Action near Diksmuide October/November 1917

[MaxD2]

I apologise for not writing in your language!

I am researching a British artillery officer who died on 3 November 1917 at his gun position just outside Oostkerke/Diksmuide. His battery of heavy guns was one of four batteries sent from the south in the area of Lens to positions near Oostkerke, The group got orders to move north on 2 Oct, they moved on 6 Oct with the 4 batteries to be ready by 13 Oct, they spent 13-20 Oct preparing and the firing continued until late Nov when they went back to the British I Corps area.

The war diary has an entry covering the period 13-20 Oct "the general idea was that all the artillery, Belgian, French and XIX Corps HA would bring a great volume of fire suddenly to bear that the enemy wouldn't be able to retaliate on battery positions until after the capture of Dixmude so very little actual protection was made in the gun positions".

This would imply that there was an attack to be made on Diksmuide some time in the Oct/Nov time frame. Does anyone please have any information about what action these batteries were supporting at that time?

Dank u wel

MaxD2

[Bram1940]

Hello,

There was a lot of activity in that area at that time, according to the press. The British army won terrain along the railroad Ypres - Roeselare. (Source: De Belgische Standaard, 30 October 1917)

On 5 November the activity was less due to fog. The aviation was grounded. (Source: Ons Vaderland, 7 November 1917).

Belgian troops took a part of Merckem near Vijfhuizen (North of Diksmuide). The Germans tried to win it back, followed by counterattacks like the one in the morning of 27 November. The French also launched attacks. German prisoners taken by Belgian troops in or around Diksmuide: 26-27 October (16); 29 October at De Blanckaart (31); 28 and 29 October (38); 29-30 October in De Warande at Woumen (110) (Sources: De Belgische Standaard, 30 October 1917 and 8 November 1917; Het Vaderland, 18 November 1917).

Greetings,
Bram

[MaxD2]

Dank u wel Bram!

It looks like a series of small actions. From 24 November to 28 November the British heaviest guns fired many rounds at the Minoterie at the request of the Belgian army.

Was Diksmuide taken by the Belgians at that time?

MaxD2