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 1st April 1915

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April 1915

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

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Air raid on Neuf Berquin on APRIL 1st by 3 German aeroplanes, one dropped 2 bombs on our Battalions water carts whilst they were being filled, but did not explode.

[1415 Cpl. Alfred Afford]

1st April 1915. Battalion went out on tactical exercises, stretcher bearers with them. In the afternoon B Company went to fill the brigade trenches ready for moving. Attached to North Midland Division in future.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

Apr 1st. Sham fight. Hottest day yet this year (off with bad feet 30th Mar to 1st Apr).

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

On this day 31st March 1915

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

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31st March 1915. Battalion on tactical exercise. Lecture on first aid. Every day this week aeroplanes being shelled.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

Mar 31st. Practicing defending trenches. Opposite to previous day.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

Mystery #1 solved !

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Thanks to BRONNO we now know that the Officer is Henry NEWTON.

Henry Newton

  • 2nd Lieut. 1st Volunteer Battalion The Sherwood Foresters, 28.4.1906.
  • Lieutenant 5th Battalion, 18.9.1909 and Captain 17.11.1912.
  • Lieut-Colonel and O.C. II Army R.E. Workshops 1915-17.

Confirming that this is a picture of the 5th (Derby) Battalion, Machine Gun Section taken in 1912.

Henry Newton MIC

On this day 30th March 1915

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30.3.15 (NERF BERQUIN). Band at OUTTERSTEENE to play for Bp of LONDON’s Service. The following Officers were gazetted and the joined the Battalion during March as 2nd Lieutenants.

Gazette 3rd March:-

  • Pte 2341 G. S. Rivington (Gordon Sangster Rivington).
  • Pte A. H. Goodhall (Alec Harrison Goodhall).
  • Pte T. L. Darbyshire from 18th Alberta Dragoons (Thomas Leslie Darbyshire).

LG 3 March 1915LG Feb 1915

Interestingly, Charles EV Cree and Richard Evans are not mentioned in the War Dairy even though their Commissions are recorded in the London Gazette. Its most likely that they were initially posted to the 2/6th Battalion. Both Cree and Evans arrived in France in July 1915.

Gazette 12th March:-

  • Coy Quartermaster Sergt. L. G. DICKENSON dated 13 March (Lewis George Dickinson).
  • Surgeon Capt. A. W. Shea promoted Surgeon Major from 5 August 1914 (Arthur Wilson Shea).LG March 1915

 

War Diary [WO/95/2694].

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30th March 1915. Battalion on route march. Lectures on ambulance and sanitation. In the afternoon did our washing.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

Mar 30th. Practicing assaulting trenches. Grand day again.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

On this day 29th March 1915

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

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29th March 1915. Battalion went out in Brigade trenches. We had lectures on first aid and sanitation.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

Mar 29th. 8 mile route march in morning. Musketry & foot inspection in afternoon. Grand day.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

A little mystery to solve #1

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19121) Picture taken by A Heath from Clay Cross at the 1912 Abermaide Camp and showing the Machine Gun Section.Vickers

Man2) Clearly the 5th (Derby) or 6th (Derbyshire) Battalion Notts & Derby – note the 5-Tier Territorial Force shoulder badge – T-#-NOTTS-AND-DERBY.

Officer MG3) The Officer holds the key – I don’t recognise him as being in the 6th Battalion. In 1911 the Machine Gun Section was under the Command of Lieut. Arthur Cuthbert Brooke-Taylor and that is not him. By 1913 Lieutenant Francis Bradbury Robinson was in charge of the Machine Gun Section and went on a course in Chelsea.

On this day 28th March 1915

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

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28th March 1915. Church parade in the morning.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

Mar 28th. Palm Sunday. Very nice day but cold wind. Service at 11 a.m. in field & 6-30 p.m. in barn.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

 

On this day 27th March 1915

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

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27th March 1915. Battalion went for a route march. We had a lecture on first aid. In the morning we could see four aeroplanes being shelled in the distance. Rather a pretty sight to see the shells bursting over the aeroplanes. Do not know whether any damage was done. I had a bath all over at night and a clean change.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

Mar 27th. 10 mile route march in morning. Pay in afternoon (10 frcs).

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

 

On this day 26th March 1915

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

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26th March 1915. Battalion went for a route march while we had lecture on ambulance, and we each drew 10 Francs.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

Mar 26th. Route march about 12 miles.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

On this day 25th March 1915

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NEUF BERQUIN 25.3.15. 1st Battalion marched to SAILLY.

War Diary [WO/95/2694].

25th March 1915. The battalion went out trenching. I got a pass to go down to Neuf Berquin to see the Sherwood Foresters go. Had a chat with Ges Barnes and Joe Bennett, they had many tales to tell of what they had seen. They marched of at about 4-30 with our band.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

Mar 25th. Trench digging ( for bomb throwers to practice in) 9-11 a.m. 5-7 p.m.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

Note: I have not been able to identify either Ges Barnes or Joe Bennett although there are several candidates.