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 30th August 1918: front line trenches

30.8.1918: Battalion relieved 5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters in the front line GORRE SECTOR.

‘A’ Coy on left, ‘B’ centre, ‘D’ right

1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]


30.8.1918: Quite day. Line advanced to approx Sloane Square.

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692] 

On these days 27th – 29th August 1918: patrols in touch with enemy along whole front

27.8.1918: Quite day. Our patrols were constantly in touch with the enemy.

28.8.1918: A good deal of heavy artillery fire on the area F4. Patrols in touch with the enemy along whole front.

29.8.1918: Artillery fire normal. At dawn our left piquet was advanced.

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

75th Trench Duty: 26th August

26.8.1918: Battalion relieved the 5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment in the left subsection of the main line of resistance GORRE SECTOR.

1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]


30.8.18: Relieved 138 Infantry Brigade night 26/27.

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

 

On this day 25th August 1918: Battalion was inspected

25.8.18 VAUDRICOURT PARK: Battalion was inspected by GOC Division on the training ground at HESDIGNEUL. Reported stated “satisfactory”. Great pains had been taken with the turnout.

1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]

On this day 24th August 1918: Military Medals were Awarded

The following awarded the Military Medal for Gallantry in action on a fighting patrol led by 2/Lieu Lake.

240526 Cpl James Vanes

240286 Pte Fred Wright

306187 Pte Charles Swift

On these days 21st to 25th August 1918: Brigade cleaning, bathing and training

21.8.18 to 25.8.18 FOUQUIRES: Cleaning and bathing under Battalion arrangements. Training. The GOC inspected the 6th Sherwood Foresters and expressed his satisfaction. Each Battalion spent on night in the forward area digging.

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

On these days 18-20th August: patrols in touch with enemy

Our patrols very active.

During this tour signs of retirement on part of enemy observed and on the 18th the Division on left report the evacuation of enemy posts.

On 19th we commenced to push forward and advanced line to King Street and got around the village of LE TOURET.

8 of the enemy together with 2 machine guns were captured. Many of the enemy were killed.

1/5th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]


19.8.1918: Quite day. Patrols were in touch with enemy during the day. After dusk we established a post X.8.b.55.85. At 12.10am we successfully projected 300 Gas Drums into LE TOURET. No retaliation was noticed.

20.8.1918: Quite. By 9am posts were established along King Street from Canal at X.8.b.4.5. to X.9.c.5.7. 

By evening our line ran X3c, X9b, X16a, X16d, X17c approx. In touch with Brigades on flanks. Captures during the day.

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]


Killed at this time were….

4430/201551 Pte Frank Arthur Southam from Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Arrived in France in 1916 and only served overseas with the 1/5th Battalion.

203673 Pte Arthur Willis from Staveley.

201253 Pte Reginald Cecil Pritchett from Nottinghamshire. See here