No record in the 1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
12/XII/1917: Hostile artillery showed but slight activity. Wing bombs rather active against right subsection.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
At 3.40pm 11th December 1917 the 1/5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters raided the enemy’s 1st, 2nd and 3rd line trenches between the following points :-
H.7.c.10.05. to H.7.c.50.12.
H.7.c.17.70. to G.12.d.90.63
All objectives were reached, except on the extreme left where the LEFT COMPANY were held up by heavy machine gun fire, and were unable to reach enemy 3rd line.
The raid was carried out by four Companies in depth, total strength – 9 Officers and 260 other ranks.
The assembly was carried out without casualties and according to plan. At ZERO (3.40pm) the barrage opened and the raiding Companies in three waves advanced across “No Man’s Land” and closed up under our barrage in perfect order. “No Man’s Land” was about 200 yards across.
On reaching enemy’s front line it was found unoccupied and wire in bottom of trench in several places. The second line similarly was found unoccupied.
Only on reaching the third line were any of the enemy encountered. The opposition was slight; such opposition as was encountered was satisfactorily dealt with. Five of the enemy were sent back prisoners – one died on our wire and one proved to be a stretcher case.
Several of the enemy were seen running away from their 3rd line towards FOSSE 13 (Puits No 13) whilst the raiding party were waiting the lift of the barrage. Two Lewis Guns were turned on them.
Twelve dugouts were blown up with mobile charges by R.E.s, several of which undoubtedly contained Boche, who refused to come out. One trench mortar emplacement and two machine gun emplacement were blown up and destroyed. One light machine gun was brought across to our lines.
The wire in front of the enemy front and third lines had been satisfactorily cut, except South of HAWK ALLEY where no gaps were found. This, however, did not stop the Right Company, which passed up HAWK ALLEY and reached all objectives, and in addition, reached the CRATER at H.7.c.55.00. This was searched and found unoccupied.
Bombing parties proceeded up HAWK and HOMER ALLEYS as far as our barrage would permit.
The raiders remained in their objectives for 30 minutes, after which their task was completed and they withdrew, commencing with the 3rd wave from third objective, followed by 2nd wave from second objective, and lastly the 1st wave from first objective. Each wave being covered during retirement by the wave in rear.
As soon as possible after dark, “No Man’s Land” was searched by a strong patrol, and wiring commenced to fill gaps made in out wires.
After careful enquiry, I am satisfied that all Boche inside the Box Barrage were encountered for.
Our Casualties were:-
A party of 18 NCOs and Sappers of the 465th Field Company were attached to the Raiders for the purpose of demolition of dugouts, machine gun emplacements etc.
Both dummy raids appear to have attained their objective and the enemy did not put down a barrage on the real raid front until ZERO plus 32′ This consisted of a barrage on our front line followed by one on his own front line. The smoke on the dummy raid fronts was certainly influential in driving down the enemy barrage.
11/12/1917 VERQUIN: Lieut CG RADFORD awarded the Military Cross in connection with the raid on the night 14/15 November 1917.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
11/XII/1917: A successful raid was carried out during the afternoon by the 5th Sherwood Foresters on hostile trenches in H7c.
Many Germans were killed and 5 prisoners belonging to the 13th Bavarian Regiment were captured. This is fully dealt with in the attached report on the operation.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
1012.1917 ST ELIE RIGHT: Battalion relieved 5th Sherwood Foresters and moved into Divisional Reserve at VERQUIN.
2/Lieuts CW KIRK, SG JOHNS and PA TOMPKINSON joined the Battalion.
Charles William Kirk from Chesterfield was wounded January 1918
Sydney Gordon Johns from Swansea was wounded May 1918
Percy Alexander Tompkinson was killed in action 4th October 1918
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
10/XII/1917: Nothing to report. Inter Battalion reliefs during the night.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
No record in the 1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
9/XII/1917: Hostile artillery active on right subsection during morning. During the night a patrol of 8th Sherwood Foresters under 2/LT WH SUTTON entered German front line in G11b and proceeded along it for 100 yards without encountering the enemy. Traces of recent patrolling of this trench by the enemy were found. Orders for raid by 5th Sherwood Foresters were sent out.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
Enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters just after the war broke out and went across to France in Aug. 1915. He returned to England in March suffering from trench foot and septic poisoning. Going out again in July. While in charge of a Lewis gun, he was struck by fragments from an enemy winged bomb (trench mortar). He did not complain and passed away while being carried down the line.
No record in the 1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
8/XII/17: Hostile artillery fairly active and wing bombs active active against BOYAU 78 which is being extended for proposed operation. A daylight patrol under 2/Lt TA LAKE 6th SF entered hostile front line in G12c without encountering any of the enemy.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
No record in the 1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
7/XII/17: Hostile artillery active during the afternoon. A hostile airplane was brought down in our lines during the afternoon and the pilot captured.
At 7.25am large explosions were heard in or behind the slag heap in G5. Debris was thrown for a long distance and a man was seen in the air.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
Son of George James and Mary Sheard of 29 Young St., Blue Bell Hill in Nottingham
James George Mott transferred to the Sherwood Foresters from the London Regiment
No record in the 1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
6/XII/17: Normal hostile artillery activity. Hostile TM’s very quite.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
71252 Pte William James Palmer was killed in action aged 20
Previously served with the 10th Battalion
No record in the 1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
5/XII/17: Hostile aircraft active during the morning. Nothing else to report.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
4/12/1917 St ELIE RIGHT: Battalion received 5th Sherwood Foresters in the line (G12.d.7.1. to G12.c.1.9.).
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
4/XI/1917: 2 patrols entered enemy front line in G5c and G11b respectively. In G5c no enemy were encountered but sings of recent occupation were found. In G11b an indecisive bombing fight took place. Both patrols were done by 7th Sherwood Foresters and were by night. Between 6 and 6.30pm.
Enemy barraged our trenches on whole sector.
Inter Battalion reliefs during night 4th/5th.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 