Author Archives: mikebriggs1910

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About mikebriggs1910

I'm not a Historian by profession - merely an (over) enthusiastic amateur. By day I'm a Professor of Genetics at Newcastle University with a translation research interest in rare bone diseases. At weekends I can be classified as a Yorkshire Cricket & Psychedelic Rock fan, but mostly I'm just on the Fells (or in the pub - when they were open!).

29th Trench Duty 4th – 10th August 1916

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4.8.1916 BAILLEUVAL: Inter Company Competitions in Bayonet fighting and gas helmet drill. Winners, Bayonet fighting “A” Coy; Gas helmet drill, bombers.

4.8.1916 BAILLEUVAL: Relieved 5th Sherwood Foresters in RIGHT SECTOR.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Augt 4: Returned to trenches for rather uneventful but never the less busy time.

[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]

3/4th: Our front line between SAP 14 & 15 (RIGHT SECTOR) shelled by German Field Battery intermittently during night.

4th: A quite day. Battalion relief completed by 11.50pm, 5th Sherwoods going into Brigade Reserve at BELLACOURT & the 7th into Divisional Reserve at BAILLEULVAL.Grant SAP 14 SAP 15

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

On this day 2nd August 1916

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2.8.1916 BAILLEUVAL: 2/Lt AL DENT & 2/LT RF BRIGGS joined.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

BASSEUX Aug 2nd: A quite day.

X1D6410.30 pm: A raiding party of 2/Lt PATTINSON and 31 other ranks of 5th Sherwoods attempted to enter an enemy sap at X. 1. d. 6. 4. but were discovered by a German sentry before the wire had been completely cut.

2/Lieutenant Harold Alan Pattinson of the East Surrey Regiment attached to the Notts & Derby and later served with the 2/9th Delhi Infantry. Awarded the Military Cross and MBE.

Pattinson Raid August 1916

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

3989 Pte William Poyser died of wounds3989 Poyser

William Poyser was a miner from Grassmoor and enlisted in February 1915. He arrived in France with the 6th Reinforcement in March 1916 and was wounded in the left forearm and leg on the 20th July 1916 during and enemy bombardment of the trenches. After treatment at the 3rd NMFA and 20th CCS station he was transferred to the 7th General Hospital.

On this day 31st July 916

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31.7.1916 BELLACOURT: 2/Lt BN Parker to Divisional Bomb School.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

31st: Situation normal.

Casualties NIL

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

Ptes 1809 Leon Barton and 1661 James Ferris were wounded in action1809 barton1661 Ferris

On this day 29th July 1916

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29.7.1916 BELLACOURT: Battalion relieved by 5th Battalion in RIGHT SECTOR, the Battn moving into billets handed over by 5th in BAILLEUVAL.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

29th: Went back short distance for alleged rest.

[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]

29:. Hostile artillery fired a few rounds into BRETENCOURT & the trenches of the left Battalion.

Relief of 6th Sherwoods by 5th Sherwoods, * of 8th Sherwoods by 7th Sherwoods complete by 10-45 pm.

3 Officers arrived for Machine Gun Company

  • 2/Lt WH HOFF
  • 2/Lt JA HODGE
  • 2/Lt PW DEXTER
  • Lt JL PERCIVAL 6th Sherwoods attached for duty

Casualties NIL.

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

On this day 28th July 1916

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28.7.1916 BELLACOURT: Raid on TALUS, see appendices TALUS Raid

For more details see here

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

July 28: Made a raid on G trenches at same point. Party (50 strong) got into trench but raid failed owing to lack of opposition. No Huns turned up. Today I received a Buxton Advertiser with part of this diary in it. Feel very annoyed.

[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]

28th: Quite day. During the night a party of 20 NCOs & men under 2/Lieut EVANS & 8 Sergeants under 2/Lieut KERSHAW from the 1/6th Sherwoods attempted to raid he TALUS.

3 other ranks wounded.

Drafts of 17 other ranks for Battalion arrived.

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]Talus July 1916

On this day 27th July 1916

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27.7.1916 BELLACOURT: 2/Lt MRK BION to Hospital.Bion

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

27: A quite day. During the night a patrol which reached the OSIER BED near R. 33. d. 9. 5. was fired upon from the enemies front line.R33 Bellacourt 1916

About midnight a hostile patrol of four men threw five grenades at CAVENDISH SAP HEAD R. 33 d. 4. 4. wounding one man. Rifle & Lewis Gun fire was opened on the patrol who ran back to their lines.

Casualties 1 other rank wounded

Captain William Percy BUCKLEY, DSO, DCLI, took over the duties of Brigade Major.139 Brigade Major

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

The wounded man appears to have been 1821 Pte Harold Wragg, a corn mill hand from Matlock and a Pre War Territorial who served with “E” Company. Harold suffered a shrapnel wound in the right thigh and was admitted to the 3rd North Midland Field Ambulance before eventually returning to England on the 8th August. 1821 Wragg

On this day 26th July 1916

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

26th: Draft of 15 other ranks arrived for the Bde Machine Gun Company. A quite day.

R34 BellacourtDuring the night one of our patrols lying close to the German wire near R. 34. b. 03 13 located a hostile wiring party which was subsequently stopped by our Machine Gun fire.

Casualties NIL.

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