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!).

5427/70266 A/Sergeant James Nye from Guildford

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A 1916 recruit who served in France with the 1/6th and 17th Battalions

BWM and VM

James Nye enlisted into the 3/6th Sherwoods Foresters at Chesterfield in April 1916. James was a 36 year old farm labourer from Arlington near Guildford. His enrolment was approved by Captain Swann.

Statement of Service

Following training with the 6th Reserve Battalion James was transferred to the 1/6th Battalion and proceeded overseas to the 8th Entrenching Battalion in France. James was later posted to the 17th Battalion (The Wellbeck Rangers) on the 9th September 1916 with approximately 100 other men who were all renumbered from 70211 to 70312. This reinforcement was to make up for losses suffered by the 17th Battalion during their attack on Beaumont Hamel.

[Regimental numbers 70001 to ~71177 was a numbering systems employed by the Sherwood Foresters to move men from the Territorial Battalions to the Regular and Service Battalion between September and November 1916]

War Diary entry for Wellback Rangers recording the casualty figures for the attack on Beaumont Hamel
Drafts of men posted to the 17th Battalion in early September

James served in France with the 17th Battalion until he was posted home on the 22nd February 1917 suffering from rheumatism. After time spent at the Command Depot (possibly at Ballyvonare, County Cork) he was posted to the 3rd Battalion and then discharged in October 1917.

Report of the Medical Board held at Strensall
Military Service
Silver War Badge
SWB Roll

OTD 16th October 1915; 3/6th Battalion at Bolton Park near Grantham

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“Capt. R Saxby and Second-Lieut. A. H. Goodall, both of whom were wounded while serving with the 1 6 Battalion in Flanders, have joined the unit this week. The post of Regimental-Sergt.-Major has not yet been filled, and the duties are temporarily being carried out by Company-Sergt.-Major J. Platts.”

Captain Reginald Saxby taken in 1909
2/Lt Alec Harrison Goodall
280 Company-Sergt.-Major John Platts taken in 1914

The tragic suicide of 3828 Company Sergeant Major Thomas Wood from Sheffield

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On the 4th October 1915 at Belton Camp near to Grantham

Thomas was a 38 year old clerk when he enlisted into the 6th Reserve Battalion, the Sherwood Foresters in Chesterfield on the 2nd May 1915. Thomas had previously served over 18 years with the 2nd Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and rising to the rank of Colour Sergeant.

Service Record for Thomas Wood recording that he had served in South Africa and Hong Kong and has passed numerous courses of instruction.
Attestation of Thomas Wood witnessed by Major C Harold Heathcote
Thomas was immediately posted to the 3/6th Battalion and promoted to the rank of Acting Company Sergeant Major. He was subsequently promoted to Acting Sergeant Major in June 1915.
In October 1915 Thomas took his own life
Newspaper article

Captain William Seaton, who had known him for a month, described Thomas as a very good man indeed and an excellent sergeant-major. Thomas left a wife and four sons who received a pension.

It would appear from Captain Seaton’s testimony and Thomas’s final letter that he was under considerable pressure “Try and think as well as you can of me. I have tried to do my best, but when there is only man, what are you to do? I cannot bear the strain any longer”

Thomas wrote to Major Towler stringing that “my accounts are in an awful muddle”, but on examination “so far as he knew the accounts were alright”.

The History of the 3/7th Reserve (Robin Hood) Battalion Sherwood Foresters, written in 1921, records that there were a shortage of Officers and NCOs in these early days of the Reserve Battalions.

Thomas’s widow Catherine and their four young sons were awarded a pension.

Queant Road Cemetery: 2/5th Battalion men commemorated in August 1924

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“To the memory of these 9 British Soldiers who were buried by the enemy in 1918 in NOREUIL GERMAN MIL. CEM., but whose graves are now lost”

Graves Registration report Form

2/5th Sherwood Foresters

202077 Pte Ernest Richard Potts was born in 1892 and was a boot repairer from Duffield who enlisted in November 1915. Only served overseas with the 2/5th Battalion and death was ‘presumed’ on 21st March 1918. He left his wife Mabel who received a pension.

Pension Card

46841 Pte William Rook from Navenby in Lincolnshire. Enlisted in May 1916 and transferred from the 2nd Battalion. Death was ‘presumed’ on 21st March 1918 and his father received a pension.

Medal Roll

24561 Pte Thomas Hollins from Nottingham enlisted in March 1915 and had previously served with the 15th Battalion. He was killed in action on 21st March 1918 ‘or since’. His mother Jane was awarded a pension for life in November 1918.

Medal Roll

6970 Pte Edwin George Carter from Sneiton in Nottinghamshire aged 45. Previously saw service as a Sergeant in South Africa (1899-1902) with the 4th Battalion Derbyshire Regiment. Awarded Cape Colony and Orange Free State Clasps. Death was ‘presumed’ on 21st March 1918.

Medal Roll

307215 Pte William George Cross from Camberwell. Also served with 2/8th Battalion. Death ‘officially accepted’ as 21st March 1918. Left his wife Birdie who received a pension.

Medal Roll

241671 Sergeant Charles Breedon from Clay Cross. Death ‘assumed’ on 21/3/18 and he was actually serving with 2/6th Battalion. His mother Elizabeth was awarded a pension for life in November 1918.

Medal Roll

Other Battalions

200463 Pte Frederick Ridgway from Mossley in Staffordshire aged 23. Served with 2/6th Battalion North Staffordshire (Prince of Wales’s) Regiment. Son of Harry and Lucy Ridgway of Henleaze Gardens, Westbury-on-Trym in Bristol. Born at Newcastle-under-Lyme.

27164 Pte Richard Martin from Heatly in Cheshire, 1st Bn Shropshire Light Infantry died of wounds on the 2nd April 1918. The adopted son of Mr. & Mrs. William Mantle of Sandy Lane, Lymm.

41415 Pte Henry John Moles from Hitchin in Hertfordshire aged 19. 2/5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. http://www.hertsatwar.co.uk/biographies/569077/henry-john-moles.

Queant Road Cemetery

242256 Pte JW Gill on an undated casualty list from No. 1 Record Office in Lichfield……

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‘Sick and wounded NCOs and Men of the…….’

16665 Pte George Kendall from Mansfield

16665 Pte George Kendall from Mansfield enlisted in Sept 1914 and arrived in France with the 12th Battalion on the 28th August 1915. He later joined the MGC and was Class Z in January 1919.

MIC
George was later to receive a pension

67045 Lance Corporal Ralph Morley

67045 L/C Ralph Morley enlisted on 10th Sept 1914 and only served overseas with the 11th Battn. He was discharged in April 1918 suffering from neurasthenia sickness; he would later receive a pension and a Silver War Badge.

MIC

71806 Pte Kenneth Tomlinson from Sheffield

71806 Pte Kenneth Hayter Tomlinson from Sheffield served with ‘C’ Company 11th Battalion and suffered from eczema to the face and placed on the 31 Ambulance train from Remy to Boulogne on the 18th July 1917. He later served with the 1st Battalion.

Medal Role
31 Ambulance Train 18th July 1917

85252 Pte Enoch Buckley from Oldham

85252 Pte Enoch Buckley from Oldham served overseas with the 15th Battalion from 27th July 1917 to 28th October 1917. He later transferred to the Royal Defence Corps.

Medal Role
Enoch would later receive a pension

331273 Pte Ernest Broadhead from Nottingham

331273 Pte Ernest Broadhead served with a number of Battalions including the 2/7th, 1/7th, 21st & 15th, 2nd and 5th Res. Ernest originally attested into the Robin Hoods (2/7th Battalion) in September 1914.

Casualty Form – Active Service

Ernest’s first regimental number was 2662 when he enlisted into the 2/7th Battalion. Ernest embarked from Southampton on the 28th June 1915 and disembarked the following day in Rouen. He was posted to the 1/7th Battalion on the 8th September 1916 and was wounded on the 5th October 1915.

At the time of his wounding the Robin Hoods were working on captures German trenches

Ernest returned the Robin Hoods on the 7th December 1915 after recovering in Hospital and spending 6 weeks with the 46 NM Base Depot. Ernest was wounded a second time on the 26th June 1916 and transferred to England on the HS Lanfranc. On the 28th June he was posted to the Command Depot at Ballyvonare.

Robin Hood War Diary for 26th June 1916
Hospital Ship Lanfranc
Casualty Form – Active Service

After recovering from his wounds Ernest was posted to the 21st Battalion in January 1917 and the to the 2/7th Battalion in September 1917. He arrived back in France on the 19th September 1917 and was posted to the 14th Infantry Base Depot at Calais. He was transferred to the 15th Battalion and joined them ‘in the field’ on the 23rd September. Ernest was wounded in action for a third time on the 22nd October 1917, whilst the Battalion were attacking German positions near Houthulst Forest. He was transferred to hospital in England on the HS Stan Antwerpen.

15th Battalion War Diary for 22nd October 1917
HS Stan Antwerpen

After recovering from his third wounding Ernest once again found himself going to France on the 19th March 1918. He was initially posted to the 8th Battalion at K Infantry Base Depot for record purposes, before being transferred to the 2nd Battalion on the 23rd March 1918. He was wounded in action for the fourth time on the 14th April 1918 and again returned to England on the HS Stan Antwerpen.

Casualty Form – Active Service
2nd Battalion War Diary 14th-15th April 1918
Ernest was eventually discharged in March 1919 and awarded a well deserved pension

242256 Private William Jack Gill

242256 Pte William Jack Gill arrived in France in Feb 1917 and served overseas with the 2/6th and 2nd Battns. Possibly enlisted in April 1916, but No other information is currently available.

Medal Roll

14736 Pte James Walters

14736 Pte James Walters arrived in France with the 10th Battalion on 14th July 1915 and later served with the 11th and 15th Battalions and the South Lancashire Regiment. He was discharged in January 1919.

Medal Roll

And the date……..

In summary Enoch Buckley and Ernest Broadhead’s service records would suggest that this casualty list was drawn up towards the end of October 1917.

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to determine any more provenance.

4478/241531 Pte Francis Yates

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1/6th Battalion and Labour Corps; arrived in France in 1916 and wounded on 1st July 1916

British War Medal
Victory Medal

Unfortunately very little is known about Francis Yates, but it would appear that he arrived in France in 1916, served with “B” Company and was wounded on the 1st July 1916 [Information from 1/6th Battalion casualty book formerly kept in Officers Mess at Chesterfield Drill Hall].

Interestingly his medal index card does not record his 4-digit Regimental number (4478), whilst the 6-digit number (241531) would suggest that he was ‘still with’ the Sherwood Foresters in Spring 1917. His 4-digit number indicates that he enlisted in early August 1915.

Indeed, there is a reference in the Grantham Journal on Saturday October 16 1915, that Privates Philip Larkin, Frederick Watts and Francis Yates of the 3/6th Battalion where brought before Chesterfield Borough Bench for being ‘absent without leave’. At the time the 3/6th Battalion were camped at Belton Park with the rest of the 3rd North Midland Division.

Grantham Journal
1/6th Battalion casualty book formerly kept in the Officers Mess at Chesterfield Drill Hall
Birmingham Evening Post, Friday 4th August 1916 confirming Francis Yate’s wounding. Amongst the other Sherwood Foresters is 2198 W Barnes from Stafford
Admission list for No. 2 General Hospital confirming the wounding of 2198 Pte W Barnes of the 1/5th Battalion on the 1st July 1916

At some point Francis was posted to the Labour Corps and given the regimental number 601701. From a search of the Army Service Records of 601763 Pte Eli Rushton, 601795 Pte Wilkinson Haworth and 601798 Pte Edward Rumbol (who all have similar 6017** regimental numbers) it would appear that this transfer happened in June-July 1918.

MIC only recording 241531 and 601701
Francis was awarded a Pension

Another great purchase……..

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Hunmanby August 1914

Pictures of the very short Summer Camp of 1914 in Hunmanby are hard to find and this is only my second……….

The reason being – War was declared and the men of the Sherwood Foresters quickly returned to their home station for mobilisation.

This is epitomised by the entry in Sergeant Percy Walker’s diary…

The picture shows men of the 5th or 6th Battalions cooking by the roadside…

Is this T5 or T6……
I’m calling this as T5
Great shot!

And just for comparison – here is the Robin Hood Rifles…..same photographer……just taken later

RHR at Hunmanby in August 1914

9/5673/241979 Percy Walker………an update

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Many thanks to Pery’s great grandson son Granville, who has very kindly sent me copies of family photos and Percy’s diary, we can now fill in Percy’s service with the Sherwood Foresters.

Born in 1882 in Wirksworth, Percy was a painter by trade, and by 1911 was living at 10 Chapel Lane with his new bride Florence.

1911 Census

Service with ‘E’ (Wirksworth) Company, the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment: 1902-1914

Percy enlisted into the 2VB on the 9th of February 1901 aged 19, and served with them until their disbandment on the 31st March 1908, during which time he rose to the rank of Corporal.

Private Percy Walker, most likely taken shortly after he had enlisted
A newly promoted Corporal Percy Walker
A group of men of the 2VB at a summer Camp. Percy is possibly the man sitting at the back drinking
“E” (Wirksworth) Company taken at Towyn Camp 1907; authors collection
Percy’s record of service with the 2VB; in total 7 years and 52 days

Pre-War Service with ‘E’ (Wirksworth) Company, the 6th Battalion of the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment: 1908-1914

Percy enlisted into the 6th Battalion on its formation on 1st April 1908 and was given the early regimental number of 9. He was assigned to No. 3 Section of the Left Half Company Commanded by 2/Lt Francis Edward Wintle. E Company was Commanded by Captain Joseph Albert Wheatcroft.

Nominal Role of Letter “E” Company circa 1908; authors own collection
Sergeants of Letter E Company; Percy is on the far right. This was taken at the summer camp of 1910, which was at Hindlow.
1910 Summer camp and a group of men from E Company; Percy is standing on the left. Note there are a number of senior NCOs standing at the back in ‘Tunic Order’
Percy also attended the 1912 summer camp at Abermaide in Wales
Letter E Company at Abermaide Camp; Percy is kneeling on the 2nd row, 7th from the left
An unknown group of men at the 1912 camp; note the pioneer kneeling on the right
On parade at Abermaide Camp.

War Service with ‘E’ (Wirksworth) Company, the 6th Battalion of the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment: 1914

Some time prior to the outbreak of the Great War Percy had been promoted to Sergeant

On the outbreak of the War Percy started to keep a diary, which now throws light on those early days of the War and the training undertaken by the North Midland Division in the Harpenden and Luton areas.

The cover page of Percy’s diary and it’s clear that ‘Nov 11th 1918’ was added at a later date.
Interestingly the first diary entry, dated Tuesday 4th August, details the short and ill-fated summer camp at Hunmanby.
On the 6th August, just 2 days after the mobilisation of the British Army, men of Letter E Company marched the 19 miles to the Battalion Headquarters in Chesterfield
On the 10th August the ‘men of the high peak’ marched the 12 miles to Ripley and on the following day the 10 miles to Derby.
On the 15th August, 10 days ofter mobilisation, the 6th Battalion along with the Sherwood Foresters Brigade of the North Midland Division left Derby on their way to the Luton area.
The individual Battalions of the Sherwood Foresters Brigade mobilising in August 1914; authors own collection.

Percy’s diary records the training that they undertook, such as route marches, outpost work and Company/Battalion Drill. During this time Percy and the other men of the Division were billeted in private residences and the diary provides the names and addresses of these houses.

A group of E Company men billeted with a family in Harpenden; these are possibly plans of Percy
The same man seen in the photo above; note Imperial Service Badge
A group of 1/6th Battalion men; Percy is on the 2nd row

War Service with the 2/6th Battalion of the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment: 1914-1916

On the 14th November 1914 Percy was transferred to the newly formed 2/6th Battalion, which was Headquartered at Empire Hotel in Buxton and under the Command of Colonel Clayton
Empire Hotel in Buxton; authors own collection
War Diary of the 2/6th Battalion; authors own collection
Senior NCO’s of the 2/6th Battalion at Buxton; Percy is on the far left of the rear row
Unknown Corporal on the steps outside the Empire Hotel
On the 3rd March the 2/6th Battalion moved to Luton and then Harpenden to take over the transport and billeting arrangements from the 1/6th Battalion, which were due to embark for France
On the 19th February Percy was made Acting Company Sergeant Major
The 2nd North Midland Division was inspected by General Ian Hamilton
General Ian Hamilton would later lead the Dardanelles expedition

Overseas Service with the 1/6th Battalion of the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment: 1916-17

In April 1916 Percy would have served for 8 years in the Territorial Force, which meant that he was ‘time expired’. It appears from his Medal Index Card, Medal Roll and Silver War Badge Role that this was the case and he re-enlisted (or was conscripted) into the Sherwood Foresters and was posted to the 1/6th Battalion and given the new regimental number of 5672. He arrived in France on the 12th August 1916 and it appears that he was still with the 1/6th Battalion at time of the Territorial Force renumbering in spring of 1917 (new number of 241979).

At some point, and for some reason (possibly through wounding), Percy was transferred to the 15th Battalion.

Medal Index Card
Medal Roll showing that Percy served in France with the 1/6th and 15th Battalions

Overseas Service with the 15th Battalion of the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment: 1917

In May 1917 Percy was wounded (GW) with VI(I) [gunshot wound of back and spine (simple flesh contusions and wounds)] and IX(I) [gunshot wounds of lower extremities (simple flesh contusions and wounds)]. At the time of his wounding the 15th Battalion were holding the front line and support trenches.

Undated sick and wounded list
Record of the 31 Ambulance Train for May 1917
15th Battalion War Diary for May 1917
Wounded men at Great Bentley Council School Hospital; Percy is on the right
King’s Certificate of Discharge for Percy Walker; authors collection
King’s Certificate of Discharge for Percy Walker; authors collection

Percy was discharged in January 1918 aged 35 years and was awarded a Silver War Badge and a King’s Certificate of Discharge. He also received a pension.

Silver War Badge roll recording that Percy was discharged on the 17th January 1918 due to wounds
Percy
Embroidery done by Percy whilst in a convalescent home at Elland near to Halifax

On this day 21st April 1917 two men were wounded and John Brown and Victor Bonsall were killed in action

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Both John (242122) and Victor (242335) were original members of the 2/6th Battalion and are buried next to each other in Templeux-Le-Guerard British Cemetery.

John was the husband of Louisa Brown of 141 Fairfoot Rd., Bow in London. He was born in London.

Victor was the son of Richard and Louisa Bonsall of Monyash, Bakewell in Derbyshire.

Pension Record for Victor Bonsall
Pension Record for John Brown