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 2nd February 1917

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

2nd: Enemy fired about 30 77mm shells onto Green Street and the front line during the morning.Green Street

8th Sherwood Foresters take over HQrs and the right Coy front (up to Trench 60) of 4th Lincoln Regiment.

A party of 91st Reserve Infantry Regiment approached our front north of the Gommecourt Road – threw several bombs and were driven off by Lewis Gun fire. The bodies of 1 Lieutenant and 1 NCO of the party were subsequently brought into our lines. the former being found within 15 yards of our parapet.

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

On this day 1st February 1917

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

1st: A quite day. During the night a small party of the enemy approached our front line just North of the Gommecourt Road. Several bombs were thrown short of our trench and the party were driven off by Lewis Gun fire.

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

On the last day of January 1917

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31.1.917: Relieved 5th Battalion and took over Right Coy S Sector of X2 Sector

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

31st: Hostile artillery more active – 120 rounds being fired into Foncquevillers between 9 and 10pm. 6th and 8th Battalions take over the front line.

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

1/5th and 1/7th Battalion Casualties due to the German bombardment

fonquevillers.jpgraybould

  • 20529 Pte Albert Edward Ernest Victor Clark aged 23 and the Son of Henry and Alice clark of 92 Creek Rd., March in Cambridgeshire.
  • 1422/200075 Lance Sergeant Harry Howard aged 26 and from Codnor Park in Derbyshire see here.1422 Howard Harry1422 Howard
  • 2002 Pte Joseph Raybould aged 22 the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Raybould of 10 Stone Row in Jacksdale Nottinghamshire. Joseph enlisted into the 5th Battalion in January 1914 and arrived in France  See here.2002 Raybould
  • 5488 Pte John William Wigham aged 34 and the Son of Joseph Wigham of 91 Vallets Lane in Bolton. Born in Bootle, Liverpool. John enlisted into the 3/5th Battalion on the 24th March 1916. He arrived in France in July 1916.5488 wigham
  • 1510 Pte George Barnett aged 21 and a pre-War Territorial from Sneiton in Nottinghamshire. He was the son of Thomas and Maud Barnett and the brother of Elizabeth, John and Gladys Barnett. In 1911 they lived at 18 Guys Terrace, Blue Bell Hill, St Ann’s, Nottingham.1510 Barnett
  • 1141 Pte Albert Nicola Woodward 1141 Woodward

Cases of Trench Foottrench foot 1917

On this day 29th January 1917 a fatal accident at the 2nd Army Workshop

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1466 Pte. George Lindsay Clay was killed in an explosion at the 2nd Army Workshop and was sent to the 15 Casualty Clearing Station for burial in HAZEBROUCK COMMUNAL CEMETERY.

1466 Clay

George was from Matlock and a gas fitter by trade and worked at the Matlock District Gas Company. He enlisted into the 6th Battalion in June 1916 aged 19 and attended both the Abermaide and Clumber Annual Camps. He arrived in France with the 46th North Midland Division in February 1915, but was attached to the 2nd Army Workshop in August 1915.

During the Court of Inquiry Lieutenant R Howell R.F.A. recored that at 4.45pm on the 29th January 1917 he heard a large explosion near to the oxyacetylene plant. This explosion killed 3 men:-

  • 13073 L/Cpl G.W. Irons of the 11th Battn The King’s (Liverpool Regiment).
  • A/L/Cpl Clay of the 1/6th Battn Notts and Derby Regiment.
  • 200369 Pte. H.F. Thomas of the 1/5th Battn Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

Hazebrook

clay irons thomasAll three men are buried next to each other in Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery

On this day 26th January 1917

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

26th: A continued bombardment of the Enemy’s trenches carried out by our artillery and trench mortars.

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

93 Sergeant William Leadbeater of the 1/5th Battalion was fatally wounded93 Leadbeater

William was a 1st VB and pre-War Territorial