Sign for the Kingston Road trench at the Somme

Kingston Road trench sign – The Somme area

An 11 inch (27.94 cm) by 24 inch (60.96 cm) sign for the Kingston Road trench at Ploegsteert Wood, The Somme in 1916. Signage was used to guide and direct troops to assigned locations. The sign has much damage shown along the edges from its hard life in the trenches.

Of all the many thousands of names for trenches, there was only one named ‘Kingston Road’. It was located on the Somme, east of Albert and just west of the town of Fricourt.

The only time the 15th Battalion was ever in that area was the Fall of 1916 when the battalion took part in the Somme battles in September-October 1916. The battalion arrived in Albert on September 1st, 1916, and between that date and October 1916 when they left the Somme, the unit took part in the heavy fighting at Mouquet Farm, Pozieres, Thiepval ridge, Ancre Heights and Courcelette.

They may have passed through Kingston Road at some point when they were moving back and forth into and out of the line to rear areas. Kingston Road was on the long circle route that units used to rotate into and out of the line.

Associated place
The Somme
Associated event
Battle of The Somme
Associated name(s)
NA
Era
1914 – 1919 (WW 1)
Location of artifact
Case 13/14 WWI
Classification
Equipment

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