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 these days 2-4th October 1915

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3.10.1915 FOUQUEREUIL: Battn moved to Billets at HINGES.

4.10.1915 HINGES: Bn (less details) embossed for SAILLY LA BOURSE and from there marched to trenches W of LOOS, where the Bn was employed converting old German trenches.

Casualties:- 1 man killed.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

The man killed was 2549 Pte Albert Smith from Buxton who was serving with C Company. He now has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

Wounded was 2026 Pte Harry Bellfield, a printer from Ashbourne, who suffered a shell wound to the right thigh and was transferred to England.

2026 Bellfield

3119 Pte Edward Bennet, a collier from Whaley Bridge, was transfered to England pending discharge due to age.

3119 Bennet3119 Bennet 2

Oct 2nd. Rose about 11-30 a.m. & had breakfast. Band played in afternoon in market place. Went out about 3 p.m. round the town & had a good tea. Nice town. About six shells dropped on it during morning. 6 French soldiers hurt. Very nice day.

Oct 3rd. Rose about 6 a.m. had breakfast & packed up. Set off from Bethune about 8-30 a.m. and got to Hinges about 11-30 a.m.

Billeted in barns – quite comfortable. Cleaned up in afternoon & had a walk round after tea. Very nice day.

Oct 4th. Rose at 8 a.m. & had breakfast. Rifle inspn 10 a.m. Moved suddenly at 4 p.m. battn to captured trenches (part way in motor buses), but I was left guarding blankets, etc. – nice job. Very nice day. Attd 1st Army Corps.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

Our method of approach to the vicinity was rather unique, about five kilometres on foot and the remainder of the journey to the commencement of the communication trenches just behind Loos, in London Omnibuses, it was a very rough ride, lurching, swaying into shell holes, stopping, starting, avoiding the other transport, and then the picture from the top deck, – remember the old London omnibus of 1914 had no roof, – the rise of the Verey lights over the troubled battle fronts, the flashes of artillery fire, explosions of shells and mortars made a very vivid scene in the darkness from the top of a bus. The snaking of that convoy of buses over the shell torn roads made a remarkable sight.

[2305 Pte Frank Longson]Omnibus

On this day 1st October 1915

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October 1915

6.30 pm 1.1.1915 ABEELE: Battn (less transport) entrained for FOUQUEREUIL.

9.30 pm 1.10.1915 FOUQUEREUIL: Detrained and marched inot BETHUNE and billeted in brick barrakcs. Division now joined 1st Amry, 11th Corps, the latter comprising GUARDS and 12th and 46h Divisions under Lt. Gen. Haking CB.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Oct 1st. Got to bivouacs near Ouderdom about 6 a.m. – quite done up. Hot tea then got down & slept till 9-15. After breakfast packed up again. 3 p.m. set off to Abeele (8 miles) station. C. Xley etc. joined us there, & all entrained about 7-15 p.m. Got to Lillers about 9-30 p.m. & detrained. Each drew two blankets and then marched to Bethune (nearly 3 miles). Billeted in French barracks about midnight – fairly comfortable. Nice day.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

 

3366 Pte. Walter Adkin, a miner from Staveley, died from his wounds and was buried inLIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY. Walter enlisted on the 23rd October 1914 aged 24.

On this day 30th September 1915

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30.9.1915: Enemy shelled very heavily SPOIL BANK & trenches in afternoon and at 6.35 pm exploded a mine under trench 29 & right angle trench. Casualties resulting from this were:-

KILLED 4 other ranks; MISSING BELIEVED KILLED 1 Officer (2/Lt LG Dickinson) & 12 other ranks; WOUNDED 20 other ranks.

Continuous shelling of all our trenches.

Bn relieved by 7th LINCOLNS & 7th E YORKS and marched into bivouacs at transport lines. Casualties other than those above:- WOUNDED 3 other ranks (including accidental).

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Sept 30th. On sentry again. Dull day but no rain. About 6-30 p.m. enemy blew up a mine under our trench & bombarded us well. 5 buried, 5 killed, 14 wounded in “C” Co. 5 aerial torpedoes on “A” Co. H. May wounded. Awful experience.

Relieved about 10 p.m. by 7th Lincs (K’s) Divn, & then went digging buried chaps out & repairing trench round crater, till about midnight. Then set off to billets. Roads wretched. Fell out feet sore & quite done up. Stopped about half way, had hot cocoa & put my pack on cooker.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

The 17 men killed or missing presumed killed were:-

2/Lt Lewis George Dickinson 30.9.15 Killed in action and buried at Spoilbank.
1812 Pte James Bradley 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
2524 Pte Charles Carter 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
2152 Pte Harold Chapman 30.9.15 Killed in action and buried at Chester Farm.
2276 Pte Thomas D’Arcy 30.9.15 Killed in action and buried at Chester Farm.
2288 Pte Oscar Goodwin 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
1953 L/Cpl Arthur Harding 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
1437 Pte Alfred Hollingshead 30.9.15 Killed in action and buried at Chester Farm.
1785 Pte Frederick Hooley 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
1892 Pte George Partridge 30.9.15 Killed in action and buried at Chester Farm.
3561 Pte Albert Roberts 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
3159 Pte Charles Roberts 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
1448 Sgt William Wibberley 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
3550 Pte James Wardle 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
1667 Pte Samuel Yates 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
1400 Pte George Bailey 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
2481 Pte John Thompson 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.

1812 BradleyThe bodies of 12 men were not recovered following the explosion and they were initially reported ‘as missing’ by Colonel Goodman on form B213; however, correspondence from DAAG 2 confirmed that the men had been killed. Only the mother of Private 2524 Charles Samuel Carter received any personal belongings from her son.2524 carter

DickinsonThe body of Lt Dickenson was later recovered and he was buried in Spoilbank Cemetery, whilst Privates 2152 H Chapman, 2276 T D’arcy, Hollingshead and 1892 G Partridge are all buried in Chester Farm.

Chester Farm

Wounded included :-

1179 Pte George Wood 30.9.15 Wounded in the field.
1192 Pte Richard Simmonds 30.9.15

Wounded in action and admitted to 1st NMFA and 46 Div CCS with shock on 2.10.15. Returned to Battalion on 10.10.15.
1440 Pte Ernest Turner 30.9.15

Wounded in action and admitted to 1st NMFA and 46 Div CCS with shock on 2.10.15. Returned to Battalion on 10.10.15.
1601 Pte William Taylor 30.9.15

GS wound to right fingers and admitted to 1st NMFA, 17 CCS. Transferred to 46 NMD Convalescent Depot on 5.10.15 and returned to Battalion on 3.11.15.
1684 Cpl Charles Green 30.9.15

Shrapnel wound in the back and admitted to 12 CCS. Re-joined Battalion on 13.10.15.
2196 Pte Harold May 30.9.15 Wounded in left forearm.
1771 Pte Charles Tunnicliffe 30.9.15 Wounded in the field and returned to Battalion.
1859 Cpl William Jackson 30.9.15 Wounded in the field.
1880 Pte John Jevons 30.9.15

GSW in right foot and transferred to England on 13.10.15. Discharged on 19.9.17.
1985 Pte JA Mee 30.9.15 Wounded in the field.
2056 Pte Hubert Birley 30.9.15

GSW spine and injury to back and shoulder and transferred to England on 6.10.15.
2100 Pte George Manifold 30.9.15 Wounded in the field.
2113 Sgt James Atterbury 30.9.15 Wounded in the field.
2134 Pte Arthur Hollis 30.9.15 Wounded in the field and returned to Battalion.
2259 Pte Walter Gregory 30.9.15 Wounded in the field.
2310 Pte John Naylor 30.9.15

GSW left extremities and transferred to England on 6.10.15. Transferred to Royal West Surrey Regt.
2564 Pte Ernest Short 30.9.15 Wounded in the field and returned to Battalion.
2837 Pte John Nall 30.9.15 Wounded in the field and returned to Battalion.
2691 Pte William Payne 30.9.15

Wounded in field and transferred to England. Discharged due to wounds on 3.5.16 (para 392 XVI KR).
3127 Pte Percy Holford 30.9.15 Wounded in the field and returned to Battalion.
3563 Pte Frank Lowndes 30.9.15

Transferred to England and discharged due to wounds on 9.12.16 (para 392 XVI KR).

16th Trench Duty 28th-30th September

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28.9.1915: Battalion took over trenches from 5th (27, 28, 29, 30S & R11)

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Sept 28th. Rose about 7-30 a.m. Inspn by Gen Stuart Wortley 10-30 a.m. Packed up after dinner & set off to trenches at 3-30 p.m. Stopped near Kruisstraat had tea. Rain from about 6 p.m. onwards. Roads wretched. Relieved 5th S.F.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]bluff

 

On these days 26th-28th September 1915

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28.9.1915: Battn inspected by Major General Stuart Wortley.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]Edward_Stuart_Wortley

Edward James Montagu-Stuart-Wortley, CB, CMG, DSO, MVO

(31 July 1857 – 19 March 1934)

Sept 26th. Went to communion 9 a.m. & ordinary church parade 11 a.m. Very nice day. Also to voluntary service at 6 p.m. Still standing to. Lieut. Brown buried.

Sept 27th. Finished standing to at 8 a.m. Rifle inspn at 10 a.m. On fatigue at range 1-30 till 4. At night went to Ouderdom to hear pierrots. Very good. Dull day but fine. Kersey to hosp.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

Wounded men included:-

1456 L/Cpl John Kersey 26.9.15 Died of wounds at Le Havre.
1104 Cpl Joseph Dudley 28.9.15 Transferred to England and discharged due to wounds on 18.5.16 (para 392 XVI KR).

 

On this day 25th September 1915

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“I hardly know how to tell you that Leonard was killed in action today. He was with the 7th Battalion (Robin Hoods) in performance of his duties as Brigade Intelligence Officer. I have just had a wire to say that he was killed while in one of the second line trenches – probably, but I do not know, by a German sniper.

I was asked some little time ago to nominate an Intelligence Officer for the Brigade, and I named Leonard, as I was struck with the intelligence and keeness with which he carried out his work.”Brown WL graveDuring the evening of the 25th the 1/7th Battalion ‘stood to’ as the 1/8th Battalion made a ‘demonstration’ against the Germans. It was most likely during this action that William Brown was shot by a sniper.

Sept 25th. Heavy bombardment by our artillery, so stood to from 4 a.m. onwards. Rose about 7-30 a.m. & had breakfast. Rifle inspn 10 a.m. Paid 20 frs at 2-30 p.m. Dull day & showers at intervals. German trenches taken at Hooge, La Bassee & Neuve Chapelle & also on French front.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

On this day 24th September 1915

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24.9.1915: Battn stood to until 25th as a consequence of attack by 5th Corps.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Sept 24th. Rose about 7-30 a.m. & had breakfast. 9-30 a.m. rifle, bayonet, clothes & boot inspn. 10-30 set off to Poperinghe for a bath, enjoyed same. Parcel from home arrived. Dull day, but fine till about p p.m. & then rain at intervals. Band in afternoon.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

Poperinghe

On this day 23rd September 1915

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

Sept 23rd. Got to wooden huts about 1 a.m. – much better than bivouacs. Hot soup served out & then slept till about 10 a.m. Rifle & bayonet inspn 2 p.m. Band played 2 till about 3-30 p.m. 25 more reinforcements arrived. Nice day, but rain from 8 p.m. till midnight.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

3541 CarterArmy Service Record for 3541 Pte Carter recording his arrival to the 1/6th Battalion on the 24th September 1915.

Men sick or wounded included:- 

1770 Pte George Clements 23.9.15

Transferred to England on 23.9.15. Returned to France on 4.3.16 with the 6th Reinforcement.
1736 Pte William Stuart 23.9.15

Shell wound in right foreleg and left thigh. Admitted to 46 DRS and 3 Stationary Hospital. Transferred to England on 15.9.15. Returned to France on 3.7.16 with the 13th Reinforcement.

1736 Stuart

On this day 22nd September 1915

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22.9.15 Canal I33: Battn relieved by 5th Battalion & moved to Bivouacs.

Casualties:- Killed O.R. 7, Wounded:- 2/Lt. JS Sampson (8.9.15) Lt. D Storrs Fox (9.9.15) & 11 Other Ranks.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Sept 22nd. Same as yesterday till dinnertime. German trenches bombarded from 4 till about 5 p.m. & they replied later. Packed up after tea & were relieved by 5th S.F. about 8 p.m. 5 killed & 11 wounded by shells in A Co. Nice moon light night, so had a very good passage out. Hot cocoa about halfway. Few of us (me included) put packs on transport wagons when about ¾ way out. Done 18 days this time.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

1679 Pte Charles Smith 22.9.15 Shrapnel wound in the face and re-joined Battalion.