War diary of the 8th Battalion British West Indies Regiment

War diary of the 8th Battalion British West Indies Regiment

From the beginning of the voyage from the Caribbean in July 1917 there were numerous cases of bronchial conditions and diarrhoea. Almost two weeks passed before they diminished, and towards the end a few men were isolated for suspected chickenpox and measles. Then for the first three weeks after arrival in Brest, France a full outbreak of measles occurred and 40 men were evacuated for treatment. The battalion was detailed to supply working parties for the Heavy Artillery and unusually for a war diary, a great deal of the men who became casualties are listed individually with number, rank and name. At 2am on 15 October 1917 the camp was shelled with 22 tents perforated by shrapnel. Pte 11308 Daniel Joseph died and thirteen other ranks were wounded. Amongst the names in the community are men from other regiments. This is because army regulations did not allow black soldiers to rise to senior ranks and it was therefore necessary for senior NCOs to be attached to BWIR to complete the establishment.

https://livesofthefirstworldwar.org/community/4620

Created by: , Deborah102878

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  • Profile picture for Joseph De Chaussee

    British Army 11085 Private British West Indies Regiment

  • British Army 11340 Private British West Indies Regiment

  • Profile picture for Ethelbert Joseph

    British Army 11323 Private British West Indies Regiment

  • Profile picture for Alfred Alcide

    British Army 10539 Private British West Indies Regiment 8th Battalion

  • Profile picture for Balgobin

    British Army British West Indies Regiment

    British Army 10924 Private British West Indies Regiment

  • Profile picture for Valleton Went

    Born 1898

    Died 1918

    British Army 11772 Private British West Indies Regiment 8th Battalion

  • British Army 11728 Private British West Indies Regiment

  • Profile picture for Thomas Simon

    Born 1893

    British Army 11691 Private British West Indies Regiment

  • Profile picture for Reginald Bruce Skeete

    British Army Second Lieutenant British West Indies Regiment

  • Profile picture for George Skinner

    British Army 1623 Private Royal Army Medical Corps

  • Profile picture for Henry Shingleton Smith

    British Army Second Lieutenant British West Indies Regiment 8th Battalion

  • Profile picture for James Philip

    British Army 11558 Private British West Indies Regiment

  • British Army 11526 Acting Serjeant British West Indies Regiment

  • Profile picture for Aldric Rawlins

    British Army 11591 Private British West Indies Regiment 8th Battalion

  • Profile picture for M H Smith

    British Army Major British West Indies Regiment

    British Army Lieutenant Colonel British West Indies Regiment

  • Profile picture for James Romney

    British Army 11594 Private British West Indies Regiment

  • British Army 12409 Serjeant Norfolk Regiment

  • British Army 6414 Gunner Royal Garrison Artillery

    British Army 295782 Gunner Royal Garrison Artillery

  • Profile picture for Maurice Dacre

    Born 1891

    Died 1917

    British Army 12914 Serjeant West Riding Regiment

    British Army 12914 Warrant Officer Class 1 West Riding Regiment

    British Army 12914 Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant West Riding Regiment attached British West Indies Regiment

  • British Army 10869 Private British West Indies Regiment