100 years ago, Autumn 1916 - 13th Gloucestershire Regiment (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Thursday, September 15, 2016, 19:17 (2788 days ago) @ slowhands

On the 90th anniversary of the Somme offensive, perhaps its time to reflect on the Forest Pioneer's who gave their lives in the mud and gore of battle, and of course those who returned.

http://www.malvernremembers.org.uk/Fea_13Glos.html

The 'Forest of Dean Pioneers', officially known as the 13th
(Service) Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment

They were raised by Sir Harry Webb in Cinderford Town Hall on Monday night,
14th December 1914, and consisted of coal miners and labourers. About 25% of
the battalion's strength came from the Forest itself, while the rest were
miners from South Wales and County Durham, along with labourers and artisans
from the rest of Gloucestershire, and a few from Birmingham.

They went to France in March 1916, and spent the war on the Western Front,
serving on the Somme in 1916 and the Passchendaele offensive in 1917. They
suffered heavy losses during the German offensives of March - April 1918.

Today is the 100th Anniversary of the start of the Third Battle of the Somme, which opened on the 15th of September 1916. I hope the forum will agree it's appropriate to rekindle this old thread, as I'm sure Slowhands would have done if he were still with us. Here's to the memory of the 13th Glosters, and all their comrades in arms across all services, who fought and died so we could all enjoy peace.
Thankyou.

"In Flanders"

I'm homesick for my hills again -
My hills again!
To see above the Severn plain,
Unscabbarded against the sky,
The blue high blade of Cotswold lie;
The giant clouds go royally
By jagged Malvern with a train
Of shadows. Where the land is low
Like a huge imprisoning O
I hear a heart that's sound and high,
I hear the heart within me cry:
"I'm homesick for my hills again -
My hills again!
Cotswold or Malvern, sun or rain!
My hills again!"

by F. W. "Will" Harvey (of Hartpury, Minsterworth and Yorkley)

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=7769
http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=23492