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.

Samuel was one of approximately 93 men who were transferred to the 10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters from the Royal Flying Corps [date currently unknown]. He was subsequently posted to 1/6th Battalion.

His Medal Index Card records that he served overseas with the Royal Flying Corps before his transfer.

Edward appears on a wounded and sick list [H.A.29805], which records that he was admitted to the 12 (St Louis USA) General Hospital in Rouen on the 2nd October 1918. It is most likely that he was wounded during the 46th North Midland Division attack o the Hindenburg Line – see here.

A very poignant letter from the mother of Herbert Henry Smith from Mansfield to the War Office and received on the 11 February 1918

“Dear Sir, I would thank you very much if you could kindly forward to me any belongings of my son, Pte HH Smith of the 1^st Batt Sherwood Foresters……..he died through wounds received in action on his was way down to the main dressing station on November 20 1917”

The Infantry Records Department of No. 6 District (Lichfield) were not instructed to dispatch Hebert’s belongings to Sarah (his mother) until 15th March 1918 and she finally received them around 25th March.

Herbert is buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery and Commemorated on St Lawrence the Martyr Roll of Honour.

Sarah Jane Smith received a pension for the loss of her son.

Herbert’s Service with the Sherwood Foresters

Herbert was called up for Service on the 16th November 1916 and posted to the 5th Reserve Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters two days later. Following training in Saltfleet he embarked for France on the 4th October 1917 and arrived at the 14th Infantry Base Depot. He was posted to the 1st Battalion and joined them ‘in the field’ on the 18th October.

At the time of his death the 1st Battalion were holding the front line trenches near to Bellevue and were being heavily shelled. During the month of November the 1st Battalion lost 2 Officers and 21 other ranks killed, 63 other ranks wounded.

Samuel’s Army Service Record services and it is recored that he was transferred to England on the 26th June 1918 and discharged later that year. This would date the list to June 1918.

In New Mills there is a spot known as ‘Tor Top’, and at yesterday’s meeting of the New Mills District Council a highly interesting letter was read from Brigadier-General Goodman, D.S.O., of the Sherwood Foresters, who wrote from France to the Chairman as follows:-

“I have obtained from the battlefield a notice-board of ‘Tor Top’, which I shall be glad to present to your Council if they care to have it.

” ‘Tor Top’ is known to a large part of the British Army, and is the highest point of a low ridge, 5,000 yards south-east of Ypres, in Belgium, on the southern side of the well-known ‘Sanctuary Wood’. The front line British trenches ran just east of the ridge after the second battle of Ypres, and in the summer of 1915 were held by the 6th Battalion Sherwood Foresters under my command.

The highest point was occupied by letter B Company and was named by the New Mills platoon ‘Tor Top’. Other names have vanished, but this has remained to the present time, and appears on the military maps.

“This Belgian ‘Tor Top’ has experienced several changes of fortune. In 1916 the enemy captured it, after an intense bombardment, from the Canadians, who later regained it by a gallant attack.

“By a coincidence on the 31st July 1917, in the third battle of Ypres, my Brigade attacked from the ‘Tor Top’ position, and captured the enemy’s trenches to a depth of 1,000 yards. In April of this year the ground had to be evacuated owing to the pressure of the enemy’s offensive farther south, and ‘Tor Top’ was not recovered until the 28th September last, when the second Army attacked with such success.

“The surrounding country presents a scene of desolation that defies description. The ground has been ploughed over many times by shells, and for miles, in a once wooded country, no sound tree is standing. Many isolated groves are scattered up and down, and many more have been obliterated. Along the ridge is what was once a fine series of tunnels constructed by Canadian engineers, and known as ‘Tor Top Tunnels’

“The notice board was used to mark the tunnels, and on it is the map reference of the position. It is a battle relic that would be interesting to the members of my old Battalion, and perhaps more particularly to New Mills.”

“The Chairman had written accepting the interesting battle relic, which with its history would be permanently preserved, and congratulating Brigadier-General Goodman on the part taken by him and the troops under his command in the attainment of the great victory.”

“The Council decided to convene a public meeting to consider a memorial to the two hundred soldiers who have fallen from this district.”