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 16th October 1917 – 1/7th Battalion casualties

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265187 Pte Albert Ernest Barker died of wounds aged 21265187-barker

Son of John Thomas and Annie Barker of 22 Mona St., Beeston inn Nottinghamshire

45-october-1917-raid

Albert was one of the leaders of Notts and Derby in an attack on a German position when he was badly wounded. Mrs. Barker received very comforting letters from the chaplain and Captain of the Company. The letter reads, ‘When I took command of the company I realized what a fine straight boy your son was. I was wounded the same night that he was and were both sent to the same hospital. Whilst he was here I visited him frequently, every day. The boy was very ill when he arrived here, but he was so brave and cheerful all the time. All my sympathy goes out to you, he was such a brave lad. You must always remember he lived each day like he died a very brave and gallant Englishman.

See Nottinghamshire Roll of Honour

268062 Pte George William Keetley was killed in action

keetley

Son of Mrs C Keetley of 63 Dorset St., Old Radford in Nottingham

keetley-barker-1917

Both men’s deaths are recored in the 1/7th Battalion War Diary

On this day 16th October 1917

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16/10/1917 HILL 70: Battalion relieved 1/5th Battn in the line.

London Gazette Second Lieutenants to be Lieutenants as from 1.7.17:

  • R Evans (d of w)
  • T Greaves
  • KH Bond MC
  • FW Hipkins
  • VTG Hore
  • WA Lytle MC
  • E Kershaw MC
  • WT Stephens
  • FS Rowland MC
  • WL Cooper

october-1917-officers

Second Lieutenant to be Lieutenant from 26.7.17: AF Briggs

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

16/X/17: Movement above normals on tracks behind enemy’s lines. Inter-Battalion reliefs during night.

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

On this day 15th October 1917

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203402 Pte Harry Hubert Grayston died of wounds

t5-battalion

Son of Bessie J Grayston of Handford Villa, 1 Dillwyn St., Ipswich, and the late Harry Grayston.grayston-record

Harry Grayston was a bookmaker from Ipswich who was rolled up for service on the 15th March 1916. He was posted to the 3/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (number 5110) and then transferred to the 1/8th Battalion on the 11th July 1916 and then posted to the 1/5th Battalion on his arrived at the 14th Infantry Base Depot.

Harry was renumbered 203402 during the 1917 Territorial Force renumbering in March 1917. Note: although this falls within the block allocated to the 5th Battalion (200001 - 240000) it is likely that a special series was used for men transferred in from other N & D TF Battalions.

267676-grayston

Harry was wounded on the 24th June 1917 and admitted to the 1st North Midland Field Ambulance and 18th Casualty Clearing Station. At this time the 1/5th Battalion attacked and captured AHEAD and ADMIRAL TRENCHES and Harry was one of 9 men wounded during this action.15th-casualties-june-1917

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Harry retured to the 1/5th Battalion but suffered a GSW in the face and neck and died of his wounds 15 days later in the 7 General Hospital at St Omer. He is buried in LONGUENESSE (ST. OMER) SOUVENIR CEMETERY.grayston-1917

At the time of his wounding the 1/5th Battalion were occupying the front line trenches in the HILL 70 Right Sub Sector. Harry was one of 5 men killed that month.

241537 Pte Herbert Frank Lindsey

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241537-lindsey

Was slightly wounded in October whilst serving with the 139th Trench Mortar Battery. He has previously served with No 9 Platoon of “C” Company and was wounded on 10th March 1917 at Pigeon Wood. He was mortally wounded on the on the 23rd March 1918.

On these days 11th – 15th October 1917

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No record in the 1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]

11/X/17: Hostile artillery more active on left sub section, probably owing to our 4.5″ howitzers cutting wire in H26d.howitzer-h26d-1917

12/X/17: Considerable individual movement behind enemy’s lines of men in marching order. This possibly point to a relief. Six patrols were out during the night.patrols-12-october-1917

13/X/17: Exceptionally quite day, except for a light barrage of 77 mm and 105 mm on left sub sector at 12 noon. Six patrols out during the night. The enemy does not appear to send out patrols.patrols-13-october-1917

14/X/17: Hostile artillery active during the night in reply to our harassing fire on communications. Enemy has dug a trench in advance of his front line in H32d, but does not appear to occupy it.h32-1917

15/X/17: Some gas shelling of LOOS otherwise little hostile activity. Enemy’s attitude appears to be entirely defensive. Considerable movement of small parties – some of them in marching order – behind enemy line.patrol-15-october-1917

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

On this day 10th October 1917

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10/10/1917 HILL 70: Battn relieved by 1/5th Battn and proceeded into SUPPORT.

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

10/X/17: Much digging behind enemy front line H26d. Inter Battalion reliefs during night.

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

On this day 9th October 1917

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9/10/1917: Major W Seaton proceeded to England for transfer to RFC.

seaton

seaton-mic

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

9/X/17: Considerable distributed artillery fire on left sector. This appeared to be registration. Otherwise quite.

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

Frederick Wheeler died of pulmonary oedema at Brookwood Asylum

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wheeler

 

wheeler-attestation-2Fredrick Wheeler was a 28 year old wood cutter from Surrey and attested in Guilford in February 1916 and posted to the Army Reserve. On the 8th April 1916 he was mobilised and posted to the 3/6th Battalion Sherwood Foresters the following day.heeler-april-1916

His Attestation was Certified at the Chesterfield Administrative Centre by Captain Thomas Swann. At this time he was given the 6th Battalion Regimental number of 5435.swann

Captain Thomas Swann

5th-reserve

Frederick was later transferred to the 5th Reserve Battalion Sherwood Foresters, which was an amalgamation of the 3/5th and 3/6th Battalion that occurred on the 1st September 1916. He was renumbered 6200. In early 1917 he received the 6-digit number 202721 as part of the Territorial Force renumbering.wheeler-melancholia

It appears that Frederick suffered from periods of melancholic depression and he was transferred to Brookwood Asylum st some point during May 1916. He later took his own life on the 7th October 1917.wheeler-brothers

Frederick is buried next to his older brother Shadrick in Thursley (St. Michael) Churchyard, Surrey. Two other brothers William and Frank also appear to have served during the Great War.