1/8th Battalion

T 8 NDSouthwell Company 8th 1909“H” Company (Southwell) 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) taken on their first camp in 1909 following the Territorial Force reorganisation in 1908.

 Lt.-Colonel Charles John HuskinsonHuskinson 1913a1903 Huskinson

Huskinson CJ 1913Tally Ho

308 Transport Sergeant Charles Green

412 Sergeant Charles Herbert Rhymes

Rhymes

8th CampsArmy Service Record of 412 Sergeant Charles Herbert Rhymes recording the 8th (Nottinghamshire) Battalion Annual Camps between 1908 and 1914.

“E” (Carlton) Company, 8th (Nottinghamshire) Battalion Sherwood Foresters

F Coy 8th Sherwoods“E” (Carlton) Company of the 8th (Nottinghamshire) Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment. This picture was taken after 1911 because Charles Rhymes has been promoted to Sergeant.

Lyon Photographer NetherfieldThe photograph was taken by Miss Jessie Mary Lyon, who in the 1911 Census was 18 years old and living with her family in 10 Victoria Road at Netherfield. Her occupation was recorded as ‘Photographic Artist’.8th Sergeants

E Company“E” (Carlton) Company of the 8th (Nottinghamshire) Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment at Scarborough in 1911.

“D” (Mansfield) Company, 8th (Nottinghamshire) Battalion Sherwood Foresters

D Coy 8th 1911“D” (Mansfield) Company of the 8th (Nottinghamshire) Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment at Scarborough in 1911.

Officers of the Battalion c1911

8th OfficersOfficers of the 8th (Nottinghamshire) Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment.Claude Davenport

Various Pictures in unknown locations

8th WisetonThis picture of the 8th Battalion is reportedly taken at Wiseton, which is a large Stately Home close to Doncaster on the North Nottinghamshire Border. I have been unable to find a connection with the 8th Sherwood Foresters, but it is possible that a local section of the Battalion used Wiseton Drill Station.

8th Battn 2

8th Battn 1The two pictures above show men of the 8th (Nottinghamshire) Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment, however, the date and place have not been determined and there are no photographers or publishers names to provide clues.

The pictures may very well show men of the 1/8th or 2/8th in billets in the Harpenden area during 1914-15. Many of the men have “T 8 Notts & Derby” shoulder badges, whilst a few are wearing an Imperial Service Badge.

Finally, it’s possible that the first picture shows men of “F” Company because there is a striking resemblance between the two men shown below.

F Coy man8th Man

Transport 1912

Mobilisation and Harpenden

18th-1914

8th billets

Picture of an unknown Private of the 1/8th Battalion outside his billets in Harpenden in 1914

8th-harpenden

Picture of an unknown Private of the 1/8th Battalion

8th-man

Picture of an unknown Private of the 1/8th Battalion taken in France 1915-18

sgt-ernest-bilton-28

Sergeant Ernest Bilton MMnew-recruit

Young recruit to the 8th Battalion; picture taken in Newark

Picture of an unknown Private of the 1/8th Battalion

Drum Major post war

26 thoughts on “1/8th Battalion”

  1. Jon Lee-Smith

    Hi I am trying to get information on Lt John Kirkland LANE who served with H Co. 8th Battn. I have copies of the information from the PRO and a poor photograph of the Officers from 1914. Could anyone provide any more info thanks Jon

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  2. Hull

    Hi, I’m trying to trace an officer who joined the 8th Bn. on the 30/10/1917 joined as 2/Lt Alfred Jewell and was injured in the Gorre area in May 1918. Do you know of any photographs of him or what his injuries were?

    Thanks
    Hull

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    1. mikebriggs1910 Post author

      Hi Hull – can’t add any more really than already on the GWF. The 1/8th War Diary records that 5 Officers were wounded during May 1918 which ties up with the Battalion History (that I gave you the link to). The 1/8th were in trenches May 4-8, May 14-18, May 20-25 so I would assume that he was wounded sometime then. The 139th Brigade War Diary (download from Ancestry or National Archives) should have map references of where the 1/8th Battalion were at this times and these can be crossed references against branch maps of the time. I haven’t really got onto 1918 yet on this site but will have a dig around and see if I can find some 139 Bde orders cheers Mike

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  3. Samantha Evangelista

    My Great Grandfather Geoffrey Broughton Tower 2nd lieutenant served 1914 – 1922 do you have any information about him ?

    Reply ↓
  5. Libbi

    I was wondering if you had any information on Corporal Ernest E Mecklenburgh of 1/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment who’s number was 2333, I am most interested in possible photographs as I haven’t found any to date, thankyou

    Reply ↓
    1. mikebriggs1910 Post author

      Hello – sorry I only have unnamed group photos men from the 1/8th Battalion. If you know where he lived I might have a group shot of his Company at the time. His number 2333 would suggest that he enlisted shorty after the outbreak of the War in August/Sept 1914. Cheers Mike.

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      1. mikebriggs1910 Post author

        Hi John
        Maple Copse is quite easy to find. The Cemetery is well signposted but the original Copse from 1914-18 was on the opposite side of the road.
        cheers
        Mike

  6. Domenico

    Dear Mike,
    do you happen to have any information (especially whether he was killed in action or survived) about Driver Fred Doncaster, 20518 Sherwood Foresters, 10th Battalion, Transport division? I can only add he was surely alive on Nov. 15th 1915.Thank you very much and best wishes from Italy,

    Domenico

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  7. Ryan Belfield

    Hello I’m looking for any info/photos of Private George Edward Belfield who died on 16 march 1917 (nots & derby regiment)

    Reply ↓
  8. Phil

    Hello what an amazing website you have. I am trying to trace my grandfather Walter Warriner 8th Btn Notts and Derby regmt. Service no. 1741 and joined up 21st May 1913. Thanks for any help.

    Reply ↓
    1. mikebriggs1910 Post author

      Hello Phil
      His pension record survives and can be accessed via Ancestry.
      Looks like:
      8th Sherwood Foresters May 1913 – August 1914 (discharged medically unfit due to Brocken leg)
      Re-enlisted into 9th Battalion in August 1914 and discharged again October 1914 (due to same reason)
      cheers
      Mike

      Reply ↓
  9. Martin Green

    Hi, I’m looking for any information or photos of my Great Uncle, I’m not very good at researching so I’ve been unsuccessful at pulling any information up about my Great Uncle that the family didn’t know already.

    His name was CHARLES WALTER GREEN
    His service number was 306726
    He served with the NOTTS AND DERBY REGIMENT in the
    the 2/8th BATTALION
    He was KILLED IN ACTION on 7th April 1917 at
    LE VERGUIER.
    It would be fantastic for the family and future generations to remember him and see what he really looked like as no photos exist today.
    Many thanks, Martin Green

    Reply ↓
  11. S SCHOLFIELD

    Superb website. Harold Davis of Netherfield served, lived in Curzon St, Netherfield, he was a railway signalman shot through knee 1917. Unsure of Battalion but there is a photo in trenches.

    Reply ↓
  12. Katie

    Hi,

    Is there anything on a Walter George Higginbottom? I believe he was a Sergeant Major. All I know is he would have been a Japanese POW at some point.
    Sorry not much to go on I know! We have barely anything of him, just a few photos. Would be great to find more out about his military life for my dad. He did have medals too and nobody knows what or where they might have gone.
    Any help/info appreciated

    Reply ↓
  13. peter bentley

    Hi, do you have any information on Private George Frederick Rogers 1/8th Bat Sherwoods, # 306421, who died on 22nd Sept 1918, initially buried at Bernes churchyard, then moved to Roisel Communal Cemetery. I’ve looked at the war diary, but there was much in the way of action until 23rd. ( the battalion was on the move) Do you know if Bernes was a casualty clearing station?

    Reply ↓
    1. mikebriggs1910 Post author

      Hello Peter
      I can’t find out if Bernes was a CCS, but the bodies of 49 North Midland Soldiers were exhumed from there in 1919 so it must have been the site of something. The 139th Bed War Diary records that the 8th Battalion had moved up to the trenches and were in Brigade Reserve on the 20th Sept. It also states that the rear areas were heavily shelled on the 21st – is I would guess that was when he was killed. His 4-digit TF number is recorded on his MIC suggesting that he arrived in France in 1916. He was also wounded on the 13th June 1918 with a GSW in the right side and stayed in hospital for 46 days. Hope that helps, cheers Mike

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      1. Peter Bentley

        That is really great information, Mike. Thank you so much for taking the time to investigate. My grandmother ( who served in the QMAAC)’s brother, Tom Dakin East was also killed, serving in the 10th Batn Sherwoods in 1917, and my grandfather’s brother William Midgley was wounded in the 1916 uprising, also in the 8th Battalion. Me and my family really appreciate your help

      2. mikebriggs1910 Post author

        Afternoon Peter – glad the info is of interest. I know a (amateur) historian from Dublin who would be very interested about further details of William Midgley – do you have a photo of him at all? I’ve figured out that he got a GSW to the shoulder and was discharged in 1917 – so never went to France – any info would be great please, thanks Mike

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