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!).
A post card written and sent from the 1910 Camp at Hindlow (near Buxton)
“Dear H
Thanks for the PC received this morning. I should think I do know where it is, I wish I was there now I am about sick of this camp. I am getting on famous under the circumstances. I thought you had forgot to write however your chap getting on now. From your most affectionate.
From AC”
We will never know the identity of ‘AC’. Hatty was born in September 1890 and married Charle Wheatley in April 1911 and their daughter Mariam (1911-1985) was born in August 1911. Hatty died in August 1979.
Interestingly, the Ilkeston address would suggest that ‘AC’ served in the 5th Battalion, but the card is of the 6th Battalion…..we’ll never know…….
Enlisted in June 1915 and served with the 2/8th and 2/6th Battalions. Made a POW on the 21st March 1918.
Walter enlisted in Newark into the 8th Battalion on the 1st June 1915 and was issued the service number 4053. It would appear that he was posted to the 2/8th Battalion because he received dental treatment at Watford in November 1915.
Walter would have served in the Easter Rising in April 1916, before embarking to France with the 59th Division on 27th February 1917. He received his 6-digit number (306284) in March 1917.
On the 29th January 1918, Walter with 5 Officers and 142 Other Ranks were transferred to the 2/6th Battalion – see here. In February 1918 Walter attended a school of cooking before returning in March, just several days before the start of the ‘Kaiserschlacht’ – the German Spring Offensive on 21st March 1918.
Walter was serving with “A Company” when was he captured and was interned in Parchim POW camp. He was finally disembodied in March 1919.
On the 10th May 1916 approximately 68 men from the Hull area (some who had previously served with the E Yorks R) were (directly?) transferred to the 2/6th Battalion Notts & Derby – I don’t think that they went via the 3/6th (based on records for 2/8th men at the same time).
They were numbered from 241893 to 241960.
I have been able to identify and trace the fate of 60 of these men.
23 men (38%) were transferred to other Battalions and/or Regiments.
13 men (22%) were killed in action or died of their wounds.
21 men (35%) were made prisoner of war on the 21st March 1918.
3 men (5%) were discharged due to wounds received.
“My dear Ma. Arrived Ripley. Great reception. We have had meals, teas and breakfast at private houses, but they won’t let us pay. Marching this morning at 8.30. Yours FL”
During a recent search through some Army Service Records for 6th Battalion men I came across this partial list, which I believe is a casualty list?
Does it refer to 6th Battalion men…….? I’ll let you decided…..
241190
240153
240826 Satterfit, John. Enlisted in October 1914 and arrived in France in February 1915. Wounded at Kemmel in June 1915.
242533 Gray, Alfred. Enlisted in early 1916 and arrived in France with the 28th Reinforcement in January 1917.
241244 Moore, Richard. Enlisted in February 1915 and arrived in France in 1916. Wounded atGommecourton 1st July 1916.
241298 Cooper, Frederick. Enlisted in February 1915.
240696 Hampson, Frank. Enlisted in October 1914 and arrived in France in 1916.
240331 Smith, Vernon L/C. Enlisted in May 1913 and arrived in France in February 1915. Wounded by shrapnel on the 1st July 1916 at Gommecourt “I came through the bombardment all right till about 4.30 in the afternoon, then the shell came which did for me. I shall never forget it as long as I live; only God knows how I came through it”.
Alfred Gray was the last man of the group to arrive in France so this list must be from after January 1917. Interestingly Vernon Smith’s Army Service Record survives.
Vernon’s service record shows that he was wounded three times: 17th June 1916, 1st July 1917 and 3rd or 4th (?) November 1917. Interesting the 1/6th Battalion raided the German trenches that night – see here
The 1/6th suffered 22 casualties, including 14 other ranks wounded. I believe that this casualty record refers to these men.
I thought I’d share this little story with you, which I found in looking through the WW1 pension records – two sets that is!
2753 Private William Bees was serving with the 1st Battalion Derbyshire Regiment (Sherwood Foresters) when he won the Victoria Cross in 1901.
The citation reads:-
“For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. On 30th September 1901, at Moedwil, South Africa, Private Bees was one of the a Maxim-Gun detachment which suffered heavy casualties, six out of nine men being hit. Hearing his wounded comrades asking for water, Private Bees went forward under heavy fire to a spriot held by the Boars about 500 years ahead of the Gun, and brought back a kettle filled with water. In going and returning he had to pass within 100 yards of some rocks also held by the boars and the kettle he was carrying was hit by several bullets”
A truly brave man……..but what a rogue.
On 2nd October 1914 he enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters aged 42 years and was posted to the 12th Battalion. He was formerly discharged on 27th October as medically unfit.
On the 19th October 1914 (8 days before he was discharged) he enlisted in the Royal West Surry Regiment in London aged 31 years and was posted to the 7th Battalion. He was found to be “totally inefficient and unreliable” and on the 11th November he was issued a weeks leave to secure civil employment before discharge.
He remained absent and had left a false address with the battalion. Finally the police were able to trace him to Coalville and on 9th December the Leicestershire Constabulary paid him a visit. On being told he was going to be arrested he produced his discharge certificate from the 12th Sherwood Foresters and told the police he would be “found at this address if there were any orders for him”. They left.
And the Army did not know what to do with him………
On the 17th December the OC 7(S) Battn The Queens requested that Sergeant Bees should be discharged because “he is a very undesirable type”.
On the 21st December the OC 55th Division submitted the matter for the decision of the GOC 18th Division.
On the 19th January he was discharged under para 392 (XI) KR – For Misconduct.
And the best bit!
On his Attestation to the Royal Surrey Regiment, when it asks he has ever been rejected as unfit – he put YES, then crossed it out and put NO!
I had a little chuckle.
His Medals were later gifted to theRegiment at the Annual Dinner of the Old Comrades Association in October 1938.
Joseph Ollerenshaw was born in 1895 in Bradwell in the High Peak. In the 1911 Census he is recored as living at Stumperlowe Grange Farm in Fulwood and was a farm worker.
Joseph enlisted into the 3/6th Battalion in December 1915 and was subsequently transferred to the 2/6th Battalion. His 4-digit Territorial number was 4685.
Joseph was serving with the 2/6th Battalion, 178th Brigade, 59th Division when it was sent to Ireland in response to the Easter Rising in 1916.
“Dear father & mother just a few lines to you hoping that you are all quite well as it leaves me very well. We are somewhere in Ireland and we are having some very fine weather now. From your son Joseph”
Joseph proceeded to France with 59th Division in early Spring 1917.
At some point Joseph transferred to the 10th Battalion, which could have been when the 2/6th Battalion was disbanded, in May 1918 or he may have been wounded and following recovery posted to the 10th Battalion ?
Joseph was discharged in March 1919 and received an Army pension due to ‘synovitis of the left angle’ that was attributed to active service.
Joseph Ollerenshaw married Elsie Pye in Stockport, Cheshire in April 1922 when he was 26 years old – see here – they had one child during their marriage. He died in 1960 in Stockport, Cheshire at the age of 65.
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 
