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!).

On this day 10th July 1916

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10.7.1916 BAILLEUMONT: Lieuts TL DARBYSHIRE and GS RIVINGTON attd to 7th Battn Sherwood Foresters.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

July 10: Last lot of trenches a wash-out. Went to see another lot. The finest trenches I have seen. Everything including wires nearly perfect. Life nearly as safe as in peace time. Huns below us & friendly. No gas cylinders or other about. How long shall we allow it to remain like this.

[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]

10th: New GOC Division inspected 5th & 7th Battalions, Machine Gun Company and Trench Mortar Battery at SAULTY.

Relief of 166th Infanty Brigade commenced in accordance with Operation Order 69.

5th Sherwoods moved to BELLACOURT and took over duties of Battalion in Brigade Reserve from 5th Kings Own Royal Lancs. The relief was completed by 8.50 pm.

The 8th Sherwoods moved from BIENVILLERS to billets in BELLACOURT.

The Machine Gun Company and Trench Mortar Battery moved from SAULTY to BILLETS in BELLACOURT.

2183 Pte William Leopard Barker died of wounds sustained on the 1st July 1916.

2183 BarkerWilliam was a Nursary Man from Two Dales and a Pre-War Territorial who had served with the Matlock Company. He suffered GSW in the head and died of his wounds at 1.50pm at No. 1 General Hospital at ETRETAT.

On this day 9th July 1916

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9/10.7.1916 BAILLEULMONT: Battn carried Gas accessories to trenches of 137th Inf Bde.

saxby wheatcroft9.7.1916 BAILLEULMONT: Capts R Saxby (left) & CJ Wheatcroft (right) to Third Army School.

Johnson EBCapt EB Johnson (above) to Command “C” Company vice Capt Saxby.

4440 SeatonCapt W Seaton (above) attached to 7th Battn Sherwood Foresters.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

9th: Large parties from the 6th & 8th Battns again carrying tonight gas cylinders from BERLES Dump to the trenches.

Bde Major visited trenches of 166th Infantry Brigade at BELLACOURT.

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

On this day 7th July 1916

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

July 7: Officers went to look at next lot of trenches as usual we were not very pleased with them & I expect we shall leave them in a much better state. I also sat as a member of a Field General Court Martial today. This is first time I have been a member. Before I have only watched for instruction or prosecuted.

Spent all night carting gas cylinders about.

[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]

On this day 5th July 1916

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Edward_Stuart_Wortley5.7.1916 SAULTY: Major General The Honorable EJ STUART-WORTLEY CB CMG said goodbye to Officers who came out with DIvision.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

5th: Learnt from Dailey Mail that we had not done so badly. In fact there were 2 columns on most heroic deed of the war defeat that was really a victory & c. Read it out on parade & began to feel better.

[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]

 

On this day 3rd July 1916

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3.7.1916 WARLINCOURT: Battn marched into billets vacated & handed over by 5th North Staffs.

(Divisional Reserve) at BAILLEULMONT.

4440 SeatonOfficers rejoined:- Capt W SEATON from England. Capt W SEATON to Command “D” Company – Capt Jackson to be 2nd in Command.

ooper rowlandOfficers joined:- 2/Lt WL COOPER (left), 2/Lt FS ROWLAND (right) from England.

Draft of 54 OR joined from Base.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

3 July: I went to the funeral of Lt RD Wheatcroft (above) Wheatcroft rdour most popular Officer. Great sympathy felt for his brother Capt Wheatcroft who has now lost 2 brothers in this War.

We now expected rest but no such luck we moved to billets in the village of ———.

Robinson_FBHere we learnt that Capt Robinson (bubbles) was dead. He was the cheeriest fellow ever known (above).

[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]

WarlincourtThe following men died of their wounds on this day and were buried in at SaultyWarlincourt

2315 Charles Pell2315 Pte Charles Ricard Pell (above)

1681 Pte George Byfleet

2052 Pte Walter Francis Joseph Murph

On this day 2nd July 1916

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2.7.1916 FONQUEVILLERS: Battn marched into huts at WARLINCOURT.

Tolson 1915Capt TOLSON (above) to Command “B” Company vice Capt Dick.

MaughanLt GKK MAUGHAN (above) appointed Adjutant vice Capt CB JOHNSON.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

On this day 1st July 1916

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“Thus perished the first two companies of two fine battalions, and few survivors ever found their way back to the British lines”

[“The Robin Hoods” 1/7th, 2/7th & 3/7th Battns. Sherwood Foresters]

“The most terrible day I have ever had. I hope I shall never see another one like it”

[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]

For a detailed account please see here

139th Bde casualties1st July 1916

139th Brigade documents

Report of the part played by the 139th Infantry Brigade in the action on the 1st July 1916. Report from WO-95-2692-5 and 139 Brigade from WO-95-2692-5-29

Part played by the 3″ Stokes Trench Mortars in action on 1st July 1916. Trench Mortar from WO-95-2692-5-7

Part played by the Machine Guns during the action on 1st July 1916. Machine Guns from WO-95-2692-5-8

1/5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters

Part played by the 1/5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters during the action on 1st July 1916. 5th Battn from WO-95-2692-5-9 and 1:5th account from WO-95-2692-5-17

1/5th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters; Statements of men who reached the German Front Line (with sketch). Men statements from WO-95-2692-5-10

Includes statements from the following men:-

“A” Company A Coy 1:5th from WO-95-2692-5-20

dowmanCaptain Dowman’s report from 1918 Dowman 1918

  • 3028 Pte A Daykin (mentions L/Cpl Brudenell)
  • 4005 Pte W Edge
  • 2567 Pte F Bates (4th wave)
  • 1564 Cpl E Milner
  • 4541 Pte G Treece
  • 2078 Pte S Handford (1st wave and mentions 2/Lt H H Lilly and Pte Wright)
  • 3865 Pte RH Brown
  • 2123 Pte EG Hemm (4th waves and mentions 2/Lt EC Villa)

“B” Company B Coy 1:5th from WO-95-2692-5-21

“C” Company  C Coy 1:5th from WO-95-2692-5-23

  • 1949 L/Cpl CT Boot (1st wave)
  • 4100 Pte J Jeffcoate (2nd wave)
  • 1818 Pte T Garbutt (1st wave)
  • 1995 Pte T Jackson (1st wave)
  • 2312 Pte C Massey (3rd wave)
  • 2438 Pte E Edwards (3rd wave)
  • 3103 Cpl PJ Murphy (3rd wave and mentions 2/Lt WGW Barber, 2/Lt Dornton, Captain Naylor, 2/Lt RB Cecil, 4478 Pte T Attenborough, Cpl Harrison, 2408 Cpl Powditch)
  • 4478 Pte T Attenborough 4478 Attenborough from WO-95-2692-5-19
  • 1605 Pte W Parkin (3rd wave)
  • 2165 Pte E Smith (3rd wave)

“D” Company D Coy 1:5th from WO-95-2692-5-24

Grenade Section

  • 1515 Pte G Kerry

Fifth wave (Headquarters)

  • 764 Regl. Sergt.-Major BA Maddock

List of men that made it to the German first line. 1:5th men front line from WO-95-2692-5-27

1/6th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters

1:6th from WO-95-2692-5-18 and 1:6th Battn from WO-95-2692-5-25

1/7th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters

Part played by the 1/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters during the action on 1st July 1916. 1:7th Battn from WO-95-2692-5-11 and 1:7th account from WO-95-2692-5-16

Includes statements from the following men:-

List of men that made it to the German first line. 1:7th Battn front line from WO-95-2692-5-26