13th and 14th February 1918 Wednesday and Thursday
Return to Desalanque Farm
All material produced or reproduced here and throughout this work is the sole copyright of the author and the family of Doctor D.C.M. Page MC.
“On the 13th February we left in motor buses for Erquinghem and got a great send-off from the inhabitants of Estaires. At night we went into the trenches at Desalanque Farm relieving one of the King’s Own Liverpool Battalions of the 57th Division. Rather a distressing accident happened in ‘C’ Company next day. A boy of 19 was cleaning his officer’s revolver, when it went off hitting another man in the head and killing him.”
Douglas was no stranger to Desalanque Farm having been there with the 13th RWF from September ‘17 and now finds himself back with the 17th RWF.
Before the outbreak of war in 1914, Londoners had witnessed the introduction of new motor buses. These replaced the London General Omnibus Company’s horse buses from 1910, the last one being withdrawn in 1911. In the next three years over 2500 motor buses had been introduced. During the Great War a total of 954 B type buses had been requisitioned for service on the Western Front from Flanders to the Somme, many being returned to service in London at the cessation of hostilities.
London Transport Museum’s B type in war service livery
The Regimental diary of the 17th only refers to the men involved in the tragic accidental shooting as 1 other rank killed by 1 other rank, unfortunately no names being mentioned.
Find out about our connection with Dr Page and an introduction to his diary here