Grandfather research - Battle Canove di Sotto Italy 08/08/1918

[PhilipG]

Amelia,   Re your interest in the period August 1917- August 1918.         On the 1st October 1917, the 20th Manchesters were holding the line in the Polygon Wood area, when in the early morning they came under intense enemy artillery fire, followed by a three wave attack -  each wave consisting of 100 men.   The attack was repulsed.     However, shelter had been found in several nearby shell holes by the enemy and the battalion thus came under German sniper fire.    Alas, one of the casualties was the CO - Lt. Col.  Turnbull.  He was making his evening round of the trenches when he came within range of one of the snipers and was killed.

Lt.Col. D.R. Turnbull DSO (Gordon Highlanders) is buried in Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood, Belgium.   The Colonel was not the only officer casualty.   2nd Lt. W.R.Dodge MM was killed and 2nd Lieutenants Bowden & Broadhurst wounded.     Lieutenant Dodge from Wilmslow is also buried in Buttes New British Cemetery.         

PhilipG.