Hi Andrew,
The Battalion record notes the 17th as being in Brigade reserve south of Mercatel. The War Diary provides a bit more detail of The 17th holding the line from 2nd - 7th April with A Coy to the right & B Coy on left. They then shuffled right.
2nd Lt V. E. Rallison, 2nd Lt Herbert Victor Hobbs and 2 Other Ranks were killed in action on 7/4/17 while patrolling near NEUVILLE MILL. 2/Lt Hobbs, Frederick Howard and 43333 Frederick Simms are buried close to each other in BUCQUOY ROAD CEMETERY, FICHEUX so we can assume your Frederick was part of the patrol. 2/Lt Rallison is buried in LONDON CEMETERY, NEUVILLE-VITASSE.
Fred Sims has a Service Record. I will report back.. - Confirms attached to 17th Roll 11/7/16 and transferred on 1/9/16. Another example of a man held in RBR Reserve until Spring 1916 and posted the 17th when he arrived in France in July 1916 (Still don't know if this group were present at Guillemont)
Tim
Edit Fred's Service Record says he was exhumed and reburied at Bucquoy Road. CWGC details provide details of a number of the original cemeteries including BOISLEUX-ST. MARC MILITARY CEMETERY (or MERCATEL ROAD CEMETERY)
Edit 2 Please see previous post on Lt Rallison
http://themanchesters.org/forum/index.php?topic=5846.0
