A collier from Danesmore who arrived in France in 1916 and served until the end of the Great War. Here he is wearing the 1914 Pattern equipment.
These items were sold on eBay – I didn’t win the auction – but I think that his story needs to be told.
Made an attack on Cite St Edwards [sic] at 2.45 AM. Got into German trenches held it until 8.0 AM but had to retire on account of being run out of bombs + ammunition. I was out numbered by the Germans. Come into support for D Coy Cite St Laurence [sic].
2nd Lt Evans killed at 4pm – see here.
Relieved West Yorks in support on Hill 70. CO Col C B Benson killed – see here.
Moved into front line + relieved the Durham Light Infantry – see here.
One hours P drill. Relieved 5th S.F. in support in Hurdle Trench shelled all the way coming in from Loos – see here.
Raid. Missing. Sgt Salt M, L/C Brailsford WH, L/C Simpson, Pte Metcalfe C, Pte Ormerod, Pte Richardson.
Came up from Brigade Reserve ready for the attack.
In reserve.
Made an attack taken the village of Magny 5,000 prisoners 9 field guns we had tanks in action 32nd Division through us and advanced a way forward – see here.
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 
In the first photo he is holding a CLLE (Long Lee) These were only used in the early part of the War by Territorial Regiments. Was he a pre-war Territorial? The equipment seems to suggest that he was.
Afternoon Barry. Yes – well spotted – he has a ‘Long Lee’. Interestingly the 139th Brigade did no swap their MLE to SMLE until September 1916
– see here https://derbyshireterritorials.uk/2013/09/27/on-this-day-27th-september-1916/
He enlisted in October 1914 so might have gone straight into the 2/6th – who had a mixture of rifles at that time including Japanese ones – so I’m not confident on when the photo was taken, cheers Mike