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Captain Albert Edward Odell, MC and Bar.   1886-1979.

Hill 60

      France

Odell Embarked to France.

Brigade Signals Officer: Temp. 2^nd Lieutenant (New Army) attached: 149^th Infantry Brigade.

(Later A/Captain 1918)

An important position in charge of all communications between Brigades, Battalions

and Brigade Headquarters.

HILL 60

149^th Infantry Brigade in Front Line at Hill 60  (The site of the British attack in 1915) near Mount Sorrel, Canny Hill and Sanctuary Wood (North of Hill 60). Not  far from Zillabeke.

Kindly lent by his family

MOUNT SORREL AND CANNY HILL

149^th in line at Mount Sorrel and Canny Hill. (Rest area at Canada Huts, Ouderdom and Railway Dugouts at Transport Farm).

Germans attacked and took ‘The Bluff’ to the South West of Hill 60.  Retaken after bombardment on 1^st March by 3^rd Div

KEMMEL

149^th in line at trenches H2-K1 below Wytschaete Ridge.

With Petit Bois a thick wood on left front. (Support billet at: R.E. Farm) 7^th N.F. BHQ at

Rossignol Farm 1mile from front line. The Battle was raging 1m to the north at St Eloi.

In and out of front line every four days. On Easter Day the Germans exploded a mine in front of trenches at  K1 + J3.

DIVISIONAL REST

Moved to Locre then Bailleul then Meteren, billeted at Fever Farm for Divisional

rest.

Letter on 28.4.16 describing being machine-gunned whilst supervising 5' buries at night, and the phenomenon of Artillery shells  Written by Bert to his Brother George

ST. ELOI AND NEUVE EGLISE       Back in Line at Wytschaete Ridge.

Brigade in line, South of  St. Eloi support trenches at Ridge Wood 7^th NF BHQ at La Clytte.

Move to quieter part of line at Wulverghem below Messines Ridge.

7^th NF BHQ at Neuve Eglise-soon moved to Dranoutre. (nr Kemmel)

             Click to view full picture of Odell's trench map

The Inscription Reads:

              Bde. Communications & buried routes   A.E.Odell    149th Bde area.   Sig Offr  149  I.B.        6.8.16                                                 

SECRET

Map marked and signed by Bert, Just before leaving for Meteren area.

This Map represents perhaps the most extraordinary co-incidence that has ever happened to me. In the course of researching Bert, I was keen to understand just where it was that he had served. I borrowed a marvellous collection of trench maps from a good friend, which I collected in a plastic bag. I got them home, and opened the bag. The first map out was this one, and I was shocked to find Berts name and handwriting on it. For a few minutes I was literally shaking.

There were several maps held by the Odell family, but none inscribed in this way, and in such detail. There is no mistake as to the identity of the owner. Somehow it seemed that day, that I was meant to research Bert Odell.

Contemplate the chances of this having occurred:

1. The chances of the map having been signed in this way.

2. There were literally hundreds of thousands of trenchmaps, most unlikely to have survived the war.

3.There were many thousands of officers, to whom it could have belonged.

4 And in the unlikely event that it had survived, there are  also thousands of collectors who might now have owned it.

I am extremely grateful to my good friend Collin and his wife Hazel, who gave me the map when they realised its significance.

Another aside is that Bert was Chairman of the London Spiritualist Society!

Entrained at Bailleul for move to Doullens. Marched to Feinvillers-Naours for one night

Pierregot for one night.

HENENCOURT

Marched to wood at Henencourt- Whole Brigade encamped. (Rest area of Somme Front)

Note: at this point the Division was served with the short rifle for the first time.

  On to Somme Battle

  Click here for  7th NFshort history of the Regiment,  see personalities and links to detailed acounts of important actions.

Guy Smith     e mail:    guy@trenchmap.com

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