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 5th October 1917

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5.10.1917 HILL 70: Major VO Robinson MC rejoined Battn from attachment to the 1/5th Battn.

Victor Owen Robinson

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

5/X/17: Day very quiet after bombardment of previous night.

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

t7-battalion267935 Pte Charles Harold Lambert died of wounds aged 21

The Son of Charles Edward and Sabina Lambert of Syke Lane in Saxilby. Charles died of his wounds in Epsom War Hospital and is buried in Saxilby (St. Botolph) Churchyard in Lincolnshire. Charles arrived in France in late 1916 and only served overseas with the 1/7th Battalion.lambert-charles-harry

t8-nd22108 Pte Harold Shufflebotham died aged 27

Son of Mary Phillips of 79 Russell st., Dresden, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent. Harold had previously served with the 15th Battalion Sherwood Foresters.

53rd Trench Duty 4th – 10th October 1917

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4.10.17 HILL 70: Relieved 1/5th Battalion in front line.october-1917

N.2.b.5.8. to H.32.a.58.37

hq-oct-1917Battalion HQ H.31.d.05.20

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

4/X/17: Quiet day until 7.20 pm when heavy barrage of artillery and TMs was directed on our left sub sector. Enemy attempted to raid two of our posts but was driven off. Inter-Battalion reliefs took place at night.

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

“Nothing of importance happened”

1/8th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]

But…..

‘Our most unpleasant experience undoubtedly was on October 4th when we got caught in the bombardment connected with an attempted Boche raid on the 7th Battalion whom we were relieving … B Company unfortunately got mixed up with some of the shelling and lost several men, including Sergt. Drabble, who was killed.’

305127 Sergeant William Henry Drabble aged 22 and Son of William and Alice Drabble of Easthorpe, Southwell in Nottinghamshire.305127-drabble

306365 Pte George Henry West from Mansfield. His wife Clara died in 1918 leaving four orphaned children all under the age of 8 years.

307608 Pte Archibald Lovegrove aged 21 and Son of George Lovegrove of 43 Arundel St., Derby.

On this day 4th October 1917 – ‘Nothing of importance happened’….but!

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“Nothing of importance happened”

1/8th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]

But…..

‘Our most unpleasant experience undoubtedly was on October 4th when we got caught in the bombardment connected with an attempted Boche raid on the 7th Battalion whom we were relieving … B Company unfortunately got mixed up with some of the shelling and lost several men, including Sergt. Drabble, who was killed.

[1/8th Battalion History]

philosophe-oct-1917

305127 Sergeant William Henry Drabble aged 22 and Son of William and Alice Drabble of Easthorpe, Southwell in Nottinghamshire.
305127-drabble

306365 Pte George Henry West from Mansfield. His wife Clara died in 1918 leaving four orphaned children all under the age of 8 years.

307608 Pte Archibald Lovegrove aged 21 and Son of George Lovegrove of 43 Arundel St., Derby.

On these day 1st – 3rd October 1917

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

Hill 70 Sector

1/X/17: Quiet day. Enemy appears engaged in the improvement of his position deepening trenches etc. Our artillery bombarded hostile dumps and communications during the night of 1/2nd.

2/X/17: Hostile artillery quiet in the sector. Nothing to report.

3/X/17: Some hostile TM activity on left sub sector. Much work still being done by enemy.

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

Casualties on these days

  • 81370 Pte William James Thompson of the 1/5th Battalion.
  • 267377 Pte David Owen of the 1/7th Battalion. Aged 26 and Son of Jonas and Harriet Owen of 22 Diamond Avenue in East Kirkby, Nottingham.267377-owen

1/8th Battalion casualties for September 1917

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t8-ndBlackwall JE portrait

John Eaton Blackwall, Commanding 1/8th Sherwood Foresters18th-casualties-september-1917

Killed in action or died of wounds

  • 325007 Pte A Robertson aged 27
  • 307669 Pte William Arthur Beckett
  • 305322 Pte William Smith Bell
  • 305636 Pte George Oswald Darwin
  • 306883 Pte L Lilley
  • 305476 Pte Cyril White Parkin
  • 21805 Pte Tom Gilbert from Brampton in Chesterfield
  • 36333 Pte Harry Cornelius Smedley

Missing believed killed during a trench raid

  • 305673 Lance Sergeant Josiah Blythe aged 28 and from Sutton in Ashfield
  • 306353 L/Cpl Herbert Charles Key aged 22 and from Newark
  • 305324 Pte Walter Cecil Randall aged 20 and from Retford
  • 325025 Pte Eugene Stewart aged 35 from Pothmahomack
  • 325044 Pte Stanley Thorne

 

On this day 30th September 1917 – a lost enemy patrol

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

30/IX/17: Enemy attempted a raid on the nearest Company of Brigade on our left at 4.30am. A small party consisting of 1 Officer, 1 NCO and 4 men had apparently crossed the front line and got lost as they were seen wandering down HORSE ALLEY at 5am by a machine gun team. The machine gunners chased them with bombs. The party made off SE and was not seen again.horse-alley

We extended our front Northwards taking over 1 Company front from 137 Infantry Brigade.

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

Night 29/30 a patrol went out under 2/Lt E Dennis to examine wire in front of HUGO TRENCH from HEAVEN ALLEY to 50′ left of HUMBUG ALLEY – to reconnoitre NO MANS LAND as to best part for patrol work. A report on the wire was sent in and no enemy encountered.humbug-1917

Edward Dennis originally enlisted into the Rifle Brigade and was Commissioned into the Sherwood Foresters in May 1917. He later transfered to the Royal Flying Corps and was killed in action on the 22 March 1918. Dennis lived in Harrow Middlesex.

Night 29/30 at 11pm a large enemy party was heard by Battalion Scouts between approx H.26.d.15.25. and H.32.b.5.8. A Lewis Gun was brought 50 yards forward from the post and emptied two drums into the party effectively dispersing them.

Night 20/1st about 6.30 pm a large party (apparently working party) were seen by Battalion Scouts in enemy trench around H.32.b.5.9. The party appeared to be waiting for dusk in order to commence work. This was reported by phone message to Liaison Office and 18 pdrs were put on with excellent results.toller

On this day 29th September 1917

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

29/IX/17: Little activity. Enemy appeared nervous during the night and he bombed his own wire 3 times.

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

1/8th Battalion Casualtiest8-nd

21805 Pte Tom Gilbert from Brampton in Chesterfield
36333 Pte Harry Cornelius Smedley aged 27 and Son of Henry and Bertha Smedley46-nmd-row

46 North Midland Division row in Philosophe

On this day 28th September 1917

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28/28/9/1917 HILL 70 RIGHT: Battn relieved by 5th SF and marched into DIVL RESERVE in MAZINGARBE.vann

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

28/IX/17: Fairly quite day. Inter Battalion reliefs took place and were completed by about 11pm.

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