- 51st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps during the Great War -
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About
51st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps
The 51st Machine Gun Battalion was formed on the 19th of February 1918 from the Machine Gun Companies of 51st (Highland) Division in the Cambrai area, where they remained until the 21st of March 1918, when the enemy launched an overwhelming attack and the Division were engaged in a fighting withdrawal back to Bapaume. In April they moved north and fought in The Battles of the Lys before a quiet spell at Oppy near Arras, from May to July. They were then in action at The Battle of the Tardenois, The Battle of the Scarpe, The pursuit to the Selle and the Final Advance in Picardy. They were resting the Cambrai-Iwuy area at the Armistice and demobilisation began December. The 6th Black Watch, 4th Seaforth Highlanders and 4th Gordon Highlanders were selected to join the Army of Occupation on the Rhine and left for Germany in February 1919.
24th Dec 1917 Reorganisation
21st Jan 1918 Course
5th Feb 1918 Course Ends
13th Feb 1918 Personnel
19th Feb 1918 Formation
21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation
22nd Feb 1918 Arrival
2nd Mar 1918 HQ Established
11th Mar 1918 In Reserve
12th Mar 1918 Guns into Position
20th Mar 1918 Machine Guns into Position
21st Mar 1918 Enemy Attack
21st of March 1918 Intense Barrage
22nd Mar 1918 Under Pressure
22nd Mar 1918 Under Attack
23rd Mar 1918 In Action
23rd Mar 1918 Heavy Fighting
24th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal
25th Mar 1918 Pressed Back
26th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal
26th Mar 1918 Casualties
26th Mar 1918 HQ Moves
27th Mar 1918 On the Move
28th Mar 1918 On the Move
29th Mar 1918 Inspection
30th Mar 1918 On the Move
31st Mar 1918 Fierce Fighting
31st Mar 1918 At Rest
1st Apr 1918 At Rest
2nd Apr 1918 At Rest
3rd Apr 1918 Reinforcements
4th Apr 1918 Reinforcements
5th Apr 1918 Refitting
6th Apr 1918 Refitting
7th Apr 1918 Refitting
8th Apr 1918 New Billets
9th Apr 1918 Enemy Attacks
10th Apr 1918 Line Held
11th Apr 1918 Heavy Fighting
12th Apr 1918 Heavy Fighting
13th Apr 1918 In Defence
17th Apr 1918 Reinforcements
18th Apr 1918 Reinforcements
19th Apr 1918 Reliefs
20th Apr 1918 In Billets
21st Apr 1918 At Rest
22nd Apr 1918 Baths
23rd Apr 1918 Reliefs
24th Apr 1918 Training
25th Apr 1918 Training
26th Apr 1918 Reliefs
27th Apr 1918 Equipment
28th Apr 1918 Award
29th Apr 1918 Training
30th Apr 1918 TrainingIf you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
Want to know more about 51st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps?
There are:5285 items tagged 51st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps available in our Library
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
51st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps
during the Great War 1914-1918.
- Findlay David. L/Cpl. (d.18th July 1918)
- Melrose Thomas Shaw. Pte. (d.21st March 1918)
- Thornton Arol Edmond.
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List
Records of 51st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps from other sources.
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260471Arol Edmond Thornton 51st (Highland) Btn. Machine Gun Corps
Arol Thornton served with the 51st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps in WW1. This information was found in the book of poetry (among several) my grandfather had with him, probably acquired during his war. The entry is dated "4th of April 1919, Daren Germany" - guarding the Zeppelin factory. He never spoke about the war. His wife died in 1917 (while he was away) leaving my father (aged 2) with his grandmother. I do not know his war record even his service number gives no details. Arol died in 1968.Helen Powles
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