La Belle Alliance Cemetery
La
Belle Alliance Cemetery is situated 3.5 km south of Boezinge near
Ypres, Belgium. The cemetery was first used in February and March 1916,
and then again in July and August 1917. It is named after a farmhouse
that stood nearby.
My
great-grandfather, Frank Bevington is buried at La Belle; his medal
card records that he died from his wounds on 25th July 1917.
7th S. Staffordshire
Regt War Diary for the month of July. 1917
7th S. Staffordshire Regt
32nd. Inf Bde.
Herewith War Diary for the month of July. 1917
C.C Havland
Capt. & Adjt
for Lieut-Col.
Comdy. 7th S.Staffordshire Regt
25th July 1917
Enemy
gas was again sent over about 2 a.m. Our artillery very active
throughout the day; we find a practice barrage from 3 p.m to 3-14 p.m.
Shrapnel barrage on front line was a little short. Enemy shelled the
whole of our Area intermittently throughout the day, with special
attention to out Coy H.Q in the WILLOWS, HEADINGLEY LANE &
LANCASHIRE FARM. The front line is not in good repair, lacking a good
parados, whilst the breastwork of the pararpet is in many cases very
weak. The line is held by a series of 18 posts at 100 yard intervals
approximately. The three main Communication Trenches are all in
inferior condition: BOAR LANE on the right receives many direct hits
each day: FUSILIER TRENCH is very broken & wet & does not
properly exist for about 100 yards. This open path is continously
shrapnelled. EALING TRENCH on the left is less safe than the other two.
The support line - MIRFIELD TRENCH, HEADINGLEY LANE is not a fire
trench, & the dug-outs are few and not very safe. Three Butts in
front of it are manned. These are registered by the enemy. The third or
'X' line is useless. Work seems to have been neglected in this sector
during quieter times, with the result that there is insufficient
protection against the daily increasing fire. The line at WYSCHAETE,
where the ground was similary marshy was in marked contrast, the C.Ts
being really good, and the breastwork lines very strong. At 11 p.m 2/Lt
C.V.Simpson with 11 O.R made their way into the enemy front line at
junction of CAKE & CALABASH TRENCHES. No enemy were found.
Casualties from shell fire heavy: Killed 6 Wounded 7.
