade and go to the dugout in B27 or to Hopital Ferme as GOC 149th may direct.
149th Brigade war diary
24th of May 1915 Attempts to force enemy out
26th May 1915 In the Trenches
27th May 1915 Orders
28th May 1915 Instruction
29th May 1915 Instruction
30th May 1915 Instruction
7th Jun 1915 Recce
July 1915 Appointments
24th Jul 1915 Reorganisation
11th of September 1915 Moves
19th of October 1915 Trench Instructions
1st of November 1915 Marching Orders
3rd of November 1915 Moving to Billets
4th of November 1915 More Moves
5th of November 1915 Training
6th of November 1915 Brigade Movements
7th of November 1915 Present Stations
27th of November 1915 Move
29th of November 1915 Moves Completed
19th of December 1915 Movement Instructions
1st of January 1916 Move
4th of January 1916 More Moves
6th of January 1916 Moving Around
8th of January 1916 Moves
15th of January 1916 Divisional Transfers
24th of January 1916 Machine Gun Companies Assemble
26th of January 1916 Divisional School Assembly
2nd of February 1916 Moving to the Trenches
19th of February 1916 Under Heavy Fire
26th Apr 1916 Trench Work
5th of June 1916 Training
12th June 1916 Inspection by General Sir Chas Munro Commanding 1st Army
28th June Letters Home The raider did not get much rest for on the 27th and 28th the Battalions of 34th Division began to move forward. This in preparation for the opening of the attack. For the previous four days the British Artillery had been bombarding the German trenches. Every man in the Brigade was aware that the opening of the offensive was very close. Before setting off for the front line men wrote what could be their last letters home. However the date and time of attack was to be delayed by forty eight hours. Heavy summer rain had fallen on the 26th and 27th there was a great possibility of flooding. On the 28th June the decision was taken to postpone the attack. The Divisional and Brigade staff Officers had the job of halting and turning around those battalions on their way to the front line.research
1st July 1916 Bombardment
2nd July 1916 Trenches in Poor State
3rd Jul 1916 Shelling 0355. 18th DLI Inform Brigade of heavy shelling by enemy at 2.15am was of ---- shells.2035. Brigade instructed 18th Btn DLI to get in touch with Duke of Wellingtons Regiment of 12th Brigade, on their right at Delaunay.
The National Archives 18DLI War Diary Appx 1 WO95/2361/1
3rd July 1916 Repairs
30th January 1918 Preparing for move to Madhij
27th March 1918 Rested and watered from pools in Wadi Hauran.If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
Want to know more about 12th Infantry Brigade?
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These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
Those known to have served with
12th Infantry Brigade
during the Great War 1914-1918.
- McKenna John James. Cpl. 1st Btn.
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262624Cpl. John James McKenna 1st Btn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
John McKenna served with the 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers from 1900 to 1908 and saw action in the Second Boer War 1900-1903 He was awarded the Queens South Africa Medal with 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, and South Africa 1901 and 1902 He then transferred to the 2nd Battalion R.I.F. and served until 1912 when he re-enlisted to complete 12 years service. He was posted to Home Duty, Omagh, and Devonport, England and received an Honorable Discharge.In The Great War he served with the British Expeditionary Force, III Corps, 4th Division, 12th Brigade as a Private in the 2nd Battalion R.I.F. and saw action in the First Battle of the Aisne, First Battle of Messines, Battle of Armentieres, First Battle of Ypres Battle of Neuve Chapel, Battle of Aubers Ridge and the Battle of Festubert
On 15th of February 1915 he joined 7th Battalion R.I.F. and saw action in the Battle of Hulluch, Battle of the Somme, Battle of Guillemont, Battle of Guinchy and the Battle of Messines. The battlion then became the 7th/8th Battalion R.I.F. and John was in action at the Battle of Saint Quentin where he was severely wounded on the 30th of March 1918.
He was transferred to the 3rd Reserve Battalion for hospitalization and recuperation then received an Honorable Discharge
He was awarded the 1914 Medal (Mons Star), Victory Medal and British War Medal This the Service Record I have extrapolated by comparing Pension Medical Records, available British Army Service Records, and Official British Military Operations Records
My Grandfather, John James McKenna was born in Emyvale, Co Monaghan, Ireland in 1883. His Father was a shoemaker. In 1900 He enlisted to fight in the Second Boer War. His steady income from soldiering enabled his father to purchase the farm they had been leasing for many years, and to put on a new slate roof. In 1912 he married and returned to civilian life in Belfast where he was a tram driver. Swept back into service in 1914, he survived the conflict and went on to serve in the Irish Republican Army, and Irish National Army from 1920 to 1923. Unable to reclaim his job in Belfast, they departed Ireland. In October 1923, he and family of six arrived in the United States aboard the USS Samaria. They settled in Lockport, Illinois, where he worked mostly as pipe fitter with the railroad. He passed in December 1950 in Sacramento California. Though he was only 5 feet 4 inches and 115 pounds when he enlisted, he proved to be a formidable warrior, and ultimate survivor.
Sean McKenna
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