Monthly Archives: May 2015

On this day 30th May 1916

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30.5.1916 FONQUEVILLERS: 150 men under CAPTS R SAXBY & J TOLSON dug advanced trench 250 yards linking up with 37th Divn on left. 50 men under CAPT EB JOHNSON wired.

30.5.1916 LONDON GAZETTE: The following is an extract from the London Gazette d/- 30th May 16.

  • Major (Temp Lt Col) G.D. GOODMAN to be Lieut. Col.
  • Captain (Temp Major) A.J. HOPKINS to be Major (May 22nd)
  • Lieutenant (Temp Capt) B. DARBYSHIRE to be Captain (Oct 16th)
  • Lieutenant (Temp Capt) C.B. JOHNSON to be Captain (May 22nd)
  • 2/Lieutenant (Temp Capt) J. TOLSON to be Lieutenant (Temp Capt Oct 16th)
  • 2/Lieutenant (Temp Capt) H.H. JACKSON to be Lieutenant (Temp Capt May 22nd)Officer 30 May 1916

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

30th: 6th Battn Sherwood Foresters joined up advanced trench from right of 36th Division up to a sap North of NORTH FORTIN – distance of some 250 yards.

The trench was also wired – the Battalion received a complimentary telegram from G.O.C. Division for their work.30 May 1916 Telegram

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

On this day 29th May 1916

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No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]

29th: A very quite day – work on trenches progressing.

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

1431 Pte Arthur Timmons a sadler from North Wingfield and a Pre-War Territorial in G (Clay Clay ) Company returned to England on the 28th May 1916 and was posted to the 6th Reserve Battalion (3/6th) following treatment in hospital for myalgia. He later served with the 21st Battalion before being discharged in July 1917. 1431 Timmons

3215 Pte Samuel Wardley a miner from Clowne who enlisted in October 1914 returned to England pending discharge on Termination of Engagement. However, he was transferred to the 5th Reserve Battalion and served overseas with the 1/5th, 1/8th and 2/8th Battalions.

3215 Wardley703 Pte Joseph Edge a bricklayer from Clay Cross and a Pre-War Territorial in “G” (Clay Cross) Company returned to England on the 29th May 1916 pending discharge on Termination of Engagement. There is no evidence that he returned to Service and he received a pension in August 1916 following a medical board.703 Edge

1935 Pte Frank Spencer a quarryman from Buxton and a Pre-War Territorial in “C” Company was admitted to the 41 Casualty Clearing Station with dental carries. He was later discharged to duty.1935 Spencer

On this day 28th May 1916

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The Slater Accident

An unpleasant accident this morning. A live round got amongst dummy ones on a Lewis Gun being used for instruction. Killed one man and wounded another. I sat on the Board of Enquiry – no one to blame.

Artillery very noisy at night. Each side had an apparently aimless strafe at infantry.

4216 Slater

[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]

4216 Pte James Slater from Chesterfield enlisted in March 1915 and arrived in France with the 8th Reinforcement in March 1916. 4216 Slater 2

1897 Pte Seth Taylor a Pre-War Territorial who had enlisted in 1913 and arrived in France with the 46th North Midland Division in February 1915.1897 taylor

28th: Quite day. At 11 pm & 1 am (29th) our Artillery bombarded the enemy’s front line trenches for a few minutes each time. The enemy had previously bombarded the trenches of the 56th Division on our right, so our pre-arranged bombardment must have appeared like a retaliation to the Bosche.

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

On this day 27th May 1916

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27.5.1916 FONQUEVILLERS: Draft of 42 other ranks arrived from 8th Entrenching Battn.8th entrenching battalion

27.5.1916 FONQUEVILLERS: 2/Lt K. H. Bond with patrol went out at 1.15 a.m. and spent the day in a trench in SUCRERIE on the GOMMECOURT ROAD, returning at night with an enemy cap.bond

Kenneth Hills BondSucherieSucrerie (Sucherie) Post

On the left of the sunken road, there is an old sugar factory (the Sucrerie). It is in the form of a roughly rectangular trench, about 50 yards square, and was overgrown with nettles. Old boilers &c were scattered about the ground…”

27.5.1916 FONQUEVILLERS: Relieved by 8th Bn Sherwood Foresters from support and moved back in to Brigade support at Fonquevillers. Casualties for tour :- Killed, 1 O.R. Accidentally Killed, 1 O.R. Wounded 18 O.R., 2 of whom have since died of wounds. Accid. wounded 1.

27 May 1916

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

May 21: We were relieved by another Battn. We are now in reserve. We have no men in the front line but are all fairly near. I moved out of a comfortable cellar shared with bombing officer to a dug out shared with MO. Dug outs are much more comfortable than they used to be. They nearly all are fitted up with beds made of wire netting on a wooden frame.

[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]

27: The 8th Battn S.F. from Support relieved the 6th Battn S.F. in the CENTRE SECTOR TRENCHES. The latter batten went into SUpport taking over the various posts occupied by the 8th Battn. Relief was completed by 11 pm.

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

On this day 25th May 1916

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No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]

25: Quite day. Work on trenches progressing.

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

1522 Pte Benjamin Stubbins, a labour from Lockford Lane in Chesterfield and a Pre-War Territorial in A Company was wounded in action but remained at duty.

1522 StubbinsBenjamin has originally enlisted as a boy in January 1912 when he was 15 years old after he was given permission by his parents.1522 Stubbins letter

On this day 24th May 1916

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No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]

24: Enemy Artillery very active in direction of FONQUEVILLERS shelling intermittently all day.

250 men of 5th Battn Leicestershire Regt lent to this Brigade for digging & clearing out Communication Trenches – divided into 4 parties of 60 – one for each Communication Trench.

A Battery of 60 Pounders arrived at LA HAIE CHATEAU.60 pounders

(This is photograph Q 6996 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums)

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

On this day 23rd May 1916

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No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]

23: Very quit day – lecture at Divisional HQrs on GOMMECOURT and German Front line opposite FONQUEVILLERS by Intelligence Officer 143rd Brigade [1/1st Warwickshire Brigade, 48th (1st South Midland) Division].

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

On this day 22nd May 1916

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No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]

22: Very quite day – no enemy artillery or T. Mortars at all active. Very hot in the morning but cooler with a little rain in the evening.

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

1924 Pte Lewis Williams from Clay Cross and a Pre-War Territorial died of wounds at Havre and is buried in Ste. Marie Cemetery.

1924 Williams

On this day 21st May 1916

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No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]

21: Heavy crumping again about same place from 10 AM – 11 Am. 1 Officer & 4 gunners killed & 3 wounded. Gun was badly knocked about.

230th Brigade R.F.A. (1st North Midland); “B” (2nd Lincolnshire) Battery

  • Captain Francis Willmer McAuley “B” Bty., 230th Bde. Royal Field Artillery here
  • 951 Corporal Charles Carty “B” Bty., 230th Bde. Royal Field Artillery
  • 2089 Gunner S H Pratt “B” Bty., 230th Bde. Royal Field Artillery

Centre sector rather worried by rifle grenades but these were silenced when Howitzers were turned on – otherwise quite day.

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

3669 Pte Edgar William Jolly a labourer from New Tupton who enlisted in January 1915 band arrived in France with the V Reinforcement suffered a GSW to the the thigh and arm and was transferred to hospital in England.3669 Jolley4060 Pte George Edward Abbott a miner from Whttington Moor who enlisted in March 1915 and arrived in France with the 4th Reinforcement suffered a shell wound in the chest and legs. He died at the 41st Casualty Clearing Station five days later and is buried in Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No.1.4060 Abbott