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 these days 5th – 11th November

5/11-21/11.1916: Battalion underwent training in the St RIQUIER training area [Third Army]

War Diary [WO/95/2694]


St Riquier training area

St RIQUIER training area [Third Army]

Series Number Id: GSGS 3346. Sheet number: [part of sheet 66]. Training area map. Area SE of Forêt de Crécy and NE of Abbeville. “Enlarged from 1:100,000 map [which had been produced by reduction from the 1:80,000]. Detail in Training Area corrected by 3rd Field Squadron R.E.” “Ordnance Survey, November, 1916.” Detail and grid grey; contours brown; water blue. Training area boundary red (containing Brigade area boundaries for A, B, C and D areas). Rifle ranges, bombing grounds and bayonet courses blue. Title printed on reverse. Yvrench was the Tank Corps base.

DIGITAL ARCHIVE @ McMaster University Library see here

139th Brigade Casualties for October 1916

139 Brigade Casualties October 1916

The nine men killed in action are all buried in Bellacourt Military Cemetery and were the last men of the 139th Brigade to be buried in this small French Cemetery.

  • 5119 Pte Frederick Arthur Parrott (1/6th Battn)
  • 2964 Pte William Hammond (1/8th Battn)
  • 20629 Pte William Branson (1/5th Battn)
  • 20545 Pte William Falconbridge (1/5th Battn)
  • 3386 Pte George Redwood (1/7th Battn)
  • 1466 Pte Arthur Ford (1/7th Battn)
  • 1615 Pte Charles Boot (1/5th Battn)
  • 2185 L/Cpl Harry Peach (1/5th Battn)
  • 5132 Pte Albert Frank Parker (1/6th Battn)

In addition two men were fatally wounded and buried in Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery at Saulty, which was the location of the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations.

14 March 1915

The strength of the 139th Brigade recored at the end of October 1916

On this day 29th October 1916

No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]


12 noon: 8th Sherwoods relieved in the left sector by 16th Manchesters. Machine Gun and Trench Mortar Battery also relieved.

6pm: 8th Sherwoods marched from BAILLEULVAL to WARLUZEL on arrival of 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers.

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