11.6.18 VERQUIN: Battalion relieved 1/4th Leicestershire Regiment in Brigade Reserve of ESSARS SECTOR.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
11/6/18: Relieved 138th Infantry Brigade in ESSARS Section night 11/12 June.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
10/6/18 VERQUIN: Lieut Col. BW VANN MC rejoined from Rest Station and took over Command of Battalion.
Bernard William Vann
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
10.6.18: The Brigade was inspected by the Army Commander ay GOSNAY. The Army Commander expresses satisfaction. Afterwards he distributed medal ribbons to those who had obtained half yearly honours.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
8/6/18: 2/Lieut HG SHENTON wounded in action.
Herbert George Shenton
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
8.6.18 to 9.6.18: Cleaning and training under Battalion arrangements.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
203285 Pte Henry Percy Carr died of wounds aged 22. Son of William Henry and Rhoda Carr of Newark-on-Trent.
Arrived in France end of 1916 and only served overseas with the 1/8th Battalion.
7/6/18:Battalion relieved by 1/6th South Staffordshire Regt and moved into Divisional Reserve (Billets in VERQUIN and bivouacs in VAUDRICOURT PARK)
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
7.6.18: Hostile artillery fairly active at 1am. We carried out a minor operation against enemy post at X.23.d.0.7. assisted by Divisional Artillery and Corps Heavies. A wiring party was encountered on the front of attack and many of the enemy were killed. A light machine gun was captured fro the post. Two patrols were out during the night.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
Night 6/7-6-18 LEFT SUBSECTOR GORRE SECTOR: A party consisting of Lieut HD VAUGHAN (in Command), 2/Lt F TOUCH and 58 other ranks raided area enclosed by X.23.c.97.80. – X.23.c.85.60. – X.23.d.00.50. – X.23.d.10.65 (Intel Map No. 2 RUE DU BOIS).
Enemy garrison was annihilated and one light machine gun captured.
Casualties suffered by party were light, 1 man being killed and Lieut HD Vaughan (slightly) and 3 OR wounded.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
93793 Pte Albert Edward Cleaver aged 19 awas killed by a stray bullet
Son of Mr JE and Mrs R Cleaver of 32 Bescot St., Walsall. Mobilised in the summer of 1917 and only served overseas with the 1/6th Battalion.
[Image courtesy of Graham Conway]
At the time of the raid, the enemy had a wiring party out of from 20 to 30 men, on the front of attack. On our barrage opening, this party ran back to trench at X.23.d.0.7.
Our parties moving forward all met thin wire, which they cut through
The enemy threw a few bombs from his post and opened fire to our right flan, from his light machine gun in the Post (at the time of capture this gun had fired some 60 rounds).
Our parties rushed the Post and bayonetted the German who was still firing his gun
Several other Germans were killed in the Post. One German was seized by one of our men and hauled out of the Post. He refused to move and was apparently consequently killed.The remainder of the Post and wiring party ran away and attempted to cross the dyke at X.23.d.1.7.
There they met Sergt WAGG’s party (less six men who had joined in the fight at the Post. Sergt WAGG and three men shot several of the fleeing enemy and charged the remainder who turned back and were lost apparently running into the barrage about X.23.d.3.6.
1680/240211 Sergt Richard Wagg
At this time Lieut TOUCH gave the recall signal, it having been reported to him that a prisoner had been secured.
Frank Touch
The enemy attempted to fire a Gun at ZERO plus 2′ from X.23.a.95.00. This was silenced and completely controlled by our three flanking Lewis Guns. The enemy fired red lights from Cse. Du Raux and X.23.a.95.20 at 1.12am and the first shell fell at 1.15am behind our front line.
Cse. Du Raux
The device of throwing up Very lights from 200 yards to the right flank of raid for illuminating the dark night was particularly successful, the effect being one of bright moonlight.
Owing to the fact that it was believed a prisoner had been secured, sufficient care was not taken to obtain further identification. On return, an hour after the raid, a further patrol was sent out for this purpose but was unable to enter the post as there were 4 Germans there and a party of 20 were advancing over the open towards the Post. Fire was brought to bear on this party.
Our casualties were:-
1 Officer accidentally wounded
1 man slightly wounded
I am exceedingly annoyed at no identification being obtained
X.23 in 2017
3.6.18: Quite day. MGs showed less activity at night. Three patrols were out.
4.6.18: Hostile artillery active especially on X.22 c & d and X28a. TMs inactive with exception of 30 priester bombs on front line – left subsection. Three patrols were out.
5.6.18: X13 a & b was fairly heavily bombarded with Blue Cross Gas – otherwise hostile artillery was quite. Priester bombs were fired into left subsection. Six patrols were out during the night. From these reports it appeared evident that the enemy had given up his outpost line and withdrawn to a position covering house and orchard at X.24.c.4.7.
93786 Pte William John Bellis was killed in action aged 19. Son of William Henry and Mary Elizabeth Bellis, of 87, Union St., of Hanley, Staffs.
Mobilised summer of 1917 and only served overseas with 1/6th Battalion
3.6.18 London Gazette: SURG-MAJOR AW SHEA awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal. 166/240017 RQM Sergt W Barker awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal
Arthur Wilson Shea DSO
166/240017 RQMS William Barker DCM
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
3/6/18 GORRE SECTOR: Quite day. Megs showed less activity at night. Three patrols went out.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
Arrived in France in 1916 and only served overseas with the 1/6th Battalion. Brother of Mrs SA Fareham of 193 Dawood End, Bentley, Doncaster.
27.5.18 VAURICOURT: QM and Hon Lieut SB BOULTON joined the Battalion for duty/
28.5.18 VAUDRICOURT WOOD: Battalon was inspected by GIC Division on football ground at GOSNAY.
30.5.18 VAUDRICOURT WOOD: Battalion relieve the 1/4th Leicesters on the Left Subsection of the GORRE SECTOR.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
28/5/18: Inspection of Brigade at Gosnay by GOC Division. GOS was favourable impressed.
29/5/18: Training under Battalion arrangement.
31/5/18: Received 138 Infantry Brigade in GORRE SECTOR on night 31/31st.
31/5/18: Hostile artillery fired a few rounds of Blue Cross Gas onto Gore Bridge. Enemy aeroplanes were active: otherwise a quite day.
80114 Pte Harry Teagen was killed in action aged 37
Son of William and Eliza Teagen; husband of Ethel Frances Teagen of 33 Leadenhall St., Leicester
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 