Maple Copse 18.7.1915: Handed over trenches and 2 Companies (D & B) garrisoned R4, 5 & 6 in support SANCTUARY WOOD – A & C in MAPLE COPSE
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
On this day 18th July 1915
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On this day 14th July 1915
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]
1777 Pte Thomas Arthur Chatterton, a labourer from 35 Barn End Cottages in Thornset near to New Mills, suffered GS wound in the head and was admitted to 1st NMFA then transferred to the 50 CCS and 2 General Hospital. He re-joined the 1/6th Battalion on 30th July 1915.
1777 Pte Thomas Arthur Chatterton
Thomas enlisted in Whaley Bridge in January 1913 and served with “H” Company. He was the Son of Mr Moratio Chatterton of Thornsett and was employed at Waterside Paper Mill. He attended Thornsett Independent Chapel. 
Thomas was wounded five times, but on each occasion recovered and returned to duty. In total he returned to England 3 times for hospital treatment before returning to France.
Thomas served overseas in the 1/6th (Feb ’15 – May ’16), 1/5th (Dec ’16 – June ’17) and 10th () Battalions.
Page 1 of his Army service record recording that Thomas arrived in France on the 25th February 1915 and was first wounded on the 17th July 1915 with a GSW in the head. After returning to the 1/6th Battalion he was again wounded with a GS wound on the 12th September 1915 and transferred to Hospital in England.
Page 2 of his Army Service Recording that Thomas returned to the 1/6th Battalion in France with the 6th Reinforcement on the 4th March 1916. However, he again returned to England on the 11th May 1916 suffering from mayagia (muscle pain) and influenza.
He returned to France with the 25th Reinforcement on the 19th November 1916 and was posted to the 5th Battalion from the 14th Infantry Base Depot at Calais.
Thomas was wounded for the 3rd time on the 4th May 1917; but remained at duty.
He was wounded for the 4th time two months later on the 3rd June 1917, this time with a GSW in the back and was transferred to England.
It would seem that Thomas was arrested on the 24th September 1917, tired by a district court martial and sentenced to 2 years detention for deserting His Majesty’s Service.
However, Thomas returned to France with the 40th Reinforcement on the 19th October 1917 and posted to the 14th Infantry Base Depot in Calais. He was transferred to the 10th Battalion on the 24th October 1917 and killed in action on the 15th March 1918.
Thomas’s luck finally ran out when he was the only man of the 10th Battalion to be killed during a period of heavy bombardment by the Germans.
On this day 12th July 1915
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]
1563 Pte. Harry Depledge was killed in action and buried in Maple Copse. He was the first man of the 1/6th Battalion to be buried in this little copse, however, after the War his grave was lost, like that of 6 of his comrades and all of them are now commemorated on a special memorial with the grounds of the new cemetery.
Harry enlisted into the 6th Battalion on the 8th February 1912 aged 17. He lived at Shallcross Mill near Fernilee and was a collier by trade in the employment of Buxton Lime Kilms Company. He served with “H” Whaley Bridge Company.
The High Peak News records that Harry was ‘buried this morning in a little graveyard behind the trenches’.
Amongst the wounded was 2828 Pte. Edward Napier Mills, who was a cowhand from Wiltshire and served with “C” Company. He remained with the 1/6th Battalion for the duration of the War; later being prompted to Sergeant and finally disembodied on the 3rd March 1919.
11th Trench Duty 11th – 15th July 1915
Maple Copse 11.7.1915: Battalion moved into SUPPORT (2 Coys) & TRENCHES A6-9 – EAST of ZILLEBEKE
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
On this day 6th July 1915
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]
1410 L/Cpl Pete White a miner at Alma Colliery in Clay Cross was wounded by shrapnel in the abdomen. He transferred to the 3rd British Red Cross Hospital, but died of blood poisoning nearly 6-weeks later and was buried in Abbeville. Picture courtesy of Peter Hoben.
On this day 5th July 1915
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]
| 1778 | Pte | Harry Hampson | 5.7.15 | Measles and admitted to 1st NMFA. Re-joined Battalion on 9.7.15. |
| 1928 | Pte | Harold Towndrow | 5.7.15 | Influenza and admitted to 10 CCS and 20 General Hospital. Transferred to England on 30.7.15. Returned to France on 4.3.16 with the 6th Reinforcement. |
On this day 4th July 1915
Ypres 4.7.15: Working party of 200 men under Capt Edgar Horace Heathcote shelled on return. 9 killed & died. 21 wounded & 2 previously wounded.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
The men killed were:-
- 2030 Pte. Richard Evans
- 2284 Pte. Joseph Ford
- 2290 Pte. James Greatorex
- 1321 Pte. Percy Heather
- 3224 Pte. George William Lomas
- 1322 Pte. Samuel Turner
- 3117 Pte. Horace Lowe
- 2655 Pte. John Moss
- 2213 Pte. George Markham
For full details see here.
Captain Edgar Horace Heathcote of ‘Rockwood’ in Buxton.
On this day 3rd July 1915
Bivouac 3.7.1915: Lieut. & Qmr William North Broomhead rejoined from England.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
William Broomhead had fractured his left elbow on the 16th March 1915 and had been transferred to England on the Hospital Ship “St David”. After a period of leave he returned to France on the 30th June and rejoined the Battalion 3 days later.
The following men reported sick on this day:-
| 1559 | Pte | Fred Garlick | 3.7.15 | Pyrexia and admitted to 1st NMFA, 24 General and 14 Stationary Hospitals. Transferred to England on 16.8.15. Returned to France on 3.7.16 with the 13th Reinforcement. |
| 1805 | Pte | Walter Evans | 3.7.15 | Contracted influenza and admitted to 1st NMFA, 10 CCS and 24 General Hospital. Transferred to NMD Base depot and re-joined Battalion on 7.10.15. |
| 508 | Pte | Albert Askey | 3.7.15 | German measles and admitted to 1st NMFA and Fever Hospital. Rejoined unit on 23.7.15. |
2243 Private John William Wright
Nick Bennet has been researching his Great Uncle 2243 Pte. John William Wright who served with “D” Company of the 1/8th Battalion and was killed by a German sniper on the 20th April 1915 aged only 18 and is buried in Kemmel Chateau Cemetery.
John William Wright was born in Bilisthorpe, Nottinghamshire and lived at 47 Montague Street, Mansfield. He was the proud son of Joseph Wallhead Wright and Florence Wright.
At the time of his death “D” Company were occupying G1 trench near to Peckham Corner.
“It is with deepest regret that I have to announce to you the death of your son, John Wright. He was killed by a rifle bullet on April 20th. It may be some consolation to you to know that he died doing his duty in action. At 4:30 am on April 20th, we were subjected to considerable bombardment from grenades, and your son was at the time doing his duty as sentry and at the same time observing where our own grenades were falling in the enemy’s trenches without hesitation he pluckily observed all our grenades, but unfortunately was observed by the enemy and shot. I was close by his side at the time and an assure you that his death was instantaneous, he could have suffered no pain whatever.”
Captain M C Martyn; Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser: 29/04/1915
For more information see here:
http://www.ournottinghamshire.org.uk/page_id__1464_path__0p31p426p.aspx
http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/view.php?uid=210827
http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/rollofhonour/People/Details/4177
On this day 29th June 1915 – 1st Reinforcement
Zillebeke 29.6.1915: Relieved by 5th Leicester Regt. Moved to Farm between Poperinghe and Westroutre.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
Extract from London Gazette of 10 June 1915 Lieut. Victor Robinson to be Temp Capt.
Extract from London Gazette of 14 June 1915 Lieut. Cyril Wheatcroft to be Temp Capt.
Bivouac 29.6.1915: Lieut. John Dudley Barker Symonds & 96 men joined from England. For more information including a list of 50 men from this reinforcement see here.
Medal Index Card for John Symonds recording his arrival in France on the 27th June 1915, which different to the date recorded for his men, although this date has not been confirmed with his Officers Service Record.
Army Service Record for 1696 Pte. George Rodgers recording his embarkation for Southampton on the 25th June 1915 and disembarkation in Rouen the following day. Details confirmed on his Medal Index Card (below).
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 