26.8.1917 CAMBRIN SECTOR: Battn relieved 1st Bn King’s Royal Rifle Corp in RIGHT SECTOR.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
26th: Relieved 99th Infanftry Brigade in the line in CAMBRIN sector. Capt EJ Ginling 5th Lincs Regiment formerly Staff Captain of 138th Infantry Brigade appointed Brigade Major and joined the Brigade today.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
A well known and highly esteemed member of the Retford Territorial Company was killed in action last month in the person of Sergt Alfred Brown, 31, Diamond Jubilee Terrace, Ordsall who had only been in France nine weeks. He was 35 years of age.
He joined the Volunteer Company in 1898 and in 1911 rose to the rank of Sergeant. He was mobilised at the outbreak of the war with the 8th Sherwood Foresters and trained recruits of the Regiment at Newark. He was musketry instructor at Belton Park, Grantham and was instructing snipers on Cannock Chase during the whole of 1916 when the school broke up. Then Sergt Brown went to train recruits at Saltfleet until going to France on June 26th last as instructor of sniping and was later transferred to another Regiment.
Great sympathy is felt for the widow who is left with three children. Captain K Hills Bond wrote as under to Mrs Brown:-
“It is with the very deepest regret that I have to inform you of your husband’s death for I know of the grief that this letter will bring to you. I feel so helpless to do anything even to console you in your great sorrow…..he was killed quite instantaneously by a shell striking the side of the trench where he was standing and I am sure that he felt no pain at all”.
[Retford Times 14 Sept 1917]
See here for full biography
25.8.1917: The following were awarded decorations for gallantry in connection with the raid on the 15th August:-
1504/240138 Sgt Thomas William Spencer was a machine attendant from Matlock and a Pre-War Territorial who enlisted in November 1911. He arrived in France with the 46th Division in February 1915 and served throughout the War. He was wounded on the 3rd October 1918 during the attack on Ramicourt where he also won a Bar to his Military Medal.
3819/241233 L/Cpl Francis William Hobbs enlisted into 2/6th Battalion in February 1915 and served with A Company in 1/6th Battn. MM, LG 9.7.17 (for Gallantry on 23rd April 1917 at Fosse 3 De Lievin) and Bar LG 18.10.17 (for action on 18th August 1917). Previously wounded on the 30th May 1917.
3023/240853 Sgt Samuel Hadfield enlisted in October 1914 and arrived in France with the 46th Division in February 1915. Served with “D” Company and had been wounded earlier in the War. Samuel had previously enlisted in 1897 and served in the Boer War of 1899-1902 with the Coldstream Guards; awarded QSA and six clasps, KSA and two clasps.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
24.8.1917: Lieut BE JOHNSON, Lt ES WOOD and 2/Lt KH BOND authorised to wear badges of Captain.
Brian Eccles Johnson and Kenneth Hills Bond
Edgar Stanley Wood transfered to the Royal Flying Corp in March 1918 and after a months training he joined No. 7 Squadron in France flying RE8 reconnaissance planes. He was wounded on the 4th May 1918 and did not return to flying duties. More information on 7 Squadron can be found here
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
23.8.1917: Lt & Adj E KERSHAW MC promoted to A/Capt whilst Adjutant.
Edward Kershaw taken November 1917 and with his MC ribbon clearly visible
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
20.8.1917: Battalion moved into billets at FOUQUIERES.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
No record in the 1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
18th: During the 3 weeks the Brigade was holding the St Elie Sector the right boundary was part of the Hulluch-Vermelles Road and the left boundary “Clifford Street” and “Hulluch Alley”.
The Advanced Posts of both both subsections were generally at the end of the tunnel system, that also held the majority of the Company HQs, supports and the reserve Company. The tunnels arranged 6ft 6″ high and 3ft 6″ wide and were lit by electricity.
Brigade inspected by Divisional Commander in Vaudricourt Chateau grounds.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
17.8.1917 PHILOSOPHE: Battn relieved by 4th Lincolns and marched into billets at VAUDRICOURT.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
17 Aug: Relief completed.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
No record in the 1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
16 Aug: Relief by 138 Brigade.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
No record in the 1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
15/16 Aug: 5th Leciestershire raided in front of Hulluch.
15 Aug: Canadian Corps attacked Hill 70. Enemy shelled our right subsection at zero (4.25am).
Captured Trenches at Hill 70
Canadians take a break in a captured German trench during the Battle of Hill 70 in August 1917.
George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 19920085-686
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 