10.3.1917 10.10pm: Battalion relieved by 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters and moved into Brigade Reserve in GOMMECOURT. Dispositions:

• Headquarters at K.4.B.6.3.
• “A” Company in the old German second line between STEIN and PILIAR GRABEN
• “C” Company in REIGLE STELLING
• “D” Company in HELMUT TRENCH

Casualties n addition to those already quoted:-

• 2/Lt Leslie Johnson slightly wounded (at duty)
• 8 Other Ranks killed
• 2 Other Ranks missing
• 38 Other Ranks wounded

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

To be completed 

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

Casualties for 6th-8th March 1917

full list can be found here

The eight men killed in action were:-

• 3841/241246 Pte. George Buckberry aged 22 and the son of Fredrick and Annie Buckberry of 18 Wesley St., Annesley, Woodhouse in Nottinghamshire. Enlisted in February 1915 and arrived in France with the V Reinforcement in November 1915.
• 7642/242439 Pte. Samuel Sykes aged 26 and the Son of William and Harriett Sykes of Rushley Cottage, Dore near Sheffield. Previously served with the Derbyshire Yeomanry and possibly arrived in France with the 29th Reinforcement in January 1917.
• 20028/242620 Pte. George Watson aged 22 and the brother of Thomas Watson of 8 Lambert’s Row, St. Peter St., Old Radford in Nottingham. Previously served with 1/7th Battalion (3564) and 2/5th Battalion (20028) before arriving in France with the 26th Reinforcement in December 1916.
• 5253/241877 Pte. Alfred William Weller aged 22 and Brother of Mrs. Bertha Bowrah, of 14, St. Martin’s St., Lewes Rd. in Brighton. Possibly a Derby Scheme recruit and arrived in France in 1916.
• 3879/241260 Pte. Ernest Palfreman aged 23 and the Son of Joseph and Mary Ann Palfreyman of Clay Cross; husband of Emma Jane Palfreyman of 71 Long Row, Clay Cross in Derbyshire. Enlisted in February 1915 and arrived in France in 1916.
• 1937/240332 Pte. Thomas Pickering aged 24 and the Son of Mr W and Mrs J Pickering of 5 Starporth Lane Terrace, Hasland in Chesterfield. Enlisted in May 1913 and arrived in France with 46th Division in February 1915.
• 2114/240422 L/Cpl. Samuel Barker aged 19 and the Son of Annie Fowell (formerly Barker) of Dig St., Ashbourne in Derbyshire, and the late Isaac Barker. Enlisted in February 1914 and arrived in France with the 46th Division in February 1915. Had previously suffered with trench foot in April 1916.
• 4267/241421 L/Cpl Bernard Millington. Enlisted June 1915 and arrived in France with the V Reinforcement in November 1915.

All the men were buried next to each other in Foncquevillers Military Cemetery Row 3D

The two men missing were:-

• 4407/241499 Pte Fred Gould who was aged 26 and the Son of John and Charlotte Gould of Bankside in Youlgrave Derbyshire. Fred’s body was not recovered after the War and he is now Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. Enlisted in July 1915 and arrived in France with the V Reinforcement in November 1915.

Interestingly, the Graves Registration Unit in January recorded the recovery of one unidentified British Soldier from 24.D.1.6. which is located in the barbed wire belt close to the BURG and it is tempting to speculate that this might have been the body of Fred Gould.

• 1678/240209 Pte. Christopher Blankley who was made a prisoner of war. Enlisted April 1912 and arrived in France with the 46th Division in February 1915. Had previously been wounded at Kemmel in May 1915.