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.
Hancourt: The Battalion marched to L.3.c.7.8. and took over the front line from the 2/5th Lincolnshire Regiment
[WO-95-3025: 2/6th Battalion War Diary]
A recent purchase that I am very happy with because I believe the recipient – 118815 Pte Harry Watson – has a special tale to tell in the story of the 1/6th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters.
Harry was issued the Regimental Number of 118815, which were numbers issued to conscripted men posted to the 3rd/4th and 5th/7th (Reserve) Battalions for training in early summer 1918.
From studying surviving service records we can draw some broad conclusions:-
Men numbered between 118044 (Pte William Walters) and 118239 (Pte Sidney Nunn) were posted to the 3rd or 4th Battalions between 25th and 29th May 1918. Following training these men arrived in France in Sept/Oct 1918.
Men numbered between 118272 (Pte Charles Leedel) and 118287 (Pte Street) were posted to the 5th Reserve Battalion at Saltfleet on the 28th and 29th May 1918. Following training these men arrived in France in Sept/Oct 1918.
Men numbered between 118431 (Pte Hartwell) and 118547 (Pte Walker) were posted to the 3rd Battalion at Sunderland between on the 12th and 13th June 1918. Following training these men arrived in France on 4th Oct 1918.
Men numbered between 118785 (Pte McLocklin) and 118889 (Pte Hand) were posted to the 5th and 7th Reserve Battalions at Saltfleet between 18th and 20th June 1918. Following training these men arrived in France in mid Oct 1918.
From his service number of 118215 we can surmise that Harry Watson was posted to either the 5th or 7th Reserve Battalions in mid June 1918 and was highly likely to have arrived in France and posted to the 1/6th Battalion in October 1918.
And why is that important?……..It would make Harry one of the last reinforcements to join the 1/6th Battalion, most likely to replace losses following the storming of the Hindenburg Line.
Note: On the medal roll there is no longer a distinction between the 1/6th and 2/6th Battalions, the latter of which had been finally disbanded on 31st July 1918.
Unfortunately, I carelessly let this Medal Pair ‘get away from me’ on a well known internet auction site last night, but I thought that I would still try to piece together Frederick’s story.
Frederick was one of approximately 112 men who were transferred to the 2/6th Battalion, the Sherwood Foresters from the Bedfordshire Regiment and issued the new Regimental numbers running from 103024 (Herbert Meekins) to 103137 (George Webster). Many of these men had previously been numbered with a post-1917 6-digit Bedfordshire Territorial Force Regimental number (see below).
Fortunately the Service Records of at least two of this group of 112 men still exist:
103035 Pte John Male from Bath (see above).
103065 Pte Horace Crowle from Cornwall.
These documents confirm that Pte John Male and Pte Horace Crowle – and by inference Pte Frederick Blaydon – were posted to the 5th Reserve Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment, before proceeding to France from Folkestone on the 28th March 1918.
They arrived at “L” Infantry Base Depot and were transferred to the 2/6th Battalion Sherwood Foresters on the 31st March 1918. This transfer was due to the losses suffered by the 2/6th Battalion (178th Bde, 59th Division) on the 21st March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive.
John Male was killed in action with B Company, 2/6th Battalion on the 16th April aged 48. He was the Son of Mr and Mrs Male of 13, Maytree Rd., Bitterne, Southampton. John’s body was exhumed near Kemmel Hall in July 1919 and he is now buried in La Clytte Military Cemetery.
Horace Cowle served with B Company and was listed as ‘missing in action’ during the defence of Kemmel on the 18th April 1918 aged 19. He was the son of Mr and Mrs Crowle of 1 Chapel Terrace, St. Blazey, Cornwall. Horace is commemorated on The Ploegsteert Memorial.
Horace had enlisted underage in November 1915. He arrived in France in December 1916 and was posted to the 1st Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. However, in January 1917 he was returned to England.
Frederick Blaydon was later transferred to the 1/6th Battalion when the 2/6th was reduced to Cadre in May 1918 and survived the War.
The 2nd Derby Militia were raised 12th January 1855 and designated the ‘Chatsworth Rifles’ on 22nd May 1855. They became the 3rd Battalion, the Derbyshire Regiment on 1st July 1881 finally amalgamating with 5th Battalion on 1st April 1891.
[The images of the writing slope box were kindly sent by Luke Kreciala]
Francis was born on the 28th April 1821 in Coed. He moved to Glapwell House near Chesterfield when his father inherited the estate. He was Commissioned into the 2nd Derby Militia as a Lieutenant on the 14th December 1863; promoted to Captain on the 14th December 1867 and retired in 1872. He died unmarried in December 1883 at the Hotel Valley in Anglesey.
Undated list of Officers of the 1st Derby and 2nd Derbyshire (Chatsworth Rifles). Note that Francis Hallowes is not listed, but his relative Thomas Richard Francis Brabazon Hallowes is (note misspelling of his surname). TRFBH Hallows was Commissioned into the 6th Dragoon Guards in 1873.
George was posted to the 16th Battalion, the Chatsworth Rifles with 125 other men in early Sept 1916. These men were issued with the Regimental numbers 70052 to 70177.
In 1916 this numbering system was used to transfer men from the Territorial Battalions of the Sherwood Foresters to the Regular and Service Battalions under Army Order 204/A.C.I. 1499.
George was captured at Thiepval on 9th October during the attack on the SCHWABEN REDOUBT.
George was interned in Giessen POW Camp when he sent this card.
Edmond was part of a draft of at least 140 men that were mobilised and posted to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, the Sherwood Foresters between 12th-13th June 1918. The 3rd Battalion was was part of the Tyne Garrison based in Sunderland and was responsible for training new recruits, along with the 4th (Extra Reserve), 5th (Reserve) and 7th (Reserve) Battalions.
The men were issued regimental numbers between (at least) 118431 (Frank Hartwell from Hucknall) and 118571 (Walter Kirkham). The service records of at least six of these men still exist, and based on these records it is possible to piece together the movements of Edmond and his comrades.
Following training the men disembarked from Dover to the Base Depot in France on the 4th October 1918 and were initially posted to the 11th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters.
However, before they could reach their unit they were transferred to the 1/6th (and 1/5th) Battalions, presumably to make up for losses during the storming of the Hindenburg Line between 29th September and 3rd October. This would be one of the last reinforcements that the 1/6th received – possible reinforcement number 57.
It took six days for the 59th Division to travel by train from their training areas in England to Southampton Docks. This mobilisation used 35 trains.
It took over 6 days to move the Division from Southampton to Boulogne.
Frederick Heeley was born in 1880 and was a colliery labourer (surface). He was married to Eva as recorded on the 1911 census.
Frederick enlisted in February 1915 and may have served with the 2/6th Battalion during the Easter Rising, but he certainly arrived in France with the 2/6th Battalion, 178th Brigade, 59th Division in February 1917.
Many thanks to Mike Orme we now know that Frederick transferred to the Labour Corps in October 1917. The Service record for 403699 William Huff narrows the date to close to the 8th October 1917. By that time Frederick would have been 37 years old and had served with the trenches for 6 months. It is highly likely that he was no longer medically fit for front line service.
He was eventually discharged in September 1919 due to sickness. His pension record card states that he suffered from rheumatism that was attributable to his Army service. After the War he lived at 1 John Street in Brampton. Frederick died in 1960.
Amongst the other men granted leave extensions were:-
203731 L/Cpl William Davey – 11th Battalion – from Nottingham. William attested in December 1915 and was mobilised in April 1917. He was posted to the 5th Reserve Battalion for training. William arrived in France in October 1917 and was posted to the 11th Battalion. William was discharged in February 1919 and died in March 1923. His widow – Mabel Elizabeth – was awarded a pension,
102925 L/Cpl Peter Copeland – 11th Battalion – actually served with the 2/6th Battalion after transferring from the KOSB in Spring 1918.
72184 Pte James Isles – 9th Battalion – James had previously served with the ASC and 17th Battalion (Welbeck Rangers).
24836 Pte William Kirkbridge – 15th Battalion.
120008 Pte Jonas Thornley – 8th Battalion.
61536 Pte Frederick Twigg – 9th Battalion.
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 