Expert: Ron - 9/11/2004

Question
My grandfather was with the 9th Btn Canadian Railway Troops, attached to Plumer's British Second Army. His War Diary shows that he was encamped at Dickebusch Lake near Ypres, constructing dugouts at Vauxhall and Vyihock, Belgium in Sept 1917. I believe I HAVE located Vauxhall near Nieuwkerke (Neuve-Eglise) - about 8 km march from their camp - but I wish to locate Vyihock.

I have had no luck on the Internet or with modern, printed maps.

Perhaps it is noted on a Western Front trench map. Perhaps it is an incorrect spelling or a British Forces 'nickname'.

MY QUESTION IS: PRECISELY WHERE WAS VYIHOCK?

Thank you!


Answer
Hi David:

You don't mention the month in 1917, but from 1914 until Nov 1917 the British 2nd Army was almost exclusively in the Ypres salient. In Nov of 1917 it moved to Italy until the end of the war.

The biggest battle for the 2nd Army in 1917 was the Battle of Messines Ridge which was launched on June 7th of that year.

I can't find reference to the 9th Battalion Canadian Railway Troops, although there was a 9th Infantry Battalion. I also can't find a reference to the 9th being in the 2nd British Army, but that doesn't mean they weren't there. There were a number of Canadian Battalions attached to the British 2nd Army and the 9th was certainly in the 1st Division of the CEF and they were certainly in the Ypres area.

As you already know,   Nieuwkerke is situated 10 to 12 miles south of Ypres … right on the border of France and Belgium.

Considering the small amount of movement units did during WW1 it's probably that your grand father's unit probably never moved more than 10KM from their camp.

It may be that's as good as it gets. Many small villages were destroyed and never rebuilt. Vyihock could well be one of them.

I have included the following links which are maps of the area. The 2nd link is a very detailed copy of a map of the area in 1917.

I hopefully it will help.

http://www.greatwar.co.uk/westfront/ypsalient/mapypsalient.htm

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-maps/ww1.htm “Click on the brown map”