Author Archives: mikebriggs1910

Unknown's avatar

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 these nights 29th to 31st May 1917

1 Reply

Nights of 29th-31st Trenches: Attempted raids by enemy on “A” Company (RIGHT COY) successfully repulsed.

Sergeants RAVEY and BOAM especially distinguished themselves.Ravey

240076 Sergeant John George Ravey

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

PoppyCasualties during the German raids

2108 Tom Depledge2108/240418 L/Cpl Tom Depledge aged 26 and a collier from Fernilee. A pre-War Territorial and  the son of John and Mary Depledge of Horwich End, Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire.

7703/242494 Pte John Harris aged 23 and son of John Edward and Eliza Mary Harris of Whit wick in Leicestershire.

2195/240461 Pte Bernard Taylor aged 22 and the son of Thomas and Betsy Alice Taylor of 6 Wimbourne Rd., Radford in Nottingham.

4943/241818 Pte Thomas Herbert Beastall aged 25 and son of John and Emma Ann Beastall of 14 Chapel St., Ripley in Derbyshire.

2766/240721 Pte Jasper Parks a coal miner from Chesterfield.

FOSSE NO.10 COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, SAINS-EN-GOHELLE

A ‘Derbyshire Territorial Row’

Many of the 1/6th Battalion men killed between May and July 1917 are buried in FOSSE NO.10 COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, SAINS-EN-GOHELLE and there are several ‘Sherwood Rows’.

Fosse 10 cemetery

 

Fosse 10 C 1-3fosse 49-50

The Wounded

1687/240215 Pte Willie Coleman a miner from Barlborough and a pre-War Territorial who served with F Company and signed the Imperial Service Agreement at Eckington in May 1912. First wounded in June 1915 he returned to France with the 6th Reinforcement in March 1916 he suffered from shell shock on the 30th May 1917 and later returned to his unit. Disembodied on Demobilisation in February 1919.

3779/241218 Pte Harold Dolby from Brimington enlisted into 2/6th Battalion in February 1915 and wounded with A Company. During a brief period of home leave in late 1916 Harold married his girlfriend Ethel. Died of wounds on the 12th March 1918.

3819/241233 Pte Francis William Hobbs enlisted into 2/6th Battalion in February 1915 and served with A Company 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)

4113/241360 Pte Albert Evans enlisted into 3/6th Battalion in March 1915 and  served with “A” Company. MM, LG 18.6.17 (for Gallantry on 23rd April 1917 at Fosse 3 De Lievin); Died of natural causes (accident in a Coal Mine when he was crushed in a fall) on 10.3.39 aged 55.

4287/241434 Pte Herbert Boam enlisted into 3/6th Battalion in May 1915 and served with “A” Company.

On this day the 28th May 1917

Leave a reply

The following men of “D” Company were wounded by gas shelling and admitted to the North Midland Field Ambulance and 35 General Hospital in Calais.1761 slack

  • 236 Pte William Bennett
  • 1761/240251 Pte Richard Slack a collier from Clay Cross
  • 1765/240253 Pte Ernest Whalley a miner from Pilsley
  • 2088/240405 Pte William Shrewsbury a miner banksman from Alftreton
  • 2958/200782 Pte Joseph William Smedley 
  • 3243/240974 Pte Edenezer Flint a quarryman from Wirksworth
  • 4143/241373 Pte Edwin Brook
  • 5330/241880 Pte Victor Major Mitchell
  • 7799/242587 Pte Harold English

On these days 27th-31st May 1917

Leave a reply

May 27-31: During the period the enemy showed considerable activity – during the day his artillery fire on back areas greatly increased – and at night he constantly bombed and attacked our forward posts. In almost every case he was driven off with loss but with very few casualties to ourselves.

A new trench was dug through the Cite de RIAUMONT.cite de riaumont

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

On this day 27th May 1917

Leave a reply

1246/240089 Pte William Hopkinson was gassed

William enlisted as a drummer boy in August 1910 aged 14 and was posted to “A” (Chesterfield) and Headquarters Company. He arrived in France in February 1915 and was wounded in the arm at Ypres. He was badly gassed on this day at Lievin. Disembodied in April 1919 and awarded the 14/15 Trio.1246 hopkinson

46th Trench Duty: 25th – 31st May 1917

Leave a reply

25.5.1917 PETIT SAINS: Battalion relieved 1/5th LEICESTER REGIMENT in RIGHT SUBSECTOR of Right Brigade Front.46 Trench duty Lievin

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

25/26 May: Relive the 138 Brigade in the LIEVIN SECTOR. See Operation ORDER N. 117. Relief complete by 4pm.

  • 8th Sherwoods on the LEFT
  • 6th Sherwoods on the RIGHT
  • 7th Sherwoods in SUPPORT
  • 5th Sherwoods in RESERVE

46 trench duty139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

On this Day 24th May 1917

Leave a reply

PoppyCasualties on this day

  • 3638/241149 Pte Harry Beeson a miner from Clay Cross was killed in action on this day. Harry enlisted in January 1915 and arrived in France with the 6th Reinforcement in April 1916. He was the Son of Samuel and Martha Beeson, of Thanet St. in Clay Cross and is buried in MAROC BRITISH CEMETERY.3638 beeson
  • 4449/241518 Pte Arthur Moore who served with “B” Company was wounded on this day. Arthur enlisted in August 1915 and was discharged in December 1918. He also served with the 2/7th Battalion.

On this day 21st May 1917

Leave a reply

21.5.1917 PETIT SAINS: Draft of 21 other ranks arrived as reinforcements.

This was the 33rd Reinforcement

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

May 21-24 Rest: No change. Time devoted to close order Ceremonial and Attack drill. Two Battalions employed on wiring the “CRASSIER SWITCH” Line and on working for 137 Bde.

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

1729/240235 Pte Thomas Beswick and the 33rd Reinforcement1729 Bestwick1769 beswick sig33 Reinforcement 1729 Beswick

Service Record for 1729/240235 Pte Thomas Beswick recording his arrival in France with the 33rd Reinforcement, which had embarked from Folkestone on the 6th April 1917. Tom was a quarryman from Peak Dale who worked at the Buxton Lime Firm. He was a Pre-War Territorial who enlisted in September 1914 aged 18 and served with “B” (Chapel-en-le-Frith) Company. Tom arrived in France with the 46th Division in February 1915 and returned to England in  October 1916 suffering from sycosis. Tom was finally disembodied on the 24th February 1919.

On this day 20th May 1917

Leave a reply

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

20 May: Relief completed by 4am

  • 5th SF to BUELY  GRENAY
  • 6th SF to SAINS EN GOHIELE
  • 7th SF to FOSSE 10
  • 8th SF to NOEUX LES MINES
  • 139 MGC & TMB to BEULY GRENAY
  • BDE HQ to BUELY GRENAY

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

Died of wounds on this day

3578/241134 Pte Joseph Dale a brick maker from Matlock died of a gun shot wound received on the 23rd April during the attack on FOSSE 3 DE LIEVIN.3578 dale

3314/241010 Pte William Lovell a gardener from Welwyn died of a gun shot wound received on the 23rd April during the attack on FOSSE 3 DE LIEVIN.3314 lovell

On this day 19th May 1917

Leave a reply

19.5.1917 TRENCHES: Battalion relieved by 1/5th North Staffordshire Regiment and moved back into Divisional Reserve billets at PETIT SAINS.

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

17/18 May: On the night of the 17/18th a raid was attempted by the 7th Sherwood Foresters.

19 May: This was repeated on the following night. For detailed report on both nights operations see App6. Pages from WO-95-2693-1

19 may raid

The 139 Bde was relieved in the line by the 137 Brigade.

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