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 9th June 1917

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9.6.1917 FOSSE 10 SAINS EN GOHELLE: Battalion inspected by GENERAL SIR WILLIAM ROBERSTON (Chief of Imperial General Staff).Sir William Robertson

The GOC Division expressed his great satisfaction with the work done by the Battalion during the last tour in the trenches.

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

June 9: On the night of the 9/10th the 8th Sherwood Foresters raided the enemy’s trenches at N.19.a.2.7. The party entered the trench and found it unoccupied.N.19.a.2.7 June 1917raid 9 June 1917

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

On this day 8th June 1917

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

In the line at LIEVIN W of LENS June 8: At 8.30pm the 138th Brigade raided Hill 65 and FOSSE 3. The 137th Brigade on the left raided Nash Alley and the CANADIANS on the right carried out raids on the fronts of two Divisions.

It is estimated that about 300 Germans were killed on our Divisional front. Three machine guns and one trench mortar were destroyed in addition to several dugouts.Linc hill 65 fosse 3

Unknown soldier of the Lincolnshire Regiment (138th Brigade) and map of Hill 65

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

On this day 7th June 1917

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7.6.1917: LONDON GAZETTE Capt FM DICK awarded MILITARY CROSS and CSM HH HOLLAND awarded DCM.

Dick HollandFrank Mackenzie Dick and Henry Houlsworth Holland

7.6.1917 FOSSE 10 SAINS EN GOHELLE: 2/Lt KH BOND transferred to England.Bond 1916

Kenneth Hills Bond

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

On this day 6th June 1917

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6.6.1917 LIEVIN SECTOR: Battalion relieved by 5th LINCOLNSHIRE REGT and moved into Divisional Reserve at FOSSE 10 SAINS EN GOHELLE.

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

5 May: On the night of 5th/6th June the 7th Sherwood Foresters took over all posts North of Absalom Trench exclusive from the 5th Sherwood Foresters.

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

Poppy815/240065 Pte Peter Bond died of wounds aged 27

Peter was a labourer from Bakewell and a Pre-War Territorial who enlisted in December 1908 aged 18 and served with “D Company. He arrived in France with the 46th Division in February 1915. He was the son of Martha bond of Rock Terrace, Bakewell; husband of Emily Bond of 3 Bridge St., Derby Rd., Chesterfield. He is buried in Chocques Military Cemetery.815 Bond

2005/240364 Pte Frederick Hayes was accidentally wounded in the right foot by a bomb explosion.

Frederick was a coal miner from Pilsley and a Pre-War Territorial who enlisted in June 1913 aged 22 and served with “G” Company. He arrived in France with the 46th Division in February 1915. After being wounded he returned to England and was discharged in March 1918.

On this day 5th June 1917

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Poppy7691/242488 Alfred Percy Beeston died of wounds

Formerly 1029 in 1/1st Derbyshire Yeomanry and arrived in Egypt 27.4.15. Posted to the 1/6th Battalion Sherwood Foresters in late 1916 and served with “A” Company. Fatally wounded on 5.6.17 at Lievin.

He is the only 1/6th Sherwood Foresters to be buried in Aix-Noulette Communal Cemetery Extension.

On this day 3rd June 1917

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3.6.1917 LIEVIN SECTOR: 2/Lt LN JOHNSON MC killed in action whilst on working party (M.30.C.9.5).M.30.C.9.5.

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

2nd Lieut. LN Johnson’s death occurred on the 3rd June while in charge of a working party in the Bois de Raiumont, when an advanced trench was being dug for the assembly position of the 138th Infantry Brigade, who attacked from there a few days later.

Johnson was one of the Battalion’s most popular officers……and his grave is in the little cemetery between Fosse 10 and Sains-en-Gohelle, where rest the bodies of a good many of the Battalion’s Rank and file.

1/6th Battalion Regimantal History

Poppy

Casualties from the 3rd June 19171868:242606 Offord

Alban Offord from Retford died aged 21

  • 1658/240201 Sergt William Booth aged 26. 
  • 4398/241494 Pte Harry Cooper aged 47.
  • 5122/241864 Pte Harry Fuller aged 24.
  • 7751/242541 Pte William Howitt-Walker.
  • 2540/242605 Pte Walter Moxon aged 28.
  • 1868/242606 Pte Alban Offord aged 21.
  • Lieut Leslie Nethercote Johnson aged 29.

The men were buried in either Fosse No.10 Communal Cemetery Extension in Sains-en-Gohelle, which was the site of the North Midland Field Ambulance, or in Noeux-Les-Mines Communal Cemetery by the 7th Casualty Clearing Station.

Fosse No.10 Communal Cemetery Extension

Fosse 10 cemetery242606 OffordFosse 43-47

Noeux-Les-Mines Communal CemeteryNoeux-Les-Mines Communal Cemetery

Other men wounded on this day

  • 3665/241163 Pte ARTHUR BUXTON
  • 2204/240467 Pte FRED HURLER
  • 2563/240639 Pte ERNEST MATTHEWS
  • 2277/240501 Pte FRANK DRABBLE
  • 2867/240771 Pte ALBERT BAGSHAW
  • 2609/240660 Pte ARTHUR COLLIER
  • 3890/241264 Pte WALTER BLAIR
  • 4215/241401 Pte WILLIAM SIMMONS
  • 4190/241390 Pte JOHN HENRY CRYAN
  • 4399/241495 Pte JAMES BLAKEMORE
  • 3400/241053 Pte HERBERT STEEPLES
  • 3302/242408 Pte ERNEST BRAZIER
  • 7731/242521 Pte ARTHUR AUGUSTUS DEACON
  • 7721/242511 Pte ARCHIBOLD BRANSON
  • 4559/241568 Pte PERCY HARMER
  • 5183/241874 Pte HERBERT TAYLOR
  • 5809/242627 Pte RICHARD WEBB
  • 2493/240602 Pte FRED MOORCROFT
  • 4075/241346 Pte JIM RAMSKILL

On this day 2nd June 1917

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2.6.1917: Lt & Adjt E KERSHAW MC and LT HW HIGHAM on short leave to England (10 days). Lieut J TAYLOR performed the duties of Adjt during absence of Lieut Kershaw.

kershaw higham

Edward Kershaw and Harold Woolf Higham

Taylor Joshua

Joshua Taylor

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

2-4th June: During this period work was concentrated on digging the assembly trench in the Cite De RIAUMONT. The enemy paid a good deal of attention to this work and frequently trench mortared and gassed our working parties.

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

On this day 1st June 1917

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1.6.1917:

2/Lt R EVANS assumed Command and payment of Letter “A” Company vice Capt ROBINSON.evans robinson

Richard Evans and Victor Owen Robinson

Lt GKK MAUGHAN assumed Command and payment of Letter “C” Company vice Lt HIGHMAN.

Maughan Highman

Gardyne Keith Kilgour Maughan and Harold Woolf Higham

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

In the line at LIEVIN W of LENS June 1 1917: 

  • 5th Sherwood Foresters on the RIGHT
  • 7th Sherwood Foresters on the LEFT
  • 6th Sherwood Foresters in RESERVE at RED MILL
  • 8th Sherwood Foresters in SUPPORT

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

2062/240396 Pte John Davison was wounded on this day

John was a pre-War Territorial who enlisted in November 1911 and served with “A” Company. He arrived in France in February 1915 with the 46th North Midland DIvision. Later served with Royal Fusiliers and Royal Field Artillery.2062 davison

 

 

On this day 31st May 1917

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31.5.1917 TRENCHES: Lieut JL PERCIVAL rejoined Battalion from 2nd Entrenching Battalion.

percival

John Lakeman Percival, MC

31.5.1917 TRENCHES: CAPT VO ROBINSON, MC proceeded on 1 months leave to England.

NIGHT 31st May/1st June Trenches: Relieved by 5th Sherwood Foresters and went into Brigade Reserve with HQ at RED MILL M.27.d.75.70. (LENS 36c SW1).

Red Mill May 1917

Casualties during tour:-

  • Killed 5 other ranks
  • Gassed 27 other ranks
  • Wounded 18 other ranks

Casualties May 1917

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

Poppy

3194/240941 Alfred Morris Reginald Moore died on this day

Alfred enlisted in October 1914 and arrived in France in June 1915. He served with “B” Company and was wounded on the 25th May at Cite St Pierre.

3194 Moore 2

Alfred died of his wounds at the 2nd Western General Hospital in Manchester.

3194 Moore

He was born at Whaley Common and the son of Harry and Sabina Moore of Elmton Rd., Creswell. He is buried in Creswell (St. Mary Magdalene) Churchyard. See here for more details.

Alfred’s brother Joe Maxwell Moore was also killed in action with the 1/6th Battalion on the 3rd September 1918 during the attack on Hunter Post and Scott Post. See here.

On this day 30th May 1917

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30.51917 Trenches: Draft of 24 other ranks arrived as reinforcements.

30.5.1917 Trenches: Lieut GKK MAUGHAN rejoined from short leave to England.

Gardyne Keith Kilgour Maughan

30.5.1917 MARQUEFFLES FARM: Divisional Commander presented medal ribbons to the following:-

BAR to MILITARY CROSS CAPT VO ROBINSONRobinson 1917

DC MEDAL 240513 Sergeant F LONGSONLongson DCM June 1917

MILITARY MEDAL 240076 Sergeant JG RAVEY, 242442 Pte L BEASTALL, 241360 L/Cpl A EVANS240076 Ravey April 1917242442 Beastall April 1917241360 Evans April 1917

MARQUEFFLES FARM was next to MARQUEFFLES coal mine at the foot of the Northern slopes of the Lorette Ridge. The Companies were all billeted in the farm, and the Officers in tenet outside, while a home made marquee was used as a mess.